Utilidors - The Undergound Magic
The utilidors is one of the best kept Disney World secrets. Have you ever wondered how Disney manage to run Magic Kingdom so smoothly, nothing ever seems to go wrong! Well here's the secret: underneath the hustle and bustle of the Magic Kingdom there is an extensive network of tunnels called "utilidors" (stands for utility corridors). Rumour has it that when Walt Disney saw cast members travelling through the lands in their costumes he thought that it ruined that magical feel, so tunnels were built for cast members to get around.
The tunnels also hide the complex operations that go on to create the magic which include: waste management, costumes, lockers, cafeterias, offices and the "Digital Animation Control System" room (DACS). The DACS room is the central control room for the park, controlling everything you could think of from park lighting to opening doors!
Don't think these tunnels are small and cramped, they are certainly not, they occupy 392,000 square feet and are 15 feet high. So how do you get around such a vast space quickly? Only electric golf carts are allowed because of the fire risk other vehicles pose.
I bet you're thinking now, i wish if i could go and have a look! Well you can, book a "Keys to the Kingdom Tour" and you will see the utilidors first hand.
This is a popular tour so make sure you book in advance
So remember the next time you are visiting Magic Kingdom, all the magic is kept alive beneath the floor you are standing on!
