Shhhh don’t tell anyone. It’s just between you and me. I have been a passholder for a few years and a Cast Member a few years ago. So in that time I have learned a few insider secrets that I thought you would appreciate.
- The buildings on Main Street are designed in a very special way that is not visible just by looking at them. When you enter the Magic Kingdom as you approach Main Street the building on Main street are designed to make the Castle appear huge and far away. The opposite is true when you are leaving and walking down Main Street the design of the buildings makes the exit seem closer than it really is because Walt knew you would be tired by then end of the day and thought it would make you feel a little better if you thought the exit was closer. It is called “Forced Perspective”. Some people have said this not true but I was told this on my first day of training as a Cast Member.
- The Magic Kingdom is actually not on ground level. They had to build it higher than ground level because the utilidors are underneath. In Florida they can only dig so far before they hit water, so the utilidors are actually on ground level and The Magic Kingdom is higher.
- If you look at the second story windows of the shops on Main Street you will see some names. These are the names of the designers.
- When you see an American Flag down Main Street they are also lightning rods. Since Florida is the lightning capital of the world this is a very comforting feature.
- The Emporium is the best place to shop in the Magic Kingdom because they have the widest selection of merchandise.
Tip: Disney changes their merchandise every few months, so if you see something once you may never see it again. You will also find different merchandise in every store you go in, even in the same park.
- As a Cast Member you were not allowed to go to a different lands in your costume because they said that spoiled the magic since every land has their own costume. I have heard that rule has since changed.
- The utilidors are there for one big reason and that is so Cast members can get around and not be seen by the guests.
- When riding The People Mover you can see a model of what Epcot was going to look like.
- If you want a place to watch the fireworks without all the crowds and noise, go to the Polynesian. You can sit on the beach or inside on the there is a huge window and you get a great view of the fireworks and you can still hear the soundtrack.
- It is said that in The Magic Kingdom a trash can will never be more than 30 steps away from you. Watch out for the talking trash can Push.
- The Keys to the Kingdom tour is pretty much the same info/tour they give new cast members. When I started working for Disney I got a tour of the park I would be working at and inside info. I also got to see and experience The Magic Kingdom before the park opened and there is nothing better than that.
- In Liberty Square there is a building that has Victorian style doll in the Window. Many years ago a doll in the window would tell firefighters that the bedroom was that of a child.
- There are no bathrooms in Liberty Square. That is to keep with the time period of that area.
- The Hall of Presidents has the best and coldest air condition.
- On Main Street you can get a cut out silhouette done for less than $10.00. The woman who did one for my daughter told me she had been doing that for over 20 years. She made it look so easy.
- The best place to view the parade is from the patio area above the train station.
- You must try a Dole Whip, it is unlike anything you ever had.
Do you have any Magic Kingdom secrets? Let us know your Magic Kingdom secrets in the comment box below.
Sunshine is a Disney fanatic. You will find her counting down the days until she goes back to Disney, while annoying her daughter with everything Disney.
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For the parade viewing, you mean the train station patio right at the entrance of the park? Mainstreet USA? Do you mind being a bit more specific? Thanks!
Are you sure she was a cast member? I’ve never seen CMs taking a break out in the parks, nor doing anything like listening to ipods. Surely they have to go to the utiladors for break time (except restroom breaks). Maybe she was breaking the rules and wasn’t caught.
Thanks I am glad you liked it 🙂
These are some fantastic secrets! I especially love that tip about the silhouettes, I didn’t realize they were so cheap! I’m definitely getting one done when I go in 2 weeks! 😀
Your welcome and I am glad you found some stuff useful.
It is amazing how much there is going on behind the scenes at Disney.
Thanks so much for posting! I wrote some stuff down to remember for when we go!
I love reading this kind of trivia and sharing it with my husband when we go away. I learned more secrets of the parks when we got to meet one of the “dreammakers” during the year of a million dreams giveaway!
Thanks !! Glad you enjoyed it.
I have heard both but when I was a cast member I was told that it was the designers names.
Thanks ! I’m glad you like it. One thing to remember about viewing the parade from the train patio area is to get there really early because it fills up quick.
Same here !
Years ago we went on a behind the scenes tour and we were told that the names on the upper windows of the shops on main street were the fake names Walt used to buy the property without anyone knowing it was him, not designers names. Does anyone know which it is??
Love this!! Love love! I cannot wait till November when we go! <3 I can't stop planning lol
I love reading articles like these with such unique pieces of information. Keep ’em coming! Thanks for the tip on the best place to watch the parade from. Can’t wait to visit in the fall!
I love looking at new merchandise every couple of trips there. As a passholder, we go once a month….
I love watching the fireworks from the Polynesian, it is very relaxing.
All of the stores and rides will help you cool down but none compare to the Hall of Presidents, in my opnion anyway. Your husband may have given me an idea for another article 🙂
Thanks and I totally agree !!
I got mine done on Main Street, as you enter and are walking down Main Street ( towards the castle) it would be off to your right in a cart down an alley. I believe it is between Uptown Jewlers and the glass shop.
My husband asked for the “Best Places to Enjoy Air Conditioning” list after I read him the fact about Hall of Presidents.
Those are good tips. The chaging merchandise and merchandise differing from store to store can drive me nuts sometimes! But I totally get it. Just wish it was easier to find what I was looking for!
That is HORRIBLE!!! I hope Disney changes the policy back to the original which is what Walt Disney wanted!
I believe the booth is in Liberty Square
We just got back from our trip home, and I was able to use a lot of these tips, and some I’ll have to shoot for next time. I would love to watch the fireworks from the Polynesian! As for the Cast Member rule, I did notice a bit of that this past week, where a CM would wear their costume in a totally unrelated land, and it is something I really had never noticed before.
Where exactly is the place you can get the silohett done?
I didn’t like that rule as a cast member but as a guest I do see why they would make that rule.
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As a Cast Member you were not allowed to go to a different lands in your costume because they said that spoiled the magic since every land has their own costume. I have heard that rule has since changed”
I don’t like it, but it must be true. We didn’t notice this anywhere but EPCOT. World Showcase cast members walking through different countries, but the the worst was the young lady in a Norwegian costume wearing flip flops and listening to her iPod while strolling past Spaceship Earth.