DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
No visit to Walt Disney World is complete without spending at least one full day in the park that started it all. The Magic Kingdom is situated on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and it opened in 1971 as part of the original Walt Disney World Resort. The popular park is divided into differently themed lands that feature various attractions, entertainment, dining, shopping, and more that all tie seamlessly into the location and backstory. Since 1971, the Magic Kingdom has maintained some beloved experiences that have become rites of passage as well as enjoyed the addition of brand new experiences, lands, and more. With so much to do and see in the park, it is no wonder why guests love to spend so much time there and take in all of the amazing moments. While guests might think that they are totally familiar with the park, there are plenty of details and facts that often go overlooked. These impressive facts prove just how amazing the Magic Kingdom is and are some fun trivia to know before any Walt Disney World vacation!
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1. What experiences were around on opening day?
The Magic Kingdom might seem filled to the brim with amazing attractions for guests of all ages to enjoy, however it might be hard to believe that a good number of them did not exist when the park first opened. The first official day of operation of the Magic Kingdom was October 1, 1971 and guests who visited on that day could have enjoyed some attractions that are still around today. Opening day attractions that are still available to guests are the Country Bear Jamboree, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Hall of Presidents, Haunted Mansion, It’s A Small World, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan’s Flight, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, Swiss Family Treehouse, Tomorrowland Speedway, Walt Disney World Railroad, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
2. What are the best FastPass choices?
One way to ensure that guests make the most of their time in the Magic Kingdom is by utilizing Disney’s complimentary FastPass service. This service allows guests to choose three attractions per day in advance and visit them with little to no wait time. The best options to utilize a FastPass for in the Magic Kingdom are Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan’s Flight, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Space Mountain.
3. What powers the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover?
A wonderful attraction in Tomorrowland that often goes overlooked by guests can whisk them away on a relaxing experience. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is a highway in the sky that zips throughout all of Tomorrowland offering amazing views from above and glimpses into other attractions including Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. While many guests love to enjoy this attraction, they might not realize that it is powered by magnets that are embedded into the track and push and pull the vehicles as they travel.
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4. Where can you find the backside of water?
The Magic Kingdom is also home to one of the amazing wonders of the world that only guests are privileged to see. The backside of water is truly a spectacle to be seen and it can be found in a beloved attraction in Advetureland. The Jungle Cruise brings guests on an exotic journey down some of world’s most adventurous rivers and part of the journey showcases a beautiful waterfall before bringing guests behind it and showing off the true spectacle.
5. What is Starport 75?
Tomorrowland is home to many popular attractions that guests love to enjoy including one that literally brings guests out of this world. Space Mountain brings guests into Starport 75, an intergalactic travel hub where beings from all corners of the galaxy can hop aboard rockets and blast off on an adventure. Starport 75 is also a subtle nod to the history of Space Mountain as the attraction opened in 1975.
6. What attraction originated at a World’s Fair?
Also found in Tomorrowland is an attraction that has a rich history that began as a pavilion at the 1964 New York’s World’s Fair. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress was developed as a pavilion for General Electric and features an innovative design where audio animatronic actors perform on a central stage and the audience rotates from scene to scene around them. Each scene showcases the same family moving through time and enjoying all of the conveniences that progressed has afforded them, and the experience today is very similar to that which was developed for the World’s Fair all those years ago.
7. Where can you find tributes to special Imagineers?
The Magic Kingdom is such an amazing place thanks to the hard work of Disney Imagineers who tirelessly create, design, and implicate the most incredible experiences and details for guests. While there are thousands of individuals who help and helped to make the Magic Kingdom what it is today, those who were most heavily involved in the process of creating the park have a special tribute on Main Street. The windows on the second floors of many of the buildings located there feature the names of contributing Imagineers such as Walt Disney himself, Yale Gracey, Leota Tombs, and many more.
8. Where can you find tributes to Mr. Toad?
While the Magic Kingdom has seen much growth since it first opened in 1971, sometimes change requires the removal of certain experiences to make way for new ones. One such instance was the addition of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh which replaced Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Many guests were disappointed to see Mr. Toad go, however he can still be seen in the scene of Owl’s treehouse in a portrait handing over the deed to the attraction. Mr. Toad can also be seen in a more morbid state as a tombstone in the pet cemetery outside of the Haunted Mansion.
9. How many ghosts live in the Haunted Mansion?
The Haunted Mansion is a beloved attraction that many guests consider a must do while spending time in the Magic Kingdom. The attraction brings guests into a manor home that has been taken over by nine hundred and ninety nine spirits that materialize after being summoned by Madame Leota. The ghosts can be seen dancing through the ballroom, frolicking in the graveyard, and hitchhiking with guests to follow them home. With plenty of scares and laughs, the Haunted Mansion is a must while enjoying any day in the Magic Kingdom!
10. What are the best places to enjoy Happily Ever After?
No time spent in the Magic Kingdom is complete without enjoying the special entertainment including the nighttime fireworks. Happily Ever After is a wonderful combination of state of the art projections, fireworks, and Disney music that bring some of the most beloved characters to life. Guests can enjoy the magic of what happens for those who enjoy a happily ever after from many locations in the Magic Kingdom, however the best views of the show are always from Main Street. Since these are the best views, guests should plan on finding a spot at least an hour early to secure their perfect end to the evening.
