joanna71985
Well-Known Member
Really? When? I will have to remember this the next time I work there.
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Did I find a Utilidor entrance?
- Thread starter Kingdom WDW
- Start date
Really? When? I will have to remember this the next time I work there.
joanna71985
Well-Known Member
:dazzle:Yes it is. And it is a pain to use.
cm1988
Active Member
An opinion about utilidors, etc.
Ok, here's a few facts about utilidors. If I can just qualify myself; I used them for several years.
First, please don't go into areas marked "Cast Members Only". Safety (insurance and legal), show and security issues all apply and are real. In recent years, they put cameras throughout the utilidors so it really is not a good idea to go explore them. If you are curious, then head over to Guest Relations and sign up for a tour, please. You can do that and will learn more and enjoy it more, with a cordial guide.
I do understand the curiosity as it was a big part of the reason I came to work at WDW to begin with. Reality is, though, it is pretty much the same as any hotel basement or other commercial unthemed space you might wander into at a mall or wherever. Not magical! About as interesting as the manager's office at Wal-Mart or the utility sinks at McDonald's.
A major reason that Magic Kingdom has their utilidors is the Florida land was swampy and they built the themed areas of the park on what is actually a "second floor". The utilidors are a ground floor. And yes, people in costume can get around to their various spaces from wardrobe fairly efficiently.
At Epcot, there are a few utilidors for getting around the central part of future world, but world showcase has bus service all around the back perimeter. No need for a basement!
Same thing with the Studios and DAK. Bus service (and bicycles to borrow) out at the perimeter gets everyone where they need to be, in costume and without walking through areas "out of theme".
Again, please, if you're curious, try the tour. See guest relations about it. They get great reviews from people who have gone on them.
Since I left Disney's employ, I don't go back there. I enjoy the parks as a guest and really, really think that's the way to see the parks and resorts.
Ok, here's a few facts about utilidors. If I can just qualify myself; I used them for several years.
First, please don't go into areas marked "Cast Members Only". Safety (insurance and legal), show and security issues all apply and are real. In recent years, they put cameras throughout the utilidors so it really is not a good idea to go explore them. If you are curious, then head over to Guest Relations and sign up for a tour, please. You can do that and will learn more and enjoy it more, with a cordial guide.
I do understand the curiosity as it was a big part of the reason I came to work at WDW to begin with. Reality is, though, it is pretty much the same as any hotel basement or other commercial unthemed space you might wander into at a mall or wherever. Not magical! About as interesting as the manager's office at Wal-Mart or the utility sinks at McDonald's.
A major reason that Magic Kingdom has their utilidors is the Florida land was swampy and they built the themed areas of the park on what is actually a "second floor". The utilidors are a ground floor. And yes, people in costume can get around to their various spaces from wardrobe fairly efficiently.
At Epcot, there are a few utilidors for getting around the central part of future world, but world showcase has bus service all around the back perimeter. No need for a basement!
Same thing with the Studios and DAK. Bus service (and bicycles to borrow) out at the perimeter gets everyone where they need to be, in costume and without walking through areas "out of theme".
Again, please, if you're curious, try the tour. See guest relations about it. They get great reviews from people who have gone on them.
Since I left Disney's employ, I don't go back there. I enjoy the parks as a guest and really, really think that's the way to see the parks and resorts.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
They were brought back around last September.
joanna71985
Well-Known Member
Ah, ok.
Gorjus
Well-Known Member
I'm still trying to figure out where all the entrances are and I've been navigating them for a year. Because I am in a global costume, it is often easier for me to simply travel onstage rather than use the utilidors. And from Main St to Adventureland, I'll take the Jungle Cruise route over the smelly West Side area.
It is bland, unattractive, unthemed. There are cement walls, cement floors. The walls and ceiling are covered in pipes, ducts, wires, cylinders, etc. The Walls also have "wall to wall" bulletin boards. The halls are lined with palattes and palattes of boxes. It can be warm, cold, and smelly. Music from a local radio station plays and there are speakers everywhere so you can follow a song on a long walk. There are golf carts and the like roaming the place. It is full of offices. Oddly enough, if you go upstairs from park level, the offices up there look like your average office building. But in the tunnels/utilidors, not as attractive.
the tours are always hanging around near the photopass base and the Main St. Breakroom.
Really, bikes at the Studios? They didn't have them when I was there last year. Cool. That would help when going from Tower of Terror area to Streets of America.
Disneybird
Member
Though it's not a utilidor, there is a gate to the left of POTC. We were escorted through there with a show choir once. There was a dressing and practice area. We then loaded onto a bus and went around to the back of Tomorrowland. Didn't see any of the park while on the bus, but it was very interesting.