Private bathrooms, shorter coffee lines, and cursed attractions?? People have been GATEKEEPING the best parts about Magic Kingdom from you! So we’re putting a stop to that RIGHT NOW.

I don’t have to tell you that Magic Kingdom is an amazing place filled with amazing things — because you already KNEW that. What I CAN tell you, though, is that Magic Kingdom is an amazing place filled with amazing things you DON’T know about, too.

And that’s what our focus is — the things you DON’T know about, but SHOULD know about, to make your upcoming trip all-the-more… well… AMAZING!

Live Glass Blowing 

There’s LOTS to see and do on Main Street, U.S.A — from shopping, to eating, to sobbing over those initial looks at Cinderella Castle.

But if you step inside the Crystal Arts shop on Main Street, you can see LIVE GLASS BLOWERS showing off their own Disney magic! (Magic that you can PURCHASE from the gift shop shelves!)

Live glass blowing doesn’t happen all day long, but if you swing by the shop when the demonstrations aren’t happening, just ask one of the Crystal Arts cast members when they’ll start back up so you’ll know when to return later on!

Hidden Partners Statue Details

One of the most iconic (and most photographed) spots in Magic Kingdom is the Partners Statue, featuring Walt Disney holding hands with Mickey Mouse in front of Cinderella Castle. This statue was created by sculptor Blane Gibson, who went on to sculpt every pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean, every ghost in Haunted Mansion, every president up to George W. Bush in the Hall of Presidents… and THEN some.

Gibson had a pretty keen eye for detail, which you can clearly see just based on the details of Walt’s statue. If you look closely, Walt is wearing a tie with “STR” on it. This stands for “Smoke Tree Ranch,” which was one of Walt’s vacation homes out in California. Walt was often seen wearing this tie, which is why Gibson included it.

And on Walt’s hand, you’ll see a claddagh ring on his finger. This was the ring gifted to Walt by his wife, Lillian Disney, after she purchased it during a trip to Ireland!

A Game Of Hide And Seek With Pascal

To play a game with one of our favorite reptilian friends, you’re gonna have to go to the restroom. Wow. Now THERE’S a sentence I never thought I’d say. The Tangled restroom area is actually one of the most picturesque sections of the park — with lots of Imagineering details, movie references, and beautiful landscaping.

BUT along with all that, there’s ALSO a scavenger hunt you can play here too — where you’ll have to find the 10 Pascals that are hiding out around the space.

I won’t spoil ALL the hiding spots, but we do have a whole post filled with spoilers if you find yourself stuck while trying to attempt this challenge yourself.

Charging Ports In Tree Stumps

There’s more to the Tangled restrooms than just hide-and-seek-playing chameleons! When you’re near the seating area, check out the fake tree stumps. These tree stumps have charging ports and outlets on their sides — meaning you can relax AND charge up your phone, all in one!

You can also find charging ports and outlets inside the yellow tent next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow, over in Storybook Circus (which will provide you with a little more shade, too)!

Fantasyland  Weather Vanes

Magic Kingdom even knows how to make weather vanes interesting. If you look at the vanes on top of each Fantasyland building, you’ll start to notice that each one is designed to represent the attraction it’s sitting on top of.

• The croc AND pirate ship duo are sitting on top of Peter Pan’s Flight
• The choo-choo train is on top of the Fantasyland railroad station
• The slightly-unsettling jester is on Pinocchio Village Haus
• The high-and-mighty elk stands over the bathrooms near Gaston’s Tavern
• The giant squid swims on top of Under the Sea: Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• And the bat/horse are on top of Haunted Mansion (which… is technically in Liberty Square, not Fantasyland. BUT it still wanted to join in on all the weather vane fun)!

The QUIETEST bathrooms

Sorry, Tangled Restrooms. We love you and all — especially for your impressive theming — but you can just get too stinkin’ busy during the day. Fortunately, there are much QUIETER places to stop for a potty break in Magic Kingdom, too — you just have to know where to look!

• In Tomorrowland, head over to the right of the Space Mountain entrance and find the restrooms behind the Rockettower Plaza Stage. These have quite a few stalls and are usually a lot calmer and cleaner than other Tomorrowland pit stops.
• In Fantasyland, there’s a great set of quiet (albeit small) restrooms behind Gaston’s Tavern in New Fantasyland. (You know… the one with the elk weather vane on top? Just look for the iron antlers and you’ll be there in no time!)
• In Adventureland, the Tortuga Tavern restrooms are off the beaten path and hidden inside the quick service. And since Tortuga Tavern isn’t always open, you have a better chance of having a peaceful tinkle break.And in Liberty Square, the restrooms on the first floor of the Columbia Harbour House quick service might stay busy, but the ones on the second floor really don’t. So when things look too crowded downstairs, head UP.

