Secret Underground Spaces

[toominnie]

MickeyParks comment on the Moon of Endor thread about a CM cafeteria under POTC got me to thinking. I always knew there was an extensive underground/behind the scenes area at DL, as well as, WDW. I have seen pictures of those areas at WDW and read how extensive they are but I know nothing about DL. Could some of you CM's fill us in on how extensive the underground/behind the scenes area is. It's hard to imagine a cafeteria under POTC. Is there ever a time when the curious general public can take a peek. Is there a great place in the park to sneak in? If you were to manage to sneak in how hard would it be to pretend you were a CM and if discovered what would be the course of action? Just wondering and yes I am feeling a bit mischievious!!LOL

Oh I forgot to ask if they built similar areas under and around DCA?

[This message has been edited by toominnie (edited January 25, 2001).]

[Mickeyman187]

hey this is a good topis.yeah i can't imagine an underground (secret)area under POTC.just think it is all dark in POTC and while cast members r underground where the light is shining very bright eating food from the resturant from that bllue bayoo or somethin like that(i don't know how to spell it).do u CM's play hide and go seek after the park closes at night.for instense- monday it is playin in tomorrowland and tuesday in toontown, etc.?

[Karma Boy]

Well Toominnie,

There are not alot of underground places inside of Disneyland like there are in WDW. Actually there are only a few main areas underground.
The first one as mentioned is the New Orleans Square area. If you look carefully, NOS is actually 4 stories high. with one underground. They actually built the "Above ground" on the third story of the place. So there is two stories that you see, and then two stories below where Pirates mostly occupies. The Pirates complex houses: Pirates, The NO Main Kitchen, The Westside Diner(CM Restaurant) and several offices. The whole area stretches from Pirates to the bathrooms along the train station. Actually, if you go to the men's restroom, you see some swinging doors, that is how you get to the backstage area.
You go through the doors and immediately down some stairs. all of the hallways have colored dots on them so you can find your way out. The Westside Diner is the CM restaurant which is right down the way from the NO Main Kitchen. They serve pretty decent food, but they are not open all the time. I can remember getting monte cristo sandwiches for under $2 there.
The other undergroud place is actually in Tomorrowland. It's a service tunnel and some offices for Tomorrowland Terrace. It spans from the backside of Innoventions all the way to just about Ariel's Grotto. It's nothing more than a square tunnel that has some trash packers and pipes running along the side for water and stuff. I've been in that tunnel a lot, and it's nothing spectacular!
Other interesting Backstage areas include the Grand Canyon Diarama and Primeval World. Infact these building are used for multiple things. The Back of the Diarama is used for Cast Member Locker Rooms. When you go from the Diarama to the Primeval World, you cross over a bridge, with is the acces underpass to the backstage area and Harbor House security gate (now Harbor Pointe). The PW is a very interesting place in that the building used to hold the Primeval World in the middle, Locker rooms underneath, Costume Issue on the north side, Seemstresses on the second level, Security, Casting on the south, and the Disneyland University. It was known as the Admin Building on the south side, and Costuming/Security on the north.
Well, There are also other accessways to back stage areas, but I caution you from wandering back there. It is very obvious to most people that you do not belong there, and most people walk with a purpose and don't look lost . I'm also not sure what security will do to you, but they may take away a pass if you have it or ask you to go back onstage. But honestly, there isn't much to see back there. Well I hope that answers some of your questions...



------------------
Karma Boy
MouseInfo.com Staff

[CreativeForce]

As an ex CM I'm wondering? Should I let the cat out of the bag?

Alright you talked me into it. Yes there is a CM cafateria underground. It is at the same level as Pirates. There is also some offices and the New Orleans Main Kitchen (Where they make most of the food for the area and then send it upstairs to the various restuarants.) As to how to get in...well telling would be cheating but take a careful look next time you go to the men's restrooms in NOS. That's all I will say.

[eiggid]

When I was at WDW I took the Keys to the Kingdom tour and we went into the "tunnel" areas. In reality, the tunnel is the first floor of the Magic Kingdom. They drained the swamp, and built the service level and then everything the public sees is the 2nd story and up. It really is amazing to see how they did it.

[splashtodd]

There are no underground areas in DCA... like tunnels and that. Most of the east side of Downtown Disney around HOB, Yarriba, and Brennans is actually on a huge concrete slab. Under the slab is the valet parking lot for the GCH and the delivery area for many DD stores and the GCH.

[EEyore]

Well, as I have never worked there and am a big behind the scenes freak, I really appreciate the info! Thanks. Hey, I was thrilled I got to use an elevator once in NOS and didn't even know it was there.

EEyore

[wendydarling]

I was a CM at WDW. The tunnels are only under MK and are quite extensive. Even though half the time I didn't know where I was going and had to ask for directions a lot, no one ever stopped me and asked for ID. I think if you look like you could be a castmember (ie no facial hair, piercings, etc) and are fairly confident, no one will stop you. beware though because you may see things you do not want to see (ie decapitated Mickeys or smoking Cinderellas)

[Marcie]

There is also a rather extensive network of tunnels, services, offices, Resort Laundry, Hotel Costuming, break areas and other stuff under the Disneyland Hotel. Believe it or not, it was Jack Wrather who was the mastermind behind taking all of the ugly services that would go into maintaining the hotel underground. The Disney Company was so intrigued with the idea that they decided to use the design at WDW's Magic Kingdom. So, in a way, the underground tunnels at WDW came from the idea done at the Disneyland Hotel first.

There is a much more extensive underground network than valet parking underneath Downtown Disney that extends as far East as the World of Disney and as far south as under the Grand Californian Hotel. All of the services needed for Downtown Disney and the Grand Californian Hotel are all conducted underground (with the exception of the Downtown Disney tenants on the west side of Disneyland Drive).

Otherwise, what was mentioned above about DL is pretty much it. Some offices and restaurant support under Village Haus and a main Computer room under Country Bear Playhouse.

[toominnie]

Thank you for all of the great information. I am always fascinated by stuff like this. I would not want to be kicked out of the park so I guess I will not sneak in. I wouldn't mind taking the tour in WDW though - smoking Cinderella's and Decapitated Mickeys and all!