Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando Florida
Magic Kingdom seen from the Contemporary Hotel in Disney World. The Walt Disney Company began construction on the Magic Kingdom along with the resort on the whole in 1967 after the death of Walt Disney. The park itself was initially built similar to the existing Disneyland in California, however the Magic Kingdom was built in a larger area. The Magic Kingdom also improved upon Disneyland's design. According to a story, Walt Disney once saw a Frontierland cowboy walking through Tomorrowland at Disneyland and wanted to eliminate ruining the illusion like this in the new park.[2] In order to alleviate this, the Magic Kingdom was built over a series of tunnels, called Utilidors, a portmanteau of utility and corridor. With these tunnels cast members were able to move through the park away from the guests and not ruin the illusion of the show. Because of Florida's high water table, the tunnels could not be put underground, so they were built at the existing grade. The area around them was filled in with dirt removed from the Seven Seas Lagoon which was being constructed at the same time. The tunnels are only under areas that were built in the initial construction and were not extended with additions to the park. The tunnels are mostly found in the Magic Kingdom because of financial constraints, but they were meant to be employed in all subsequent Walt Disney World parks. Epcot's Future World and Pleasure Island each have a smaller network of utilidors.
Magic Kingdom seen from the Contemporary Hotel in Disney World. The Walt Disney Company began construction on the Magic Kingdom along with the resort on the whole in 1967 after the death of Walt Disney. The park itself was initially built similar to the existing Disneyland in California, however the Magic Kingdom was built in a larger area. The Magic Kingdom also improved upon Disneyland's design. According to a story, Walt Disney once saw a Frontierland cowboy walking through Tomorrowland at Disneyland and wanted to eliminate ruining the illusion like this in the new park.[2] In order to alleviate this, the Magic Kingdom was built over a series of tunnels, called Utilidors, a portmanteau of utility and corridor. With these tunnels cast members were able to move through the park away from the guests and not ruin the illusion of the show. Because of Florida's high water table, the tunnels could not be put underground, so they were built at the existing grade. The area around them was filled in with dirt removed from the Seven Seas Lagoon which was being constructed at the same time. The tunnels are only under areas that were built in the initial construction and were not extended with additions to the park. The tunnels are mostly found in the Magic Kingdom because of financial constraints, but they were meant to be employed in all subsequent Walt Disney World parks. Epcot's Future World and Pleasure Island each have a smaller network of utilidors.