Hidden Secrets at Magic Kingdom
Did you know that Magic Kingdom has hidden Easter eggs?
Disney is full of Easter eggs waiting for guests to find them. No, I’m not talking about the beautifully hand-decorated chocolate eggs on display at Disney’s Grand Floridian during the spring. I’m talking about an Easter egg that is a secret message, item, or image that has been added as a bonus within a Disney movie, theme park, or resort. These Easter eggs are added for close watchers and observers who are devoted fans of Disney and the brand.
Now that we know what type of Easter eggs we are looking for, you may be asking yourself why these secrets have become so important to Disney fans. By providing these hidden gems within the movies and theme parks, Disney is supplying their fans with endless entertainment. Some Easter eggs are easier to notice than others, but others are more hidden. What started as an inside joke with Imagineers, has grown into a clever way to keep Disney fans coming back for more. Let’s look at some of our favorite Easter eggs hidden within Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park.
Mainstreet U.S.A
Our journey to find Disney’s Magic Kingdom Easter eggs starts the moment you enter the park. Welcome to Mainstreet U.S.A.! Centered in the square, near the train station, is a large American flag. This flag is the only REAL American Flag in the park. There is a ceremony every morning to raise the flag and every evening to retrieve the flag. This ceremony is always accompanied by a United States military veteran who is a guest in the park that day. All the other flags seen on top of buildings are, in fact, imposters. To prevent all the flags on Mainstreet U.S.A. from needing to be raised every morning and taken down or lit every evening, they are missing stars and stripes. This means they are not considered real American flags. While you are spotting the fake American flags at the top of the buildings, look at the building windows. You will find the names of people responsible for creating the Magic Kingdom or the names of the dummy corporations Disney used when buying Florida land for the parks.
As you continue your journey through Mainstreet U.S.A., look down. Do you notice the red sidewalks? The sidewalks are red because Walt Disney wanted to roll out the red carpet for all guests. They also consulted with Kodak to find the perfect shade of red to show up as the best complementary color in photos taken at Magic Kingdom. Towards the left of the Emporium, you will find Harmony Barbershop. Many people do not realize that this is an actual operational barbershop. Although anyone can get their haircut, they have a special package for kids who are getting their first haircut. It is recommended to pre-book this experience as the wait can grow quite long throughout the day. Continue your stroll through Mainstreet U.S.A. working your way toward Cinderella’s Castle. Before you reach the castle, turn right to take yourself to the next part of Magic Kingdom that will launch you into the future.
Tomorrowland
The Purple Wall!
Welcome to Walt Disney’s vision of the future! Tomorrowland was opened along with the original opening of Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. Since then, this land has accrued many Easter eggs for Disney fans to search for every time they visit. Before you go too far, stop at one of the most Instagrammable spots in Disney World known as the Purple Wall. This wall has become very popular, yet easy to overlook if you don’t know it’s there. This is just one of 14 Instagrammable walls at Disney World, but that’s a topic for another blog ;-)
Let’s move on to all the plants located in Tomorrowland -- they are actually all edible! The idea surrounding this is that the future would have a lot more sustainable development making edible plants readily available. True Disney fans wouldn’t be surprised by this Easter egg because, in fact, every plant in Disney World is technically edible. Now we don’t suggest skipping a Mickey Mouse pretzel for a plant salad, but Disney did not want the risk of having a child ingest a plant that was poisonous.
Because Tomorrowland is an original, there are many tributes to former Disney attractions from all Disney World parks. For example, there is a luggage set that can be found at the exit of the ride, Space Mountain. This luggage set is paying homage to a former ride in Epcot called Horizons (notice the Mesa Verde sticker). With such a focus on the future, it is funny to see so many Easter eggs surrounding the history of Disney. This is what gives Disney guests such nostalgia when visiting Tomorrowland and experiencing its charm.
There is an attraction here that dates back to even before Disneyland was opened. This attraction is the Carousel of Progress and dates back to the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The attraction was moved to Disneyland from 1967-1973 and then moved a third time to Tomorrowland in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 1975. What is even cooler about this attraction is that this is the only attraction that was touched by Walt Disney himself at Disney World.
