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12 Amazing Facts About The Magic Kingdom At Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is a wonderful vacation destination brimming with experiences for guests to enjoy including attractions, entertainment, dining, shopping, and more. While there are plenty of places to explore, many guests tend to spend a lot of time in the Magic Kingdom. The park opened with the Walt Disney World Resort in 1971 and has been amazing guests with beautifully themed lands ever since. Guests who spend time in the Magic Kingdom can enjoy many different experiences including diving into the seas, blasting off into space, traveling through time, sailing with pirates, and interacting with ghosts. While every experience in the Magic Kingdom is amazing, it is the small details that help to bring the park to life and make guests feel fully immersed. Many of these details are so subtle that they tend to blend right in and result in being considered hidden or secret. From Hidden Mickeys to special details and effects, there are plenty of details to find throughout the park. Here are twelve amazing details and facts about the Magic Kingdom.

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1. Swiss Family Treehouse Hidden Mickey —

Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom is home to a wonderful attraction that brings guests high above to offer wonderful views of the park. The Swiss Family Treehouse invites guests into the home of the Robinson family who were stranded on an island and forced to be inventive with their new home. While climbing to the top, guests should keep an eye on the tree trunk where they can find a classic Hidden Mickey!

2. Marco Daviso —

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most beloved attractions in Walt Disney World and the final scene shows Captain Jack Sparrow basking in the vast treasure he has discovered. Just above the gate that leads to Sparrow is a crest that reads Marco Daviso. While the name seems fictional, it is a nod to Imagineer Marc Davis who helped worked on the attraction.

3. FSU! —

Splash Mountain brings guests on a soaking adventure with Br’er Rabbit that culminates in a thrilling drop into the Briar Patch below. Just before the final lift that leads to the large drop, guests can spot a series of gophers who pop up yelling out in joy. The final gopher drops down from the ceiling and appears to be sporting an orange t-shirt while yelling out “FSU.” The gopher is referring to Florida State University where many Imagineers attended school.

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4. Madame Leota —

The Haunted Mansion is home to the perfectly eerie Madame Leota who can be found conducting a séance from her floating crystal ball. Madame Leota is portrayed by Imagineer Leota Toombs, however it was determined that Toombs’ voice was too sweet for the role. The Madame Leota that guests see combines the face of Toombs with the voice of Eleanor Audley who also voiced Lady Tremaine and Maleficent.

5. Mr. Toad’s Grave —

After enjoying the Haunted Mansion, guests emerge onto a pathway that leads back to Liberty Square. Before passing through the final gate back out onto the main pathway, guests should look up to their left to spot a pet cemetery filled with gravestones and statues. In the far top left is a statue of Mr. Toad paying homage to the character whose attraction no longer exists in Fantasyland.

6. Special Headlights —

Peter Pan’s Flight brings guests on a whimsical journey high over the streets of London and Neverland with Peter, Tinkerbell, and the Darling children. One of the most beloved scenes of the attraction brings guests on a beautiful tour of London, complete with bustling traffic below. Many guests don’t realize that the headlights moving below are actually dots of black light paint on bike chains!

7. It’s A Small World Hidden Mickey —

Perhaps one of the most loved attractions in the Magic Kingdom can be found in Fantasyland across from Peter Pan’s Flight. It’s A Small World brings guests on the happiest cruise that ever sailed showcasing different cultures from around the world. In the Africa room of the attraction, guests should look for large purple vines that hang down from the ceilings and form classic Hidden Mickeys.

8. Hidden Steamboat Willie —

Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid has guests board pink clamshells and set off on a wonderful adventure that tells the story of Ariel falling in love with Prince Eric. After disembarking from the attraction, guests emerge back in New Fantasyland and enjoy a beautiful view of water on their right hand side. Guests who look closely at a series of rocks next to the water there can spot a Hidden Steamboat Willie including everything from his hat to shoes!

9. Handing Over The Deed —

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is the attraction that replaced Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in Fantasyland. After boarding their honey pots, guests set off for a blustery day in the Hundred Acre Woods and at one point pass through Owl’s swaying treehouse. Guests that look to the left hand side of the vehicle will notice a portrait of Mr. Toad handing over the deed to Owl, paying homage to the replaced character.

10. Pollust Prime —

Tomorrowland is home to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin which offers guests the chance to join Star Command and help defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg. While moving through the queue of the attraction, guests can check out different sectors of the galaxy and the planets that exist there. One sector is home to a planet named Pllust Prime which features a land mass that forms a Hidden Mickey.

11. Hidden Sorcerer Mickey —

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress brings guests on a unique journey that follows one family throughout the century to showcase how progress and innovation have helped make life more convenient. In the final scene of the attraction, guests can spot a dining room set near the back and an abstract painting mounted on a wall to the right of the table. Those who look closely will notice that the painting actually portrays a Hidden Sorcerer Mickey!

12. Starport 75 —

Space Mountain is one of the most thrilling attractions in Walt Disney World and blasts guests off on an out of this world adventure through the darkness of space. Before boarding, guests learn that they are in the intergalactic hub of Starport 75, which may seem random but pays tribute to the attraction’s opening year of 1975.

About Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane first started visiting Walt Disney World when she was two years old, and despite spending most of that trip quarantined with the chicken pox she managed to fall in love with the place. Visiting WDW every year since, she especially loves learning all about the history and small details of the parks and eating/drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival each fall. When she's not in Disney, Caitlin lives in New York and spends her time counting down the days to her next trip.