when do you know that you are in wdw

[f19810]

When I was in Williamsburg, my mother once said that she knew that she was in Williamsburg when she smelled the boxwoods. The foodaholic that I am, I knew when I had my first gingerbread from the Raleigh Tavern. When do you know that you are in Walt Disney World? Is it when you have your first dole whip or mickey ice cream. Is it when you first see the castle even tho you have been at disney for days (just not in the MK) or when you see Spaceship Earth? How about when you see the characters? When do you know that you are in disney?

[NJGuy3]

Ok...I'll be the first to reply.
Regardless of whether I've been there for a few days already or not, I know when I'm at Walt Disney World when I first step onto the Monorail. :thumbsup2

[Yen Sid]

I know I am at Disney when I check in and they say "Welcome Home"

[adventure_woman]

I know I'm at Disney when driving through the front gates and the characters Welcome you to Walt Disney World. I hold my breath as we go through and say "YEY - We're HERE!!" Also, as checking into the resort, listening to the music, seeing all the kids (and adults) being excited.

[Calle&Jakesmom]

...when I step out of the resort and smell that Florida morning smell (usually during cooler months)!
...or when I smell the bakery on Main Street USA.
...or -one more- when I get my first beer from the Rose & Crown and sit on a bench near the hedge maze and watch my kids run around.

[KatMark]

When we drive through the front gates and see Mickey and Donald on the signs. Then I know we are home.

[KCmike]

driving under the gate......

[ringow]

When you get on Disney poperty and see the big Genie at DTD on top of the building--you know you have arrived. And you know your getting very close to Orlando when you see all those "We Bare All" billboards on the interstate 75 DH and I always silently count them down as we pass and hold up a finger after each one, we do not want to alert the kids to them. But we laugh every time :drive:

[zackiedawg]

The first time I see a purple sign!

[Baltazar]

Noise

Footsteps, music, talking, laughing, screaming ...

And I don't mean from the room above us :lmao:

Theme park sounds.

[kirrrby]

We actually realize that we're so close to home when we enter Flagler County(Palm Coast) - and stop at Publix - which is about 2 1/2 hours from WDW. :goodvibes

But we officially feel at home when we see the first sign that says "TO DISNEY WORLD/I-4"

[DisGal520]

for me it would be when I step on the Magical Express bus.

:goodvibes

[Calle&Jakesmom]

How about the smell of Flame Tree BBQ at AK? That really does it for me.

[Baltazar]

Roasting in the sun at the bus stop.

Standing shoulder to shoulder on Main St in MK with 10,000 other people waiting for a bunch of dressed up 20 somethings to dance by in a parade.

Really enjoying the free glass of ice water, half an hour after a salty basket of french fries.

After 15 hours in MK, the park benches in front of the castle are really comfortable. With a smile on you face because tomorrow it's Disney Hollywood Studios turn. :)

[wdwfan101]

When I walk into Main Street USA and hear songs from Hello Dolly. It's like walking onto a movie set and draws you into the illusion.

[CinderellasSister]

~~ getting onto the shuttle-monorail-thingy at the Orlando airport (sorry, I have no idea what it's called):rotfl2:

~~ first stepping onto Main Street and seeing the castle. :lovestruc

~~ that very first ride, at any of the parks.

~~ but mostly, hearing my kids saying in their most excited voices "We're here, mom. We're here. Hurry up!" as we try to get off the plane! :cloud9:

[Glampire31]

I think for me it is when I land at Orlando airport and am on the magical express heading to my hotel.... I know from that moment on it is going to be a fun and magical time :cheer2:

[MickeyNicki]

When I smell the popcorn at the MK entrance

[disgram]

When we are on the airplane and my granddaughters see the Florida airport out the windows for the first time. Then when we see the CMs with the Mickey hands showing the way to ME. Getting on the ME bus. Driving thru the purple gates and then ......... pulling up in front of the resort check-in!!

[EJKorvette]

onto Osceola Parkway I have an idea that I will be in Disney soon.

When I go over what we call the first "Disney ride" (the bridge over a creek west of the toll booth that makes the car bounce) I start getting excited.

When I go through the purple arch over the Parkway I know!

(Then I get frustrated because no matter how many times I come up here, the signage for the individual resorts is so bad I always get lost).

Mom's almost ready, time to leave the French Quarter and have ourselves a Disney Day!

[Sir Robin Hood]

The Evolution Of Getting Close to Disney (Driving I-75 South) :cool2:

1. In southern Georgia, seeing the "Free Disney/Orlando Attraction Tickets" billboards on the interstate.

2. In south Georgia, seeing first glimpse of a palm tree; getting close to the Florida border.

3. Passing the Florida state line & welcome center.

4. Between Fla border & Ocala: Tons of more "Disney/Orlando attraction tickets" billboards on interstate.

5. In Ocala, seeing Fla Turnpike sign.

6. Turning from I-75 onto Fla turnpike (getting close!)

7. Passing through the split Ron Jon surf shop billboard on Fla turnpike.

8. First sight of toll booth #1 (getting real close)

9. Seeing 2nd toll booth and I-4 signs (I can smell it, almost there!)

10. Taking exit from Fla Turnpike onto I-4; passing Universal. (I'm so excited by now; hard to focus on driving)

11. See WDW road signs

12. Seeing lights from Downtown Disney/ PI on right from I-4

13. Going under arch entrance (Made it!!)

14. And finally...when I get first glimpse of Spaceship Earth from road; I officially know I'm there. :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

End

[shortchange1026]

When we first land at MCO and I see the palm trees..:yay:

Going under the WDW sign with Mickey and Donald...:cool1:

The security guard at the resort welcoming us home..:cloud9:

Walking into the MK and walking down Main Street and getting my first glimpse of the castle..:love:

Having my first rice cream in Norway (for DH, it would be his first pretzel and beer in Germany..)

Ok, great, now I want to go back! :lmao:

[Nomi]

Well, I can't say for sure since the last time I was at WDW was a little over 7 years ago (going again next May!!), but I still very clearly remember the smell. It smelt very humid and plant-y, with good food smells, especially the popcorn. Which, if my smell memory is correct, doesn't smell quite like movie popcorn.

WDW is just a good smelling place.

Another thing that sort of relates is I know I'm on vacation whenever it's humid. Living in Alberta (and now the Yukon) I'm all used to a dry climate, and having the air suddenly be humid is a bigger shock than seeing palm trees, or the temperature.

[PrincessBetsy]

I know when I am in WDW, when I start to see those wonderful purple WDW signs and when I'm walking onto Main Street and see Cinderella's Castle. :lovestruc

[f19810]

Like many of you, I know that I am in WDW when I first see the castle. I may have been in the other parks for days, but it is when I see the castle that I know that I am at disney.
Keep these coming!

[TheTexasKid]

When we are on the airplane and my granddaughters see the Florida airport out the windows for the first time. Then when we see the CMs with the Mickey hands showing the way to ME. Getting on the ME bus. Driving thru the purple gates and then ......... pulling up in front of the resort check-in!!

The airport for me, too, but a little bit later. When I get off the plane and go down to claim my luggage, and the driver for my hired town car is there, with a sign, with my name on it. Then I know I'm at WDW.:hippie:

[TheMorgans]

The top 10 ways I know I am at WDW:

10. I step off the plane and it is no long 30 degrees below zero. :beach:
9. Driving round and round the airport because I cannot merge right!! I feel like the Griswalds. :rotfl: "Look kids Big Ben" :rotfl:
8. Paying tolls. Who has another quarter??? :sad2:
7. Inevitably getting lost somewhere on the way to the resorts because I am too excited to read the road signs or listen to TomTom. :drive:
6. Driving under the welcome signs - I tear up each and every time. :welcome:
5. Having security welcome me back home. pixiedust:
4. Walking into the resort and just feeling the magic. :wizard:
3. Getting my "Key to the Kingdom" with my name printed on it. :thumbsup2
2. Seeing Mickey Mouse for the first time. ::MickeyMo
1. Seeing my daughter's face light up with joy just like it did when she rode Dumbo for the first time!!! :cloud9: That is priceless.

[NeverLandDreamer]

1.) Looking out of the plane window and seeing the palm trees....I start screeching on the plane

2.) Taking the transportation to our luggage area

3.) Disney's Magical Express!!!!

[PJAY]

Our first steps into the resort or rope drop at MK.