I Was a Disney World Cast Member, and I'm Letting You In On a SIDEWALK SECRET

The next time you visit Magic Kingdom, I’m begging you to just LOOK DOWN. Yes, at the ground.

Mickey and Pals at Cinderella Castle

I used to work in Magic Kingdom over at the Haunted Mansion. Throughout my time working in the Spooky Haus, I learned a lot about all things ghastly and ghoulish — but I also learned my fair share of the magical details that make Magic Kingdom… magical. (That’s a LOT of magic.) All of those details are brought to you by the brilliant minds of Imagineers who worked tirelessly to ensure that Magic Kingdom is immersive and unforgettable. Some of those details start the moment you step into the park. Let’s talk about it!

When you first head through the gates and into Magic Kingdom, your instinct is to look at the beautiful buildings that line Main Street, U.S.A. before you finally round the corner and see Cinderella Castle for the first time. Your instinct is to look up, up, UP!

Magic Kingdom

FIGHT THAT INSTINCT! We’re here to stare at the ground today, alright? Take a look at the sidewalk. You’ll notice that the main pavement is black asphalt, while the raised bits of sidewalk are red. Ever wondered why that is?

See the red sidewalk?

Well, there are quite a few theories. Some suggest that it was due to a partnership with Kodak, who suggested that the red sidewalk would be more eye-catching for photographs, since it would be located next to green grass. Contrasting colors and all that jazz. Others suggest that it’s for safety reasons, as the red sidewalk would draw the visitors’ attention to the raised curb so that they wouldn’t trip. Others even suggest that it’s due to Disney’s partnership with Coca-Cola! While all of these honestly could have played a role in that decision, the Cast Members are taught something else entirely when they begin working at Magic Kingdom.

View from the train station. All that red!

Disney is all about show biz, baby! The theming of Disney World (and especially Magic Kingdom) is meant to make guests feel as though they’re part of a stage production! That’s why the employees are called Cast Members, why guest-facing areas are called “on-stage” areas, and employees-only areas are called “backstage” areas.

Main Street, U.S.A.

The facilitator told my group of new Cast Members that the red sidewalk is meant to act as a sort of red carpet, suggesting that the visitors are VIPs in this magical stage production. It all leads up to the MAIN event: the stunning view of Cinderella Castle and the Hub that surrounds it.

Red sidewalks

The more ya know! One of the best parts about being a Cast Member was learning about all of the “hidden in plain sight” details around the park. Speaking of which… do you want to hear about some super cool backstage details of the Haunted Mansion? Click the link below to check to some behind-the-scenes deets of my former place of employment. 😉

Come on a backstage tour of the Haunted Mansion with me!

We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news and even fun behind-the-scenes facts we learned while working at Disney World. Make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing.

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