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8 of the “Best Kept” Secrets at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World

No Walt Disney World vacation is complete without spending lots of time in the Magic Kingdom which is home to different lands full of amazing attractions, experiences, and entertainment. Guests who spend time in the park can enjoy diving under the sea with Ariel, blasting off into space, exploring the exotic rivers of the world, rubbing elbows with ghoulish ghosts, and setting sail with pirates. With so many amazing experiences in the Magic Kingdom it is no wonder why guests love spending time there. Guests might think that they know all there is to know about the park, but they might be surprised at how many hidden details and secrets there are! Some of these secrets are hidden in plain sight and some are a little more difficult to spot, but guests love discovering them on a Walt Disney World vacation. Here are eight of the best kept secrets of Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

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8. The Utilidors –

One of the biggest secrets of the Magic Kingdom is that it actually exists on the second floor! When Imagineers were constructing the park, they intentionally built a system of underground tunnels named Utilidors (utility plus corridors) to house behind the scene operations like costuming, waste collection, and maintenance. Guests who are walking around the park might never realize that they are walking around on top of the famed Utilidors! Those looking to get a glimpse of the hidden tunnels can take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour which briefly visits the Utilidors.

7. Main Street Windows –

All along Main Street are beautifully detailed buildings custom to the turn of the century styles of architecture. Guests can find the names of many townsfolk and local businesses on the windows that line Main Street, and many of them advertise for special services. Guests might not realize that these windows pay tribute to individuals who had a large role in the creation of the Magic Kingdom! Famous names that can be spotted include Walt Disney, Roy O. Disney, Yale Gracey, and Frank Wells.

6. TTA’s Magnets –

Guests love taking a ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover when visiting Tomorrowland for an amazing view of the area below. The attraction brings guests on the highway in the sky for beautiful views and glimpses into nearby attractions like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain. While the TTA runs very smoothly, many guests might be surprised to learn that it is entirely powered by magnets! Using a linear induction system, the TTA is pushed and pulled by magnets making it a clean and efficient attraction to enjoy.

5. Starport 75 –

One of the most thrilling attractions in the Magic Kingdom is Space Mountain in Tomorrowland which blasts guests into outer space for a journey that is out of this world. While moving through the queue of the attraction, guests might notice several references to Starport 75 which is the space hub they will be blasting out of. While the name seems random, it actually pays tribute to the year 1975 when Space Mountain originally opened.

4. Pirate’s Drop –

An attraction in the Magic Kingdom that is beloved by many guests is Pirates of the Caribbean which can be found in Adventureland. As popular as the attraction is, it was originally not built with the park as Imagineers thought guests would not be interested since they were already so close to the Caribbean. After many guests asked about the attraction, it was decided to be added to the Magic Kingdom but it needed to be constructed outside of the Walt Disney World Railroad loop so that there was enough room for a show building. Imagineers needed to come up with a way for guests to pass the railroad tracks and reach the show building, so they added in the drop that thrills guests today.

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3. London’s Headlights –

A classic attraction that all guests love is Peter Pan’s Flight in Fantasyland. Guests can be sprinkled with pixie dust and take to the skies over London and Neverland with Peter Pan and the Darling children. While passing over the nighttime scene of London, guests can notice busy roadways below filled with moving headlights. Many guests might be surprised to learn that the effect is pulled off by a simple set up of bike chains with dots of glow in the dark paint.

2. A Dream Stay –

One of the biggest secrets in the Magic Kingdom is hidden inside of Cinderella Castle! The Castle Dream Suite was constructed as part of a promotional year, and each night one lucky family got to stay in the park! The suite features opulent accents that are fit for royalty and only a select few lucky guests ever get to stay there. Guests who are passing by Cinderella Castle on the Fantasyland side can spot the trio of thin windows which belong to the Castle Dream Suite.

1. Joyce Carlson –

Many guests experience It’s A Small World on their Disney vacations, but completely miss a tribute during the attraction to an Imagineer who helped make the experience so amazing. When moving through the scene depicting France complete with the Eiffel Tower, guests can spot a slightly different looking doll with large glasses hanging from the underside of the structure. The doll pays tribute to the late Imagineer Joyce Carlson who was responsible for designing the dolls on each version of It’s A Small World around the world!

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.