These little-known facts will surely surprise you, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Disney World devotee.
There are secret tunnels under the Magic Kingdom.
It also keeps the magic alive for guests.
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Disney offers afive-hour behind-the-scenes tourif you want to experience it for yourself.
Disney creatively reuses old ride elements.
Olga Thompson / Courtesy of Disney
Recognize an animatronic?
Image courtesy of Disney
Disney strategically reuses audio-animatronic figures and vehicles frompermanently closed Disney attractionsto create exciting new experiences for guests.
Or that Disneyland’s America Sings characters got a new life in the former Splash Mountain at Disney World.
Liberty Square is more historically accurate than you might have guessed.
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Been to the ones in Liberty Tree Tavern or Columbia Harbor House?
Imagineers included their kids in Be Our Guest decor.
Many of Main Street’s flags aren’t technically American flags.
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Magic Kingdom’s Main Street seems to be lined with our nation’s flagsor is it?
If you look closely, you’ll see they’re not technically American.
A secret prank can still be seen at the Tower of Terror.
Courtesy of Matt Stroshane / Walt Disney World
This Animal Kingdom ride has a sibling attraction at Disneyland.
The sidewalks have special meanings.
Disney pays incredible attention to detail, right down to the sidewalk you step on.
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Main Street’s second level pays homage to Disney employees.
Each window is inscribed with the name of an employee who made a noteworthy contribution to the park.
Even the trash is magical at the Magic Kingdom.
Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company
The trash cans are very strategically placed.
And while these ubiquitous bins help keep everything tidy, they’ve also developed a bit of a following.
The Haunted Mansion has almost as many secrets as ghosts.
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Disney’s Haunted Mansion is full of interesting secrets if you look and listen closely.
Star Wars:Galaxy’s Edge has tons of Easter eggs for fans in the know.
A super-exclusive suite is hidden in Cinderella Castle.
Courtesy of Walt Disney World
The tucked-away accommodations are impossible to book.
A lucky few can sometimes stay there by winning a sweepstakes, but what makes it so special?
Inside, a treasure trove of movie details awaits.
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There’s a private, members-only dining club.
Some rides have a signature scent.
Disney enhances the park experience by deliberately pumping scents throughout the park using “Smellitizer” machines.
Courtesy of Disney
You may also notice the dusty attic-like smell of the Haunted Mansion.
The best place to line up for the parade isn’t where you’d think.
The whole production takes about 15 minutes, but it needs to get through all the other destinations first.
Tim Rue
Deciding the best place to watch the parade comes down to preference.
All Disney princesses start as “fur characters.”
These are your typical head-to-toe covered mascots like Mickey and Minnie, who don’t speak directly to guests.
Matt Stroshane / Courtesy of Disney
They’ll also be required to look the part and fit into the provided costumes.
Getting lost doesn’t have to be scary.
At Walt Disney World, there are no lost children, only lost parents.
In most cases, little ones don’t stray far from the last place you saw them.
