What draws YOU to Disney?

[AndreAggie]

Growing up, my family vacations consisted of something on a quick weekend in Texas, river, beach, state park. We had one big road trip that included driving from Texas to Yellowstone in the dead of summer. I never went to a Disney park as a kid.

My husband had family in Florida and his father also earned a trip to WDW. When we got married we were trying to plan our honeymoon. I joked he should take me to Disney World! Well, low and behold, we ended up booking a land and sea package and I was hooked! Money prevents us from going as frequently as we'd like, but since getting married, we done another cruise, been to WDW, Disneyland and have another cruise for 2017.

For us, we've done Disney prior to kids and with our son. They just do it up right. Everything is clean, CMs are friendly, pixie dust, etc.

 

[BigredNole]

There is a level of expectation that you expect and get. It is almost impossible to have a bad vacation at WDW. Unlike most other vacation destinations, rude guests and weather will not impact a Disney vacation.

 

[JoAnnPan]

I have been on other wonderful vacations but no other place makes me feel that kid like excitement like Disney does.
That is something to me that is priceless. With all that goes on in our daily lives - good and bad - Disney truly is my ultimate "escape from reality" vacation destination.

 

[2buzzboys]

I live in Florida now. I did 1 visit as a kid but that it. Went several times in my 20's when I moved to Orlando area, but started enjoying it more when I had kids. For some reason I got that magical feeling walking into MK with then and that continues to draw me in. I guess it's just amazing memories I have with them.

 

[AndreAggie]

I feel the same way about the memories. We took our son to Disneyland when he was 4...he's 6 now and his picture from that trip is still the wallpaper on my phone. I just can't seem to change it! We've been on other cruises, but the Disney ones are much more memorable.

We're looking at adding in a couple days at WDW next year when we go on our spring break cruise on the Dream. The excitement of taking our son to WDW literally makes me tear up! I don't know who's more excited....me or him!

 

[Dabigoh]

It's magical. Plain and simple. I'm 44 years old and I feel like a kid every time I step into the parks.

As stated above, there is a level of expectations with everything Disney and they have never failed to exceed those expectations. They always go out of their way to make you feel important.

Customer service aside, I love the attention to detail in everything. I haven't taken a cruise yet (that's scheduled in November) but I've been to WDW several times and I am always in awe of how easy it is to caught up in the Disney magic. I mean, you know that there are gears and gizmos making that pirate watch the boat as you float by, but the magic makes you wonder what he's thinking and will he try to steal one of the kids. Smoke and mirrors make it look like there's a ghost in sitting next to you, but I swear he's touching me and I can feel the cold radiation from the apparition.

I can't think on any other place in the world where I'll happily wait in lines with loud, obnoxious (and sometimes even rude) people while smiling and having the time of my life. Introducing my kids to everything Disney has only made the magic more wonderful.

Can't wait for November.

 

[AquaDame]

My parents took me to DLR almost every year as a kid and as an adult I love the nostalgia factor. I like that everything with Disney is upbeat and positive - its exactly what I need from a vacation now and again. Endless happy endings and flittering from ride to ride without dishing out the payment card at every gate. Their immersion is very effective on me - the sounds, colors, smiles etc make me feel like all is well with the world.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

It really all started with Uncle Walt and mouse named Mickey. The two worked so hard to make us and all the world understand the wonder and magic in a child is the most important part of them growing up and of family and friends. What Uncle Walt seemed to know was that while there is very little grown-up in a child, there is a lot of child in every grown-up. To a child this weary world is brand new, gift wrapped; Disney tried to keep it that way for adults…

My wife and I have learned alot from Uncle Walt philosophies on life and we learn more every trip to a Disney park, or a Disney movie. However most was learned back when we were kids, Sunday nights watching the wonderful world of Color and the new and amazing things Uncle Walt would present each week.

Even as adults we find ourselves seeing a new attractions or event or watching the CM's and characters make the world all magical and we say to each other, *this is what we come to Disney for.*


One of my favorite Magical scenes happened on a Disney cruise on the Disney Magic. We were taking the design of the Magic tour, (which by itself is a great tour) when Belle came around the corner and a young girl on the tour with her MOM, just cried out in joy. Belle had already walked by, but she stopped and spun around, flopped down onto the deck, lifted the girl into her lap and calmed her down. She finally told the child that if she was at a door down the passageway at 1830, she could walk with Belle to a greeting session. The Mom nodded ok, Belle got up waved good bye, the little girl had a face of pure joy. I would bet a week pay that child was at the door at 1830 and had a memory that would last a lifetime.

A Disney moment, a little bit of a character going further then required to bring joy to a child and every adults there, heart. That is why we come to Disney.

So let that child out of your hearts and minds, let Tink spread some Pixie dust over you and enjoy the magic.


AKK

 

[ludari]

I've been on a few other cruise lines and for me DCL provides the best service. The crew is friendly and makes me feel welcomed and I absolutely love it when I run into a crew member that I've met on a previous cruise and they remember me.

 

[bringmethathorizon]

basically what everyone else has said.im not a people person and i am defiantly not into crowds but i can do wdw.i feal like i can be the person i want to be at disney. d and i dont even ride that much.we just walk around and enjoy being there.

 

[MPS516]

Can't say enough about the crew, the staterooms, the themed dining rooms, the ship decor and the desire all extremely pleasing; have not experienced this level on any of the other 4 lines we have sailed. This keeps us coming back but not what brought us to DCL.

