Secrets at Walt Disney World

There are hundreds of hidden gems at the Walt Disney World Resort. From nods to classic Disney movies to insider details put into the parks by Imagineers, you can find gold when you know where to look.

The “Secrets at Walt Disney World” article has been changed up throughout the years from a list to a map and finally landing on what you’ll find below. It’s not the comprehensive collection, because there are secrets and stories being unravelled all the time.

Let’s take a look at the things in the parks that are super cool to find and share with your friends and family!

The Magic Kingdom Secrets

7 Lands = 7 distinct environments to search for fun.

Main Street USA

Lady and the Tramp Pawprints outside of Tony’s Town Square in the Magic Kingdom (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)
  • At the Train Station, keep your back to the castle and look up. In the rafters you can see some Disney character “items” left behind.
  • Paw prints of Lady and the Tramp are found outside of the porch on the sidewalk.
  • Walt’s name only appears on one window on Main Street. It is the one above the ice cream parlor and is the only one that faces the Castle.
  • On Centre Street: After the afternoon parade goes by, watch the upstairs windows, they will close automatically. That is where some of the music is piped.
  • Also on Centre Street: Go to the end of the street and listen carefully, you can hear tap dancing and singing lessons going on upstairs.

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Fantasyland

Jaq and Gus at Cinderella’s Royal Table Exterior Menu at the Magic Kingdom (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)
  • Gus and Jaq (and many more characters) are found in the breezeway of Cinderella Castle.
  • If you go to Cinderella’s Royal Table, look at the glass menu case. The eyes of Gus and Jaq are actually out-of-place and have never been fixed. Small detail – but hilarious!
  • Behind the castle and to the left is a fountain with Cinderella. When children look at her (from a shorter perspective) it appears as if she has a crown. Adults need to bend (or bow) to her in order to see it too.
  • At the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: In the first room there is a picture of Mr. Toad handing over the deed to Owl. This is because Mr Toad’s Wild Ride was replace with Pooh.
  • In Sir Mickey’s: Look at where the roof meets the walls. You will see Willie the Giant from Mickey and the Beanstalk peeking into the shop.

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Tomorrowland

  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin: The largest point values are in the first room. Turn around and hit the back of the orange robot’s arm or the back of the buzzsaw for a nice 100,000 points.
  • Also as Buzz: When you are in line the “story” of the attraction is unfolding. Once inside, all guests are being ‘shrunk’ to toy size so they are able to fit in the xp 37-space cruisers. This is why, once you get up to the Viewfinder and Magna Doodle and Buzz, they are all the same size as you. Then when the ride is over and you see Buzz telling you your scores and Zurg behind bars, you return to normal ‘human’ size.
  • There are hidden “instagram walls” all around Walt Disney World, but the most photographed locations are in Tomorrowland.
  • Carousel of Progress is amazing – it’s not a secret!

Liberty Square

Liberty Square Walkway (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)
  • Hall of Presidents: Bill Clinton is the only president to wear a tie that features Mickey Mouse.
  • The sidewalks are brown but the streets are not. People in that time dumped garbage out the windows, so Disney made it appear dirty.
  • All the shutters on the windows are hanging crooked. This is because in those times leather was used to fasten shutters on and would stretch over time to hang crooked. The Imagineers used crooked metal fasteners.
  • There is a silver plate that runs between Liberty Square and Frontierland. This plate represents the Mississippi River, separating the east from the west, and there is water flowing out from the plate into the Rivers of America. Additionally the buildings also reflect changes east to west from the colonial style to the frontier boomtown to the southwestern adobe buildings

Haunted Mansion has it’s own section

The Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)
  • The top of the Haunted Mansion facade (building) looks like chess pieces. The only one missing is the knight. (It’s inside) This particular element is rather controversial. Some the chess pieces were intention while others say it was coincidental.
  • Ballroom Scene: the ladies are leading the men.
  • In the scene with the lone piano player, pay close attention to what’s going on outside! Notice the direction the wind is blowing the tree compared to the direction the clouds are moving
  • In the endless hallway there is a chair with a Hidden Donald Duck embedded in it.
  • As you exit look in the pet cemetery for a statue of Mr Toad.

