We love Walt Disney World. That needs to be apparent by the existence of this web site. However we’re additionally vital of the parks & resorts and, particularly, present administration and the choices they make. Typically, the choices they make really feel short-sighted, in search of brief time period ache at the price of long-term visitor goodwill.
This sort of pressure is regular, I believe, with one thing you’re keen on. Even the unconditional love of a mum or dad to a baby doesn’t come with out critique and constructive criticism. Moms and dads supply this, presumably, as a result of they need what’s greatest for his or her children. I don’t view Walt Disney World as my youngster–it’s sufficiently old to be my mum or dad–however my commentary comes from the same place of affection and eager to see the parks thrive.
In all honesty, it’s additionally egocentric. I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World fan since actually earlier than delivery. My first time listening to Nation Bear Christmas was in 1984–earlier than I used to be born! I cherished these parks as a baby within the Eighties and Nineties, as a clumsy teen within the early aughts, as a love-smitten faculty scholar within the late aughts, love-smitten newly-wed in 2010s, and love-smitten mum or dad within the 2020s. I’ll be right here within the 2030s, 40s, and so forth. I’m not going anyplace. I’ll outlast present and future administration, and the entire nice and boneheaded selections they make. In fact, I favor the previous on condition that I’ll be dwelling with these selections for many years to come back.
With that mentioned, an excessive amount of criticism raises the query: why are you even a Walt Disney World fan within the first place?
This weblog is a veritable compendium of solutions to that, which I imagine is generally a condescending rhetorical system meant to quell criticism. However, generally it is good to cease and odor the roses and share a few of the little issues we love concerning the place.
To that finish, right here’s a listing (probably half one in an ongoing collection?) of little issues we love about Walt Disney World. Random small stuff–not rides, resorts, eating places or the opposite main attracts about which we usually focus. Right here goes…
Arriving within the Disney Bubble – Walt Disney World simply “hits in a different way” for us when skilled as an entirely immersive multi-day trip vacation spot divorced from the actual world. The Disney Bubble is certainly a factor, and it’s unbelievable. To make certain, there are main benefits to being an area, however on steadiness, I’d quite expertise the Trip Kingdom of the World as a trip.
It was the case that you simply ‘arrived’ at Walt Disney World once you entered the Disney’s Magical Categorical staging space at Orlando Worldwide Airport. Alas, that’s no extra and now it’s important to wait a bit longer.
For us, this sense hits when driving beneath these Walt Disney World archways that demarcate the actual world from the bubble. They’re easy by Disney’s thematic requirements, however they put an enormous dumb grin on my face each single time. This sense is additional strengthened by the well-known Walt Disney World navigational signage and its inexplicably iconic pink and purple coloration scheme.
It’s no shock that followers had robust opinions about modifications to those gateways and signage (I nonetheless desire the previous fashion, pictured above) and that’s as a result of we have now fond reminiscences and nostalgia for the numerous great Walt Disney World holidays that each one began by passing via these entrances.
Seeing Pooh’s Posse – Sarah and I’ve been falling in love with Walt Disney World for the primary time yet again vicariously by way of our daughter, Megatron. Seeing her uncover and react to the parks has made for a lot of priceless reminiscences and, fairly frankly, this listing may very well be populated totally with sudden little issues we now love attributable to our daughter. That’s private and distinctive to us, and is likely to be boring for you, so I’m limiting it to only one entry.
Suffice to say, nowhere have these discoveries and reactions higher than with characters. Megatron has met Mickey and associates many occasions at Disneyland. One in all her favourite hobbies is grabbing the Fab 5’s noses and whiskers, that are like magnets for little child arms. That is an exercise that she practices on, not less than with noses, on her plushies of Minnie and Mickey at dwelling.
Pooh’s Posse is totally different. She additionally sees them typically at Disneyland, particularly now that Bayou Nation has reopened. Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger are like Taylor Swift or Christopher Walken to her (two fashionable celebrities of equal stature). When she spots them strolling to or from their greeting place, she goes nuts for them, waving like loopy, making a bunch of noises, and “phoning dwelling” (it’s precisely what you suppose it’s).
