February 7, 2025 • 9 mins
This episode explores hidden gems within Disney World, revealing secret spots, unique menu items, and lesser-known attractions that enhance the park experience. By uncovering these treasures, the hosts encourage listeners to embrace the magic of Disney beyond the mainstream attractions.
• Uncover hidden Mickeys throughout the parks
• Discover the Tangled Rest Area for a peaceful break
• Learn about secret menu items at various eateries
• Explore the hidden paths in Pandora's water garden
• Visit the Tune In Lounge, a cozy hidden bar in Hollywood Studios
• Find the secret garden in Epcot's UK Pavilion
• Walk the hidden path behind Cinderella's Castle
• Explore a secret door at the Haunted Mansion
“Explore the magic of travel with us, Renee and Justin, your trusted Disney fanatics and the Magic Vacation Family! Tune in for tips, tricks, and stories from the parks, the seas, and beyond. Need help planning your next adventure? Visit us at magicvacationfamily.com and follow us on socials @magicvacationfamily for the latest updates and inspiration!”
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Justin (00:07):
hey, friends, justin here with the people mover
podcast and today, episodenumber seven of 2025, we're
going to be talking about hiddendisney world park secrets, so
let's get started, welcome tothe people mover podcast, the
length of the iconic ride andyour ultimate guide to Disney
World.
Announcer (00:24):
And Disney.
Cruises.
Whether you're a first-timer ora seasoned fan, we've got tips,
tricks and options to elevateyour magical journey.
Don't forget to follow andsubscribe to our Facebook,
instagram, tiktok and YouTube atMagic Vacation Family.
For more Disney magic, buckleup and let's dive into the world
(00:44):
of Disney.
As always, these episodes arebrought to you by Magic Vacation
Family.
For more Disney magic, buckleup and let's dive into the world
of Disney.
Justin (00:46):
As always, these episodes are brought to you by
MagicVacationFamilycom.
Make sure you visit us,magicvacationfamilycom, for any
of your travel needs.
Remember, any of the advice andexpertise that we give you is
100% free, as long as you bookyour trip through us.
So go to MagicVacationFamilycom, click on, book a trip, fill
out the questionnaire and we'llstart helping you plan your next
(01:09):
magical vacation.
So today we're going to talkabout one of my favorite topics,
because it doesn't just have todo with, you know, lightning
lanes or tickets, et cetera.
This is actually about DisneyWorld Hidden Park Secrets.
So, whether you're a first-timeDisney visitor or an expert,
there's always secret spots todiscover that will make your
(01:29):
Disney vacation even moremagical.
So today in the episode, we'regoing to talk about some of
those best-kept secrets.
So, from hidden Mickeys tosecret menu items, to peaceful
spots and unexpected surprises,let's dive in right now.
Topic number one is going to besomething that shouldn't
surprise you, and that is hiddenMickeys.
Now, hidden Mickeys are greatbecause, whether you're a kid or
(01:50):
an adult, you always getexcited when you find one.
And these hidden Mickeys arereally the Mickey Mouse shaped
symbols that are scattered allthroughout Disney World.
Now, it could be in manydifferent forms, but these are
some of the famous secrets wherethe Imagineers have done this
to incorporate and to createthese little Easter eggs for you
to find.
So where do you find them?
(02:11):
No, like I said, they'reintegrated within attractions,
architecture, landscape, evenride queues.
So, for example, pirates of theCaribbean you go and you can
find a hidden Mickey in theship's wheel and in the Haunted
Mansion.
Look for either the spider websin the stretching room sequence
or as you're going through thedining room scene.
(02:32):
If you look down on the table,you might see three plates that
make a Mickey head and that'sconsidered a hidden Mickey.
Another great place to look isat Spaceship Earth in Epcot.
As you make your way around theride, look up near the top for
a clever Hidden Mickey in theConstellations.
This is one that always getsreally forgotten about because
there's a lot going on in thatride.
(02:53):
But search for those symbolsand see how many you can find.
I have people that actuallyplay Hidden Mickey Bingo, so
I'll see if I can make some ofthose cards and throw them on
MagicVacationFamilycom.
But Hidden Mickey Bingo is sucha fun thing to do, all right.
So on to number two here andthat's actually going to be
nothing.
