IMPORTANT FIRST TIMER FACTS AND LITTLE KNOWN DISNEY SECRETS

LEARN THESE IMPORTANT FIRST TIMER FACTS AND LITTLE KNOWN DISNEY SECRETS

Hello all,

One of my most favorite places to visit in Florida is Disneyworld. In fact I'll be going with my granddaughter on her very first trip there next month! Of course I've done my research and found some important first timer facts to know before you go, and some little known Disney secrets to share!

One thing I feel that's important is Disney has a free app called My Disney Experience that shows you the ride wait times, maps, characters, FastPass reservations and dining info. This is one I definitely will be using. FastPass is something I'll have to try this time. It allows guests to reserve a time  for a ride at their choosing in advance. This way you avoid long lines for the ones you want to ride the most. You can do this the day you visit by going to one of the kiosks or by using the My Disney Experience app on your phone. It lets you schedule 3 FastPass reservations per park per day. Definitely a time saver. 

I've been hearing great things about Disney's MagicBands. Apparently they are only available here in Florida. It's a wristband with an embedded RFID chip that guests wear. It links to their tickets, resort room keys, dining reservations, FastPass info, and can even link to your credit card. It sounds very easy to use and convenient. 

This is an important first timer fact and time saving option for parents, the Rider Switch Pass. This allows one parent to stay with a child who isn't riding a particular ride. When the riding parent is done, the waiting parent can then use the pass and ride by using the fastpass return line. This pass is actually good for 3 people, so some who may have already rode can ride again.

If you are lucky enough to be staying at one of the Walt Disney World resorts, you can take advantage of their Extra Magic Hours. It lets you enter one hour before the official opening time, and stay for two hours after general public closing time. you can do a lot in that amount of time with very little people there.

Now for some little known Disney secrets:

Of the Presidential Seals in this country, one is located in the Hall of Presidents at Disney World. The other two are in the Oval Office and the hall where the Liberty Bell is housed.

Strategically placed devices called smellitizers are dispersed throughout the park and emit certain scents like the smell of cookies and vanilla on Main st. 

 Inside Cinderella Castle is a luxurious suite that can’t be booked and you can only stay there if you win a contest.

Utilidors is the name given to a secret tunnel system under the Magic Kingdom which is used by cast members and other employees to navigate the park unnoticed

 If you look, you’ll notice thousands of hidden Mickey’s through the parks.

 Gum isn’t sold in any of the park to minimize the risk of people disposing their gum on rides and dropping it on the ground.

 When Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride closed, a tombstone for Mr. Toad was placed in the graveyard at The Haunted Mansion.

The same dog is used in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Carousel of Progress.

When Pirates of the Caribbean was being built in 1967, Disney Imagineers didn’t like the look of the false skeletons placed around the ride. So, with the help of UCLA medical school, they were able to place actual human skeletons around the ride. Most have been removed, though the skull and crossbones on the headboard are still human.

There are no bathrooms located in the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square. This is done to keep with the time period of that area.

Look down when in line at The Haunted Mansion, and you might spot a wedding ring embedded into the concrete. It’s believed to belong to the hanging bride who you see on the ride.

 Epcot’s American Pavilion is home to an American flag taken from the rubble of 9/11/2001.

 Guests in Walt Disney World are never more than 30 steps away from a trash can.

Visit The Hat shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and you'll see an old pay phone on the wall. Pick up the receiver and you can eavesdrop on an interesting conversation.

 An imagineer named George was killed during the building of Pirates of the Caribbean.  It is said his ghost haunts the ride to this day. Workers say goodnight George before they shut down the ride each night as a superstition to prevent the attraction from breaking down the next day.

 The lake used for Fantasmic is only about 1 foot deep.

 You never have to pay for water in Disney World. Just go to any quick service restaurant in the park and ask for a cup.

When aboard the Mark Twain River Boat ride ask the pilots if you can visit the captains room. This is a secret code that will grant you access to the room the ship is piloted from.

Main Street USA is a little slice of Americana. Above this idyllic small town setting you’ll find about a dozen American flags. One thing though, none of them have 50 stars.

Columbia Harbor restaurant has two entrances. From the one in Fantasyland, the decor is British. From the one in Liberty Square, the decor is early American. The restaurant symbolizes crossing the Atlantic from Europe to America, from a land of castles and fairy tales to new, thriving colonies.

So enjoy yourself next time visiting Disney and be on the lookout for more secrets to uncover!

Important first timer facts and little known disney secrets

Important first timer facts and little known disney secrets

Important first timer facts and little known Disney secrets