Magic Kingdom

History

Planning and Construction

Although the construction of the Magic Kingdom started about a year after his death, Walt Disney himself had a lot to do with the planning and design of the Magic Kingdom. Modeled after the design of Disneyland, Walt wanted the Magic Kingdom to be an improvement on his original park. To accomplish this, the first level of the Magic Kingdom was a series of tunnels, that would be used to transport cast members, trash and food around the park. These tunnels, called Utilidoors came straight from Walt himself, who while visiting his Disneyland park, allegedly saw a cowboy from Frontierland going to the costume rooms. Due to the fact that that the Florida water table was so close to sea level, the Utilidoors could not be underground, and were instead installed as the “first floor” of the Magic Kingdom. The Utilidoors allow a lot of the everyday functions of the park to be hidden from the views of the guest, this completed Walt's dream of keeping the illusion going for the guests. The Utilidoors were the only part of the initial construction. Another upgrade to the Magic Kingdom, was the Avac Systems. The Avac systems devolved in Sweden where a trash collecting system, which allowed garbage to be suctioned away, through a series a tubes to the dumping point. This allowed the cast members to keep the trash under control and out of the view of the guests.

Opening

The Magic Kingdom was opened to employees, construction workers, local leaders and there families on Labor Day 1971. Soft openings like this would continue until the official opening day of October 1, 1971. On opening day it was expected that nearly 100,00 0 people would be attending, and Florida state troopers were called in. To the disappointment of many however, only 10,000 people actually showed up. At the time a lot of news outlets were reporting that traffic would be a nightmare, and this scarred many potential guests away. New pundits called the park a flop, but by November of that year, people were lining up for miles to get into the park. The height of the grand opening came between March 23 and March 25, when the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary Resort (dedicated by Bob Hope), and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort were all dedicated. On hand was the World Sympathy Orchestra, an Orchestra comprised of 60 nations and led by Maestro Arthur Fielder. Also on hand were Julie Andrews, Buddy Hackett, Glen Campbell, Meredith Wilson and Jonathan Winters.

Attractions

Main Article: (list of Magic Kingdom attractions)

Main Street USA

Main Article: Main Street USA

The Magic Kingdom is broken up into seven themed lands, the first of these being the Main Street USA. Modeled after a small American towns, and set in the early 1900's, Main Street gets its architecture from different regions in the United States including Boston and Missouri. The change in architecture is easiest to see when at the four corners of the land. Main Street begins when guests emerge from under the Walt Disney World Railroad, and ends when they reach the base of Cinderella's Castle. Although Main Street does not have particular “rides” like the rest of the lands, it does have its own unique attractions including the Walt Disney World Railroad, and the Main Street Vehicles. Also on Main Street are individual shops and restaurants which add to its small town appeal.

Frontierland

Main Article: Frontierland

Located In The Northwest Corner of the park, Frontierland allows guests to visit the wild west. Featuring many old west styled buildings, including the Frontierland Shootin' Arcade, Pecos Bill's Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, and the Frontierland Trading Post. Frontierland hosts some of the Magic Kingdom's biggest thrill rides, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Also included in Frontierland is the original Country Bear Jamboree, and the Walt Disney Railroad. From Frontierland you can also board rafts and cross the rivers of America, to Tom Sawyers Island.

Adventureland

Main Article: Adventureland

Adventureland represents the 1950's view of exotic places. Taking its inspiration from jungles in Asia, Africa, South America, The Middle East, and the South Pacific, Adventureland is full of lush plants and exotic scenery. Parts of Adventureland also take guests to tropical Polynesia and the great deserts of Arabia where they can ride on a flying carpet. Home to classic Disney attractions, such as the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management, and the Swiss Family Treehouse, Adventureland is one of the most popular lands in the park. Also in Adventureland is a wide variety of restaurants and stores, which sell items unique to the land.

Fantasyland

Main Article: Fantasyland

Fantasyland is the land that is dedicated “to the young and those young at heart.” Located at the exit of Cinderella's Castle, Fantasyland takes its inspiration from the Disney movies themselves, allowing guests to “ride through” different Disney movies. Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Winnie the Pooh all have rides based on there movies, located in Fantasyland. In total, Fantasyland is home to 10 major attractions, and two character greeting areas. Also in Fantasyland is the opening day attraction, it's a small world, which is a favorite by many of Disney's younger visitors. Fantasyland is also home to a wide variety of restaurants and food stands including Cinderella's Royal Table, which is actually located inside Cinderella's Castle itself.

Tomorrowland

Main Article: Tomorrowland

Billed as the future that never was, Tomorrowland lets guests visit the tomorrow of Julius Verne and H.G. Wells. Tomorrowland is supposed to serve as an intergalactic convention center, where aliens and humans alike can come, meet, and and see the promise of tomorrow. Originally built to give guests a view of what the future would be like, it quickly became evident to the Disney company that they would not be able to continually update the land in order to keep up with the new technologies. In 1998 the theme was changed to the future that never was, giving the park a retro-future feel to it. Fan favorite attractions such as Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin can be found in Tomorrowland.

Liberty Square

Main Article: Liberty Square

Themed after colonial America, Liberty Square gives guest the opportunity to go back and see America as it grew. Starting at the Haunted Mansion in the 1670's and ending at the entrance to Frontierland (1880's) Liberty Square gives guests the feeling that they are watching America grow, and unite. At the central hub of the land, the flags of the 13 original colonies fly along with the American flag. Liberty Square is the only land in the park not to go through a significant update. Everyone of the opening day attractions still exist there, and no new major attraction has been added.

Mickey's Toontown Fair

Main Article: Mickey's Toontown Fair

The Magic Kingdom's newest land, Mickey's Toontown Fair is the place where Disney's most famous cartoon characters live. Originally called Mickey's Birthday land, then changed to Mickey's Starland. Toontown Fair opened in 1991, and takes its inspiration from the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale can all be found in the judges tent, and other surprise characters pop up from time to time. Also, in Toontown Fair is Mickey's Country House and Minnie's Country House, where can take an open house and see how Mickey and Minnie live. Although Mickey's Toontown Fair is full of areas for kids to play, The only real “ride” in Toontown Fair is The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm, a tame roller coaster aimed at kids.

Fun Facts and Trivia

• Cinderella's Castle is not made of a single brick (it is made of steel and fiberglass).
• There are about Audio-Animatronic figures in the Magic Kingdom.
• The Magic Kingdom is about 107 acres.
• There were about 5,000 performers on opening day of the Magic Kingdom, not including the 5000 doves that were released.
• The Magic Kingdom can hold up to 100,000 people.
• Disney's Fastpass option is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, The Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's PhilharMagic. Peter Pan's Flight, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain.
• Additional “surprise” Fastpasses are available for the Carousel of Progress and the Country Bear Jamboree.
• When The Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, adult admission cost just $3.50, a seven-ride attraction ticket book cost $4.75 and an 11-ride attraction ticket book cost only $5.75.
• The opening day attractions still operating as of April 2009 are, The Walt Disney World Railroad,The Main Street Transportation, The Country Bear Jamboree, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Mad Tea Party, Snow White's Scary Adventure, Cinderella's Golden Carousel, It's a Small World, The Hall of Presidents, The Haunted Mansion, The Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, The Enchanted Tiki Room,The Jungle Cruise, and The Swiss Family Treehouse.