A NEW Secret Pathway

Magic Kingdom may be the smallest of the Disney World parks (no seriously — it really IS), but you’re still gonna wind up walking a WHOLE LOT during your park day. But there are certain shortcuts to help you avoid crowds and/or cut down your steps — including a NEW one that can get you to TRON Lightcycle / Run way faster!

The path I’m talking about begins around the back of The Barnstormer in Storybook Circus. You’ll walk past some well-manicured bushes on your left — and if you keep following that path o’ bushes, you’ll be led right into Tomorrowland, near the entrance to TRON! This little bush-laden path can shave off quite a bit of walking time, especially if you find yourself in the park during a very crowded day. (Which is MOST days in Magic Kingdom.)

A SECRET Way To Get To Magic Kingdom FASTER

If you’re new to visiting Disney World, you might not realize that the Magic Kingdom parking lot is actually more than a mile away from the actual entrance to the Magic Kingdom.

That’s right — when you drive, you’re actually gonna be parking at a location known as the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Once you park, you’ll walk or take a tram to the TTC, where you’ll go through security and then have a choice of taking a monorail or ferry boat the rest of the way to Magic Kingdom.

So HOW can you cut down on the time it takes you to get from the TTC and over to the Magic Kingdom main gates? Take the RESORT monorail!

There are TWO monorail lines at the TTC.

• The Express Monorail (the one on the left) is gonna take you straight to the Magic Kingdom.
• But the Resort Monorail (the one on the right) is gonna take you past the resorts on the monorail route BEFORE taking you to the Magic Kingdom.

Either way, both monorails will take you to the Magic Kingdom. It’s just that the resort one will make a few extra stops along the way.

If there’s a super-long line for the Express Monorail, you might be waiting through 3 or 4 rides before you finally get to board and make it over to the park. In that case, we often prefer to take the Resort Monorail instead. It may not take you right up to the gates like the express monorail will, but if you’re going to have to wait to board the Express anyway, you might actually make it to the park FASTER by using the Resort line.

It’s not foolproof, but it’s worth a shot!

Find our ULTIMATE Guide to Planning your Walt Disney World Vacation HERE!

A Much Shorter Coffee Line

Looking for coffee BEFORE you start your day in Magic Kingdom? While the Main Street Bakery (AKA: your place for Starbucks drinks) might seem like the best way to get the caffeine in your veins ASAP, that little shop is gonna be PACKED OUT when the park first opens.

But a much QUIETER coffee stop can be found over at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC).  There’s a little Joffrey’s kiosk at the TTC that many guests overlook when making a beeline to the monorail or ferry boat — meaning you might encounter a much SHORTER wait here when ordering your morning cuppa joe.

REAL Haunts 

Haunted Mansion might be known for its 999 Happy Haunts, but there are a couple other more needy, attention-seeking haunts spiriting some of the Magic Kingdom dark rides.

The first is the black bird, perched near the coffin in the conservatory scene in the Haunted Mansion itself. This li’l guy’s name is Lucifer. And, according to Cast Member lore, if you don’t pet Lucifer each morning during ride walkthroughs, BAD things happen in the ride throughout the day — like downtimes, wild crowds, and mean visitors.

Then there’s the haunt you CAN’T see on-ride — over at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction — who can cause just as much mischief as Lucifer can. And that’s Pirate George. When Disney World was working on the construction of Pirates of the Caribbean in the 1970s, a welder named George passed away during the ride’s construction. But, as the story goes, George decided to stick around and “haunt” the attraction ‘til this very day.

Much like Lucifer, George demands his respect on the daily. Cast Members have to say “Good morning!” to the ghost of George every morning when they open the ride for the day, and “Good night” when they close it down. If they ignore this, George will be upset and make weird things happen. Doors might open and close by themselves, phones might ring randomly in the control room, lights could flicker… all spooky, spectral hijinx.

But don’t worry — George is generally regarded as a playful poltergeist, looking to cause harmless mischief and nothing more.

A NEW Life-Like Animatronic

Some of the most ADVANCED animatronics to-date can be seen on the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure log flume ride. Check out the Tiana animatronic!

Tiana is one of the many new animatronics to come to this refreshed ride!

A GROWING Enchanted Mirror

You know what Fantasyland attraction REALLY doesn’t get enough love? Enchanted Tales with Belle! This experience starts off by taking you inside Maurice’s cabin. When the preshow begins, a mirror transforms into a glowing, GROWING portal, leading you into Beast’s library (by the power of Disney Magic).

