The true story of the secret voice of the beloved talking trash cans that make their home at the Walt Disney World Resort:

When you enter Disney World, you may be greeted by Cinderella, or Captain Hook, or Woody. You may even be greeted by the big cheese of Disney, Mickey Mouse himself. But, slightly more unexpected, you might just be welcomed by someone else. He’s adorable, he’s funny, he’s charming. He’s… a walking, talking trash can! Surprised? This little fella often goes by the name of Push, after the lettering inscribed across one of his flaps and anyone who’s met him will probably be a fan.

He interacts with guests; joking, conversing, requesting garbage (or, in some cases, recycling). It just goes to show how everything in Disney is becomes part of the magic. Even the receptacles of thousands of people’s discarded wrappers, napkins, and tissues come to life and roll around, enchanting guests from Tomorrowland to Liberty Square.

But what lies behind these curious creatures? The secret voice of this park figure is lurking among us, hidden in plain sight. If you are observant enough, you’ll notice one person in the crowd, dressed as an ordinary visitor, bent over a handheld device and discreetly whispering into it. They observe and listen in on the guests interacting with the can and provide detailed, engaging feedback, questions, and conversation starters.  A lesser known Disney World personality, the talking trash can is always a surprise and a treat to run into. Enjoy their company, and challenge yourself to find who’s doing the talking for this sweet and funny little guy.   

NOTE: Disney has retired Push, as of 2014. Alas!

Kathryn Blanco is the Disney Editor for Wandering Educators

Photo courtesy wikimedia commons: Lucky 6.9