That's like a Hidden Mickey,but it's going to be the Tangled
(03:13):
Rest Area located at MagicKingdom, and that's because this
is a peaceful spot tucked awaybehind Rapunzel's Tower, and
it's one of the most tranquilspots in the park.
So why is it special?
The Tangled Rest Area featuresbeautiful lanterns, quiet
benches and lush greenery, butit's a great place to take a
break from the crowds.
Not too many guests know aboutthis spot, so it's usually not
(03:36):
very crowded, which also meansreally nice and clean restrooms.
Also, if you're really lookingfor a great place to recharge
and get some great photos with atangled theme, you definitely
want to come to this spot here,also at nighttime.
They have the beautifullanterns that you can get your
picture taken with, so highlyrecommend visiting it at night
as well, because the lanterns inthe area have a really
(03:58):
beautiful glow, but also you canget some really cool pictures.
All right, so let's move on totopic number three here, which
is going to be obviously a lotof people's favorites, which is
secret menu items at DisneyWorld.
Now, disney World's full ofsecret menu items that not many
guests know about, and these areexclusive treats that are not
often listed on the regular menu.
So if you go to a quick servicerestaurant, you're not going to
(04:19):
see it on that outside board,or even if you're at a sit-down
restaurant, you're not going tosee it on side the menu.
But if you do ask a cast member, they can sometimes work some
little magic for you.
So first one I'm going to bringup is a lot of people's
favorites and it's always ago-to treat when you go to Magic
Kingdom.
That's the Dole Whip Float.
However, let's make this adultstyle.
(04:39):
Okay, we're going to add somerum to it.
So, highly recommend, head overto the Aloha Isle in Magic
Kingdom and ask for the rum DoleWhip float and, like I said,
it's a Dole Whip topped with rumfor a tropical adult twist.
So you got to be 21 plus to getit, but it is definitely
fantastic.
(04:59):
Number two is going to be thecrispy bacon at Nomad Lounge.
So if you go over to AnimalKingdom, head over to Nomad
Lounge and there's the crispybacon at Nomad Lounge.
So if you go over to AnimalKingdom and over to Nomad Lounge
and there's a crispy bacon,it's a secret menu item that
pairs perfectly with the drinksand it's among the favorite of
people that actually know aboutit.
I've actually had it before.
I've never tasted bacon so goodin my life.
I highly recommend trying itout there.
(05:21):
If you're heading over toAnimal Kingdom once again, go to
the Nomad Lounge and get thatcrispy bacon.
So now let's talk about a secretpath behind some waterfalls.
And since we were just talkingabout Animal Kingdom, we're
going to keep talking aboutAnimal Kingdom here, because
there's a hidden path that leadsyou behind the waterfalls in
Pandora, the world of Avatar.
Why is it special?
It's because this spot reallycreates a serene escape of the
(05:45):
hustle and bustle of the park,right.
So basically, it kind of givesyou a really nice break.
It's kind of zen.
It's really peaceful to gothrough, but you can also enjoy
the sounds of the waterfalls.
Plus, it makes great pictureops for you and your family.
So I highly recommend doingthat.
Also, if you just need a breakand you want to take a quiet
corner, there's a littlestroller on that path and it
shows beautiful scenery and itoften gets overlooked, right,
(06:07):
because everyone's just tryingto get from one ride to the next
.
Take some time, walk around,really enjoy all of the cool
elements of the park.
I definitely recommend thatsecret path behind the
waterfalls at Animal Kingdom inthe world of Avatar.
Now, this is definitely one ofmy favorites.
If you go over to HollywoodStudios, there is a hidden bar
and I'm not talking like it's aspeakeasy, it's just one that I
(06:29):
think usually gets overlooked,and it's called the Tune In
Lounge in Echo Lake.
They open at 10.45 am every dayand it's just a fantastic spot
if you need to go get a beverage.
They got a lot of themed drinks, but this 50s themed lounge
really provides a greatatmosphere.
It's relaxed.
It does get busy, I'm going tobe honest with you.
So if you're doing takeout, itdoes get busy because they have
(06:51):
a kind of a grab and go linehere where you can grab it and
then walk around the park.
But if you want to take alittle breather, enjoy some of
the cool air inside or whatnot,make sure you go in, get a spot
at the bar, say hi to my friendJulie and definitely take
advantage of this cool hiddenbar.
