52 “Secret” Things To Do At Disney World
Disney World is a BIG place with so much to do!
Main Street U.S.A.
So much to do, you couldn’t possibly do it ALL in one trip. Even the locals who visit regularly still haven’t done it ALL. Partly because Disney keeps changing, evolving, growing, and adding fun new tidbits, and partly because there are SECRET things to do in Disney World!
There are lots of hidden secrets tucked into the four parks and die-hard Disney fans know a LOT of them. Maybe you’re the one who’s spouting about Hidden Mickeys and Imagineer touches, but we’ve got a few facts that might surprise even the most avid Disney World fans.
Let’s start off in Disney World’s cornerstone park, Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom
1. Star in your own “movie”
Right off the bat, you’re probably doing something every trip, and you don’t even know you’re doing it (that’s how secret it is!). Most folks know that Walt Disney was a storyteller, and his parks are a way of continuing that experience and putting YOU in the starring role of your own story, and that story is played out during your day in Magic Kingdom.
Mornings at Magic Kingdom!
You start out walking the red carpet (or pavement in this case) up to the park and the Railroad Station acts as the “curtain” in front of the screen, blocking your view of the coming adventure. As you pass under the railroad, you’ll see attraction posters on both walls, which act as “previews” or “trailers” before the feature film. Cinderella Castle you’ll see ahead of you will draw you further into the plot, as your story takes its first turn. Every guest then gets to star in their own adventure as each attraction you experience helps you complete the story of your day leading up to the grand finale, the fireworks, of course!
2. Write a letter to Santa
Over at Magic Kingdom’s Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, it’s Christmas every single day! And because it’s Christmas every day, kids can send letters to Santa from this location year-round.
Letters for Santa Mailbox at Liberty Square
And it’s actually a pretty adorable set-up! Using the blank templates and crayons the location provides, guests can draft their letters to Santa. Once you’re done writing your letter, drop it into Santa’s mailbox, and voila! You’re officially ready for the holidays.
3. View real American landmarks
As you walk into The Hall of Presidents in Magic Kingdom, you’ll see a roped-off seal on the floor. This is actually the “Great Seal of the United States.” According to AllEars.net, the seal is made of 100% wool carpet. And, what’s really special about it is it actually took multiple acts of Congress to grant Disney the permission to even display this seal!
Presidential Seal
That’s some serious dedication to making sure this spot felt and looked very authentic.
4. Go on a Pirate Quest
A Pirate’s Adventure: Legend of the Seven Seas is an interactive Pirates of the Caribbean-themed treasure hunt in Magic Kingdom.
A Pirate’s Adventure
This fun, interactive adventure is FREE and a great way to explore Magic Kingdom from a new perspective. You can stop by the Crow’s Nest near Pirates of the Caribbean to start your journey today!
5. Ride on Cinderella’s Horse
If you look from the direct center of Main Street, U.S.A., you can get a peek of it spinning in the distance just beyond Cinderella Castle… Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is a treasure of a merry-go-round featuring 90 horses — each beautifully and uniquely decorated — donning vibrant colors and garlands, all ready to carry royalty.
©Disney
This historic attraction was built in 1917 and was originally known as the Liberty Carrousel at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, MI. It was an Opening Day Attraction (October 1, 1971) in Magic Kingdom. (And if you look for the horse with a golden ribbon wrapped around its tail, then congratulations… you’ve found Cinderella’s horse!)
6. Get Pixie-Dusted
You might be familiar with the popular Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience, where young ones can get the special treatment from a Fairy Godmother in Training and have a makeover inspired by their favorite hero or heroine. You might even also know about the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. where tykes (and adults) can get a haircut. But there’s a secret little FREE experience you can find tucked away in Fantasyland.
Sir Mickey’s
You can ask a Cast Member to be pixie dusted at the counter in Sir Mickey’s gift shop! They will bring out their magic wand, say the magic words, and sprinkle you with this magical fairy dust.
7. Pull the Sword from the Stone
After you get pixie dusted, and ride on Cinderella’s horse on the carrousel, you don’t have to go far to find the next “secret” thing to do. In front of Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel, as you’re facing the Castle you’ll find the Sword in the Stone — inspired by the legends of Camelot and King Arthur.
Fantasyland
You, too, can grasp the hilt of Excalibur and see if you can pry it from the stone and be crowned King (or Queen) of all England, as the legend goes. But if you do happen to pry it loose, don’t try to move into Buckingham Palace yet, the current residents might have their own take on succession.