Once you’re in the library, you’ll take your seat and listen to an interactive retelling of how Belle and Beast met and fell in love. Some guests might even get chosen to play along!

After the show wraps up, you’ll have the chance to meet Belle and take a picture with her! So not only are you getting a character meet and greet opportunity, but you’re also getting a FULL SHOW! Oh, AND you get a FREE bookmark souvenir, too — with Belle’s autograph! Seriously, WHY is this show so underrated again? It’s one of the COOLEST shows out there, bar none!

A Hidden Tinkerbell

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a literal MINE full of hidden details. But ONE of those Big Thunder secrets can’t be discovered until you’re EXITING the ride.

After you hop off the “wildest ride in the wilderness,” pay close attention to the rocks on your left. Amongst the cracks in the stone, you’ll see one that’s shaped like our favorite fiery pixie, Tink!

A Daily Flag Retreat

Some of the longest-standing traditions in Magic Kingdom are the BEST traditions in Magic Kingdom. Each evening — starting at 5PM in Town Square on Main Street USA — a Flag Retreat takes place. During this time, The Walt Disney World Band circles around the flagpole and plays the Star Spangled Banner as the American Flag is slowly lowered. After being properly folded, the flag is then handed to the selected Veteran of the Day, followed by a brief tribute detailing his or her military service.

The daily Flag Retreat is one of those lesser-known events that gets so easily overlooked during the day.

Not One, But TWO Mysterious Tiny Doors

TWO mysteriously tiny doors??? Well, NOW I’ve seen EVERYTHING. Some of y’all may have heard about the secret tiny door residing in Fantasyland, over by the Bonjour Village Gift Shop in Fantasyland (which is rumored to be there because it’s possibly covering up a design error made during construction. A HAPPY accident, for sure.)

But if you head down the path leading towards Cinderella Wishing Well — to the right-hand side of Cinderella Castle — you’ll be able to see a SECOND small door, just underneath the well’s location.

Why is THIS little door here? Who knows! But miniaturized items fascinate me, so I’m glad it’s there, even if its origins remain unknown.

Have You Spotted a Smellephant?

There’s something in the air! Do you smell it? Well, if you happen to find yourself at Storybook Circus in Magic Kingdom, you’ll be treated to some special scents courtesy of the NEW Smellephants on Parade attraction! 

The attraction comes with a fun little scavenger hunt! Cast Members handed out these Smellephants on Parade maps, and from there, we matched each sticker to the corresponding elephant.

Customizable Popcorn

In 2021, the Main Street Confectionery got a snazzy upgrade — which included a little spot in the back of the shop where you can customize your very own popcorn mix! At the Kernel Kitchen you can pick a popcorn flavor (like caramel, rainbow, butter, or cheddar), a syrup (like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate), and then a topping (like M&M’S, pretzels, marshmallows, and MORE) to create something that’s TOTALLY tailored to YOUR taste buds.

This customizable option is gonna be quite a bit more expensive than just a regular scoop of buttered popcorn, but if you’re looking for something more unique than just your regular ol’ popcorn concoction, this could be a fun snack to munch on during the day!

Pixie Dust. And LOTS Of It.

Doesn’t matter if you’re a kid, a teen, an adult, or a grandparent — EVERYONE can get a hearty dose of pixie dusting in Magic Kingdom for absolutely FREE. Pixie dusting is where a Cast Member has you close your eyes and make a wish while they use a magic wand to sprinkle you with lots of glitter and dreams-come-true magic.

To get your hair adorned with this pixie dust goodness, just make a stop over at Sir Mickey’s gift shop (just behind Cinderella Castle), OR Bonjour Village Gifts (across from Gaston’s Tavern) in Fantasyland.

And then? Track down a cast member with a magic wand! They can take things over from there!

Write A Letter To Santa

Over at Magic Kingdom’s Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, Christmas happens 365 days of the year!

And BECAUSE it’s Christmas every day here, kids can send letters to Santa from this location year-round. Using the blank templates and crayons provided by the shop, guests can draft their letters to Santa to let them know what they want for Christmas.

Once you’re done writing your letter, drop it into Santa’s mailbox, and voila! You’re officially ready for the holidays (even if it’s in the middle of June).

The Nixon Flag

Over at The Hall of Presidents, you’re gonna find a unique piece of Disney history even before the show begins. When you enter the Hall of Presidents building, look for the display case with the saddle. There, you’ll find a folded American Flag. But this isn’t a prop American flag that’s been created just for looks — this is the REAL DEAL.

