5 Unspoken Rules Every 90s Kid Follows in Magic Kingdom

Over the last 50+ years, the Magic Kingdom has changed a lot. Rides, shows, attractions, and even a land have come and gone, leaving each generation with their “own” version of the park embedded in their memories, and in turn affecting how they visit the park today. That includes 90s kids!

From mourning long-gone attractions to coming to terms with our aging bodies’ new demands, there are several unspoken rules millennials and elder Gen Z members follow at the “Most Magical Place on Earth.”

“They Still Look for Mickey’s House”

For Disney fans of a certain age, a visit to Mickey Mouse’s House was just as integral a part of a Magic Visit as a photo in front of Cinderella Castle or a ride on Space Mountain. Originally built as part of the planned-to-be-temporary Mickey’s Birthdayland in the late 1980s, the original version of Mickey’s house featured a tour through Mickey’s realistically furnished rooms — including a den, living room, bedroom, and kitchen — from behind velvet ropes, before the tour concluded in a screening room showing classic Mickey cartoons.

In the mid-90s, the then-renamed Mickey’s Starland was turned into Mickey’s Toontown Fair, and the Head Cheese’s house added interactive elements and over-exaggerated cartoon pops that guests could play with. This new version culminated in a meet & greet, which was attached to the house and replaced the screening room as the tour’s conclusion. This is the version that became iconic for many kids who grew up in the mid-late 90s, and was a staple at the park until the whole of Mickey’s Toontown Fair closed to make way for the Storybook Circus portion of New Fantasyland.

“They Always Try for Be Out Guest Reservations Just to be Inside the World of Beauty and the Beast”

As a team, we’ve had our… issues with Be Our Guest over the years. From the elimination of breakfast and quick service lunch to the dinner menu changing to a pre-fix structure, to evolving offerings, to the intermittent appearances from The Beast, the restaurant has seen a lot of changes over the years, some better received than others.

However, one thing that hasn’t changed is how much kids of the 90s love being inside the Beast’s castle, dining in the gorgeous grand ballroom, or the ever-storming West Wing. Many take photos in this immersive environment, some of us even get engaged there, but all of us enjoy being immersed in the environment, no matter what other issues the restaurant has.

“They Ride the PeopleMover to Rest Their Aching Bodies”

While many of us 90s kids may not want to hear it, we’re all reaching our mid-30s and 40s, and our bodies can’t quite hold up the rigors of a full day at the Magic Kingdom. That’s where the legendary PeopleMover comes in. Not only does this Tomorrowland classic provide gorgeous views of the Magic Kingdom, but it’s a nice 10-minute rest for an aching body.

“They Still Mourn Alien Encounter”

Speaking of Tomorrowland, many 90s kids still feel a shudder of fear when passing by the (now) long-abandoned building on the left of Tomorrowland’s entrance. While the building was home to Mission to Mars in the park’s early years and Stitch’s Great Escape more recently, it’s the attraction from the 90s that still holds the most sway over many: The ExtraTERRORstial Alien Encounter.

This attraction’s story centered around X-S-Tech, a futuristic interstellar corporation that is hosting an open house in Tomorrowland. After a humorous pre-show, guests were shepherded into the theater, where it was revealed that X-S Tech was using the guests as “human guinea pigs” to expose them to an alien they’d captured. The creature would menace the guests for a bit before turning on the X-S scientists, disabling their weapons, and releasing the restraints, allowing guests to escape. The creature could then be heard massacring the scientists as guests exited through the gift shop. In the end, the terrifying attraction was too scary for its own good, being replaced within a decade.

“They Have to Space Out Their Days to Make it to Fireworks”

Let’s wrap up with aching bodies. While 90s kids may have been able to power through from rope drop to evening fireworks during our early years, these days we need to space things out and take a lot of breaks — like the aforementioned Peoplemover ride — to make sure they’re able to make it to the fireworks in close to one piece.

If you’re a 90s kid heading to the Magic Kingdom anytime soon, be sure to keep these unspoken rules in mind to have the best day possible at the park. Stay tuned to AllEars for more tips on visiting Disney World.

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What elements of the 1990s Magic Kingdom do you miss? Let us know in the comments below.

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