8. Create Your Own Popcorn Mix
In 2021, the Main Street Confectionery got a bit of an upgrade, including a little spot in the back of the shop where you can customize your own popcorn mix! At the Kernel Kitchen you can pick a popcorn flavor (caramel, rainbow, butter, or cheddar), a syrup (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate), and then select from a multitude of candies to top off your treat (we’re talking M&M’S, pretzels, marshmallows — the WORKS).
Kernel Kitchen
The custom popcorn is priced at $12.99 for 2 toppings and a syrup, $13.99 for 3 toppings and a syrup, and $1 for additional toppings. The Kernel Kitchen is a really fun concept that allows you to put a unique spin on a classic treat. At $12.99, $13.99, or more (if you add more toppings), it is a pretty high price point, though, especially considering the fact that a regular bag of buttery popcorn in Disney World will typically set you back $5.25. Still, if you’re looking for something unique and have many popcorn lovers in the group, this could be a fun snack.
9. View a Once a Year Hidden Mickey
For the most part, hidden Mickeys are available to find year-round. BUT if you want to find this one, you’ll have to visit Disney World on Mickey’s birthday — November 18th. Once a year, on November 18th at noon, a SUPER special hidden Mickey appears in part of the queue to Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid.
Is that Mickey AND Minnie?!
Holes in the rock work were made so that when the sun shines through on that date and time, a Mickey-shaped light appears on a rock wall in the queue. It’ll only last a few minutes though, so you’ll need to be there right on time!
10. Solve a Mystery
In the Haunted Mansion queue, there’s a little “who done it” mystery played out with a collection of busts near the front of the queue and the rhyming plaques underneath them. Each plaque provides a little riddle as to how that individual died and a little clue for who they might’ve killed. Let’s look at the first victim: Uncle Jacob.
UNCLE JACOB
Greed was the poison
He had swallowed
He went first
The others followed
His killer’s face
He surely knew
Now try to discover
Who killed who
Haunted Mansion Graveyard
We know he died first, and he was killed by poison. And if you look around the other busts, you’ll notice that Bertie’s plaque has a little poison vial on it. So, he was the one who did in Uncle Jacob.
We won’t spoil the rest for you, but read the plaques carefully to solve the mystery!
30 Hidden Secrets in Magic Kingdom
EPCOT
11. Spice Road Table Serves Drinks To-Go
Drinking around World Showcase is a popular quest and a fun way to try a beer, wine, or cocktail (or soda!) you might not otherwise try. Because it’s so popular, you’ll probably find lines at the most popular beverage spots and kiosks. While you’re on your thirst-quenching quest, a secret spot to grab a to-go cocktail without waiting in a long line is in Morocco at Spice Road Table.
Spice Road Table Bar
To dine here, you’ll need to make Advanced Dining Reservations. But if you’re just looking for a drink, you can go up to the bar and order one (the sangrias are particularly delightful), and get it to go so you can sip, savor, and saunter around World Showcase. Though drinking around World Showcase is a common endeavor, we always want to take a moment to recommend health and safety. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, eat plenty of snacks to keep something stable in your blood stream, avoid over-indulging, and make sure you have a safe way to get back to your home or resort.
12. Visit a Secret Lounge in EPCOT
Looking for a quiet spot to take a break during a busy day in EPCOT? If you’re a member of Disney’s Vacation Club, you have access to an exclusive lounge housed inside one of EPCOT’s iconic attractions. Members visiting EPCOT can head into the Imagination! Pavilion and relax in the lounge. The lounge includes comfy seats, complimentary soft drinks, Wi-Fi, charging stations, a printer, and more.
©Disney
Wondering where this lounge is exactly? It’s on the second floor of the ImageWorks merchandise location that you go through after riding Journey Into Imagination With Figment. The lounge is currently open from 11AM to 6PM daily.
13. Save the World with Uncle Scrooge
Did you know there’s ANOTHER way to play in Disney Parks? All you have to do is download the Play Disney Parks app to access all sorts of games, including ones exclusive to when you’re INSIDE Disney World. Now, there’s a new WAY to play in EPCOT through the app: Ducktales Showcase Adventure.
©Disney
The game is a scavenger hunt for both “the young and young-at-heart” to play a DuckTales-themed game around World Showcase. You get to help Uncle Scrooge and the whole Ducktales gang safeguard precious artifacts from around the world from the devious schemes of Flintheart Glomgold and other dastardly villains.
