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As I said in yesterday’s article, in the past, I’ve written about the details in the Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios, that help to make for Magical Experiences while you are in Walt Disney World. There are details in The Magic Kingdom that can help make Magical Experiences as well. And as I sat to write about the details in the Magic Kingdom, I found myself with so many details about Main Street USA, that I was compelled to split the Details of the Magic Kingdom into more than one article. So, today I present the second of the two part article the Unknown Magic of the Details in the Magic Kingdom.

In the Magic Kingdom, there are many details that go unnoticed by many people. Some very little, some that are bigger, but still not noticed. Some of the big things that get unnoticed are the two buildings in the park that are dedicated to classic Disney Shorts based on Tall Tales. The one is Casey’s Corner, mentioned in yesterday’s post and the other is the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn Café. Another rather large item that gets overlooked by a lot of the guests is the Disneyodendron Eximus. This is the type of tree that the Swiss family Robinson Tree House is in. As amazing as it seems, this tree is native to Florida and to the Magic Kingdom, only because it was made by the Disney Imagineers, for this particular attraction. If you have not been into the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, it is pretty neat and something that kids will find as a Magical Experience thinking about how to get a tree house like this of their own. The details that they add here for the items that the family has are pretty cool. Also, make sure you take a look for the flag that flies above the tree house. This is the only flag from another nation that flies
Permanently over a Disney attraction.

Some other details that make the Adventureland area of the Magic Kingdom more Magical happen in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. As you are walking through the queue, take a look down at the different objects they have for you to see. One of the holes has a couple of pirate skeletons. They were playing chess before their deaths, and the board is set in such a way, that no one can win. It is little details like this that people miss, and the Imagineers take pride in adding to the attractions.

One of my favorite details throughout the Magic Kingdom is the use of music in each of the different lands. To go from the beating drums as you enter Adventureland, to the calming sounds when you leave to go to Frontierland and then the old western kind of music in Frontierland. It adds to the ambiance and the whole feel of the area you are in. To hear the Wabash Cannonball being played as you are walking past Town Hall or the shooting gallery makes a Magical Experience for me every time I’m in Frontierland.

Over in Liberty Square, the details of the colonial houses are fantastic, little things like the shutters being hanged crooked, because way back when they were hung by leather straps that would stretch over time. Or the details of there being two lanterns in a window on the side of the Hall of Presidents; this is from the poem describing Paul Revere’s ride, one if by land, two if by sea. Another Liberty Square detail that is overlooked while being looked at is the Liberty Bell. It is not only a replica, of the Liberty, but it is made from the same mold the original Liberty Bell was made from.

There are so many details in Fantasyland that can help to make Magical Experiences, everything from Donald Duck sticking through the wall in the gift shop that is connected to Mickey’s Philharmagic, Dopey waving goodbye to you as you leave Snow White’s Scary Adventure, that I will just say that you need to look around Fantasyland yourself to discover them.

One of my favorite details in the Magic Kingdom comes in my least favorite attraction. In Stitch’s Great Escape, you actually sense that Stitch is running amok all around you. At one point in the dark, you feel his presence in front of you and then, he unleashes a burp. The details of this are so real, that you actually can feel yourself getting ill. I have not had anyone, say that it is their favorite detail, but I have heard a few young kids, come out of the attraction still all excited about it, so I guess it can help with a Magical Experience for someone.






The last of the details I want to bring to your attention are found in the Castle. They are such great details, that are missed by people, because they are smaller than most of the details I have mentioned so far. But even though they are small, they can provide Magical Experiences. To find these details, you need to walk through the castle. As you are enjoying the mosaic and the story of Cinderella, you need to look up. As you do, you will find two Unknown Magics that a cast member pointed out to me many years ago; Gus and Jaq are on the ledge looking down on the visitors to the castle. If your little Princess loves the Cinderella videos,they will love seeing Gus and Jaq looking down on them.



Picture by Bill Iadonisi



So, now you know, there are some pretty big and some awfully small details that many guests miss, that the Disney Imagineers added to the magic Kingdom, for you to enjoy. To find these Unknown Magics and create Magical Experiences, you need to take your time and look for things like lanterns in windows and characters waving good-bye.

* Special, Thank You Bill for providing the picture of Gus and Jaq.

** I did not write anything about the Huanted Mansion in this article, because the Unknown Magics of the Haunted Mansion will be a seperate article coming soon. Please look for it in the future.**