27 Facts and Tips for Visiting The Magic Kingdom

As I'm sure many others do, I often get questions from friends and family about Walt Disney World. Things that seem obvious to some Disney fans aren't necessarily as obvious for the typical family planning a vacation to the resort for the first time. This has inspired me to create a list of facts and tips I can point to for any newcomer and help them get the most out of their vacation. Who knows, maybe even the more fanatical of us will learn a thing or two here! Maybe even me, the person who wrote it!

The Magic Kingdom seems like the logical place to start this list, being the first park and originally called "Disney World", a name that sticks with some tourists to this very day.

1. As you enter the park underneath the train station, note the posters on the walls. These are all posters for upcoming movies based on attractions in the Magic Kingdom!
2. At the train station, be sure to keep an eye out for the trains that stop by periodically. These are real trains!
3. As you enter Adventureland, you will surely be aware of The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, the only ride in the park like this!
4. The Jungle Cruise was originally planned to have real animals instead of animatronics, but it was decided that animatronics would actually be cheaper because they don't die quite so often and have a slightly lower tendency to maul guests. 
5. Pirates of the Caribbean is a fantastic boat ride that was originally called Western River Expedition, and featured cowboys and Indians instead of the pirates you find today. Much to Imagineer Marc Davis' dismay, the ride was overhauled when someone pointed out that the building was accidentally built in Adventureland instead of Frontierland and was entirely out of place.
6. The Golden Oak Outpost on the path between Frontierland and Adventureland is a great place to grab a quick snack. This was once the only location in the parkw here you could find McDonald's french fries, but this partnership was discontinued after their promise of "There's gold in them thar fries!" resulted in high operating costs and dental bills.
7. Splash Mountain is a log flume based on one of the most well known Disney films that few have ever seen, Splash. This is a great ride for cooling off on a hot day and features a 52-foot drop into the popular retail chain The Briar Patch.
8. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was designed as an extension of the Walt Disney World Railroad but troubles arose when the entire expansion was built without the use of a level. The result is an unintentionally fun roller coaster that remains separate from the park's original railroad.
9. The Country Bear Jamboree is a fantastic live stage show that takes place in The Original Country Bear Hall and actual characters come on stage and perform the show! It concludes with a glorious three-hour finale called A Salute to All Animals But Mostly Bears.
10. The Liberty Belle riverboat is a great place to relax and rarely sinks, so you'll probably be okay.
11. There's nothing in the Diamond Horseshoe and there never was so just keep on walking, understand?
12. The Haunted Mansion is another great place to relax and usually features a pretty short line. It should be noted however, that the ride vehicles are continuously moving and do not stop for loading and unloading. Some of the more ambitious managers have been known to speed the ride up to match the crowds on busier days, making the ride as short as 15 seconds and making getting into a ride vehicle a very difficult task!
13. The Hall of Presidents is a slow-moving ride that takes you through the history of the American presidency. With a little touch of Magic from the Imagineers, guests will have a first-person experience of infamous moments from each President. These include uniting the country following the Civil War, getting stuck in a bathtub and having an affair with Marilyn Monroe!
14. When heading into Fantasyland from Liberty Square, the first thing you will notice on your left is the brand-new Tangled water ride! Be sure to check out this brand new multi-million dollar experience shortly after lunch.
15. After part of Fantasyland got into a bitter feud with Magic Kingdom president Phil Holmes over the excessive taxation of water features, a group of middle-managers decided to break off into a separate park they are calling New Fantasyland. They've even installed a picture of Phil Holmes looking like a complete doofus to mock him.
16. The Be Our Guest ride is the landmark attraction in New Fantasyland, taking riders on a journey through the world of Beauty and the Beast.
17. The area where Storybook Circus is now was once known as Mickey's Toontown Fair, a small area that featured the homes of several Disney characters and a small fair. Unfortunately, the 2008 economic crisis sent Mickey and Minnie Mouse's houses into foreclosure and a lengthy drought left the area with few crops, destroying the fair. With real estate at extremely low prices, an opportunistic carnie moved in and set up a circus on the land.
18. As you enter the Storybook Circus neighborhood of New Fantasyland, you will surely be aware of Dumbo, the only ride in the park like this!
19. The Mad Tea Party is a classic carnival-style blacklight dark ride featuring larger than life caricatures of Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann and Ann Coulter. 
20. Ever wanted to see what it would be like to drive a car powered by Briggs & Stratton? The Tomorrowland Speedway might just be for you!
21. As you enter Tomorrowland, you will surely be aware of Astro Orbiter, the only ride in the park like this!
22. Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe is a great place to dine with animatronic entertainment from Sonny Eclipse. Just uh, make sure to get food somewhere else.
23. The Carousel of Progress is a very popular show and Fastpasses can be hard to obtain. Unlike normal Fastpasses, the Carousel of Progress' Fastpasses are only given out as a surprise bonus when guests get a Fastpass for Space Mountain or Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. It could take all day to get just one Fastpass for the Carousel of Progress but after seeing the show, you will understand why it was worth the effort.
24. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover is a ride that features brief moments in the dark, high speed, shapr turns and sudden drops. Expectant mothers should not ride.
25. There was once a commonly empty stage near Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. It was rarely used and made for a good place to relax. Some frequent guests referred to this area as Paradise due to it's quiet and calm atmosphere compared to the typically noisy and busy Tomorrowland. Unfortunately management decided to pave Paradise and put up a parking lot.
26. Like Disneyland's Club 33, there is a Club 626 in Tomorrowland. This exclusive-access restaurant features signature drinks such as the Tik Tok, and the Cotton-Eyed Joe.
27. To reflect the futurisitic themes of Tomorrowland, there is only one trash can in the entire area. Instead of remaining in one static location, this trash can moves around the land, meaning he will come to you! When you see a trash can roll up, just dump whatever garbage you have on in.

I hope this list of facts and tips helped with your next trip to the Magic Kingdom. In the future, I'll be posting lists for the other three parks as well.