14. Ride the Stellavator (in Space 220) During the Day and Night
Space 220 is one of Disney World’s newest restaurants, and because of that dining reservations are in high demand and difficult to secure. If you are one of the lucky ones getting to dine in the Space 220 dining room or lounge, you’ll have to use the “Stellavator” to get to those rooms on the Centauri Space Station, 220 miles above earth.
Space 220 elevator
On the elevator, you can look down through the viewport in the floor to see EPCOT shrinking away. If you look up, you’ll see the space station you’re approaching. And if you time your meal just right, you can make the 220 climb to your reservation in the daylight, and descend back down to earth after your meal after the sunsets for two different views and experiences — in daytime AND nighttime!
15. Scuba Dive in the EPCOT Aquarium
Are you up for a diving ADVENTURE in The Seas pavilion in EPCOT? SCUBA-certified guests can DIVE into the park with EPCOT Seas Adventure — DiveQuest!
Ready to Scuba?!
This truly unique experience offers participants to dive in EPCOT’s current-free 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium which is home to over 2,000 sea creatures including — but not limited to — sea turtles, reef fish, stingrays, and sharks! A backstage tour of the aquarium is also part of the experience.
16. Learn All About Tequila at La Cava Experience
The Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT is one of the popular starting points for folks beginning their tour around the world, and with a welcome act like margaritas and chip & queso, who can blame them! That one-two punch of a welcome mat will lure us to the door almost every time! And if a margarita or tequila is your drink of choice, there’s no better place to head than La Cava del Tequila. This intimate little tequila bar feels like you walked out of Florida and into a quaint little Mexican hideaway, and it’s that intimacy that makes this spot so hard to get into.
La Cava del Tequila
And if you want more than just a standard (or even exceptional) margarita, you can book the La Cava Experience. A certified Tequila Ambassador will guide you through some of the most rare and unique tequilas and teach you their nuances. Some spirits are exclusive to La Cava and can’t be found anywhere else.
17. Visit Walt Disney’s Childhood Bedroom
While riding Living With the Land, you’ll pass a scene with a farmhouse. Upstairs in that farmhouse is a bedroom, which is supposed to be decorated as a recreation of Walt Disney’s childhood bedroom! Looking into the window, you’ll notice a lamp. Like Walt Disney’s Disneyland apartment, the lamp is always left on in this room in honor of his memory.
Farmhouse details!
(You can get a better view of this bedroom while dining at Garden Grill!)
18. Find a Secret Message in Norway
Outside of the Royal Sommerhus in EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion is a small courtyard. This courtyard was added on when the pavilion was expanded in 2016. In this area, you can find six runestones that have carved words and images in the 11th Century AD Viking tradition. If you don’t know, there are about 3,000 known runestones across Scandinavia, with 50 still existing in Norway. The purpose of these runestones was to mark territory, explain inheritance, boast about construction feats, and talk about important events.
Via @TheZachRiddley on Instagram
These six runestones in EPCOT’s Norway pavilion have a newer history — Imagineers recreated a lot of the pictograms and carvings that used to be in the Maelstrom ride, which is now Frozen Ever After. All six runes have recreations from within two different scenes of the attraction. And, the designs can actually be traced back to the original designs found in Norway! One of these runestones has a bit of an EPCOT twist to it. There is a special inscription on it that translates to:
“You are not the first to pass this way
Nor will you be the last
Those who seek the spirit of Norway face peril and adventure
But more often find beauty and charm”
Via @TheZachRiddley on Instagram
This is an awesome way to remember part of the Maelstrom attraction, and it’s permanently a part of the pavilion to remind people who pass by.
19. Visit a “Mini” Village
In the Germany Pavilion in World Showcase, you’ll find a miniature train village! Nestled amongst the rockwork are little buildings with a tiny railroad — complete with working model trains from Lehmann Gross Bahn. If you take a close look at this little town, you’ll notice that they’re mighty festive.
Teeny tiny festival banners!
Hollywood Studios
20. “Break” the Rules!
Near the entrance to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular theater, you’ll spot a well that is dug into the ground with a pulley system. Next to it, a sign says “Warning! Do Not Pull Rope.” It’s 100% sending mixed messages and basically begging you to pull it — so pull it!
How are we supposed to pull the rope?