This very flag played a special role in the opening of Disney World. On October 1st, 1971, then-President Richard Nixon flew an American flag outside of the White House. He then packaged that flag and sent it to Roy O. Disney. Roy had the flag flown during Disney World’s dedication day on October 25th, 1971.

So, when you look at old photos of the dedication of Disney World, the big American flag that’s flying in Main Street, U.S.A is the very same one that once flew over the White House — AND the one that you can still see today over in Liberty Square!

Dessert Parties

How can you GUARANTEE a good view of the WHOLE Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular without all the crowd stress? By splurging on a dessert party!

The Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties offer you a chance to enjoy Happily Ever After from a reserved viewing area while you munch away on all sorts of treats and goodies. There are three versions of the Dessert Party that you can choose from:

• The Magic Kingdom Fireworks Pre-Party starts at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant, with dessert offerings prior to the Magic Kingdom Fireworks. After you’ve gotten your fill of snacks and drinks, you’ll be escorted to a reserved standing area over in the plaza garden
• The same goes for the Post-Party, only in reverse order. You’ll watch Happily Ever After FIRST from the plaza garden reserved standing area, THEN you’ll be shuffled away to the Tomorrowland Terrace for a late night of goodies galore.
• And then there’s the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Seats & Sweets Party — which takes place at Tomorrowland Terrace DURING the fireworks, meaning you’ll have dedicated seating from the restaurant for the duration of the show while also enjoying the provided snacks.

The pre-and post party will put you back $99-$109 per adult, while the seats and sweets party will cost around $119-$129 per adult.

Click HERE to see our review — including photos and videos — of the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties!

Plans BEYOND Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

While this amazing thing isn’t in Magic Kingdom YET, it’s being conjured up for the park’s future as we speak. During the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney leaders tossed around some “what if” ideas about the possibility of a new themed area in Magic Kingdom “just beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”

Then, during the 2023 Destination D23 event, Josh D’Amaro (Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman) and Bruce Vaughn (Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering) said that the future expansion plans for Magic Kingdom were going to be the “largest ever” for the park — with stories told on a scale similar to things like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios and Pandora in Animal Kingdom.

So WHAT is this expansion gonna be about? What stories are gonna unfold here?? Well… Disney’s been keeping us in the dark over that regard. BUT they have thrown out ideas for potential park additions — like a Coco-themed area, or a Disney-villains area, as well as several others “what if” concepts.

We’re not sure what Disney’s gonna finally land on, but — when they do land on SOMETHING — we’ll drop you the big news just as SOON as it goes live.

A Sneaky Mary Poppins Reference

Ready to hop aboard the Disney World Railroad? If you’re loading in from the Frontierland station, take a second to locate the wooden leg on the lost and found shelf.

Up on the leg’s thigh, you’ll see it clearly marked with the name “Smith,” which is a silly Easter Egg tying back to the Mary Poppins film. If you’ve seen the movie before, then you already know the scene I’m talking about:

Bert says, “I know a man with a wooden leg named Smith.”

And Uncle Albert says, “What’s the name of his other leg?”

A real knee-slapper, that one is.

Shave And A Haircut!

Feeling shaggy and you just can’t wait to get a trim until after your Magic Kingdom day? Then you may want to swing by the Harmony Barber Shop over on Main Street, U.S.A!

Harmony Barber Shop is a vintage-style salon where haircuts are available for every age, pixie dust and all.

An adult haircut starts at $21, a kid’s haircut starts at $20, a beard trim starts at $8, and the “My First Haircut” Experience starts at $28 (which includes not only a haircut, but also a commemorative Mickey ears hat, a keepsake lock of hair, and an official milestone certificate)

If you want to get your haircut in Magic Kingdom, Harmony Barber Shop does take a limited number of walk-ins each day, but you’re probably better off getting a reservation online before your trip to guarantee a spot in the barber’s chair.

A SECRET StarCruiser?

Want the insider scoop on a tiny attraction detail that even some Cast Members haven’t spotted before? Then suit up, Space Rangers — because we’re headed to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. In this interactive attraction, guests fire their laser guns to earn points and defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg in an epic space battle.

In the final scene of the attraction, most guests are focused on either Zurg being all defeated (spoiler alert) or Buzz Lightyear as he thanks riders for defending the galaxy. But if you look up towards the ceiling, you’ll spot a StarCruiser soaring by every so often!