Also, don't forget to try thePB&J Shake.
(07:13):
It's a fun, nostalgic drinkthat you won't find in any other
park, so make sure you try thatone as well.
Now, personally, I can onlyhave maybe half of one, because
it's really sweet in my opinion,but definitely recommend it.
Also, did you know that there'sa secret garden that's right
Over in Epcot?
There's a hidden garden in theUK Pavilion that most guests
(07:36):
don't know about, and the bestpart about it is it's vibrant,
it's full of plants and flowers.
It's also very quiet and it'stucked away from one of the main
paths, so it's not very crowded.
But it's also a great place tocatch your breath, and I've
gotten some really amazingpictures of my kids in this one,
so highly recommend findingthat secret garden located in
the UK pavilion.
Also, if you're visiting duringthe flower and garden festival,
(07:59):
this garden becomes even morestunning because of all of the
blooms and the vibrant flowersthat they put on display in
there, so it's absolutelyincredible.
So if you're going down thereduring flower and garden time,
definitely make that a must do.
Now you're going aroundCinderella's Castle at the Magic
Kingdom.
Guess what?
There's a little bit of ahidden path over there.
(08:21):
That's right, and this oftengets overlooked by most visitors
who rush past the castlebecause it's a peaceful spot
with some great views, but italso gets a lot of great photo
ops.
It's perfect for those that arewanting to escape the crowd but
also enjoy that beautifulDisney landscaping.
So make sure you take a walkbehind the castle to find this
hidden gem.
You don't go straight throughthe castle, it's actually a
(08:43):
walkway that kind of goes on thebackside of the castle.
So make sure to make your wayaround the castle, because it is
a walkway that gets utilizedvery rarely by a majority of
guests, unless you're an annualpass holder and you're someone
that actually understands thatthis path is there.
Now, for all my Haunted Mansionfans out there, here's a fun
secret.
Did you know that there's ahidden door for the Haunted
(09:04):
Mansion?
That's right.
You don't have to go throughthe expanding room.
You can actually go through adifferent door for the ride
queue at the Haunted Mansion ofMagic Kingdom, which leads to a
spooky different area.
And this door is part of theride's backstory.
Actually, even though it's notvisible to all guests, it's a
cool part of the attraction'sfolklore and adds an extra layer
of mystery to the ride.
(09:25):
Also, big tip as you wait inthe queue, make sure you keep an
eye for all the hidden detailsthat tell the backstory of the
mansion's ghostly inhabitants Onyour next trip, if you want any
help, once again, make sure youvisit us at
magicvacationfamilycom.
We'd love to help you out.
Otherwise, until then, I willsee you at episode number eight.
Have a good day.
hey, friends, justin here with the people mover
podcast and today, episodenumber seven of 2025, we're
going to be talking about hiddendisney world park secrets, so
let's get started, welcome tothe people mover podcast, the
length of the iconic ride andyour ultimate guide to Disney
World.
Announcer (00:24):
And Disney.
Cruises.
Whether you're a first-timer ora seasoned fan, we've got tips,
tricks and options to elevateyour magical journey.
Don't forget to follow andsubscribe to our Facebook,
instagram, tiktok and YouTube atMagic Vacation Family.
For more Disney magic, buckleup and let's dive into the world
(00:44):
of Disney.
As always, these episodes arebrought to you by Magic Vacation
Family.
For more Disney magic, buckleup and let's dive into the world
of Disney.
Justin (00:46):
As always, these episodes are brought to you by
MagicVacationFamilycom.
Make sure you visit us,magicvacationfamilycom, for any
of your travel needs.
Remember, any of the advice andexpertise that we give you is
100% free, as long as you bookyour trip through us.
So go to MagicVacationFamilycom, click on, book a trip, fill
out the questionnaire and we'llstart helping you plan your next
(01:09):
magical vacation.
So today we're going to talkabout one of my favorite topics,
because it doesn't just have todo with, you know, lightning
lanes or tickets, et cetera.
This is actually about DisneyWorld Hidden Park Secrets.
So, whether you're a first-timeDisney visitor or an expert,
there's always secret spots todiscover that will make your
(01:29):
Disney vacation even moremagical.
So today in the episode, we'regoing to talk about some of
those best-kept secrets.
