Our Family Ramblings!

It is that time again!!!  Time where we explore and reveal some interesting facts that you may not have known about Disney or the Walt Disney Company!!!!!!!!

Our last list of facts can be found here!

This edition will be only Magic Kingdom facts!!!

~The park was built over a huge underground complex. Disney did not dig tunnels under the Magic Kingdom. The corridors were built at ground level. The tunnel complex consists of 15 foot high walkways, meeting rooms, computer rooms, etc. with all having exposed utilities (it somewhat resembled a parking garage). The tunnel complex originates from the castle and spreads out like spokes from a wheel to the other lands. In fact, the bottom two floors of the castle consists of the tunnel complex.

~No guests under 16 is allowed in the tunnel system because it would bother children, seeing two Goofys passing each other, Mickey without a head, seeing Minnie eating with Snow White, and ruin the magic.

~The buildings on Main Street are built with "forced perspective." In fact, most multi-story buildings in the Magic Kingdom use this technique. The first floors are near regular size, but the second and third floor facades are built to 5/8 and 1/2 scale, giving the illusion that the entire building is taller than it actually is. The space above the shops is used for storage and offices. The offices over Main Street have windows looking out toward backstage. The office walls are 3-4 feet away from the false windows on Main Street. The second floor of some restaurants and shows (such as the Diamond Horseshoe) are also used for storage and dressing rooms.

~If you look at the second floor of the shops on Main Street, you will see names in the windows. When Walt was building the park he wanted to credit the designers so he put their names above the stores. The art designers are on the arts and crafts store, and so on. Walt's name, is on the train station (which is one of his loves) and the shop that sells his favorite dessert -- ice cream!

~As you approach the Castle and walk up the right-side walkway (not the walkway leading into the Castle but next to the Castle), there is a water fountain. Behind the water fountain, there is a small fountain with a statue of a princess in it. Behind the statue, there is a crown painted on a mural. If you get down real low as you are drinking water from the water fountain & look up, the crown appears to be sitting on top of the head of the princess. It was intentionally painted there so that when children look at the statue while drinking, they could see the "crowned princess" in clear view!~Although the castle is 180 feet tall, the design with forced perspective creates the illusion that the castle is 300 feet tall.

Hope you enjoyed a few fun facts!!!  Thanks for www.hiddenmickey.org!!!
Keep checking back... we just might have some cool EPCOT facts!!

Have a great weekend!