I can already inform that watching Pooh’s Posse do their little march from backstage to the Thotful Spot in Hundred-Acre Wooden goes to be a type of “little issues” for Sarah and I a long time from now, when Megatron is in faculty. Can we freeze time?! Failing that, it’s fairly straightforward to see why mother and father preserve going to Walt Disney World time and again.
This TTA Scene – One factor I’ve at all times cherished about Tomorrowland ’94 is the worldbuilding. This was completed by way of the science fiction prospers and ornamentation that established Tomorrowland as a lived-in place. This model of the land will at all times maintain a particular place in my coronary heart because it gave us Alien Encounter and Timekeeper (two good sights), and was the Tomorrowland of my childhood.
It wasn’t simply the rides, although. I cherished getting misplaced within the particulars. For those who ask the typical fan their favourite PeopleMover scene, most will play it protected and say the Progress Metropolis mannequin. And that’s an excellent reply–most likely the right one! It’s considered one of my favourite issues in Magic Kingdom, but it surely’s additionally apparent. Who amongst us hasn’t daydreamed about the place we’d reside in such an actual E.P.C.O.T. had Walt’s group come to fruition?!
I equally discover myself daydreaming after I have a look at the above vignette. It has so many refined particulars that raises as many questions because it solutions about mass transit, alien-robot-human relations, TTA rules, and extra. One of many issues I really like about Walt Disney World is it unlocks the door of creativeness, permitting visitors to discover concepts and create their very own headcanon. That partly explains why sights like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean have enduring recognition. They don’t provide you with the entire solutions or inform a succinct story.
Columbia Harbour Home Second Flooring – As one of many few good locations to eat and a colossal counter service restaurant on the earth’s busiest theme park, Columbia Harbour Home could be chaotic. It’s additionally considered one of my favourite locations in Magic Kingdom, in no small half as a result of it’s by no means actually modified.
Columbia Harbour Home is like going again into my grandparents’ dwelling after a protracted absence. Properly, in the event that they owned a publick home in New England. Extra dated than you keep in mind and with a preserved Nineteen Seventies aesthetic–however comforting. An vintage brass helmet in a single nook, a banjo in one other. Feminine figureheads, bald eagles, silver steins, and dishware on show. Issues that aren’t usually decorations…are decorations.
As a lot as I really like Columbia Harbour Home, it’s exhausting to understand the ambiance as a result of it’s at all times so loud and full of folks. (An issue that, fortunately, my grandparents’ home doesn’t have.) Fortunately, the eclectic inside could be totally appreciated by merely heading upstairs to the second-level seating that’s huge. That is the place Columbia Harbour Home actually shines.
There may be additionally no higher people-watching location in all of Magic Kingdom than one of many tables with views of the walkway resulting in Haunted Mansion in entrance of the Rivers of America. You could be the one visitors on this room throughout the offseason, on a wet day, throughout the first or final seating. and many others. The concept that a lot worthwhile actual property in Magic Kingdom may very well be a “secret” borders on absurd, however Columbia Harbour Home actually is a type of “hiding in plain sight” type of offers.
World Showcase After Luminous – The worldwide pavilions dotting World Showcase are inherently romantic, idealized variations of the international locations they signify. There’s one thing particular about being there late listening to the peaceable background music, strolling hand-in-hand with somebody you’re keen on via these lovely environments, whereas few different visitors are round.
I’ve mentioned it earlier than, however the World Showcase post-show stroll is our favourite EPCOT expertise. Which will appear loopy because it’s not one thing you’ll discover on a park map and isn’t actually a “factor” in any respect, however anybody who has ever lingered leaving EPCOT is aware of precisely why that is so particular.
For us, Walt Disney World is concerning the little moments throughout which we benefit from the place and the presence of each other, and strolling via World Showcase after the fireworks on the finish of the night is usually a type of little moments for us. There’s no extra satisfying approach to finish a protracted day within the parks.
For the reason that eating places in World Showcase make eating reservations till proper round park closing and it takes round an hour to complete meals (longer in France and Japan), you may have time to slowly make your approach out of EPCOT. That’s one of the best ways to get pleasure from this tranquil stroll–make an 8:55 p.m. (or so) reservation for a restaurant deep in World Showcase, get pleasure from Luminous out of your desk, and take your time leaving. Gazing up from beneath Spaceship Earth with nobody else round can also be fairly particular.