Adventureland

  • Magic Carpets of Aladdin: There are embedded jewels in the concrete around the ride

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EPCOT

World Showcase

Germany Pavilion at EPCOT (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)
  • Morocco: In Epcot, if you stand in the correct spot, you can see the Tower of Terror appear to be part of Morocco. The best spot to see it is near the souvenir stands between Future World and World Showcase, specifically the souvenir stand closer to Mexico. And since both have similar colors, they blend together decently.
  • UK: There is a path running down the side of the Rose & Crown pub, which leads to a ‘secret’ garden.
  • Canada: Watch out for the rock formations on the shores of the Canada pavilion during Harmonius. For the fireworks show, one of these boulders “breaks open,” rising up into the air, a contoured piece of rock topping a pole equipped with lights and speakers for the show. Once the show ends, the pole silently retracts back into the boulder, its rocky top preserving the appearance of the Canada shoreline. It’s all part of Disney’s attempt to preserve show elements–outside of show time, you’d never know it wasn’t a real rock.
  • Germany: The stone “castle” building, located in the Germany pavilion alongside the Biergarten Restaurant, was to have been the home of a Rhine River cruise attraction taking guests on a boat ride through the German countryside. But the attraction was never built. The main entrance to the ride would have been located at the back of the Sommerfest Outdoor Café.

Future World

  • The Odyssey: Did you know that the lake in front of the Odyssey is actually a sink hole? That’s why the lake is so weirdly shaped vs the other side of the bridge. Jim Hill talks about this in the “Remembering Marty Sklar” episode of the Disney Dish with Jim Hill.
  • Journey into Imagination: As you are about to go into the sound room, look at one of the doors, it says Dean Finder (Dreamfinder).
  • Also, in the finale, look to the Figment with the music book glider, there is a Dreammobile.
  • Spaceship Earth: The scene with the monks writing. One has fallen asleep and has a Mickey shaped ink blob next to him.

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DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Muppet*Vision 3-D Security Key
Muppet*Vision 3-D Security Key – Photo by Dustin Fuhs
  • MuppetVision 3D: Outside of the building there is graffiti written all over. Stop and read the sometimes humorous messages.
  • Look for the key under the mat when entering the theater.
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular: There are crates stacked in the bushes that say “don’t open”… Go ahead and open them.
  • Outside of the theater there is a well. Pull on the rope that’s dropped inside of the well and listen.

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ANIMAL KINGDOM

DeVine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)
  • Devine: Look for “DeVine” a real human vine, usually “hanging around” behind the Tree of Life or in the Oasis beside the Kodak Camera Center.
  • Tusker House: Sit outside on the back patio area when you eat and listen carefully. You can hear people upstairs who seem to be having trouble cleaning.
  • Tamu Refreshment Stand: Behind the stand is a half wall where a meet and greet takes place. The paint is chipping and one area of chipped off paint is a hidden Baloo.
  • Kali River Rapids: Go on the bridge and find the buttons that allow the two elephants below soak the riders with more H2O.
  • Dinoland Playground: Try to open the door….because you can’t!

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DISNEY SPRINGS

ART OF DISNEY

They run a quiz every day and give out prizes if you get them all right!


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RESORTS

5-legged goat at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)

CONTEMPORARY RESORT

Near the Monorail loading dock, there is a huge mosaic. Look for the 5 legged goat within that mosaic.

PORT ORLEANS

The musical notes attached to the check in counter translate to “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Fort Wilderness: Look for the lawn mower tree.

WILDERNESS LODGE

Has a smokehouse tour.
Get a hidden Mickey list from the concierge desk and go on a hunt!
Go look for Old Faithful.


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EVERYTHING ELSE

Space Mountain and the Tron Lightcycle Show Building with Paint (Image: Dustin Fuhs / StepstoMagic)

The two colors Disney paints the backstage areas/show buildings are Go Away Green and Blend In Brown. These two colors were made by Disney to paint things they did not want to be noticed.

Most people think of WDW as being “in Orlando”. We Disney fans know that’s not true. But even a lot of Disney fans don’t realize that WDW is actually in two cities. The area that includes Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness is actually in the City of Bay Lake. The rest of the property is in Lake Buena Vista.

Dustin Fuhshttp://www.stepstomagic.com
I’m Dustin Fuhs, a theme park fanatic that has created this platform to showcase my passion, tools and opinions to create a fun and interactive experience for everyone who visits. My goal is to help you and your family have the most magical experience at Walt Disney World. In reading my articles and ideas, I hope that you can find some fantastic ways to bring your dreams into reality!

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