Photos from backstage at Disneyland

StoopidTrooper's "Backstage Disneyland" Imgur set is as good a collection of images of the behind-the-scenes action at Disneyland as I've ever seen. I'm especially gratified by all the pics from backstage at the Haunted Mansion, interacting with the animatronics and effects. Also included are some great shots of horseplay with the animals and human animatronics in the Jungle Cruise, and many shots of utility areas, such as boat-storage for the Jungle Cruise. I'm also delighted by all the shots of the control panels for the rides, which are pretty fascinating looks at the one-off interfaces developed by Imagineering to allow semi-trained Orange County teenagers to safely usher some of the wealthiest children on Earth through the bowels of dangerous heavy machinery.

Backstage Disneyland (Thanks, skwiggly!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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http://twitter.com/cjporkchop cjporkchop

I like that there are People Mover cars visible in several at the bottom. (From the “Pictures from on top of the Matterhorn” group.)
- http://abrightcontainer.tumblr.com/ manybellsdown
  
  Man, I miss the PeopleMover.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefan_e_jones/ Stefan Jones

Neat stuff.

Ever since watching “Westworld” as a kid I’ve been fascinated by the back-stage aspect of theme parks. Glimpses of the infrastructure.
ldobe

I was in backstage Disney once. It was with my high school band & orchestra.

It was pretty fun until the park smell faded, and the horses**t smell hit me in the face.

The Disney staff chaperone made us swear secrecy and sign a waiver.

There was an ingeniously disgiused observation tower at one end of the park. Almost like a well done duck blind.

I never suspected that they actually pump smells into certain areas of Disneyland. Fantasyland is bubblegum scented.
Pirate Jenny

Oh, thank you for this, I love it!

Say what you will about Disney. I know they’re pushing my emotional buttons . . . but they’re so GOOD at it.
bolamig

What a great album to enjoy stoned. I betcha there was some herb smoked among those fun lovin types.
artbyjcm

I will mention, about the teenagers comment, they don’t let many under-18 highschool type kids do that job anymore because they don’t actually trust them to do it. They’re usually cashiers or the ushers for various things. The people actually controlling the rides are well-trained and have probably been there for years. If you want that element of danger, see Legoland.