Our reporters asked a few Cast Members whether the StarCruiser in this scene is supposed to represent another Toy Story character blasting off, or whether it’s supposed to represent us — but none of the Cast Members we spoke with had ever noticed the StarCruiser before, so the answer still remains a mystery!

Splash Pads

You may be REALLY surprised by what your toddler or kid ends up liking best about Magic Kingdom. Because the Casey Jr.’s Splash ‘n Soak Station is a BIG sleeper-winner for a LOT of them.

It’s not a ride. It’s not a restaurant. It’s not even a show. It’s just a Dumbo-themed splash pad area inside Storybook Circus where your kiddo can run around, get wet, play with different water features, and not have to worry about waiting in ANOTHER long line for a ride.

So if you’re just looking for a place where your kid can blow off some steam, track down the STEAM engine of Fantasyland and cool off a bit!

The Rarest Hidden Mickey 

The fact that this hidden Mickey even exists still BOGGLES my mind. Every year — on Mickey and Minnie’s birthday (which is November 18th, so save the date) — a RARE hidden Mickey appears in the queue line for Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid for a super-short window of time.

When the clock strikes noon on November 18th (and ONLY November 18th), an oddly-shaped hole in the Little Mermaid queue catches the sun just right to create a Mickey AND Minnie-shaped outline against the wall. You can find this odd-shaped hole past the outdoor portion of the line and underneath the queue’s rocky ceiling.

And if you just so happen to BE in Magic Kingdom on November 18th, cast members will have this area of the queue blocked off for folks who wanna see the hidden Mickey magic (without clogging up the rest of the ride line).

Bragging Rights

In Disney World, you have the chance to become almost ANYTHING — and you’ll have the SOUVENIRS to prove it!

• Over at the Tomorrowland Speedway, you can get a custom Tomorrowland Speedway license created in the photobooth near the attraction for around $5.
• At Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, you can earn a galactic hero sticker IF you can MAX OUT your score by earning 999.999 points or more.
• And, if you’re one of the lucky kiddos aboard the Jungle Cruise, you might be chosen to become an honorary Jungle Cruise Skipper for the day — which also comes with your very own Jungle Cruise license.

The Spectre In The Mirror

The Haunted Mansion gift shop — Memento Mori — might be small, but it IS packed with LOTS of spooky lore. According to Imagineers, this very gift shop was actually the home of Madame Leota (AKA: the floating head inside the Haunted Mansion ride who’s summoning all the spirits “from somewhere beyond.”)

Although Leota only lived here during her “corruptible, mortal state,” a lot of her stuff was left behind — including her gold-rimmed mirror. If you get close enough to the mirror, you just may recognize a familiar face peering back at you.

The Candle Man

I know you’re probably thoroughly spooked by now, but I’m not done with the amazing things hiding out in Memento Mori JUST YET.

But first, a little backstory: Before Haunted Mansion was going to BE Haunted Mansion, Walt was planning on making it a “Museum of Weird” walkthrough. This would’ve featured bizarre additions like voodoo artifacts, coffin clocks, talking chairs, man-eating plants, and more. Of course, you know how THAT story goes — the walkthrough was eventually ditched for Doom Buggies and Grim-Grinning Ghosts.

However, one of the artifacts that was meant to go inside the original attraction now rests in the attic scene of the Disney World attraction. And that’s the eerie, drippy, melty Candle Man! So how does this tie back in with Memento Mori? Because Candle Man has a COUSIN hanging out inside the shop!

At first glance you might miss it, but if you look closely, you can make out the form of a melted-looking creature as he holds up the two candlesticks atop one of the Memento Mori shelves.

Cheer On The Small World Boats

You might not eat the best flatbreads of your life at Pinocchio Village Haus, but you’re still gonna have a whole lot of fun people-watching here. On the first floor of this Fantasyland quick service there are a couple of tables next to a LARGE window that looks out across the it’s a small world ride.

And that’s already entertaining enough. But what makes these table-views even BETTER are the little provided signs that you can hold up for the small world riders to make them DO stuff. These signs say things like “touch your nose,” “sing Let it Go,” “clap,” “give someone a high five,” and other silly things like that.

It’s always fun to see guests play along from down below — which makes this restaurant all-the-more worth visiting. If you don’t see the signs at one of these tables, you can always ask a cast member to help ya track them down.

The Blue Fairy Wish Book

Wait! Don’t leave Pinocchio Village Haus YET! Because there’s ONE MORE fun activity here that ANYONE can do — and not just the people who sit at a certain table. On the first floor of the restaurant, you’ll be able to spot a little stained glass window with a picture of the Blue Fairy, surrounded by a super-sweet quote saying, “You deserve to have your wish come true.”

