Keys to the Kingdom: Magic Kingdom Day 2

Stepping behind the scenes at Walt Disney World is like unlocking a door most guests never even realize exists, until the Keys to the Kingdom tour hands you the key. From hidden corridors beneath the Magic Kingdom to the carefully crafted stories behind some if the parks most iconic attractions, this immersive experience reveals how imagination, logistics and story telling work together to create Disney magic. More than just a tour, Keys to the Kingdom pulls back the curtain on the history, secrets, and meticulous planning that keeps the park running seamlessly, offering Disney fans a deeper appreciation for the world Walt imagined. 

We kicked off out tour by meeting out tour guide Josh. Josh has been working for the Disney company for over a decade, during his time he has had many roles in entertainment and guests services. After meeting Josh, out tour began with a walk down Main Street. Josh let us know that Main street is set up much like a movie experience, beginning with the rolling credits at the beginning of the movie. He pointed out many of the windows on Main Street have the Imagineers names who helped create Disney World. After our walk down Main Street we made our way to Adventureland, as we walked we were told many cool facts about the land and the rides. During our walk we made our way to the Jungle Cruise, which is a boat ride through exotic landscapes matched with the Skippers pun-filled jokes. After telling us all about the ride, we got to go on the ride and see all the fun facts Josh was telling us. After Jungle Cruise, we made our back to Tiana's Bayou Adventure  to and back the first backstage area of the tour! As we were backstage we got to see just how efficient Disney is at getting their cast members, parade floats, etc. to and from each area of the park.  After going backstage we made our way to Columbia Harbor House for lunch. After lunch we made our way towards Haunted Mansion (which is one of my personal favorite rides.) Josh explained to us how many of the effects work in the ride and we even got to take a ride to see these effects in action. After our ride we made our way to Fantasyland to go into the most coveted backstage area. Most people don't know this, but Magic Kingdom is actually on built on the second level! Underneath all the hustle and bustle of the Magic Kingdom is a place to make moving through the park more efficient and helps preserve the magic, these are call the Utilidoors (Utility Corridors). As a Disney nerd I was internally freaking out that I was finally seeing a place I had only heard about! These Utilidoors connect all the lands of the Magic Kingdom together so cast members, especially ones who are friends with the characters, can move though the park efficiently. After emerging from the "basement" of the Magic Kingdom our tour wrapped up and we headed our separate ways. 

(Group with our tour guide Josh) 

After going our separate ways, a few of us headed to do some rides and while the rest hung back to watch the Festival of Fantasy parade. Ride wise we decided we wanted to do more of the thrill rides so we headed for Space Mountain. This is such a fun coaster that all of us to ride, it makes us laugh and scream the entire ride. We happened to be in the right place at the right time, because after Space Mountain we checked the wait time to see Tron (the newest ride at Magic Kingdom) was at a 35 minute wait! For those of you who may not know it is rare to see this ride under an hour wait. Combining our total with these two ride we rode about 6... or 7 rides before we went to our group dinner Liberty Tree Tavern. 

(Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) 

 Liberty Tree tavern is a table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom that severs early American comfort food. Set in a colonial style home, the restaurant serves classic dishes like turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese, as well as warm deserts. With its warm atmosphere it allows for guests to take a break from the park while still tying into the patriotic storytelling of the land. Our group demolished dinner, with the group favorite being the Homemade mac and cheese. With our bellies full we set out to finish the night at Hollywood Studios. Some of us have been trying to ride Rise of the Resistance for two days now! Andrew, Ian, and Brayden are all huge Star Wars fans, so this ride was a must! After two days of disappointment from the ride breaking down we finally got to ride. The boys loved it so much we rode it two times in a row, it was well worth the wait just to see their reactions! Brayden had the whole "transport vehicle" laughing when he couldn't believe we weren't on the ride yet! After our two fun rides on Rise we headed back to All Star Sports for the night. 

(Finally on Rise!) 

We have even more fun planned for tomorrow! We have our free day and can't wait to enjoy all of our favorite rides one last time before we head off to our cruise. Overall our day at the Magic Kingdom was the perfect blend of discovery, storytelling, and classic Disney charm. From going behind the scenes at Keys to the Kingdom to enjoying the reactions to the first time on Rise and a comforting meal at Liberty Tree Tavern, each experience added a deeper appreciation for the thought and care behind the magic.  It was a day filled learning, laughter, and memorable moments. 

-Graycie Branham 

P.S- Nanny we will miss you!