Magic Kingdom Secrets You Probably Don’t Know Yet

Disney is full of secrets that are fun to discover. Many of those secrets are pretty well known; but I’m sure you never new about these. Read on for some Magic Kingdom secrets you probably haven’t heard yet.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Secrets (you probably don’t know!)

Casey’s Corner

Casey’s Corner is a popular stop at the end of Main Street USA. It’s a little too popular. The whole counter service restaurant is not that big and it has retail right behind it. How on earth do they keep up with the demand and make that many hot dogs? Well, it turns out, the answer is simple. They don’t. The hot dogs are actually cooked very close by at the restaurant across the plaza. The seasonal operated Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant is actually hard at work full time making the hot dogs every day. They deliver the hot dogs to Casey’s using the utilidors underground.

Pecos Bill tall Tale Inn and Cafe

Pecos Bill and Casey’s have a lot in common. They are both based on Walt Disney animated shorts. Same as Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed. These American Folk Heroes have an important place in the country’s history and also in Disney history. Pecos Bill is not just a good place for a quick meal with lots of available seating. If you take the time to look around you will see story details in the decor. The Inn and Cafe are where Pecos Bill retired from his
adventures and mementos have been left behind in tribute from his legendary friends.

Magic Kingdom Opened Incomplete

Here’s a secret you may not know about. When Magic Kingdom opened it was actually not finished. A second phase was planned for the construction of the park that involved a much larger and more elaborate Frontierland. Way before there was a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Thunder Mesa was to be a gigantic concealed show building filled with many attractions. One of which was a Pirates of the Caribbean style Lewis and Clark themed river ride. Phase two never happened, because it was too expensive. Also, too many people demanded Pirates of the Caribbean which took funds from the project.

The American Flag

Several of the American Flags you find on Main Street USA are not authentic. they are shy the fifty stars needed to be considered the genuine article. There is a reason for this, however. These flags conceal lighting rods at the tops of the buildings. Disney used “fake” flags so that they could leave them out in rainy weather or illuminated at night. In Town Square, the true American Flag waves proudly overhead and there is a dedicated flag retreat ceremony that takes place every night. During the ceremony the band plays patriotic music. All sing the national anthem, and a veteran chosen from among the guests helps with the process.

Background Art

Disney Imagineers use all kinds of tricks from forced perspective, to color schemes to get you to see what they want you to see. They also like to have fun by hiding character references like hidden Mickeys and homages to extinct attractions. One trick that uses a little bit of all of these insights is the little changes you notice when you hit the right angle. At Tony’s for example, there is a likeness of Lady in the window. In the background the sign for the haberdashery looks just like the hat box Lady jumps out of in the beginning of Lady and the Tramp. If you hit the right line of sight it looks like she is popping out again. Disney used this trick by the castle in Fantasyland, too. The nearby water fountain reveals a crown from the background perched on top of a Cinderella sculpture.

It’s amazing what you can discover at Walt Disney World Resort if you look around! Do you know of any other Magic Kingdom Secrets?

 

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