January 31, 2020

Design Detail: Sir Mickey's at the Magic Kingdom

For a fan who doesn't get to visit Walt Disney World all that often or even only once in a lifetime, it's understandable to rush around from ride to ride trying to get the most experiences for your money and time. I know I certainly found that to be true in each of my three visits to Disneyland Paris! Yet, slowing down and doing a bit of exploring often provides greater appreciation for what the Imagineers placed in the parks. You know, those small design details that separate Disney Parks from your local Six Flags.

Going into Fantasyland from Cinderella Castle, I popped into one of my favorite shops: Sir Mickey's. When you consider the impact one little mouse had on Disney's world, there are very few tributes to the him to be found in the park. Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is about to change that for the Studios park, but in the Magic Kingdom, he's harder to come by. This charming shop is inspired by the 1947 animated classic, Mickey and the Beanstalk. The outside of the building is clever, but you'll only find this hidden Mickey if you step inside, proving small surprises often await those who take time to look deeper.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

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