So, from hidden Mickeys tosecret menu items, to peaceful
spots and unexpected surprises,let's dive in right now.
Topic number one is going to besomething that shouldn't
surprise you, and that is hiddenMickeys.
Now, hidden Mickeys are greatbecause, whether you're a kid or
(01:50):
an adult, you always getexcited when you find one.
And these hidden Mickeys arereally the Mickey Mouse shaped
symbols that are scattered allthroughout Disney World.
Now, it could be in manydifferent forms, but these are
some of the famous secrets wherethe Imagineers have done this
to incorporate and to createthese little Easter eggs for you
to find.
So where do you find them?
(02:11):
No, like I said, they'reintegrated within attractions,
architecture, landscape, evenride queues.
So, for example, pirates of theCaribbean you go and you can
find a hidden Mickey in theship's wheel and in the Haunted
Mansion.
Look for either the spider websin the stretching room sequence
or as you're going through thedining room scene.
(02:32):
If you look down on the table,you might see three plates that
make a Mickey head and that'sconsidered a hidden Mickey.
Another great place to look isat Spaceship Earth in Epcot.
As you make your way around theride, look up near the top for
a clever Hidden Mickey in theConstellations.
This is one that always getsreally forgotten about because
there's a lot going on in thatride.
(02:53):
But search for those symbolsand see how many you can find.
I have people that actuallyplay Hidden Mickey Bingo, so
I'll see if I can make some ofthose cards and throw them on
MagicVacationFamilycom.
But Hidden Mickey Bingo is sucha fun thing to do, all right.
So on to number two here andthat's actually going to be
nothing.
That's like a Hidden Mickey,but it's going to be the Tangled
(03:13):
Rest Area located at MagicKingdom, and that's because this
is a peaceful spot tucked awaybehind Rapunzel's Tower, and
it's one of the most tranquilspots in the park.
So why is it special?
The Tangled Rest Area featuresbeautiful lanterns, quiet
benches and lush greenery, butit's a great place to take a
break from the crowds.
Not too many guests know aboutthis spot, so it's usually not
(03:36):
very crowded, which also meansreally nice and clean restrooms.
Also, if you're really lookingfor a great place to recharge
and get some great photos with atangled theme, you definitely
want to come to this spot here,also at nighttime.
They have the beautifullanterns that you can get your
picture taken with, so highlyrecommend visiting it at night
as well, because the lanterns inthe area have a really
(03:58):
beautiful glow, but also you canget some really cool pictures.
All right, so let's move on totopic number three here, which
is going to be obviously a lotof people's favorites, which is
secret menu items at DisneyWorld.
Now, disney World's full ofsecret menu items that not many
guests know about, and these areexclusive treats that are not
often listed on the regular menu.
So if you go to a quick servicerestaurant, you're not going to
(04:19):
see it on that outside board,or even if you're at a sit-down
restaurant, you're not going tosee it on side the menu.
But if you do ask a cast member, they can sometimes work some
little magic for you.
So first one I'm going to bringup is a lot of people's
favorites and it's always ago-to treat when you go to Magic
Kingdom.
That's the Dole Whip Float.
However, let's make this adultstyle.
(04:39):
Okay, we're going to add somerum to it.
So, highly recommend, head overto the Aloha Isle in Magic
Kingdom and ask for the rum DoleWhip float and, like I said,
it's a Dole Whip topped with rumfor a tropical adult twist.
So you got to be 21 plus to getit, but it is definitely
fantastic.
(04:59):
Number two is going to be thecrispy bacon at Nomad Lounge.
So if you go over to AnimalKingdom, head over to Nomad
Lounge and there's the crispybacon at Nomad Lounge.
So if you go over to AnimalKingdom and over to Nomad Lounge
and there's a crispy bacon,it's a secret menu item that
pairs perfectly with the drinksand it's among the favorite of
people that actually know aboutit.
I've actually had it before.
I've never tasted bacon so goodin my life.
I highly recommend trying itout there.
(05:21):
If you're heading over toAnimal Kingdom once again, go to
the Nomad Lounge and get thatcrispy bacon.
So now let's talk about a secretpath behind some waterfalls.
And since we were just talkingabout Animal Kingdom, we're
going to keep talking aboutAnimal Kingdom here, because
there's a hidden path that leadsyou behind the waterfalls in
Pandora, the world of Avatar.
