With thousands of articles claiming untold "Disney secrets," how are you supposed to know which secrets are true and which are not? Is Walt's head frozen and hidden somewhere in the park? Do Woody and Jesse really drop like rag dolls (pun intended) when you yell, "Andy's coming!"? Are there really 999 happy haunts in the Haunted Mansion? No, no, and it depends on how you treat them.

When I returned from my brief time as a Disneyland cast member, I was constantly asked to share some of my "Disney secrets." Secrets is a pretty broad term, and the questions often left me scrambling for interesting things to say off the top of my head. Well, I've had time to reminisce and recall, so here are 15 true Disneyland and California Adventure attraction secrets that friends and I discovered while working for the mouse.

1. Hidden Tinkerbell in the Temple of the Forbidden Eye

Snakes? I hate snakes. Jones may not be a fan of snakes, but that's nothin' Tink can't handle. She is hidden inside the Indiana Jones ride, in the room full of skulls and candles, directly after your jeep goes over the bridge. Now, Tink is a tiny fairy, so spotting her is quite difficult. Good luck, adventurers!

2. The old Eeyore parking lot sign in the Indiana Jones queue

Oh, bother. Many people are unaware that the Indiana Jones ride was actually built over a parking lot which was called the Eeyore lot. In the movie room, when you have reached the screen up front, look behind you and up in the rafters (you can ask the cast member to shine their flashlight up, if needed). There is an old parking lot sign with a picture of Eeyore on it leaning against the back wall!

3. The Yeti inside the Matterhorn Bobsleds

Yodel-le-hee-hoo! The terrifying Yeti who lives inside the Matterhorn actually has a name! Harold is the name lovingly given to the Yeti by the Imagineers who created the ride. Auf Wiedersehen!

4. Bullet hole inside the Haunted Mansion

Attention, foolish mortals! Did you know that back in the day someone was able to sneak a gun into the park? Confirmed in a tour of the mansion, it was used to shoot a hole through the glass window in the ballroom scene where all the ghosts are dancing. Disney cleverly covered it up, however, using a spiderweb to distract from the actual bullet hole. Try to spot it next time you are riding in your doom-buggy!

5. AAA 13 diamond award for the Tower of Terror

Diamonds are a hotel's best friend. AAA gives awards to hotels all over the country based on the overall level of satisfaction, yet these awards typically only go up to five stars. The Hollywood Tower Hotel was awarded the AAA diamond hotel award, but with 13 diamonds! This plaque can be seen behind the front desk in the queue. A hidden gem, so to speak.

6. Legs under the stairs inside the Tower of Terror

Scared to death? This story was told by a Tower of Terror cast member during a tour of the ride. Around when the ride opened, there was a cast member who secretly lived inside the Tower for a short period of time. Once supervisor's found out, he was terminated, but not forgotten. These legs are left under stairs on the left hand side, after you exit the elevator, partly as a tribute to the former cast member. Probably also to scare the bejesus out of people.

7. Real skull in Pirates of the Caribbean

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. There are many props in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride: fake skulls, skeletons, bones and more. One of these skulls is not just a prop, however. Above the bed, in the room after you pass through the bar scene, there is a real skull and crossbones! Super authentic, no Disney magic needed here!

8. Avocado field in Soarin' Over California

Prepare for take-off. Soarin' is a favorite for tourists and Californian natives alike. You get the chance to fly over the Redwood Creek, the Golden Gate bridge, Yosemite, and many other famous parts of Cali. Disney even goes so far as to pump the smell of oranges as you pass over a field of, well, you would think they would be oranges. It is actually an avocado field! The more you know...

9. Michael Eisner golfing in Soarin' Over California

Fore! In the infamous golf ball scene where the ball is hit and appears to be coming right for your face, it is actually Michael Eisner who hit the ball for the film! Of course, the ball is animated with special effects when it appears closer to you, but hey, even a past CEO of the Disney Company has to rely on good ol' fashion movie magic sometimes.

10. Tribute to Country Bear Jamboree in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Can't get rid of us. The Country Bear Jamboree was a show that used to take place in Critter Country, until it was ended to make room for the Winnie the Pooh ride in 2001. The Imagineers of the new ride did not completely forget the singing animals of the show, however. After the room of heffalumps and woozles, be sure to turn around and look to the wall above for a fun tribute. Try to sit up front, because it may be hard to see in the last seat of the hunny pot!

11. Madam Leota's haunted table inside the Haunted Mansion

1000 haunts? The round table that Madame Leota's head is above is supposedly haunted! A tour behind the scenes of the Haunted Mansion revealed that this table was given to the Imagineers for the ride by someone who believed it was cursed. If the table is ever removed from the ride, rumor has it that terrible things will happen to the mansion! So much for all happy haunts.

12. Jingles on King Arthur's Carousel

Is that you, Mary? Walt Disney's favorite horse, Jingles, on King Arthur's Carousel is an easy one to spot – she's covered in bells! In 2008, this horse had an umbrella painted on its back, a symbol of the umbrella Mary Poppins uses in the movie. Naturally, it was dedicated to Julie Andrews! See if you can spot, or even take a spin on Jingles next time you visit the Happiest Place On Earth!

13. Andy's new toy in Toy Story Midway Mania

Andy, we shrunk the humans. As told to me by a fellow cast member who worked Midway Mania, there is actually a story behind the ride. Andy got a new toy set for his birthday: a midway games set! Of course, when he steps out, Buzz, Woody, Jesse and the others set it up and work the booths! We, as guests, act as other toys who are invited to come play the game. Everything seems bigger and over-exaggerated, because we have been "shrunk down" to toy size!

14. Peace and quiet on Grizzly River Run

Listen closely. Have you ever noticed that it is oddly quiet during your epic rafting adventure at Grizzly Peak? No, this isn't because the music stopped working! There is actually no music along your way through the ride. The Imagineers wanted to create an authentic river rafting experience for guests, and you typically don't find any music out there in the wilderness. (Side note: If you are concerned about your belongings getting soaked on this ride, the lockers to the left of the attraction are free!)

15. First family on the Tower of Terror

Hold on to your loved ones. As told to me by a Tower cast member, if you can be the first family to reach Tower of Terror in the morning, you will be rewarded with a couple of amazing memories. First, you will get to sign your names in the guest book, which are actually kept in the library room, where the "Twilight Zone" video plays. Then, you get an entire elevator to yourself! Along with this, you are given a complimentary ride photo to cherish forever. Maybe shed a few tears on the way to your next ride.

"That's the trouble with the world – too many people grow up." - Walt Disney