>When Disneyland opened in 1955, Owen & Dolly Pope worked at the park. They were hired in 1951 to put together some livestock for Walt’s future park. They first lived in a trailer at the Disney Studio there they raised & trained horses. A few days before Disneyland opened; they moved into the park and ran the Disneyland Pony Farm. Disneyland’s only residents were also some of its first performers. Today this tradition of Street Performers is alive and well in Walt Disney World. Every park in the Walt Disney World Complex has a different type of performer, and they all entertain in different ways, but you have to find them, many people don’t look for them and so this is today’s Unknown Magic.

Most visitors to Disney World know about the characters walking about and have read the best places to find and see the characters, but there are other performers around the parks that entertain and add a Magical Experience to your trip. A lot of these can be met as the parks opening in the morning, but they can also be seen throughout the
 day. For example, Mayor Weaver and Scoop Sanderson can be seen around the Town Square Exposition Hall. And Captian Jack Sparrow can be seen near the Pirates of the Carribean. Over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there are The Citizens of Hollywood, actors and actresses(from the 30’s and 40’s) that interact with you as you enter the park.
 In Epcot there are actual street performers, Mimes and Acrobats that perform around the World Showcase at different times during the day.  In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the street performer here is known as “DiVine”. She is more of a “fixture” at Animal Kingdom on the pathways between Africa and Asia. I have never seen here, in person, but she is supposed to be amazing. These are all wonderfully fun people to encounter as you enter or walk around the different parks. But there are a few other performers that entertain as well.
The Dapper Dans are probably the most famous musical group in Walt Disney World. This Barber Shop Quartet has been entertaining visitors on Main Street USA since1971. But there are other singing groups in Walt Disney World also.  One of these groups is the trash can band in Epcot. They are known as the Jammitors. This group of custodians walks through the park cleaning up until their break time. At which time, they change their head gear; flip the lids of their cans and “Jam on”.
Another one of these groups is Mulch, Sweat and Shears, a cover band in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This group brings their landscaping truck up the Streets of America and turn the back of it into a small stage. Then they ‘rock out’ to hit songs of the 80’s and 90’s.

Over at the Animal Kingdom is another street “performer” that shocks and entertains visitors every day, Pipa is A Talking Moving Recycling Container. Pipa has a brother named Push who is a Talking Moving Trash Can in the Magic Kingdom. Both Pipa and Push talk to guests and love to sneak up behind you and then quickly move away when you try to put something into them. At Epcot there are three Talking Water Fountains, (they do not move) they are located outside the bathrooms near Innoventions West; Outside Mouse Works shop; and near the play fountain between Future World and World Showcase. All of these ‘entertainers” are great to watch when an unsuspecting person walks near them, It is especially fun when a kid hears them talk and interacts with them. Make sure you bring the video camera for these moments, or at least use your cell phone to get some video to share after the trip.

So, now you know, besides the characters, the parks are filled with entertainers to add a Magical Experience to your trip, all you have to do is keep your eyes open and find them.