Why is it special?
It's because this spot reallycreates a serene escape of the
(05:45):
hustle and bustle of the park,right.
So basically, it kind of givesyou a really nice break.
It's kind of zen.
It's really peaceful to gothrough, but you can also enjoy
the sounds of the waterfalls.
Plus, it makes great pictureops for you and your family.
So I highly recommend doingthat.
Also, if you just need a breakand you want to take a quiet
corner, there's a littlestroller on that path and it
shows beautiful scenery and itoften gets overlooked, right,
(06:07):
because everyone's just tryingto get from one ride to the next
.
Take some time, walk around,really enjoy all of the cool
elements of the park.
I definitely recommend thatsecret path behind the
waterfalls at Animal Kingdom inthe world of Avatar.
Now, this is definitely one ofmy favorites.
If you go over to HollywoodStudios, there is a hidden bar
and I'm not talking like it's aspeakeasy, it's just one that I
(06:29):
think usually gets overlooked,and it's called the Tune In
Lounge in Echo Lake.
They open at 10.45 am every dayand it's just a fantastic spot
if you need to go get a beverage.
They got a lot of themed drinks, but this 50s themed lounge
really provides a greatatmosphere.
It's relaxed.
It does get busy, I'm going tobe honest with you.
So if you're doing takeout, itdoes get busy because they have
(06:51):
a kind of a grab and go linehere where you can grab it and
then walk around the park.
But if you want to take alittle breather, enjoy some of
the cool air inside or whatnot,make sure you go in, get a spot
at the bar, say hi to my friendJulie and definitely take
advantage of this cool hiddenbar.
Also, don't forget to try thePB&J Shake.
(07:13):
It's a fun, nostalgic drinkthat you won't find in any other
park, so make sure you try thatone as well.
Now, personally, I can onlyhave maybe half of one, because
it's really sweet in my opinion,but definitely recommend it.
Also, did you know that there'sa secret garden that's right
Over in Epcot?
There's a hidden garden in theUK Pavilion that most guests
(07:36):
don't know about, and the bestpart about it is it's vibrant,
it's full of plants and flowers.
It's also very quiet and it'stucked away from one of the main
paths, so it's not very crowded.
But it's also a great place tocatch your breath, and I've
gotten some really amazingpictures of my kids in this one,
so highly recommend findingthat secret garden located in
the UK pavilion.
Also, if you're visiting duringthe flower and garden festival,
(07:59):
this garden becomes even morestunning because of all of the
blooms and the vibrant flowersthat they put on display in
there, so it's absolutelyincredible.
So if you're going down thereduring flower and garden time,
definitely make that a must do.
Now you're going aroundCinderella's Castle at the Magic
Kingdom.
Guess what?
There's a little bit of ahidden path over there.
(08:21):
That's right, and this oftengets overlooked by most visitors
who rush past the castlebecause it's a peaceful spot
with some great views, but italso gets a lot of great photo
ops.
It's perfect for those that arewanting to escape the crowd but
also enjoy that beautifulDisney landscaping.
So make sure you take a walkbehind the castle to find this
hidden gem.
You don't go straight throughthe castle, it's actually a
(08:43):
walkway that kind of goes on thebackside of the castle.
So make sure to make your wayaround the castle, because it is
a walkway that gets utilizedvery rarely by a majority of
guests, unless you're an annualpass holder and you're someone
that actually understands thatthis path is there.
Now, for all my Haunted Mansionfans out there, here's a fun
secret.
Did you know that there's ahidden door for the Haunted
(09:04):
Mansion?
That's right.
You don't have to go throughthe expanding room.
You can actually go through adifferent door for the ride
queue at the Haunted Mansion ofMagic Kingdom, which leads to a
spooky different area.
And this door is part of theride's backstory.
Actually, even though it's notvisible to all guests, it's a
cool part of the attraction'sfolklore and adds an extra layer
of mystery to the ride.
(09:25):
Also, big tip as you wait inthe queue, make sure you keep an
eye for all the hidden detailsthat tell the backstory of the
mansion's ghostly inhabitants Onyour next trip, if you want any
help, once again, make sure youvisit us at
magicvacationfamilycom.
We'd love to help you out.
Otherwise, until then, I willsee you at episode number eight.
Have a good day.
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