Magic Kingdom Secret Tunnels

[lam]

During my search for maps of vars parks and resorts, came across one for secret tunnels in MK??

What is this all about and are they in use? seems they lead to different areas/cafes etc.

Is there any 1 in particular you'd recommend for 10 yr old DS who loves transformers/harry potter etc


lam ;)

[V6 Hobo]

the tunnels are the utilidors (utility corridors) that are used by cast members to get to various parts of the park out of sight of guests.
Normally guests do not have access to these unless on the keys to the kingdom tour or such like.

[tinko]

From Wikipedia

According to modern legend, Walt Disney was bothered by the sight of a cowboy walking through Disneyland's Tomorrowland on his way to his post in Frontierland. He felt that such a sight was jarring, and detracted from the guest experience. When plans for the Magic Kingdom in Florida were being developed, engineers designed Utilidors to keep park operations out of guests' sight.

The Utilidors are beneath the Magic Kingdom, but they are not a basement; they are actually the ground level of the Magic Kingdom. The park is actually the second level. Parts of Fantasyland, including Cinderella's Castle, are at third-story-level (this is why the castle seems to loom so large as guests approach it via Main Street, USA). The ground's incline is so gradual that guests do not realize they are ascending to the second and third stories. The Magic Kingdom is built upon dirt which was removed from what is now the Seven Seas Lagoon.

The Utilidors are built on nine acres, and the floor plan resembles a wheel with spokes. The hub lies beneath Cinderella's castle; tunnels to all the other lands branch out from this central location. The walls of the tunnels are color-coded, to make it simple for cast members to tell which land they are in (and to keep Buzz Lightyear from popping up in Liberty Square). The Utilidors can be accessed from a main tunnel entrance located behind Fantasyland, or through various unmarked doors located throughout the Magic Kingdom. All magic kingdom cast members park about one mile away and are transported via a Disney bus to the tunnel. Some shops, restaurants and attractions have direct access to the Utilidors.

Cast members navigate the tunnels on foot or in battery-operated vehicles that resemble golf carts, which cast members call "Pargo's". Gasoline-powered vehicles are not allowed in the Utilidors, with the exception of armored cash pickup trucks, and, in extreme emergencies, ambulances.


Functions
The Utilidors have been referred to as an "underground city," and with good reason. Its functions include:


Waste removal: The Magic Kingdom uses an Automated Vacuum Collection system for waste removal. Sanitation crews remove trash from the park twenty-four hours a day, and dump it into AVAC system processors throughout the park. The trash then travels through pneumatic tubes to a central location where it is processed, compressed, and/or recycled.
Electrical operations: The park's computer system, the Digital Animation Control Systems (DACS), is operated and monitored from control rooms in the Utilidors. This system monitors everything in the park, from sound systems to attractions, Audio-Animatronic figures to parades, fire prevention and security systems to cash registers.
Deliveries and storage warehouses: All deliveries are received, processed, and stored at the Utilidors until use. This ensures that guests do not see delivery trucks pulling up at the Magic Kingdom's gate, nor do they see cast members carting merchandise through the park.
Food service: The park's cooking and prep kitchens are housed in the Utilidors.
Costuming: Until recently, the park's costuming department (for cast members and Audio-Animatronic figures) is located in the Utilidors. Over 1.2 million costumes were housed here, making it the largest operating wardrobe department in the world. However, in 2005, Disney replaced this facility with a larger location in the cast member parking lot.
Cast member services: Separate locker rooms for men and women are located in the Utilidors, as well as cast member cafeterias. There is also a check cashing service, an employee hair salon called "Kingdom Kutters," rehearsal rooms, and administrative offices.

[apollo163]

their so cast are not seen out of their areas and as said above public can only access during certain tours which kids are not allowed on

[xccy]

Iam - am afraid that this particular tour has a minimum age limit of 16 on it...The reason I know is that my DS1 has been waiting 12 years to get his hands on this..lol..

Dave..

[whiteswan]

Hi

Its been a while since I have been on here (bad health!!) - so Hi again everybody.

Heres a video of the utilidors............