Power Palms!
Keep your eye on the details throughout Tomorrowland. You’ll find former movie props such as the spaceship on top of the Cool Scanner Misting Station, which was in the 1986 science fiction film, “Flight of the Navigator,” along with many Hidden Mickeys. If you’re paying attention to your surroundings, you may notice metal palm trees. Located by the Space Mountain gift shop, the Tomorrowland Light and Power Company (which makes its home in the gift shop) displays a product called the Power Palms. This palm tree product is supposed to collect solar energy and store it in the coconuts that can be seen on most of the trees. The palm trees missing coconuts show that the power company has already harvested the energy. This concept does not seem that futuristic for today’s society. Wouldn't it be a fun project for Disney to turn these palm trees into actual solar energy conductors?! It’s fun to think that we are currently living in the future Walt had dreamed of and makes it exciting to see what the future holds for Tomorrowland.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom is a fan favorite, especially amongst the younger fans. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a great attraction to test your Easter egg-searching skills. There is a lot going on in this ride from the moment you step into the queue. You’ll find a play area for young children while you are waiting in line. This makes for a chaotic yet fun atmosphere to help pass the time. Try your hand at the interactive virtual honey drawing stations if the wait allows the time for it. Since there is a lot going on, some fun extra details are easily overlooked. There is a Hidden Mickey etched into the wooden frame of the house at the bottom of the tree that stands outside of the ride. Searching for this Hidden Mickey typically intrigues others in line, making it an all-out Mickey Mouse hunt. This tree even has a secret: it was originally located across the way where the park’s original submarine ride, Nautilus, was housed.
Once you get onto The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, your search is still not over. While on the ride, a picture that depicts Mr. Toad handing the deed to the area over to Owl can be seen in the second scene. It is located on the left-hand side of the ride and is tough to spot. Even if you know what you're looking for, you can miss it! This small detail was added to show respect to the original attraction of this area, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Make sure you scan the pictures as soon as your “hunny pot” enters the second scene.
Next, head over to Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel to ride Cinderella’s horse. How do we find this special horse? The noble steed is the only horse that has gold ribbon detail on its tail, which directly links it to Cinderella.
Behind Cinderella’s castle, there is a special fountain with a statue of Cinderella on it. Behind the fountain is a colorful mural with a crown on it. If you look at the fountain at the perfect angle, the crown lines up perfectly to look like it is sitting on Cinderella’s head. This makes for a great picture! Before you leave the fountain, throw in some loose change and make a wish. All money collected from the fountains at Disney World is donated to various Florida children's charities.
Before leaving Fantasyland, a stop at the famous Disney World restroom is a must. This restroom is located on the border of Fantasyland and Liberty Square and is themed after the beloved movie “Tangled.” Forget Hidden Mickeys in this area; we are searching for Hidden Pascals! This cute chameleon character can keep anyone busy searching for him while you wait for your party to finish their business. Directly in front of this restroom, there is a small area with tables for guests to sit and take a break. You may notice that there is a tree stump located near every table in this area. These tree stumps have a small cover on the side that protects a couple of outlets (including USB) for you to charge up your phone, camera, handheld fans, and any other small electronics you have that may need a charging boost.
Liberty Square
Liberty Square is designed to take Disney guests into the colonial period. Our first Easter egg is easily overlooked by guests, and maybe for good reason! The brown sidewalk in Liberty Square represents what would have been the sewage system in those times. Because there was no indoor plumbing, it was a common occurrence to dump human waste onto the street. Even though the meaning isn’t a fun thought, we can appreciate the much more sanitary representations of colonial times. The type of dedication to this time period is also reflected in the lack of public restrooms in this area. Because there was no such thing as public restrooms in the time period, you will not find any here! Public restroom signs would just not fit into the theme (now that is dedication!). Luckily, park restrooms can be found in restaurants and just outside of Liberty Square for guests.
