Magic Kingdom
- This article is about the theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. "Magic Kingdom" may also refer to other Disneyland-style theme parks around the world. For the unrelated Australian theme park see Magic Kingdom, Sydney. For the band Magic Kingdom, see Magic Kingdom (band).
| File:Magic Kingdom Logo.png File:IMGP4708.JPG Cinderella Castle is the icon of the Magic Kingdom | |
| Location | Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA |
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| Operated by | The Walt Disney Company |
| Theme | Various |
| Walt Disney World |
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| Theme parks |
| Water parks |
| Other attractions and areas |
| Resorts |
| Affiliated services |
| Transport |
The Magic Kingdom is the first theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA. It opened on October 1, 1971, it is the most famous Florida theme park. Designed and built by WED Enterprises (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering), the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. It saw 16,640,000 guests in 2006 making it the most visited theme park in the world.[1]
Dedication
While there is no individual dedication to the Magic Kingdom Park, the dedication for the entire Walt Disney World Resort was placed within its gates.
Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true.
May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn - together.
History
Construction
The Walt Disney Company began construction on the Magic Kingdom along with the resort on the whole in 1967 after the death of Walt Disney. The park itself was initially built similar to the existing Disneyland in California, however the Magic Kingdom was built in a larger area. The Magic Kingdom also improved upon Disneyland's design. According to a story, Walt Disney once saw a Frontierland cowboy walking through Tomorrowland at Disneyland and wanted to eliminate ruining the illusion like this in the new park.[2] In order to alleviate this, the Magic Kingdom was built over a series of tunnels, called Utilidors, a portmanteau of utility and corridor. With these tunnels cast members were able to move through the park away from the guests and not ruin the illusion of the show. Because of Florida's high water table, the tunnels could not be put underground, so they were built at the existing grade. The area around them was filled in with dirt removed from the Seven Seas Lagoon which was being constructed at the same time. The tunnels are only under areas that were built in the initial construction and were not extended with additions to the park. The tunnels are mostly found in the Magic Kingdom because of financial constraints, but they were meant to be employed in all subsequent Walt Disney World parks. Epcot's Future World and Pleasure Island each have a smaller network of utilidors.
Opening
The Magic Kingdom opened as the first part of Walt Disney's planned Florida Project on October 1, 1971. It was the only theme park on the resort at the time and opened concurrently with two hotels on the property: Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort. The park opened with twenty-three attractions, three unique to the park and twenty copies of attractions at Disneyland. The Walt Disney Company promised to increase the attractions with more attractions similar to Disneyland and other unique attractions. The attractions were split into six themed lands, five copies of those at Disneyland and the unique Liberty Square which was planned for Disneyland, but never built.
Naming confusions
Because of the similarity to Disneyland, there was some confusion on the name of the park. "The Magic Kingdom" was used as an unofficial nickname for Disneyland before the Walt Disney World Resort was built, however the official nickname of Disneyland is "The Happiest Place On Earth." The Magic Kingdom's nickname is the similar "The Most Magical Place On Earth." Despite the confusion, the park's tickets have always borne the official name of "The Magic Kingdom."[3] In 1994, in order to differentiate it from Disneyland, the park was officially renamed to "Magic Kingdom Park."
Transportation and Ticket Center
The layout of the resort placed the Magic Kingdom more than a mile away from its parking lot, on the opposite side of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon. Upon arriving at the park, guests are taken by the parking lot trams to the Transportation and Ticket Center. This facility, as its name implies, sells tickets to the parks and provides transportation connections throughout the resort complex. It also has a small gift shop and the Magic Kingdom's pet-boarding kennel.
To reach the Magic Kingdom, visiting guests can choose between a monorail and a ferryboat. Epcot is accessible by a spur monorail line that was added upon that park's opening in 1982. Buses take guests to the other major destinations within the resort, including Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Lands of the Magic Kingdom
thumb|left|A Mini Mouse flower statue seen on the entrance of Magic Kingdom
The park map lists forty-eight attractions in seven themed "lands."
