The Magic UNDER Disney World

Magic Kingdom at Disney World is a place filled with magic and adventure, but there’s a part of this magic that most visitors are unaware of – the tunnels beneath the park. These tunnels, known as “Utilidors” (a contraction of “utility” and “corridors”), are a fascinating underground network that extends under large parts of Magic Kingdom. Let’s dive into the history and secrets behind these mysterious tunnels.

When Walt Disney planned Magic Kingdom, he knew he wanted to create a world full of magic and fantasy. But he also wanted this world to be flawless, with as few visible signs as possible of what was going on “backstage.” The Utilidors were designed to keep the magical illusion intact. On the surface of the park, it’s important for guests to see Disney World without being disturbed by cars, renovation work, or other background activities. The Utilidors allow Cast Members to move around the park efficiently without disrupting the magical atmosphere. Additionally, the tunnels provide a place for storage, cooking, dressing rooms, and other necessary operations that keep the park running.

The Utilidors in Magic Kingdom are actually quite a unique construction phenomenon. The largest system of utilidors is located under Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, but there are also some underground tunnels at Epcot. Due to the high groundwater level in Florida, most of these tunnels were actually built at ground level, and Magic Kingdom was built over it. So what guests see in the park are streets that are elevated by one story. Parts of Fantasyland, including Cinderella Castle, are actually on a third-story level. The ground level changes so gradually that guests tend not to realize they are ascending to the second and third stories. Magic Kingdom is built on soil that was removed from what is now Seven Seas Lagoon, the lake that lies between the parking lot and the park itself. So, although it may seem like the utilidors are a basement, they are actually at ground level, and the rest of the park is built over them.

Utilidors house a variety of facilities and activities that are crucial for the park’s operation. Many of the restaurants in Magic Kingdom have their kitchens in the Utilidors, which makes it easier to deliver food to different areas of the park without disturbing the guests. With so many characters walking around the park, there’s a need for a place to store and distribute costumes. Utilidors provide a convenient location for this. When maintenance or repair of facilities is needed, much of this work can be done without disturbing the guests, thanks to access from the tunnels. Utilidors include conveyor belts and vehicles that help staff move quickly and efficiently under the park. The waste systems in Magic Kingdom are an integral part of the park’s unique infrastructure. A key component of the utilidor system is AVAC, the Automated Vacuum-Assisted Collection system. At 17 key locations throughout Magic Kingdom, custodians can discreetly empty the park’s many trash cans, and an underground system of vacuum tubes sucks the trash at a speed of 60 miles per hour to a compactor.

Although a large part of the Utilidors is closed to guests, there is actually a way to see this off-limits area, namely “The Keys to the Kingdom tour.” During this comprehensive guided tour of Walt Disney World, guests are taken backstage, among other things, to see a bit of how it all happens. This includes seeing parts of the Utilidors! However, no filming or photography is allowed backstage.

Despite the fact that the Utilidors are part of the hidden backstage of Disney magic, it’s fascinating to think about the extensive infrastructure needed to maintain the flawless illusion of a magical world. So when you walk around Magic Kingdom, you can now glance “underground” and think about the fact that you’re actually on the second or third floor, and about the busy corridors and secrets that lie beneath your feet.