Walt Disney World holds a special spot in many people’s minds. The iconic resort is a destination that conjures memories of childhood and favorite Disney films. Disney World – located in Bay Lake, Florida, the same size as San Francisco or two Manhattans, but with cheaper rent – opened on October 1, 1971. It has been making dreams come true for families all over the world for nearly half a century, and the ins and outs of the park are as fascinating as its legacy.

Location Matters

Because Florida is at sea level and engineers couldn't dig down, the famous “underground” tunnels for Disney employees to move about unseen within **Magic Kingdom are really at ground level, and the park is built on top of them. And when the original plans for the Magic Kingdom were laid out, designers planned on more hotels to be built in that location. Don't worry, there are five there now, with plenty of Disney-themed rooms to choose from, but you won't find any hotels with a Venetian theme, a South Asian theme or a Persian theme. Plans for those were waylaid after the oil crisis of the late 1970s.

When Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom was built, designers wanted to stay historically accurate with the colonial time period it was based on, so the square has no bathrooms. Fear not! Nearby restaurants Liberty Tree Tavern and Columbia Harbor House do indeed have bathrooms.

Another insider tip: Go behind Cinderella Castle to watch the nightly “Wishes” fireworks. The view is just as fantastic, and you don't have to fight the crowds. Or grab a seat at one of the outdoor restaurants in the area, and enjoy the show off your feet after a long day. Be sure to make a reservation for prime seating.

At Epcot, originally called The Epcot Center, get a whole-world tour in one go. The international pavilions have sidewalks that twinkle at night too. Take the right-hand path just around the giant ball, known as Spaceship Earth, and you'll find them along with fireflies in the trees. It's also a great place to have some one-on-one time with beloved Disney characters. Head toward the bench near the rail past the International Gateway, and you're sure to find a few hanging around.

As you head over to the Animal Kingdom, sometimes you'll find a long line to the entrance. Here's a secret: Go through the Rainforest Cafe, where a park entrance is at the rear of the gift shop. A great time to visit Animal Kingdom is early evening, when it's feeding time for the animals. At about 5 p.m., make your way to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for your own food, and that's when the feeding troughs are filled, bringing the furry ones closer to the viewing areas.

Exclusives for Insiders

Besides a restaurant, a gift shop and the leftovers of a 650-square-foot room that was meant to have been Walt Disney's apartment, Cinderella Castle is mostly empty. Designers had an apartment built into the layout for Walt, but he died before its completion. The space was later turned into a hotel room that's pretty impossible to stay in, unless you’re Suri Cruise. And really, unless you're a Disneyphile, you might not even have known about it. The unassuming door is at the base of the castle, leading to an elevator that brings you to the only overnight room inside the Magic Kingdom: The Cinderella Castle Suite.

Want to still feel like you’re getting an exclusive? Buy a Dole Whip at Aloha Isle. The Dole Whip is pineapple-flavored soft-serve ice cream sold only at the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disneyland in California and Dole's processing plant in Hawaii.

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