From the Daily Mail

It’s the place where dreams come true, where childhood fantasies are lived out.

But behind every character, every movie scene, every roller-coaster, are the puppet masters making it a reality.

These fascinating photographs reveal exactly what goes on behind the scenes to bring the wondrous world of Walt Disney to life at its theme parks.

A room with a view: Walt Disney's apartment overlooks a street in the Magic KingdomA room with a view: Walt Disney’s apartment overlooks a street in the Magic Kingdom

Off duty: Mickey Mouse chills out behind a building at the parkOff duty: Mickey Mouse chills out behind a building at the park

In the dark this must be pretty scary, but seeing the poles holding up the 'ghosts' reveals them as nothing more than puppetsIn the dark this must be pretty scary, but seeing the poles holding up the ‘ghosts’ reveals them as nothing more than puppets

Snapped! A staff member poses with animatronics in the costume departmentSnapped! A staff member poses with animatronics in the costume department

 

Posted on Imgur by a Disney cast-member, the images have stunned fans of the franchise, as they get a sneak peak at what it takes to make some of the California park’s most popular attractions.

From Big Thunder Mountain to the Jungle Cruise, the never-before-seen pictures, taken during the 1980s and 1990s lift the curtain on the mechanics that make the magic.

Disney fanatics and engineering enthusiasts alike have reacted with awe to the release of the images, blogging and tweeting their excitement.

‘Have you ever wondered what Jungle Cruise would look like without the water?’ one wrote on slashfilm.com.

That's not how you're meant to ride it! Cast members pose on Big ThunderThat’s not how you’re meant to ride it! Cast members pose on Big Thunder

Seen from behind: Animatronic piratesSeen from behind: Animatronic pirates

 

From the front you'd never know what's making them move!From the front you’d never know what’s making them move!

Who's there?! The red eyes of the Abominable Snowman...Who’s there?! The red eyes of the Abominable Snowman…

...And the finished product. Scary, huh?!…And the finished product. Scary, huh?!

The Haunted Manison's endless hallway, pictured with lights on: Still frighting?The Haunted Manison’s endless hallway, pictured with lights on: Still frighting?

Ever wondered what the Jungle Cruise would look like without water? Now you know!Ever wondered what the Jungle Cruise would look like without water? Now you know!

‘Have you ever wanted to see what the Haunted Mansion looks like with the lights on?
It’s all here!’

Pictures include Mickey Mouse caught off guard, having a casual stroll around the park, and interior shots of Walt Disney’s own apartment.

In the costuming department, characters are snapped in various stages of made-up-ness, members of staff posing with haunted house props including a grisly-looking skeleton.

You wouldn't want to mess with this guy... A worker poses with a pirateYou wouldn’t want to mess with this guy… A worker poses with a pirate

Getting a dressing-down: The pirate looks less menacing without his costume onGetting a dressing-down: The pirate looks less menacing without his costume on

Plush: Walt Disney's decorative apartment within the parkPlush: Walt Disney’s decorative apartment within the park

Who's been sitting in MY chair? Walt Disney's chair in his Disneyland apartmentWho’s been sitting in MY chair? Walt Disney’s chair in his Disneyland apartment

 

Touch of pink: Inside a cabinet at Walt Disney's apartment. But where's Mrs Potts?Touch of pink: Inside a cabinet at Walt Disney’s apartment. But where’s Mrs Potts?

 

And if you’re too much of a scaredy cat to venture into the haunted mansion yourself you can get a pretty good idea of what its like from the various photographs taken of the view, great hall and guestbook, to name a few.

The images capture scenes from angles that wouldn’t be accessible to the average member of the public and candidly show animatronics getting repaired.

A headless goat looks pretty alarming, until you realise it’s in the Disney workshop for fine-tuning.

Mechanics in control booths are caught on camera, as are storage facilities, demonstrating just how much work goes into creating the Disney magic.

Call that work? Cast members take a break to pose with a statue at the Jungle CruiseCall that work? Cast members take a break to pose with a statue at the Jungle Cruise

So THAT'S how it works! The mechanics that keep the Jungle Cruise in motionSo THAT’S how it works! The mechanics that keep the Jungle Cruise in motion

Not such a small world after all: The mechanics building behind it's a small worldNot such a small world after all: The mechanics building behind it’s a small world

 

The men behind the masks: Disney cast members pose for a photographThe men behind the masks: Disney cast members pose for a photograph

 

Magic? Actually just the work of some clever mechanics... sorry!Magic? Actually just the work of some clever mechanics… sorry!

By Adam

Adam has been a fan of Disney since he was small. He runs the Disneybrit Podcast. He is also the author of several Disney books.

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