And right next to this stained glass window, you’ll find the Blue Fairy’s very Wish Book — where you can add your own personal wish in the hopes that the Blue Fairy will put her money where her mouth is and make those wishes HAPPEN.

The Most EXCLUSIVE Suite

There’s an ultra-exclusive castle suite located inside Cinderella Castle, but very few people will ever get the chance to see it in person (and even fewer people will get the chance to stay there).

The Cinderella Castle Suite was originally designed to be a suite for Walt Disney and his family. But because Walt passed before the completion of Disney World, the apartment was turned into office space instead. Then, in 2006, for the “Year of A Million Dreams” celebration, the offices were ripped out and Cinderella Castle Suite was born.

Unfortunately, you can’t pay to stay in this very special hotel room. Generally, you’ll have to be invited or win a contest to get the chance to spend the night here — and, in the past, you could take an EXTREMELY pricey Magic Kingdom tour that’d include a WALKTHROUGH of this space (but still no overnight stay).

That being said, you can still ENTER into Cinderella Castle and DINE there IF you have a reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table!

Keys To The Kingdom Tour

You can experience exclusive parts of the Magic Kingdom through a cast member-guided walkthrough IF you add on the Keys to the Kingdom tour to your upcoming Magic Kingdom day.

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour is a five-hour experience offering behind-the-scenes access to some of Disney World’s most exclusive areas — like the famous (but only seen by Cast Members) “Utilidor” tunnels constructed underneath Magic Kingdom.

Lunch is included with the tour, and each tour guest receives a commemorative gift afterwards.

Click here to see more Magic Kingdom Experiences and Tours

Hand-Crafted Mosaics (With Little-Known Easter Eggs)

Can’t snag a reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table? That’s okay — you can still walk through Cinderella Castle and appreciate those impressive hand-crafted mosaic murals that retell the story of the slipper-losing princess herself.

Inside the castle walkway, you’ll see five different mural sections telling each part of Cindy’s story. But when you get to the fourth mural, there’s actually some hidden Disney animators here!

The footman’s face is that of Herb Ryman and the gentleman behind him resembles John Hench. Both men started their Disney careers as animators and went on to have a significant input in the New York World’s Fair, Disneyland Park, and Disney World itself.

Oh, and this is kind of a random bonus thing about the castle — that doesn’t have to do with the mosaics but DOES have to do with more small-ish doors? (Because we’re into that apparently.) If you check out the large castle door to your right (when you’re entering through the front of Cinderella Castle) you can faintly notice a door-within-the-door. This feature was commonly used in medieval structures. When the large doors are closed, this smaller door allowed individuals access into the castle without opening up the entire fortress to possible danger.

So when I say imagineers think of EVERYTHING… I mean they think of EVERYTHING.

Even MORE Real American Landmarks

Aside from the Nixon flag, there are even MORE All-American icons hanging out inside The Hall of Presidents within Liberty Square. As you walk into the first room, you’ll see a roped-off seal sprawled out on the floor.

This is actually the “Great Seal of the United States,” made of 100% wool carpet. It actually took multiple acts of Congress to grant Disney the permission to even display it here! Some serious dedication, but worth it to make this spot even MORE authentic than it was before.

Imagineer Tributes

Next time you’re on Main Street, U.S.A, look up at the windows on Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll notice several names listed across the panes. These names are tributes to various Imagineers and some of the Walt Disney Company’s most important people.

So you’ll see names such as…

• Meg G. Crofton (President of Disney World from 2006-2013)
• Ed Bullard (Once head of Disney World security)
• Bob Price (The man who “orchestrated the purchase” of the land that now holds the Disney World property)
• And, of course, Walt and Roy Disney (amongst many others)

Castle Yoga 

What? You never thought about doing some early morning yoga inside the Magic Kingdom before? Because it’s TOTALLY possible… SOMETIMES.

During the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend (which tends to happen toward the end of February each year), you have the option to sign up for Disney Princess Yoga in front of Cinderella Castle IF you’re already signed up for one of their runDisney race events during that same time.

It is an extra cost on top of the race entry fee, but it’s one of the most unique Magic Kingdom opportunities out there. Not to mention, it’s a super-relaxing way to wrap up a race well done.

Remember — runDisney races open up their registrations way early. So if you’re wanting to do something like this, start planning a year out.

Find COMPLETE details and pricing for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend HERE!

FREE Pirate Scavenger Hunt

If ride lines are getting a little TOO long midday, you can head on over to Adventureland and sign up for A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas.

