The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Orlando is without a doubt the jewel in the crown of the parks. Essentially a Disneyland 2.0, the Magic Kingdom holds all the delights a Disney junkie could want and even more. That being said, there are a handful of secrets that continue to go overlooked.
From Easter-eggs to little design choices here and there, there’s plenty to be rediscovered on your next trip to the place where dreams come true. If you’ve got a visit to the Magic Kingdom in your future, have a look at these ten details Disney hides in plain sight.
Footprints in Cement
If you go to any of the Disney Parks, chances are your eyes are so hopped up on visual overload you don’t have time to look at the ground. However, the more perceptive Disney fan will notice that the company never skips on the details. Even on the very pavement you tread upon.
Closer inspection will reveal different footprints in the pavement depending on the land/park you visit. Of course, the more obvious prints like horses and humans are there, but there are also prints from robots, animals, and even other Disney characters. But the footprints don’t stop there.
Peg Leg Pirate Prints
It’s the little details we really adore. We had to include this fun little tidbit that you should totally be on the lookout for the next time you decide to sail the high seas with Captain Jack Sparrow.
When you’ve properly seen Port Royal completely sacked by Barbossa and his buccaneers and have exited the longboat to your right, venture up the moving incline to head back to shore, but pay attention to the pattern on the floor. If you look closely at the paint job, you can see footprints from a peg-legged pirate going up the moving incline.
Smellitizers
Any Disney fan worth their salt knows that Disney will go above and beyond the call of duty for the sake of immersion. This means sight, sound, touch, and smell are all open targets to make the magic as real as possible. What you might notice is that every land, ride, and area in the Magic Kingdom comes with a distinct scent.
Whether it’s the popcorn and cotton candy on Main Street USA, decay and burning candles in the Haunted Mansion, or the infamous smell of Pirate Water in Adventureland, it’s all thanks to the Smellitizers hidden around the park to perfectly create the atmosphere.
Passing the Deed
Disney fans have been divided for decades on the fate of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in Disney World since it was replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. But it would appear that J. Thaddeus Toad wasn’t so heartbroken in moving on to other manias.
In fact, if you look at the pictures on Owl’s wall in the Blustery Day sequence of the ride, you can see a photograph of Mr. Toad handing the deed to Toad Hall over to owl as a sign of good faith. Seems like everything’s all hunky-dory, in the Hundred Acre Woods, but then we venture to Liberty Square.
Toad in the Graveyard
It might be that Mr. Toad didn’t fare so well after parting ties with Toad Hall and leaving it to Pooh’s Hundred Acre Posse, because the next time we see Mr. Toad in Walt Disney World is as a member of the Haunted Mansion’s pet cemetery! Right amongst the fallen four-legged friends stands a statue of the unfortunate amphibian.
Obviously, this is only an Easter egg meant to represent a fallen former attraction, but it still carries that certain air of dark humor slathered on the Haunted Mansion. But really, what else could we expect for such an iconic dark ride?
Ghosts in the Window
Honestly, we could dedicate an entire list to Haunted Mansion Easter-eggs alone, but this one definitely gets special mention simply because it’s only visible at night. While you’re waiting in line to ride through the mansion after dark, and chances are you will, pay attention to the big glass window out front.
If you watch closely, you can see spiritual silhouettes and sinister spectral shadows cross the glass as the shapes move across the window. In an ironic way, this detail definitely makes the attraction look more alive, as well as hint at the terrifying treats to come.
He’s From the Other Studio
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a beloved, albeit severely dated, fan-favorite in more ways than one. There are loads of little tidbits and quirks about the attraction we could discuss, but one that often goes overlooked is the presence of a very famous voice actor. He might not be a Disney star, but he knows what’s up, Doc.
Dubbed “Man of 1000 Voices,” Mel Blanc is most famous for voicing a plethora of Looney Tunes characters, most notably Bugs Bunny, but he plays three roles in this attraction, namely Grandma’s parrot, the radio announcer, and Uncle Orville. “No privacy at all ‘round this place!”
Cinderella’s Steed
Prince Charming’s Royal Carousel is perhaps one of the icons of Fantasyland and is certainly one of the most beautiful attractions in the park. But the horses have a little more personality than your standard merry-go-round stallion. Especially that one with the gold ribbon around its tail.
Known as “Cindy” this horse is Cinderella’s own personal steed, according to Disney. She’s a beautiful white mare found in the second ring of horses, and she’s perfect for any princess to go for a gallop with. Be sure to look for her when you or your little Mouseketeer take a trip to Fantasyland.
Willie the Giant
While we’re in Fantasyland, let’s get a souvenir to take home with us, and there are few places to grab a piece of the Fantasyland flavor than Sir Mickey’s. Inspired by the cottage from the Mickey and the Beanstalk segment in Fun and Fancy Free, Sir Mickey’s not only has a beanstalk growing in and out of the windows but a giant as well.
If you look at the ceiling inside the shop, you can see the face of Willie the Giant trying to pry the roof off the building, similar to how he peeks into the live-action house in the film. It’s a great little nod for those familiar with the mouse’s work.
Hundreds of Hidden Mickeys
There are supposedly 1000 Hidden Mickeys on the Disney World property, and we’d be lying if we didn’t think most of them didn’t reside in the Magic Kingdom. As Disney World’s best and brightest park, it makes sense that it would have possibly the most in one spot.
Though it would be nearly impossible to name all the different locations these little goobers, we highly recommend starting in Main Street, then proceed to Tomorrowland and follow the area of the park counterclockwise for the most effective Mickey-hunting strategy. You might not find them all in one go, but chances are you’ll find enough to satisfy your Disney craving.
