Secrets and Fun Facts of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

I wrote an article a while back called 10 Things you Never Knew About Walt Disney World (you can read that article here). That article generated a lot of comments and people wanted to know more secrets and fun facts about Walt Disney World and specially about Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park. So here are 10 new secrets and fun facts about the Magic Kingdom.

Watch the longest running chess game ever!

When you enter the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean, take the queue that goes to the right. Along the queue is the chance to peer into a cell with two prisoners who look as if they've been playing a game a chess for a very long time (since the attraction opened at Walt Disney World in 1973, in fact). However, this chess game will go on forever. The chess pieces are in such a configurations that chess experts around the world agree that the game can never be won.

Travel through time (and no, not in Tomorrowland)

As you enter the Magic Kingdom, you start your day on Main Street Street USA. Main Street USA is designed as a typical turn of the century American town. To show the progression of time from the turn of the century onward, there are subtle changes from the beginning of Main Street USA (near the train station) to the end of the street (near Cinderella Castle). As you walk down Main Street USA notice the street lamps. At the beginning they are gas lamps but by the end of the street they've turned into electric powered lamps.

Find Tom Sawyer's paintbrush and get a FastPass

Each morning on Tom Sawyer's Island, guests at the Magic Kingdom have the chance to win a FastPass ticket. Each morning cast members hide several paint brushes. Be one of the lucky guests who finds a paintbrush and, upon presenting it to a cast member, you'll be rewarded with a FastPass ticket to bypass the line at a Magic Kingdom attraction.

Red sidewalks down Main Street USA because Kodak said so

The sidewalks down Main Street USA are painted red. Now, most turn of the century towns (as Main Street USA is meant to portray) didn't have red sidewalks, so why are they red here? The answer is simple, after much trial and error, Kodak discovered that the shade of red which the sidewalks are painted better show off people and objects in pictures... making any photo taken against the red backdrop a true "Kodak moment."

Arrive early enough and you can wake up Tinkerbell

If you're the first visitor to Tinkerbell's Treasures shop in Fantasyland, ask a cast member if you can "wake up Tink." If you're the lucky first visitor, you'll be given a magic wand and asked to stand over the box in which Tink sleeps. Upon saying "Wake up Tink" you'll see her awake with music and lights.

Cinderella's Golden Carousel? Sure, if Cinderella lived in New Jersey!

Cinderella's Golden Carousel is classic Disney favorite in Fanstasyland. But it wasn't always. Before Walt Disney bought the carousel for his new Walt Disney World theme park, it was a ride at New Jersey's Olympic Park amusement park.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride may be gone but not forgotten

Before The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh arrived in the Magic Kingdom, there was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. When Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was closed to make room for Pooh and his friends, there was an uproar from Disney fans who wanted Mr. Toad to stay. However, the new Pooh rides seems to have Mr. Toad's blessing. As the Pooh ride starts, there are several framed photos. One of those photos shows Mr. Toad handing Winnie the Pooh the deed to the attraction.

There's real American history ringing in Liberty Square

In Liberty square there is a replica of the Liberty Bell. However, this replica is more like the real Liberty Bell than any other. You see, the Liberty Bell in the Magic Kingdom was actually cast from the same mold as the "real" Liberty Bell. And other than the Liberty Bell, the replica in Liberty Square is the only other bell to be cast from that mold.

Cinderella Castle with a red flashing light on top?

Cinderella Castle was built to look tall, really tall. But Disney Imagineers were faced with a problem when building it. According to Florida law, any building taller than 200 feet must have a red flashing light on top to warn aircraft. Not wanting to ruin the illusion (after all, would Cinderella really have a red flashing light atop her castle?), the castle was built only to a height of 189 feet but looks much taller because of the use of forced perspective.

Eavesdrop on a conversation from decades ago

On Main Street USA stop in at the Market House store. Located within the store is an old fashion wooden telephone. Pick up the received and you'll be able to listen in on a conversation between two women.