Many Disney fans love to immerse themselves in the “Disney bubble.” Paying a premium to stay on property, buying a Dining Plan, and attending hard-ticket special events are just a few common ways that people surround themselves in the Disney magic. Depending on your personality type and interests, however, you might eventually become interested in how things work behind the scenes. Some people claim that this ruins the magic, while others are fascinated by the process. Wherever you stand on this debate, here are 6 great ways to “ruin the magic.”
1. Look closely
Disney attractions are created using techniques that stem from the worlds of filmmakers and illusionists. One of the guiding principles is to only build what the camera needs to see. Translated into a theme park attraction, this means pulling your attention to what Disney wants you to see, and only finishing those spots that you will see. If you want to find out how things work, try looking closely in directions other than the one in which your ride vehicle is pointed.
Two of the best examples of this occur during It’s a Small World. When passing through the Polynesian room, you’ll see a kid on a surfboard riding the waves. After you pass him, turn around and look back to see the mechanism keeping him “afloat.” In the last room before the Good-byes, with the carousel in the middle, find the lighted roller coaster track on your left. Looking over your left shoulder as you pass, you’ll see that the coaster track isn’t completed.
2. Search for Hidden Mickeys
Hidden Mickeys are the holy grail for many Disney enthusiasts. These “hidden in plain sight” depictions of Mickey Mouse and his friends are always creative and well-done, but searching for them can take you out of the magic. After all, there’s nothing particularly magical about running into walls and tripping over your own feet as your gaze zooms in on a tiny portion of the décor. Hidden Mickey hunting is a lot of fun, but it is not recommended for first-time visitors, as it does mean missing a lot of what is going on around you.
3. Take a tour
Image: Disney
Behind the scenes tours are a great way to ruin the magic. Other than becoming a cast member, how else are you going to see the legendary Utilidors, a mysterious complex of tunnels running beneath the Magic Kingdom, or gaze upon the figures that create the Pepper’s Ghost effect in the ballroom of the Haunted Mansion? Some tours don’t go quite as far behind the scenes, but all give you a unique perspective on the stagecraft, organization, or other technical aspects of the parks.
4. Find a vantage point
One of Walt’s overriding philosophies behind Walt Disney World was the idea of buying up enough land that visitors could not see the real world outside the property. While this aspect of his plan works well, there are places where you can see behind the scenes. Want to know what’s behind a construction wall or a backstage gate? Try going up. It’s amazing how much you can see from high vantage points such as the top of the Swiss Family Treehouse. Keep your eyes open beyond what you’re “supposed” to see, and you never know what you might find.
5. Catch a lucky break
Some of the best behind the scenes moments happen due to random chance. Riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority is a great example. Most of the time, it passes through Space Mountain during normal operations. The lights are off and you can see the distinctively illuminated ride vehicles zooming by. But every now and then, Space Mountain is down for a major reset and the lights are turned on. It’s a great time to examine the track layout and other details of that ride. Of course, if you happen to be evacuated from a ride due to a breakdown, you might get to walk the tracks, descend a ladder, or see behind the scenes areas not available on any tour.
6. Stay really late
If you’re interested in the people power that makes Walt Disney World what it is, stay as late as possible after closing. You won’t be thrown out, but you will be gradually and gently herded toward the front gate. In the meantime, you might have the chance to catch the 3rd shift cleaning and maintenance crews starting their nightly routine.
A particularly fun way to observe nighttime procedures is to choose a night when the Magic Kingdom is open later than Epcot. Leave your car in Epcot parking and then head over to the Magic Kingdom. At the end of the night, ride the monorail back to Epcot. Since it goes through Future World, you’ll have an excellent birds-eye view of what happens after closing.