Burning Rome – Campers love the odor of burning timber as a result of it reminds them of enjoyable occasions spent within the nice open air. Disney followers love the odor of burning books as a result of it reminds them of enjoyable occasions spent in darkish rides.
Extra broadly, there’s one thing comforting and acquainted concerning the smells of the Eighties and older sights. These scents are sometimes unintentional, extra the results of cleansing…or the dearth thereof. Burning Rome is the uncommon one which melds each an intentional synthetic perfume with the Spaceship Earth’s pure scent developed over the a long time.
This most likely sounds odd to the uninitiated, however for diehard followers, that is arguably essentially the most distinct and memorable scent in all of Walt Disney World. If I weren’t a married man, I’d be out there for Burning Rome cologne. However I concern such a perfume would include a harmful variety of seductive pheromones, making it a put on at your individual threat kinda factor.
MuppetVision Pre-Present – After sufficient occasions on sure sights, there are pre-shows you’d prefer to skip. I’ve by no means purchased a Lightning Lane Single Cross, but when it bypassed the pre-shows on Avatar Flight of Passage, maybe I’d rethink. I truly just like the lead-up in Cosmic Rewind, however generally I simply need a thrilling journey set to nice tunes.
MuppetVision 3D is the precise reverse for us. The MV3D pre-show is best than the present. Critically. If we stroll into the pre-show space and it’s already half over or extra, we come again later. Most individuals most likely really feel prefer it’s a small victory once they can stroll proper right into a present with out ready, however relating to MuppetVision 3D, not us. The pre-show video is what we like most, however the gags on this ready space are additionally unbelievable.
What I most love concerning the MuppetVision pre-show is watching with a packed home of diehard followers. I hate when folks quote the Haunted Mansion stretching room, however for no matter cause, it hits totally different with the MuppetVision pre-show. Listening to different visitors mumble together with the jokes, snort on the punchlines, and recite the quotes is numerous enjoyable.
It’s additionally the pre-show that we reference most at dwelling. There’s most likely a restrict on what number of occasions you possibly can say, “what foolishness would you prefer to see?” or “Rat-shmat…apart from, they’re vacationers, what do they know?” or “Debbie was sick, so the union despatched me” earlier than these strains cease being humorous. But when there’s, I’ve but to search out it. Some may say that not quoting the MuppetVision 3D pre-show is distinctly unpatriotic.
Otter Grotto – There are simply a half-dozen underappreciated animal displays and trails in Animal Kingdom. Maharajah Jungle Trek is arguably probably the most underrated sights in all of Walt Disney World. However it’s additionally not likely a “little” factor–it’s a marquee attraction.
Otter Grotto is somewhat factor. One which’s simpler to pop-in for a couple of minutes, and is simple to miss. It options a complete household of Asian small-clawed otters, informational indicators, and above-ground and underwater viewing areas. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species on the earth, and the least aquatic, spending most of their days chilling on land. They’re additionally absolute jerks.
I don’t imply to forged aspersions. I name them jerks lovingly. I get pleasure from dropping into Otter Grotto to see what sort of hijinks the little fellas are as much as, in the event that they’re even out. Ever since studying that many otters have a favourite rock that they carry round, I’ve been offered on the greatness of those ornery animals. They’re cute, amusing, mischievous, hilarious…and generally use their superior intelligence for nefarious functions. However their meanness is a part of the appeal! Plus, Frogtown Hole Jubilee Jug Band is considered one of my all-time favourite musical teams.
The Solarium – Situated in a quiet wing of Seaside Membership as you head in the direction of the Villas, this hallway and ethereal atrium hardly ever has many individuals in it, making it a fantastic place to work or decompress. Truthfully, I didn’t even notice it existed till our first keep within the DVC wing a few decade in the past.
The Solarium can also be a fantastic spot to eat no matter you order from Seaside Membership Market or, should you don’t thoughts strolling somewhat farther, even meals from Seashores & Cream or the to-go spots round Crescent Lake.
The Solarium will also be used as a spot to observe the Tremendous Bowl or, at the exact opposite finish of the spectrum, a pleasant reprieve from noon crowds and warmth at EPCOT. We’ve spent numerous time again right here, doing all the pieces from working to watching tv to napping.
Crisp Morning Air – Usually talking, my favourite occasions at Walt Disney World are the start of the day or finish of the night. There’s one thing actually particular about being up on the break of day, and it’s an expertise that I savor at any time when I’ve the prospect–and I’ve had tons of of possibilities over the past 15 years.
Whether or not it’s for daybreak and dawn images of the resorts or as I stroll to catch the primary bus departing for Early Entry, I really like these quiet occasions on the resort. That is true year-round, however particularly so between October and April when the morning air truly is crisp. Taking my first deep breath of that cool recent Florida air–proper after chugging an enormous cup of espresso–has me on cloud 9. My senses are heightened and I actually really feel alive. I’d think about that is what medicine are like. (Properly, I assume the espresso is a drug…however you recognize what I imply!)
It’s not possible to articulate how this feels–it’s a type of “if you recognize, you recognize” kind of offers. What I’ll say is that, even after tons of of occasions, this hasn’t misplaced its specialness. If something, it has solely gotten higher with the passage of time. Extra occasions experiencing the crisp morning air means extra nostalgia is evoked and previous reminiscences introduced front-of-mind.
Sonny Eclipse – Our very first Walt Disney World obsession as a pair was Sonny Eclipse. Throughout our annual summer time visits, we spent many a late night time within the cubicles at Cosmic Ray’s watching Sonny carry out his full units. It wasn’t a late night time in Magic Kingdom except we loved the Zorkian musician play to an empty home.
At dwelling we’d “relive” these moments by taking part in an mp3 of his full present. There might have been a time in faculty after I was in control of our playlist curation for a celebration, and I slipped “Brilliant Little Star” into the combo.
Extra not too long ago–far more so–it was the tune taking part in in Cosmic Ray’s as I digested the information that we have been having a child woman. We’ve since launched Ms. Megatron to Sonny Eclipse, and will probably be instructing her his memorable music within the years to come back.
If there’s a standard theme to this listing, it’s nostalgia and sentimentality. For those who’re planning a primary journey to Walt Disney World, this whole put up may learn because the nonsensical rantings of a lunatic. So let’s see…our favourite issues about Walt Disney World are indicators on the street, folks in animal fits, precise animals you possibly can see in the actual world, an outdated quick meals seating space, “morning air,” the odor of mildew combined with faux hearth, and many others.
I understand how it sounds–it sounds loopy! A minimum of…to the uninitiated. For longtime Walt Disney World followers, a lot of this listing–regardless that private to us–most likely resonates in a method or one other. Once more, a lot of these “if you recognize, you recognize” issues. Walt Disney World is a very magical place, with wonderful sights, unbelievable eating places, exemplary Forged Members, and a lot extra. All of that’s nice, and it’s the hook that will get you there within the first place.
The wonderful sights and all the pieces else within the advertising and marketing isn’t what retains you coming again to Walt Disney World 12 months after 12 months, decade after decade. It’s the indelible experiences we have now with household and associates, eager for these nostalgic journeys down reminiscence lane, and these foolish little issues round which so many wonderful reminiscences have inexplicably shaped that preserve so many people coming again. A decade from now, you most likely received’t keep in mind what rides you rode. However there will probably be some unplanned second or little factor that you couldn’t neglect even should you tried. That’s the actual hook, and what’ll preserve you coming again. Those that don’t “get” Disney won’t ever perceive, but it surely’s why so many people loopy Disney Adults preserve going again dwelling to Walt Disney World, time and again.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Inns Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you may have favourite little issues, quiet corners, or sentimental favourite issues at Walt Disney World? Something you completely adore that isn’t a full journey, restaurant, resort, or another huge factor? Anecdotes of your individual about favourite reminiscences or experiences you prefer to relive from previous visits to the Disney parks? Another questions? Listening to your suggestions is at all times appreciated, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