This land is completely unique to Magic Kingdom and cannot be found in other Disney Parks. Even though there are more restaurants than attractions in Liberty Square, there is plenty to see. One of the main sights is the beautiful oak tree that is over 100 years old. This tree was originally found on Disney Property and later transported to Liberty Square. If you look closely, you will see 13 lanterns hanging from the old oak. As you may have guessed, these lanterns represent the 13 original colonies. This is a great opportunity to sneak in some United States history on your vacation! The old oak tree isn’t the only area where lanterns can be spotted. If you investigate the windows of the Liberty Square buildings, you will also spot a window with two lanterns. This window is a nod to Paul Revere and his ride to warn the colonial soldiers of the British coming. One lantern was lit if they were being attacked by land and two if by sea!
Frontierland
The authentic features of the old west are what make searching for Frontierland Easter eggs a fun and educational experience. The buildings are made to be replicas of those found in the 1800s. Townhall was specifically modeled after a building in 1867. How do we know this specific year? The Townhall building has that exact year marked on it! Stop on by Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café, as it is styled after an 1878 saloon. Grizzly Hall was also modeled after 1898 historic buildings.
Watch your step! As you stroll through Frontierland, you will notice raised wooden sidewalks. Unlike the rest of Magic Kingdom, these sidewalks were made to be authentic to the time of the 1800s. Roads during this time period were unpaved and consisted mostly of dirt. These wooden sidewalks were created to help keep the men’s and women’s boots and skirts clean. Like Tomorrowland, you will also find memorabilia. This is why stopping inside Frontierland’s restaurants, even if you’re not hungry, is worth it. Keep an eye out for Paul Bunyan’s Axe, Davey Crockett’s gear, and the story of Pecos Bill, himself, when wandering about the restaurants. Kids get the opportunity to live like Tom Sawyer and uncover their own secrets on Tom Sawyer Island.
Adventureland
Our last land to explore is Adventureland, but like previous Magic Kingdom areas, there is a lot to discover. The Jungle Skipper Canteen restaurant has a secret room that you can dine in. It is known as the S.E.A (Society of Explorers and Adventurers) Room and is located behind a bookcase -- which is really a hidden door. The Jungle Book is tilted on the bookshelf door which, when pulled, reveals the secret room! Not only can you enjoy one of the best meals in the park, but you can do it in secret.
Once you arrive at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, the next Easter egg Is unfortunately only visible from the Lightening Lane. It is a pair of skeletons sitting at a chess table. Now this fits the theme as you move through the queue, but the story behind these two skeletons is what makes this an Easter egg. The original idea of the design of this scene is that the two died playing chess locked in an eternal stalemate in their game. The chessboard was originally set up as a stalemate, but close observers started noticing the chess pieces being moved. It was rumored that Disney cast members started moving the pieces around playing a never-ending game of chess amongst themselves.
This side game of chess became popular for two different reasons. One reason was slightly controversial: some fans were not happy that the original design was being changed by cast members. The second, even more popular, reason this side game became so special was that avid Magic Kingdom goers started following the game as if it were a sporting event. Blogs popped up posting pictures of the chess board and the next moves that were made. Chess strategy was discussed and debated. It has never been confirmed who moves the chess pieces and if they are playing an actual chess game back and forth, but the idea of it has entertained Disney guests for years.
Pirates of the Caribbean Easter egg lore is more than a chess game. The ride is rumored to be haunted by a ghost named George that cast members say good morning and good night to everyone morning over the PA for respect. George was an unfortunate construction worker that fell to his death while working on the attraction. It is believed that his ghost still roams around the attraction causing mischief. It has even been reported that guests have shouted out, taunting George, and then have gotten stuck on the ride for many hours due to it breaking down... Be respectful to the attraction as you are searching for the many Hidden Mickeys in Pirates of the Caribbean; you never know if the mischievous ghost, George, is watching (or listening)!
Disney creators have kept the magic alive by engaging their fans in a splendid search for hidden gems meant especially for them. Surprisingly, we have only scratched the surface of the Easter eggs waiting to be spotted at Magic Kingdom. Whether it is your first (or fifteenth) visit to the park, there is always something new to discover. These Easter eggs are one of the reasons this is known as the most magical place on Earth. Happy hunting!