21. Find Roger Rabbit in Echo Lake
Most Disney fans know to constantly look up in the parks. Disney magic presents itself in the most obvious — and not-so-obvious — places and nods to Disney history often hide in plain sight above you. Guests who keep their eyes open for these pieces of hidden magic have probably noticed the window effect above Hollywood & Vine — but they may not have known that it was Roger Rabbit-shaped.
Would you have guessed that this was Roger Rabbit?
We love when Disney takes the time to fix these details throughout the parks! This detail fix just made our day! The effect can still be found in the same window above Hollywood & Vine, next to the “Eddie Valiant Private Investigator” tribute window.
22. Unlock “Chewie Mode” on Smuggler’s Run
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the home to the Millennium Falcon and, you and a crew of five others can team up and test your pilot skills to help Hondo Ohnaka collect coaxium canisters from around the galaxy. As much as we love hearing Hono Ohnaka dis us for hitting obstacles, there’s a way to unlock an even better co-pilot — Chewbacca!
Inside the Millennium Falcon Cockpit
No kind of luck is going to bring Chewie into the cockpit — you have to follow some pretty exact steps! Here’s how it’s done. Both pilots need to move their controls to the far left or right and far up and down BEFORE pushing the activation button. And, the rest of the crew needs to hit one of the white buttons on their controls before hitting the orange activation button. Do all this before the Cast Member secures the cabin and clears you for take-off and you’ll be taking a flight with Chewie himself!
23. Unlock Special Scoring Options in Toy Story Mania
There are a lot of point-scoring options in this competitive, interactive game. In the first scene, the one with the barn, focus on the barn walls. When you see mice running up them, start shooting! This won’t get you too many extra points, but it will reveal a special surprise.
Also, go ahead and try to knock the roof off the hen house. If you can, it will release some hens who will give you a lot of points when you hit them. The best-hidden advantage is in the ring toss game. Try to ring ALL of the green men (you’ll want to work together with your ride partner) and a robot will pop onto the screen and give you an opportunity for tons of points.
24. Find the Key to Get into Muppet Studios
While you visit the Grand Arts Theater for some first-class Muppet entertainment, you might notice a sign at the security desk saying “Back in 5 minutes — key is under the mat.”
And if you look under the mat — there it is! Muppet security is exactly what you’d expect.
25. Say Hello to Caesar
Every now and then Tower of Terror experiences some difficulties, and this is often attributed to Caesar the Dummy. He’s the spooky ventriloquist dummy from The Twilight Zone who manipulated his hosts into committing crimes. And now, he lives inside the basement of Tower of Terror.
Casear the Dummy
Some Cast Members claim they also have to say “hello” and “goodbye” to Caesar, or else he causes ride issues. So, make sure you greet him the next time you’re exiting the elevators.
26. Cool Down in the Snow
If you’re looking to escape the Florida heat, one of our favorite ways to do that is by taking a show. You can enjoy some world-class entertainment in a comfy seat and in some even more comfy air-conditioning. When you’re in Hollywood Studios, there are plenty of shows to choose from, but only one that adds the extra cooling sensation of real SNOW.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Cool down, warm up your pipes in a sing-along, and even get a few chuckles in the For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. For the grand finale, Elsa provides a theater flurry!
27. Visit Potatoland
Only at Disney World can you visit a fictional vacation destination within a magical vacation destination, and without needing an extra park ticket! Over at the Mickey Shorts Theater, you can watch Mickey, Minnie, and the whole gang recount some of their vacation adventures.
Potato Land Photo Opp
Afterward, you’ll head out of the theater and be met with several photo ops based on some of the other Mickey shorts! The main draw here has to be Potatoland! I mean, you can get your photo taken with THE Potato!
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Animal Kingdom
28. Donate Money to Support Conservation
If you don’t want to buy anything, you can still donate to Disney’s Conservation Fund at many registers in Animal Kingdom.
Conservation Donation Button
This also works at the Starbucks locations. You can add a little bit of money to your order, and that will go to the Conservation Fund. Just let the Cast Member know what donation you’d like to make, and Disney will match your donation.
29. Buy a Flat White to Support the Cotton-Topped Tamarins
Speaking of Starbucks in Animal Kingdom, there’s another way to donate at Creature Comforts (the Starbucks location in this park). If you buy the Flat White, a portion of the proceeds go to the conservation of Cotton-Top Tamarins. You can see an exhibit of these South American monkeys right outside Creature Comforts!