This is a 5–part interactive scavenger hunt where you’ll track down treasures, evade antagonistic scallywags, and learn about secrets you never knew were lurking around this particular region of Magic Kingdom. And after you’ve completed all 5 missions, you’ll earn the GRAND PRIZE — a card signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself. (No waiting in a meet-and-greet line necessary!)

Now, you don’t HAVE to complete all 5 missions if you don’t want to — and there’s no time limit on how long you take to complete a certain mission. But each mission does take around 20 minutes to complete IF you don’t stop to take any breaks.

Oh, and best of all? You get to keep the pirate maps too, whether you finish any missions or not! So at very least, it’s worth swinging by the Crow’s Nest just to get a fun and free souvenir to take home with ya!

An Airplane Missing Its Other Half

Jungle Cruise is FILLED with different kooky secrets and tons of Easter Egg-based storytelling. But one of the most heartbreaking hidden details on this ride is the one you’re gonna find before you enter the Hippo pool on the right-hand side of the boat. That mangled half of a plane you see right there is actually the back half of a WHOLE plane.

The other part of the plane used to reside in a now-defunct attraction from Hollywood Studios’ MGM days, called The Great Movie Ride. The front part of the plane was featured during the ride’s Casablanca scene. As Humphrey Bogart would utter his famous line, a plane would start up behind him.

A Hidden SEA Room 

If you dine at Skipper Canteen in Adventureland, you’re in for a real treat — from the unique food, to the corny jokes, to the over-the-top theming.

There are a few different places you could be seated inside this restaurant — and one of these locations is the S.E.A. (Or, Society of Explorers and Adventurers) room.

As the story goes, the secret meeting room was previously hidden behind a bookcase — which you’ll see in passing as you make your way into the room itself. After you’re seated and you’ve taken your order, make sure to get up and around and take a closer look at said bookcase.

Turns out, there are lots of Easter Eggs titles lining the shelf. For example…

• The Illustrated Guide to Radio Broadcasting was composed by the Skipper behind the Voice of the Jungle that you hear in the Jungle Cruise queue, Albert AWOL.
• Also on the shelf is Boat Evacuation Procedures by Cap. Size. (Hardy-har-har.)
• The Jungle Book title seems to be slightly jutting out of the bookshelf, away from all the other titles.

You know what that means? It means that THIS was the VERY book that you had to have pulled from the shelf to reveal the hidden passageway into the S.E.A. room!

Rocking Chairs At Aunt Polly’s

I’m not gonna lie — we rarely EVER talk about Aunt Polly’s in Magic Kingdom. And that’s because Aunt Polly’s is rarely ever open. But when this quick service IS open, you can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat here within the open air gazebo on the edge of Tom Sawyer’s Island!

(And that means, yes, you will need to ride over on a raft across the Rivers of America to get there… which is part of the fun!)

But even if this restaurant isn’t open when you’re there, the covered patio area has a few rocking chairs lined up across it. So you can still use those to take a load off and just soak in the views across the Rivers of America for a bit.

Create Your Own Tron Figurines

Hey, all you TRON fans out there — how would YOU like to become part of the TRON universe… permanently? You can participate in the TRON Identity Program — over at Tomorrowland Launch Depot — to create your own custom “Program” action figure.

You’ll customize the action figure by choosing a helmet and body configuration — and you’ll also create an identity chip that will interact with some of the other shop merchandise (like Identity Discs and Remote Control Lightcycles). Once you finish this process, you’ll head over to Command Input to record six lines of dialogue. It takes about 20 minutes to make these selections, and then another 60 minutes for your figure to be ready.

This activity requires advanced reservations (although walk-ins may be accepted depending on the day’s availability) and costs about $90 per figure.

Halloween… in August?

Magic Kingdom is just as excited to start celebrating Halloween as YOU — which is why they start their celebrations EARLY. Like… REALLY early.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a seasonal Magic Kingdom event that requires a separate ticket for entry. In 2024, the event takes place on select nights from August 9th through October 31st. 

So WHY would you want to go to an earlier Halloween party rather than one closer to the actual holiday? Because the earlier you book, the cheaper the party ticket!

Morning Main Street Rides

Are you gonna WALK right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A… or are you gonna RIDE down it?

During the day, you MIGHT have the opportunity to hop aboard one of the Main Street, U.S.A vehicles and get a ride all the way up to Cinderella Castle. While the vehicles aren’t available ALL of the time, they’re more apt to be out and running during the morning (especially before the Festival of Fantasy parade — since these little Jitneys will not be able to run when the parade is in motion).