The Walt Disney World Railroad runs along the perimeter of the park and makes stops at Main Street, Frontierland, and Mickey's Toontown Fair.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Instead of being a replica of a small midwestern American town, Main Street at Walt Disney World features some stylistic influences from around the country, such as New England and Missouri. This is most noticeable in the "four corners" area in the middle of Main Street where each of the four corner buildings represents a different architectural style. There is also no Opera House as there is at Disneyland; instead there is the Exposition Hall. Main Street is lined with shops selling merchandise and food. The decor is early-20th century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's childhood and the film Lady and the Tramp. City Hall contains the Guest Relations lobby where cast members provide information and assistance. A real working barber shop gives haircuts for a fee. The Emporium carries a wide variety of Disney souvenirs such as plush toys, collectible pins, and Mickey-ear hats. Tony’s Town Square and the Plaza Restaurant are sit-down restaurants. Casey's Corner is at the end of Main Street and sells traditional American ball park fare including hot dogs & fries.
In the distance beyond the end of Main Street stands Cinderella Castle. Though only 189 feet (55m) tall, it benefits from a technique known as forced perspective. The (fake) second stories of all the buildings along Main Street are shorter than the first stories, and the third stories are even shorter than the second, and the top windows of the castle are much smaller than they appear. The resulting visual effect is that the buildings appear to be larger and taller than they really are.
Main Street is considered the opening credits for the Magic Kingdom. You pass under the train station (the opening curtain), and then you view the opening credits on the upper stories of the main street buildings. Each window has a business name on it, such as "Seven Summits Expeditions, Frank G. Wells President", each of these people has a connection to Disney. The windows/credits are ordered as they would be for a movie.
In addition to the bronze "Partners Statue" of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in front of Cinderella Castle, there is also the "Sharing the Magic Statue" of Roy O. Disney sitting with Minnie Mouse near the park's entrance. Surrounding the "Partners Statue" at the central hub, are several iconic Disney characters featured throughout the park. Some of these include; Minnie, Donald, Goofy, B'rer Rabbit, etc.
Adventureland
Adventureland represents the mystery of exploring foreign lands. It is themed to resemble the remote jungles in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America and the South Pacific, with an extension resembling a Caribbean town square. It contains classic rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.
See also: Magic Kingdom attraction and entertainment history
Frontierland
Frontierland is where guests can relive the wild west -- from cowboys and Indians, to exploring the mysteries of the Rivers of America. Frontierland contains classic attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tom Sawyer Island and the Country Bear Jamboree.
Liberty Square
This area of the park is based on an American Revolutionary town. The Magic Kingdom's Rivers of America hosts the Liberty Belle river boat. Liberty Square is home to the Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents.
Fantasyland
In the words of Walt Disney: "Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." Fantasyland is themed in a medieval-faire/carnival style. Attractions include "it's a small world", Peter Pan's Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's PhilarMagic, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Cinderella's Golden Carrousel, and Mad Tea Party.
Tomorrowland
In the words of Walt Disney: "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future."
Tomorrowland is themed to be an intergalactic convention center.
Mickey's Toontown Fair
An expansion of the expansion Mickey's Birthdayland and Mickey's Starland, this area is the location of Mickey's Country House, Minnie's Country House, Goofy's Barnstormer, and Donald's Boat.
See also
Similar parks
Fiction set in the Magic Kingdom:
- Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom - A 2003 science fiction novel set in and around the Magic Kingdom
- The Kingdom Keepers - A 2005 novel set in the Magic Kingdom
- Pixar's The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure - A play formerly set in the Magic Kingdom
References
- ^ "Walt Disney World Florida Tops Attendance List Again". www.mickeynews.com. 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Fun Facts of Magic Kingdom's Underground Complex". www.hiddenmickeys.org. 1995. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ "1970's Walt Disney World Tickets". allears.net. 1996. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
External links
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