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player.aspx?aid=99587&bw=

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player.aspx?aid=99588&bw=

Dave

[dreadnort]

Some great facts here mabye a disney triva thread


From Wikipedia

[jenniferduthie]

that was really interesting white swan and sorry to hear you have been ill :( hope your feeling better :grin:

[BevS97]

I visited the Utilidors on the Keys to the Kingdom tour last October. I have to say they are called Utilidor because they are 'utilitarian' and actually really not particularly exciting, I was quite excited to see them but they were a bit of an anti-climax, much like any factory or warehouse they were fairly bland and 'fit for purpose',

What I did find interesting, was that above the shops on Main St there is a 2nd floor which executive offices, we didn't go up there but I was intrigued to see that it was a real level.

[JudeB]

I found those video clips really fascinating! The whole thing is so well thought out. :thumbs-up

[foxylady]

We have booked the Keys to the Kingdom tour for this July and are really looking forward to it.

My DS has also been waiting until he was 16 before we could do this. He has visions of some type of WW2 bunker style of corridors :pgig:

[JOERAZ]

I visited the Utilidors on the Keys to the Kingdom tour last October. I have to say they are called Utilidor because they are 'utilitarian' and actually really not particularly exciting, I was quite excited to see them but they were a bit of an anti-climax, much like any factory or warehouse they were fairly bland and 'fit for purpose',

What I did find interesting, was that above the shops on Main St there is a 2nd floor which executive offices, we didn't go up there but I was intrigued to see that it was a real level.


I did like it when he pointed out Walts personal apartment at the end of the "credits" so to speak, also pointed out the fake companys listed on a window that were set up to buy up the land for all of disney, 47 acres or summit,,
I found it funny, the story that was told about how walt put his foot init when questioned about buying up land, he was asked "what are you buying up land down in florida for", he replied with i know nothing about 47 acres of marshland down in orlando" hmm,, he knows the area, size and type of land but he says he knows nothing, lol

great tour for the fan with heaps of unanswered questions, the CM was even willing to go find out answers if he did not know..

We got Matthew i think his name was,, got a photo of him here somewere.

[JOERAZ]

Here he is, in front of the window which details the "estate agents" or type of companys buy up the land, as if anyone got wind that the disney corp. was buying, the price would go from $40 an acre to $50,000 an acre which it did, well i know he paid more for the last 4000 or so acres than he paid for the entire 44000, lol

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y264/joeraz/DisneyWorld200713.jpg

[BONZO]

What I did find interesting, was that above the shops on Main St there is a 2nd floor which executive offices, we didn't go up there but I was intrigued to see that it was a real level.

We've been upstairs at City Hall and met Charlie Ridgway in his office back on our first trip in 1998.

[freckles]

These tunnels feature in a novel, but I can't remember which one. It was some sort of thriller.

There is a chase through them, and they keep coming accross CMs and characters who are off duty!

I'll try and find the book...

[Minicooper]

It all sounds like "The Truman Show" :confused2 :confused2

[Melville]

Interesting, very interesting. Almost makes you want to get a job there :D

[cmpjdp]

Just watched the video on the tunnels, very interesting...thanks ;)

[tinko]

Any news on the book?

[BONZO]

Hi,

The book is called Kingdom Keepers’ by Ridley Pearson

I'm sure i've seen it on sale in WDW.

[freckles]

Actually, the book I was referring to is a novel by Brad Meltzer, called The Millionaires. Sorry for the delay, i had to have a good look through the bookshelf last night!

he Disney tunnels bit is towards the end though.

[Dissuziq]

I loved havingf a peek "off Stage" when we did the Keys to the kingdom tour, very interesting info they gave and the look in the ulitidors was interesting i learned loads about rubbish, tinkerbell and the smells on main street I would recommend the tour for any over 16's

[TH1]

Those videos are really interesting!!

[lam]

Thank you all so much for all the video clips, advice and information.
I had absolutely no idea I had stumbled upon (quite literally) anything so fascinating.

Makes my upcoming trip all the more worthwhile and interesting thanks to your willingness to share your knowledge and views.

Immeasurable!!

Lam

[deana1000]

Just watched the video clip - really interesting thanks for posting the link. DS would of loved the tour but unfortunately isn't old enough yet.

Thanks again.

Deana

[DonnaD]

Has anyone else noticed the difference at the other parks without this setup? Gift shop/food supplies being pushed around on carts, cast members coming on duty, managers zipping around on SEGWAYS at EPCOT, etc. I think it proves how good an idea the Utilidors were. MK is still the most magical park IMO.

[JackVenables]

How do you book the keys to the kingdom tour does anybody know?

Jack

[Sue]

How do you book the keys to the kingdom tour does anybody know?

Jack

Through the regular WDW PLAY number
Which is 001 407 939 7529

:)