Mickey pylon facts for kids
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The Mickey Pylon is a special kind of power line tower. It stands about 105 ft (32 m) tall and looks like a giant Mickey Mouse head! This pylon helps bring electricity to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It was finished on February 15, 1996.
The pylon is made of a tall pole that holds a large round steel ring. Two smaller oval rings are attached to the main ring, forming Mickey's ears. The whole head part weighs about 30,000 lb (14,000 kg). You can find it near Interstate 4 at the World Drive exit.
Because the rings were so big, they couldn't be moved on regular roads. So, they were built right at the construction site. Each ring is made from strong steel tubing. The main pole was built by a company called NAPCO in Dallas, Texas. The rings were shaped by Bend-Tec in Duluth, Minnesota.
At night, the Mickey Pylon can light up! Special fiber-optic cables inside the rings glow with light from a laser on the ground. This makes the pylon a fun sight to see, especially when it's dark.
Building the Mickey Pylon
The idea for the Mickey Pylon started in March 1995. That's when Tampa Electric and the Reedy Creek Improvement District signed a contract to begin building this unique power tower. It was designed to be both useful for power and a fun landmark for the Disney area.
See also
In Spanish: Pilón de Mickey para niños
