The Secrets of Disney. The Parks

TOWN SQUARE SECRETS

If you're a Veteran, you're a special Guest at the Magic Kingdom. Stop by Guest Relations in City Hall and inquire about participating in the daily Flag Retreat Ceremony in Town Square. Each evening, Disney officials escort a Veteran to the flagpole in the center of the square for an honorary lowering of the flag. The ceremony lasts about 15 minutes and is a patriotic event the entire family will enjoy. The ceremony typically begins at 5:00 p.m.

As you exit City Hall, notice the Fire Station next door. It houses Engine Company 71. The number wasn't assigned at random, but instead refers to the year in which the Magic Kingdom opened, 1971.

Step inside the Fire Station and you'll discover fire station patches and other insignias from all across the country on display. These are brought here by firefighters when they visit the park or are sent in after they return home.

Not all Disney characters appear according to the schedule published in the Daily Times Guide. Sometimes they will emerge quietly from an out-of-the-way doorway to welcome guests, have their picture taken and sign autographs. The back of the Fire Station is one such location, so take a moment to stop in and see if you can have a rare solitary visit with a favorite Disney character.

Now journey next door to find the old-fashioned Harmony Barber Shop located next to the Emporium gift shop. The secret . . . it's a real barber shop, and you can actually get your hair cut in the Magic Kingdom!

Although small and quaint, the Harmony Barber Shop performs between 350 and 400 services a week. Children's "First Haircuts" are the establishment's specialty. If you arrive at the park's opening, or shortly thereafter, plan on waiting in line.

Now stroll across the Town Square and find Goofy sitting on a bench in front of Tony's Town Square Restaurant. While others pass by, go ahead and sit down next to him. You may be surprised to find he thinks it's funny.

Tony's Town Square Restaurant? It's named for the Italian Chef who served the romantic spaghetti dinner to the two title characters, Lady and Tramp, in the 1955 classic Disney animated film "Lady and the Tramp."

Disney Imagineers have hidden many secrets right out in the open, where they are walked over by many Guests without their ever noticing. Make your way to the base of the stairs leading up to the dining area at Tony's Town Square Restaurant and you'll find a large heart with paw prints belonging to Lady and the Tramp imprinted into the sidewalk.

Here's a secret literally thousands of people walk by without ever noticing. Step inside the Town Square Exposition Hall and proceed all the way to the back towards the left. Once you reach the standing clock, turn right and discover a fantastic opportunity for fun and magical photos of you and your family. In addition to the small theater playing Mickey Mouse cartoons, you'll find a collection of cutouts from classic Disney films, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Steamboat Willie, just waiting to be showcased in your family photos.

You'll also find along the back wall a fascinating chronological display of the successful career of Walt Disney. While there may be thousands of guests just outside, there's a good chance you'll have this secret all to yourself.

Next, take a moment to step into The Chapeau. Here, you'll find an antique phone mounted on the wall. Most Guests assume it's just a prop, but those who look closer find otherwise. Pick it up and listen in on a fun conversation between a mother and her daughter, Annie. Annie's mother is surprised that ham has now reached 11 cents per pound, and with things now so expensive, she advises Annie to marry a man who has $300 in savings and earns at least $8 per week.

As you journey through the Magic Kingdom today, notice you won't find gum all over the sidewalk, under benches, stuck to railings, etc. That's because gum isn't sold anywhere in Walt Disney World Resort.

Nearly every Guest misses this next secret and display of behavioral science. As you enter Main Street, U.S.A., notice that the trash cans are no more than 27 paces apart. When building Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney visited other amusement parks at the time and studied just how far their visitors would go to drop trash in a trashcan. He found that any distance greater than 27 paces would lead people to just drop their trash on the ground. Today, trashcans are placed at convenient distances of no more than 27 paces throughout Walt Disney World Resort to keep the parks clean and provide a higher quality guest experience.