Cotton-Top Tamarin
According to Disney, “The slightly sweet espresso treat—blended with bold ristretto shots and steamed whole milk for a smooth, velvety flavor—was selected because of the creamy white dollop that tops the popular beverage, similar to the crest of white hair that extends from the animal’s forehead to the nape of its neck.” Even without donating extra money, you can still support the preservation of wild animals at Animal Kingdom. You’re making the world a better place, one sip at a time!
30. Drink a Green Beer
This park is actually home to two VERY exclusive beers. So exclusive that you can ONLY get them when you’re in the park! Over at Satu’li Canteen or Pongu Pongu in Pandora, you can grab a GREEN beer called GREEN Hawkes’ Grog Ale.
Hawks Grog Ale
This is the only place you’ll be able to get your green beer fix outside of St. Patrick’s Day (and this is probably better than any of the beer you dye green anyway).
31. Enter Animal Kingdom through a “Secret” Entrance
Rainforest Cafe is located at Animal Kingdom, but the restaurant’s main entrance is outside the park gates — which is important to note, especially if you’re running late for a reservation! You can enter the restaurant from either outside the park entrance or from another entrance just through the park’s front gates.
Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom
You still need a proper park admission and park reservation to enter Animal Kingdom, but if you go through the Rainforest Cafe gift shop to the park entrance, you’ll find few crowds and a quiet spot not many guests visit.
32. Spot the Fake Waterfall in Pandora
Okay, so this secret is one that no matter how hard you look, you might not spot it still. Over in Pandora — The World of Avatar, you can explore the luscious green landscape that makes up this other world. And, you’ll probably notice that there are quite a few waterfalls coming out of the floating rocks and landscape. Would you believe us if we told you that one of them is entirely fake?
Facing Flight of Passage
There are three waterfalls near the tippy top of the mountain that makes up the entrance to the Flight of Passage. They APPEAR to be real, but they’re actually an optical illusion! It’s a rotating wheel that looks like white water but “falls” much slower than a real waterfall would, forcing it to appear further from you than it actually is. Disney even added fabric at the bottom to make it look like mist from the water! Tbh, our minds are STILL blown by this one.
33. Say Hello to Michael Jackson
Did you know that Michael Jackson LOVED Kali River Rapids? It’s true! The water ride was his favorite at Walt Disney World so Disney decided to commemorate him in a painting that you can find in the ride queue.
Michael Jackson Painting on the Kali River Rapids Queue!
See him above with his arms in the air?? You’ll find Michael Jackson sitting in the raft on a painting in the last room of the queue!
34. Spray People on Kali River Rapids
And, speaking of Kali River Rapids, did you know that you can guarantee that your family gets waterlogged on their journey? Instead of standing on the bridge overlooking the portion of the ride surrounded by elephant statues and snapping a photo, look for buttons!
Kali River Rapids
When you hit them you’ll activate the elephants and they’ll spray water from their trunk at all the passengers. So, this is a case that you would definitely want to duck when you see an elephant trunk looking ready to spout (unlike when you’re on Jungle Cruise).
35. Stroll Down Route 498
Now to the land dedicated to the well-known extinct animals — DinoLand U.S.A.! This area has some pretty elaborate theming and even has a VERY detailed backstory. Basically, back in the 1940s, Dinoland was a quiet town off Highway 498 in Diggs County. Fossils were discovered near a local gas station causing paleontologists and graduate student assistants to travel to the town, forming the beginning of the Dino Institute headquarters.
Route 498 in Dinoland U.S.A.!
You can spot the city signs around DinoLand that say “Diggs County — U.S. 498.” And, Disney wouldn’t go through all the trouble of making an elaborate backstory without adding more secret details, now would they? No, that doesn’t sound like Disney at all! Route 498 is actually a nod to the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The park opened on April 22nd, 1998 hence 498! If you know to look for it, you’ll be able to find the numbers all around DinoLand.
36. Learn some Swahili
Kilimanjaro Safaris queue
There are tons of places in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom where you can pick up some Swahili vocabulary. It’s not very “secret” but it’s also not an “obvious” activity to do in the park. Throughout the Kilimanjaro Safari queue, you can learn the Swahili words for the different animals you’ll see on the savanna.
Detailed signs, posters, and wall art also teach some fun words and phrases.
Another Swahili lesson in Animal Kingdom
And even the ice cream carts get in on the action!
