EVERY Hidden Secret In Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland

Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland isn’t just full of adventure, it’s also full of secrets.

Of all the lands in Disney World, Adventureland might just be the land with the most secrets, but do you know about them?

Sure, you might know about a few, but we’re going to share EVERY SINGLE secret we know with you, so please follow along, take notes, and be sure to look for these things during your next visit to Magic Kingdom! Put on your adventuring caps and let’s go!

Attractions

Pirates of the Caribbean

One of the most iconic rides in Adventureland is Pirates of the Caribbean, and in case you hadn’t noticed, this attraction houses a wealth of hidden details and secrets, starting in the ride’s Lightning Lane Queue. Be sure to look for the scene where two pirates are playing chess — the game on the board is a stalemate.

So why is this even important? Well, this was a joke added to the scene by legendary Imagineer Marc Davis. He wanted those poor pirates to be stuck in a chess stalemate forever. But there’s also MORE to the scene. Underneath the table is a sketch of how the chess pieces are supposed to be laid out — left there by the Imagineer so that future Cast Members would know how to lay it out if the scene needed to be relocated.

But that isn’t the only hidden secret you’ll find in Pirates of the Caribbean. During the actual ride, there’s a scene where two pirates are using water torture on another man who’s in a well. One of those pirates is tall and has a hook for a hand, while the other, who is playing a flute, has a red cap and a blue and white striped shirt. Yes, those pirates are Captain Hook and Mister Smee from Peter Pan!

Does the Auctioneer in the auction scene have a familiar voice? He should! The voice belongs to none other than Paul Frees, who is also the voice of the Ghost Host in Haunted Mansion!

There’s also a nod to Marc Davis at the end of the ride: in the final scene where Captain Jack Sparrow is singing in a room full of treasure, you’ll see a crest with the name of Marco Davioso, an homage to the Imagineer.

Once you’ve hopped off the ride, be sure to take a look around the gift shop, too — take a careful look at the vases and decor on the higher shelves. Look for a maroon double-handed vase with a coin stuck to the front. That coin is actually one of the pieces of eight used in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl!

Oh, and if you look very closely in the gift shop, you might spot a Hidden Mickey or two.

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Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Even the so-called “kiddie ride” Magic Carpets of Aladdin has its share of secrets. Both of the secrets here require you to look down. Do you see the tile flooring? Those small pieces of tile are from the original building that once stood here before the attraction was built.

Also, look at the ground and search for one of the pieces of jewelry in it — one of those jeweled pieces has a Hidden Mickey!

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The Enchanted Tiki Room

Maybe we’ll never know what happened to Rosita (although it looks like she pulled a Beyoncé and went solo), but we can tell you about some fun and secret details you might not know about in The Enchanted Tiki Room.

First, the bassy voice of Fritz might sound familiar. That’s because Fritz is voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, who is one of the singing busts in the Haunted Mansion PLUS the voice of the Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes mascot Tony The Tiger and the original singer of “You’re A Mean One, Mister Grinch.”

Before walking into the Tiki Room, be sure to look up at the roof. See all those animals? They were designed to look like different animals based on which land you see the roof from. In Adventureland, they look like water buffalo, but in Frontierland, they look like Longhorn cows. This is just another example of the brilliance of Disney Imagineers.

Also, that roof looks thatched, doesn’t it? You might think it’s made of straw, but it’s not — the roof is made of tin.

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Splash Mountain

So we’ve only got one secret to share with you about Splash Mountain. If you’re paying attention as you’re going up the final lift (right before you splash into the water), look on the left and you’ll see a Hidden Mickey.

So that’s a new zippity-dee-doo-dah fact you know about Splash Mountain now!

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Swiss Family Treehouse

Even the Swiss Family Treehouse has some secrets to share if you know where to look. For example, did you know that the ONLY place you’ll see another nation’s flag in Magic Kingdom is here? The flag at Swiss Family tree house is Switzerland’s flag, of course!

Also, If you look down from the top of the treehouse and into the kitchen, there’s a Hidden Mickey made with the dishes on the table.

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Jungle Cruise

Are you familiar with the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.)? It’s a fictional society made up by Disney that has references throughout Disney Parks all across the world. You’ll find some of those references on the Jungle Cruise, which is run by the Jungle Navigation Company, which was founded by one of the Society’s members, Dr. Albert Falls. Yes, he’s also the namesake of Schweitzer Falls on the cruise, too!

You’ll also find references to the S.E.A. throughout the attraction’s queue. There are crates marked as belonging to Hightower Industries (referencing S.E.A. member Harrison Hightower III). You’ll even find crates with the S.E.A. logo on them. So be sure to read up on the S.E.A. so you can find these clues the next time you’re standing in line for your next voyage on the World Famous Jungle Cruise.

Just before you board your boat, look up near the docking area to see the Crew Mess Lunch Menu — it’s always good for a laugh!

While you’re on the cruise itself, take a good look at the airplane scene. The plane is the back half of a plane that used to be on the old Studio Backlot Tour. The front half of the same plane was in the Casablanca scene in the old attraction The Great Movie Ride (which was replaced by Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway) in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Finally, the water may seem really dirty, but that’s just an illusion created by a special dye Disney has added to make it look so murky.

Click Here for More About the History and Evolution of Disney’s Jungle Cruise.

Restaurants

Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen

You might not realize it, but there’s one restaurant in Disney World that has SO MANY hidden secrets and details that you might not be able to find them all. But that restaurant does exist, and it’s the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, aka Skipper Canteen for short. The entire restaurant is themed around the Jungle Cruise (hence the name), which means it has a LOT of those S.E.A. references we previously mentioned.

The story of the restaurant is that it is currently operated by Alberta Falls, who is the granddaughter of Dr. Albert Falls. Skipper Canteen is meant to be a dining establishment for those lucky Jungle Cruise guests who manage to return in one piece from their adventures. You’ll most certainly notice the banner in the restaurant dedicated to the inaugural cruise of the Jungle Cruise in 1931.

Be sure to check out the bookcases in the restaurant and pay special attention to the books. You’ll see titles like The Eyes of Mara by an author named Jones (yes, this is an Indiana Jones reference), Crooning Flowers by Sherman and Sherman (a reference to legendary Disney songwriting team the Sherman Brothers), Friends For Dinner (oh, the punny jokes), and more. Also, see that copy of The Jungle Book? It’s pulled out a little bit… why?

Well, the theory is that this book is pulled out because it’s a trigger that opens a hidden door that leads to a secret meeting place for the S.E.A. 

Be sure to look ALL over the restaurant, though — you’ll find documents, photos, native artifacts, and more items collected by Jungle Cruise skippers throughout their travels.

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Tortuga Tavern

Skipper Canteen isn’t the only dining spot in Adventureland with secrets, though. Tortuga Tavern has a few of its own! So do you remember in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest where Captain Jack Sparrow is carrying around a jar of dirt? Well, that jar of dirt is here! You’ll also find the Pirate’s Code of Conduct, along with a giant mural of Blackbeard.

Tortuga Tavern used to be called El Pirata Y el Perico, and you’ll find the old sign tucked away in a corner of the existing restaurant.

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So when you next find yourself in Adventureland, be sure to take a little time just to look around — you might just find a secret hidden around every corner!

What’s your favorite Adventureland hidden detail or secret? Let us know in the comments!

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