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12. It’s actually not “underground”. This is a hard fact to wrap your head around, to be sure.  The utilidors are not underground at all; rather, they are truly the “ground floor” of the entire Magic Kingdom Park.  The area that we enjoy was actually built as a second floor on top of the Utilidors. In fact, cast members who ...

I’ve got to be honest- I didn’t even know there was an “underground” element to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World until only a few years ago, but since discovering this truth I have been very interested in what exactly goes on down there. This area, known as the Utilidors, is a series of tunnels that makes it possible ...

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World with children, I have some tips and advice for parents with babies, toddlers, tweens, and teens. Many of my friends have said they would rather wait until their younger children are a little older before visiting WDW. What I usually tell them is that Disney World is the best family-friendly Resort ...

1) A one-of-a-kind experience every time Whether it’s your first time riding or your hundredth time, no two experiences are the same. But that’s to be expected with an attraction comprised of live creatures moving about freely and of their own accord. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, each timeframe offers its own unique advantages. Many ...

2) At day’s end Calling the animals in for bedtime is just one of many tasks to take care of before closing up for the night. Every evening landscapers and gardeners return to the savanna and get to work in replanting, repairing, and replenishing the various flora and vegetation consumed throughout the day. During this time, all other maintenance and ...

3) Auditory animal cues The fake eggs, disguised barriers, and climate-controlled rocks each play vital roles in the overall process of getting resident animals to cooperate. But did you know the various creatures here have been trained to respond to different auditory signals as well? Whistles, drums, triangles, cowbells, horns, and even duck calls are just some of the many ...

4) A little “eggcitement” More than 30 different resident bird species make their home here, and that can mean a lot of eggs. But not all of the eggs are real. That’s because Disney caretakers cleverly provide some of the older birds with fake eggs to sit on. Why do they do this? Because it helps older birds understand that ...

5) Unseen barriers Disney does an incredible job at disguising the many barriers separating park visitors from some of the seemingly free-roaming animal residents. In fact, most don’t even realize there are barriers at all, as the natural setting and surrounding structures are very discretely placed. From camouflaged fences, hidden moats, and other creative structuring, the underlining containment methods in ...

6) An abundance of animals The use of actual animals for this attraction is a direct nod to Walt Disney’s original intention of incorporating real animals into his famed Jungle Cruise ride. Though impossible to do so at the time, Imagineers saw the establishment of Kilimanjaro Safaris as an opportunity for finally bringing the dream to life. As you venture ...

7) A change in backstory Changes are inevitable, and Kilimanjaro Safaris has seen its fair share of changes along the way. But perhaps one of the most prominent changes (and what many animal lovers consider the most welcome change) was the decision to alter the original storyline. In the first scripted plot, the safari truck would be notified by a ...