Ice Cream Cart
Use Googe-Translate on your phone if you need to, or just ask a friendly Cast Member, and they can teach you.
Only EXPERTS of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Know These 15 Things!
Disney Springs
37. Stop into Jock Lindsey’s “Holiday” Bar
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar is never one for skimping on details or theming, so they take their holiday decor and turn it up to TEN! The uniquely themed lounge takes inspiration from Indiana Jones and his trusted pilot, Jock Lindsey, the latter of whom has gone all out when it came time to decorate for the holidays. During the season, typically at the end of November through first week of January, you can officially refer to this stop as Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar!
Jock Lindsay’s Holiday Bar
So, if you happen to be in Disney World during the Holiday season, swing over for a festive drink from this unique bar.
38. A “Secret” Men’s Spa Experience
While the ladies may head to Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian, and the kiddos can get pampered at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the gentlemen of the group are not up a creek. There’s a spot for them to get a little pampering, too.
The Art of Shaving at Disney Springs
Art of Shaving in Disney Springs has certified barbers for a world-class shave, haircut, facial and other services geared toward men’s needs and styles.
39. Build Your Own Dinosaur
You’re probably familiar with the Build-A-Bear franchise, but did you know you can Build-A-Dino at T-Rex Cafe?
Build-A-Dino
The options provide every color imaginable and selections between carnivores and herbivores. You can choose your favorite dino in your favorite color, and go to work creating your new prehistoric best friend.
40. Get a Family Photo
A photography studio is hidden among the countless boutique-style shops and award-winning restaurants at Disney Springs.
PhotoPass Studio
Yep, you read that right. a photo studio! If you have Photopass on your ticket or Annual Pass, you can take advantage of this opportunity to get a family photo like in the olden days with a camera, instead of a group selfie at an awkward angle.
41. Taste Cokes from Around the World
If you’re looking for a cold, refreshing, bubbling beverage, then the Coca-Cola Rooftop Bar is the spot to visit. There are a ton of options! And if you’re having trouble deciding, opt for a Tray featuring several “Tastes of the World.”
International Soda Tray
The International Tray features sixteen flavors from around the world (with Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America represented), most of which will likely be unfamiliar to you no matter what corner of the globe you call home. There are so many drinks (a mix of sparkling and still), you receive two trays to carry them all!
42. Buy a $100,000 Souvenir
Some souvenirs are now worth lots because they’re vintage or rare. Sure, there are souvenirs for nearly every budget on a Disney trip, but this new souvenir could only fall into one, very tiny budget category — this is a souvenir for those with money to BURN. You heard us right. Over in EPCOT, there’s a new souvenir that costs, and we’re not kidding here, $99,000 (and no, that’s not including tax). This is the Spaceship Earth Beacon of Magic Statue.
Beacon of Magic Spaceship Earth Crystal Statue
This statue is absolutely gorgeous — how could it not be with more than 150,000 crystals?! These babies take Arribas Brothers 681 hours to make, and only 40 of them are being produced.
43. Find the Secret Passage between The Edison and Enzo’s Hideaway
Secret, hidden Prohibition-era tunnels under Disney World’s mega shopping district? Umm, yes please. And as we mentioned, that atmosphere comes with a story. Think of this corner of Disney Springs near the Edison as the fictional couple Maria and Enzo’s little slice of Italy in Florida. These two immigrants moved to Florida and started a successful lil’ pizza by the slice joint in the old air terminal of Disney Springs (ahem…that would be Pizza Ponte). It did SO well, they opened their own Italian restaurant (that would be Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante). What does the husband of the successful duo do next? Opens a bar in the abandoned rum-running tunnels he discovers under the air terminal. Obviously. 
We’re going in!
44. Skip the Wait
You’re a savvy Disney traveler, and you know ALL about mobile ordering at Disney restaurants in the parks, and even at the resorts. But did you know you can Mobile Order at some of the non-Disney restaurants in Disney Springs? Which options are available? Let’s go through them!
D-Luxe Burger
You can order your favorite treats and meals through the My Disney Experience App and skip the lines at: Amorette’s Patisserie, B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co., Disney’s Candy Cauldron, D-Luxe Burger, and Goofy’s Candy Company
Disney Resorts
45. Make Your Own Christmas Tree Trail
Disney World pulls out all of the stops when it comes to the holidays, and every resort gets decked out to the max in its holiday finest, specifically tailored to the unique story, atmosphere, and theme for the resorts in which they reside. And if you can’t get enough of the tree and decorations at your own resort, why not visit them all?