There are two pickup and dropoff locations for these vehicles; one in Town Square, and the other in front of the ever-iconic Cinderella Castle.

You can always ask a nearby cast member about when these rides are going to take place — or you can check for posted operation times near the Main Street vehicle pick up/drop off locations.

The Return Of My Favorite Magic Kingdom Sundae

During Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration (which lasted 18 months and started back on October 1st, 2021), we saw a LOT of limited time treats enter the Magic Kingdom scene. But we also saw some long-time favorites disappear for a while, too. Like my favorite All-American Sundae from the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor off Main Street, U.S.A.

HOWEVER, after all the anniversary festivities FINALLY wrapped up, my beloved sundae returned to the parlor menu! (And all was right with the world.) The All-American Sundae is a combination of Old-fashioned Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream topped with Hot Fudge, Peanut Butter Drizzle, Whipped Cream, and a Cherry.

It’s a pretty simple concoction, but the peanut butter drizzle is what REALLY makes this a #1 ice cream contender for me. (SO creamy, nutty, and downright TASTY.)

Fireworks Views From A TOTALLY Unique Perspective 

Okay, hear me out. If you’ve already seen the Happily Ever After fireworks from Main Street, U.S.A at least once — or you just have an aversion to crowds — there’s a really FUN and DIFFERENT way to see the show… if you’re willing to gamble on it.

Before the fireworks begin, head over to Frontierland and check how long the wait time is for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Now, you might have to do some math, depending on how long the line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is — but ride lines are typically shorter right before the fireworks happen. If you can time your wait just right (or, better yet, if you have a Lightning Lane that can help you bypass the main line altogether), then you’ll have a unique view of the fireworks while you’re zooming along the tracks!

Become Part Of The Show

The monsters at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor don’t just need your laughter to power their city — they need your JOKES and ALL-AROUND participation, too. Before the show begins, you’ll have the chance to text in a quick joke. Make it something family-friendly that you don’t have to think too hard about — because if your joke is chosen, one of the monsters will read it toward the end of the act!

But even if you DON’T text in a joke, you still need to be ready to become part of this improv-like show at any given time! You might be featured on the BIG SCREEN, or asked a few questions to help out an act, or you might even become THAT GUY.

Ah, man, we LOVE that guy.

Keep in mind that not EVERYONE will be chosen to participate in these performances (since there will be a LOT of guests and only a limited amount of time for each act).

Throw Out The First Pitch

Better get your throwing arm all warmed up — because you MIGHT be one of the lucky chosen to throw out the Casey’s Corner first pitch on the day of your Magic Kingdom visit! Every morning at Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A, a First Pitch is thrown… just like in a baseball game!

Usually, Cast Members at Casey’s Corner will ask ONE kiddo if they’d like to throw out the First Pitch (but sometimes an adult might be asked to join in on the fun instead). Whoever the lucky chosen is will typically get a free brownie for a job well done (or rather, a pitch well thrown).

Keep in mind that the first pitch only happens right before the quick service opens up shop — so to increase your chances of it happening for someone in your group, you’re gonna want to rope drop this hot dog establishment.

Restaurants With Parade Views

There are a few Magic Kingdom restaurants with underrated window/outdoor views that aren’t just great for people-watching… but great for PARADE watching, too. If you time your meal just right, and the odds are ever in your favor, then you might be able to get a restaurant seat with a direct view of the Festival of Fantasy parade.

Tony’s Town Square, for instance, has an outdoor viewing area where you can watch the tail end of the parade take place. And the windows over at Crystal Palace might give you a view of the whole parade WITH Cinderella Castle in the background.

These parade-view seats aren’t guaranteed, but you can always ask the host up front about them, just in case they’re available during your reservation time.

If you don’t wanna pay for a full sit-down meal for lunch, Columbia Harbour House — over in Liberty Square — also has select window-seat tables on the second floor where you’ll be able to see the parade from a bird’s eye view These seats are pretty popular though, so you may want to plan to grab your food and (hopefully) find your spot earlier on rather than right before the parade begins.

Plan your Magic Kingdom Showtime strategy by seeing ALL OF THE PARK’S SHOWTIMES in advance!

Looking for EVEN MORE Disney World planning tips for your 2024 trip? (I mean, if you’ve got the time — why not spend it PLANNING, right?) Be sure to check out our 50 New Disney World Tips for 2024 RIGHT HERE…

Okay, I gotta know — are there any amazing Magic Kingdom secrets that YOU’VE been holding onto that you wanna get off your chest? Write ‘em down in the comments so we can ALL have the best days ever during our next trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth!