Are you a Disney fan or fanatic?! You may already know some of these secret facts or obscure things to look for, however the average guest will not. Brush up on these 25 interesting Disney World secrets and be in the know. I love just how much there is to discover at Disney World!
1. Near the Tangled Restroom in Fantasyland of Magic Kingdom, look down! Near the restroom find hoof marks from Maximus.
2. If you happen to see a 13-Minute Wait Time at either Haunted Mansion or Tower or Terror, walk on in! A 13-Minute Wait at either of these attractions is code for little to no wait!
3. This next secret fact in found in the queue of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Look for the wooden barrels filled with jewels, have your group turn the barrels simultaneously and see the ceiling above you transformed!
4. If you are a Disney Visa Cardholder, we have a hidden gem for you! Did you know card holders get an exclusive Character Experience at Epcot?! Guests can meet with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto or Goofy, come back each day to see who is there. Simply present your valid Disney Visa card. Plus, complimentary downloads of your photos are included.
5. Have you ever heard of go-away- green? Disney uses this color to cleverly disguise buildings they don’t want to stand out.
6. Be sure to look up in the Germany Pavilion to the guard statues. The Woman statue with the blue sash contains a hidden Mickey in the center of her crown.
7. Find Crossroads of the World shop as you enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Look up to see the Mickey, while he is cute he has a purpose, Mickey is actually a lightning rod.
8. Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom is full of historical facts and accurate recreations. One of these being the fact that there are no restrooms in Liberty Square for guests, as restrooms were not in homes during the colonial times.
9. Also in Liberty Square, see the darker brown pavement running through Liberty Square, this represents waste as people would throw it out the window.
10. Next time you are in the queue of the Haunted Mansion, take some time to read the 5 sculptures near the entrance. Each of the Dread’s family bust has a saying on how they died, but also provides clues for you to figure out how with an intriguing murder mystery.
11. Look up at The Contemporary Resort and see a huge mosaic art piece. This piece was completed in 1971 when the Resort opened, created by artist, Mary Blair. She knows nothing is perfect, even art, and wanted to add an imperfection, hence look for the 5-legged Disney Goat (done on purpose).
12. Did you know there is a Hidden Pascal Game at Disney World? Keep your eye out while exploring Fantasyland as some are located here! Such as the one above, on the edge of the stream before the bridge.
13. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh location previously housed, Mr. Toads Wild Ride. A nod to this can be found as you enter the Owl’s House with a picture of Mr. Toad handing over the deed to Owl.
14. Ride The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros in the Mexico Pavilion of the World Showcase. Look for the hidden Mickey in the final scene of the boat ride. Look to the small boat saying, VIVA DONALD, it is here you will find the 3 drums forming a hidden Mickey!
15. Disney’s Animal Kingdom was originally designed to house more than just real animals, but showcase extinct and imaginary animals as well. This is evident in the mysterious Dragon located in the sign of Disney’s Animal Kingdom sign (see picture at top). This never came to life, although in a way Pandora – World of Avatar does fulfill some of the original plan.
16. Fun fact about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is that the vultures near the mine entrance and figures of Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Happy and Bashful in the cottage were previously found in another attraction – Snow White’s Scary Adventure (now closed)!
17. The Lions often majesticly sit on these rocks as guests will see during their ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris. However, there is a secret reason why! The rocks are actually air-conditioned to help the Lions in the Florida heat!
18. At Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios, guests are shrunk down to the size of a toy. One reminder of the size of guests in this land, is the huge footprint left by Andy in the pavement.
19. Guests can discover a hidden key at Muppet Vision 3D in Hollywood Studios. Look for the, “Back in 5 minutes key is under mat….” sign. Then look down for the mat and lift to reveal the hidden key! This is a fun one for kids to discover themselves.
20. Found in Liberty Square of Magic Kingdom is a historical touch to look up for. It is a reference to Paul Revere’s Ride line, “One if by land, and two, if by sea“. One lantern meant British was coming by land and two by water (which was a faster route). This warning of 2 lanterns is scene if you look up in Liberty Square today at Disney World.
21. Did you know Animal Kingdom has a lesser known entrance through the Rainforest Café restaurant? After bag check, enter through Rainforest Café, head through the gift shop. Then, exit the doors to turnstiles entering guests into Animal Kingdom. This is a great strategy for rope drop, to get ahead of the crowd.
22. Magic Kingdom has secret underground tunnels, called Utilidors. These are used for cast members on shift breaks and to move from land to land without guests seeing. See these tunnels during the Keys to the Kingdom tour.
23. The majority of the Tombstones found outside the attraction are tributes to former Disney Imagineers, including those who worked on The Haunted Mansion. Such as Gordon, for Gordon Williams who worked on many sounds effects for The Haunted Mansion and more.
24. There is only one True American Flag at Magic Kingdom, found on the flag pole in Town Square. This is due to the work involved in to complete the nightly protocol of lowering each flag each night. Guests can watch the daily Flag Retreat in Town Square daily at 5:30pm. As for the other flags, count the stars and you will not find 50.
25. Next time you are riding Kilimanjaro Safaris, take a closer look at the Flamingo Island! This island is actually a Hidden Mickey.
Learn more about the Walt Disney World Parks including attractions, secrets, tips and more. Plus my friends at Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect Walt Disney World vacation.