Growing up Sunday night was a special time, huddled in front of the tv to watch Wonderful World of Color. Fresh popped buttered popcorn and rootbeer floats, a special treat for the whole family. Such special movies and Walt Disney telling us about so many special things, nobody ever missed the shows. There were even special movie Saturdays in the school multi purpose room, Old Yeller or Davy Crockett, something special Disney did for schools, sending out the film in media that could be played. Walt Disney sure seemed to care about giving me a memorable experience back then so when DCL launched its own ship we had a strong desire to try one, having never been disappointed during any or our park visits. Now each and ever time we board for our next cruise, we are lost in lightheartedness, our lost to the world feeling. We are part of the Wonderful World of Color with Walt welcoming us on board with that same excitement to tell us about all these wonderful things just as he did so long ago.

 

[DISGRL13]

The attention to cleanliness is a biggie for me! I am very impressed with how clean the DCL ships are.

 

[Donathius]

Speaking of DCL only - having only been on 1 Disney cruise and 1 Carnival cruise here's the big difference to me - on Disney I felt like an honored guest. It didn't matter that we had booked one of the absolute cheapest staterooms on a cruise that wasn't selling well. We were treated like royalty by everyone from our drink server to our cabin steward to a random crew member I accidentally bumped into while they were polishing a banister.

It's also an upscale cruise experience. Not like Waldorf Astoria kind of upscale but more of a...muted elegance without being stodgy or feeling like you can't touch anything (does that make sense?) while maintaining a sense of fun. I heard a description once of the difference between DCL and other cruise lines - Disney cruise line is an entertainment company doing cruises while other cruise lines are transportation companies trying to do entertainment. The ship itself is an attraction for me - not so much with other cruise lines. They try (and do an excellent job from what I've seen in many cases) but Disney is a step above.

Disney in general - for me it's a big heaping bowl of nostalgia. As a child of the '80s I grew up on classic Disney and was just the right age for Beauty and the Beast on through during the second Golden Age. Walking into Disneyland with my kids was so heartwarming as I saw the joy on their faces. My DS5 cried when we surprised him with the trip to the park, my DD3 was beside herself she was so excited.

Disney is woven throughout my childhood and the significant moments of my life (my wife and I did Disney World for our honeymoon) and it's impossible to separate myself from it so I just embrace it and let myself enjoy the magic.

 

[Churchladychurchlady]

Thanks, y'all... Just went through a box of Kleenex reading through.
I drank the kool-aid big time when I was a CM at the Disney Store (remember those?) and loved every second of it! I think I spent more than I made - but I still have everything I bought. Disney to me, means good quality, wholesome, friendly, helpful and so much more.
As CMs, we were taught to make every guest feel special and to me, that's the best thing Disney has going for it - to take a person out of the regular rat race world and for that one shining moment make them feel like they're they're "worth it". Be it time, a cupcake, a smile, whatever it takes to make me feel special... Who else does that?

 

[bcwife76]

Step in time.....step in time.......

Just a spoon full of sugar........

Just keep swimming.........

Wish I could be.....part of that world.......

The movies come to life......in the parks and on the ships......at Disney you feel the magic....you feel the love.....you feel special...you feel like you are a part of that magic. I actually well up with tears when I ride Ariel's Undersea Adventure at Disneyland.....I feel the wind in my face at when I ride Soarin....and when I hugged Minnie on our first Disney cruise.....I can't even put it into words.

 

[Bear3412]

As a family that has visited many resorts, etc. we are willing to pay more for a G rated experience.

This is becoming more challenging to secure.

DCL generally provides that comparatively.

This is rarely mentioned, but to us, is important.

YMMV

 

[tink1970]

I agree, the ambiance is elegant but not stuffy.

No casinos, and much less smokey.

Many, if not all, CMs take pride in the ship...I've been up at weird times of the night/early am, and it seems there is always someone working to enhance or maintain the ship.

The desire by most, if not all, CMs to ensure that the cruise is a wonderful experience. There seems to be a sense of ownership by the CMs.

I've considered some of the luxury brands and switching over but I don't want to dress up formally every night, and while I spend time in Adult Only area for peace, I do enjoy seeing the joy on the faces of the children interacting with their favorite character or watching a show. I like the relaxed but accommodating atmosphere that DCL provides at this time in my life.

For now, this is why I cruise DCL.

 

[squirk]

Growing up, my family vacations consisted of something on a quick weekend in Texas, river, beach, state park. We had one big road trip that included driving from Texas to Yellowstone in the dead of summer. I never went to a Disney park as a kid.

My husband had family in Florida and his father also earned a trip to WDW. When we got married we were trying to plan our honeymoon. I joked he should take me to Disney World! Well, low and behold, we ended up booking a land and sea package and I was hooked! Money prevents us from going as frequently as we'd like, but since getting married, we done another cruise, been to WDW, Disneyland and have another cruise for 2017.

For us, we've done Disney prior to kids and with our son. They just do it up right. Everything is clean, CMs are friendly, pixie dust, etc.

I know I am just repeating what's already been said, but for us, it's the quality of the parks/ships, the consistency of that quality, and the synergy with other aspects of the Disney brand.

Yes, it's expensive, and Disney always seems to be on the verge of overestimating the value of their brand, but more often than not, you can really see where your money is going.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Back in the day when it was impeccably cleaned, and meticulously maintained.....

MG

 

[hanscarlet]

the level of cleanliness, sounds odd but I love their dedication to keeping things clean, it reminds me that the extra $$ is worth it for the staff to ensure it's always clean