The Grand Floridian Lobby seems even grand-er at Christmastime.
Yep, it doesn’t cost a thing to visit these lavish holiday decorations and see them in all of their glory. This is particularly easy if you visit the resorts on the Monorail Line (Contemporary, Polynesian Village, and the Grand Floridian), the Skyliner Line (Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation, and Riviera Resort), and the EPCOT area resorts (BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club, and Beach Club).
46. Beat Your Own Drum
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a truly stunning Resort is unlike any other in Walt Disney World — or anywhere else, for that matter! While the savannas alone offer plenty of reasons to enjoy the Resort’s outdoor settings, the Resort also presents “one of the largest collections of African art in the United States,” according to Disney.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Many activities offered at the Resort are entirely unique to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Guests have several opportunities to interact with Cultural Representatives and Animal Specialists in fun, family-friendly programming. Some of those include learning cultural dances, art classes, and even music lessons with traditional drums and percussion instruments.
47. Explore Walt’s Travels
Voyageurs’ Lounge is located in Disney’s Riviera Resort! This stylish lounge reflects Walt Disney’s travels through Europe, including decor inspired by the books Walt Disney collected and his 1935 “Grand Tour” through the continent.
Voyageur’s Lounge
The entire resort is inspired by Disney’s connections to Europe, and Voyageurs’ Lounge encourages guests to share stories of their own travels. Guests can relax and enjoy food and beverage offerings from the adjacent Le Petit Cafe in this cozy, welcoming spot.
48. Get a Master’s Degree
Sangria University is a special dining event that takes place at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Sangria Flight at Three Bridges Bar & Grill
Guests at Sangria University learn directly from a sangria sommelier and enjoy tasting four house-made sangrias paired with an appetizer while learning about the history of sangria. (Believe us, even if you weren’t a fan of history in school, this is one history class you’ll probably enjoy!)
49. Meet the Equines of Disney World
Walt Disney dreamed of having horses in Magic Kingdom park, much like he did in Disneyland. And so, Tri-Circle-D Ranch was established before the opening day of Walt Disney World Resort!
Tri Circle D Ranch
The new barn is more than twice the size of the original, and it features a wedding harness room showcasing tack for Cinderella’s ponies as well as the return of the museum dedicated to Walt’s love of horses. It’s also home to the Dragon Calliope, the horse-drawn musical wagon Walt Disney purchased to use in Disneyland back in the 1950s!
50. Experience Pop Cultural Appreciation
Get ready to roll through the decades and celebrate everything fab, nifty, and altogether GROOVY from the 1950s through the 1990s at Disney’s Pop Century Resort!
Lobby Shadow Boxes
Across from check-in in the lobby, you’ll find shadow boxes from each decade with key pieces of pop culture icons. It’s like visiting a cool museum that features old video game consoles, land-line phones, record players, and other cool blasts from the past.
51. Attend a Jazz Session
Scat Cat’s Club Lounge at Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter serves up drinks, live jazz, and more! A 2019 renovation brought a whole new style to this long-standing lounge. On select evenings (typically Fridays through Sundays), guests can listen to live musicians while sipping on specialty cocktails. A small menu of terrific New Orleans-inspired pub grub is also up for grabs.
Ready for some jazz
By the way, you can also enjoy some Beignets from the Scat Cat’s Club Café right outside the lounge, too!
52. See One of Walt’s Treasures
Visit someplace truly unique to Wilderness Lodge, the Carolwood Pacific Room. You’ll need to exit the main Wilderness Lodge lobby and venture over to the Boulder Ridge building to visit this treasure.
©Disney
Also called the “Iron Spike Room,” this cozy corner offers comfortable chairs, a fireplace, game tables, and more. But most importantly, this relaxing respite is home to two of the train cars from Walt Disney’s own backyard railroad!
And that’s our 52 secret things to do in Disney World! But, there are HUNDREDS (realistically closer to thousands) of other fantastic little details hidden all around the parks and resorts that would blow your mind. And we’re sure hundreds more will be created as new lands and areas open.
We’ve got tons of videos on our DFB YouTube channel going through all kinds of Disney secrets. So, you can check those out to learn even more!
Click here to visit our DFB Guide YouTube channel!
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How many of these “secret” things have you done in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
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