Walt Disney was all about details. No detail was too small. From the sights to the sounds, to the smells, every aspect of the guest experience is considered. Did you know there are some fun Magic Kingdom secrets Disney left for us all to overcover?
You may think you know everything there is to know about Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom…Until now!
Magic Kingdom General Facts
1. “I am not a crook”
We all remember Richard Nixon’s famous line, “I am not a crook”, during his resignation speech, but did you know he actually gave this infamous speech at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World?
Nixon and Disney actually had a long history. At the time, Vice President Nixon was present at the opening of Disneyland in 1955, and then again present with Walt Disney in 1959 to dedicate the inaugural ride on the Monorail.
2. Presidents and Disney
The first president to visit Disney was Harry S. Truman, though he didn’t visit the park until after his term since it wasn’t open yet! Both President Eisenhower and his Vice President, Richard Nixon, were present for the dedication and opening day of Disneyland. Other presidents to visit the famed Disney parks are John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also visited Disney World, but they didn’t actually visit the parks. They just attended Disney Institute or meetings at the resorts. Party poopers.
3. Higher Than You Think
The Magic Kingdom is actually the second floor. You may not realize it, but as you walk down Main Street USA, you are walking slightly uphill. After seeing Cast Members from the other lands walking through Disneyland, Walt Disney wanted to ensure this would not happen in his new Florida Project.
4. The Famous Utilidors
To keep the lands “authentic” and not have Cast Members from Adventureland walking through Tomorrowland, they built utilidors below the Magic Kingdom. This area is considered “backstage” and allows Cast Members to come and go under the Magic Kingdom out of sight from guests.
Fun Fact: There is even a Subway sandwich shop for employees in the utilidors!
5. Trash Facts
(The Magic Kingdom's trash collection system can handle up to 50 tons of trash per day. This is sent through the underground Automated Vacuum Assisted Collection System (AVACS) at 60 miles per hour to a central location for processing.)
6. More about Trash - never more than 30 steps
7. 1964-1965 World’s Fair
The 1964 - 1965 World’s Fair played a huge role in the creation of the Magic Kingdom. Rides like the Carousel of Progress, “it’s a small world”, and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover, formerly the WEDway People Mover, were all attractions exhibited at the World’s Fair. With such a great response from the public, Disney incorporated them into the new park.
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was also another exhibit at the fair, and this attraction helped to shape the Hall of Presidents attraction in Walt Disney World.
8. Disney Trains
Walt Disney had a love of trains that borderline obsession, which is why every single Disney park around the world has a train attraction in his honor. Even Disney Springs has a mini ride-on train for kids!
9. Size matters
Even though the Magic Kingdom is the most popular park in Walt Disney World, it is also the smallest park! At 107 acres, the Magic Kingdom is still significantly bigger than the 85 acre Disneyland park.
10. Massive Parking Lot
The parking lot for the Magic Kingdom is actually bigger than the park itself! At 125 acres, it is 20 acres larger than the Magic Kingdom, and can fit more than 12,000 cars!
11. For the Love of Animatronics
We know that Disney World is all about audio-animatronics. But did you know that there are over 1,000 original audio-animatronics in the Magic Kingdom?
12. Disney and the Super Bowl
After his big Super Bowl win in 1987, Phil Simms was asked, “Now that you won the Super Bowl, what are you going to do next?”. It was then that it was proclaimed, “I’m going to Disney World!”.
This line has been said at every Super Bowl since (with the exception of 2005). It has also become a tradition for the winning team to actually go to Disney World and take part in a special parade down Main Street USA.
Is there anything more American than Mickey Mouse and football coming together in a parade?!
Main Street USA Facts
13. Perfect Pictures of Main Street USA
Disney partnered with Kodak for the creation of