disney magic? exactly how much do we expect?

[mickeysgal]

If my family is at Disneyworld, it means we're employed and financially healthy enough to take a vacation, and we're physically healthy enough to be there. It also means we took a plane ride all the way across the country and we're all safe and sound. We get to go on cool rides, see great shows and hang out with our favorite Disney characters. Yep, if my family is at Disneyworld then it means that life is pretty darn good.

This is our view on things as well. We are so grateful for what we have and what we are able to experience...that's magic right there!

 

[KiminChicago]

Honestly, if I got a towel animal every time, it would soon cease to be so magical. I guess it's because we don't go into our vacations expecting Disney to "make" our trips magical, we've always found something magical about them.

Our last trip was in October of 2009 and we were with my sister, BIL and two nieces. It was their first trip and I don't know how it happened, but we kept getting really lucky with transportation. For the first two days, we never waited more than a few minutes for a bus or boat to take us where we wanted to go. On the second day, we were running a little late for our ADR at the Studios, but as we were leaving Animal Kingdom, the bus for the Studios pulled up to the stop just as we got there. My sister just looked at me and said, "How do you keep doing that?" and I jokingly said "Didn't you see me pull out my cell phone and call the secret Disney bus phone number as we were walking out?" For my sister, the magic was in Fastpass. She couldn't understand how we kept walking onto rides while other people were waiting in line. She kept asking me "Why doesn't everyone do this?"

We had a great trip, they had a great trip, and there wasn't a towel animal in sight!

 

[C.Ann]

The only things I have ever "expected" were:

Cleanliness - in the rooms; parks; and rest rooms..

Buildings, rides, etc., kept "'up to snuff" (as in nicely painted; no visible rusting on rides or metal fence posts; manicured lawns and nicely landscaped shrubs, trees, plants, etc.)..

Decent tasting food..

And cheerful CM's (although I do recognize that they are human and can have a bad day just like the rest of us do)..

The first time I ever went to WDW (back in the 80's), I had never been anywhere that was as clean or well cared for as the Disney properties.. Since that time I have been disappointed by the lack of attention to details that so amazed me on that first trip.. I don't expect that it will ever go back to "the way it was", but if the 3 expectations I listed above could be - or are - met, that's good enough for me..

You won't find me cursing someone out over the lack of a towel animal - or reading someone the riot act because they failed to acknowledge my birthday button.. I guess I'm just not geared that way.. LOL..

 

[Respect]

The only things I have ever "expected" were:

Cleanliness - in the rooms; parks; and rest rooms..

Buildings, rides, etc., kept "'up to snuff" (as in nicely painted; no visible rusting on rides or metal fence posts; manicured lawns and nicely landscaped shrubs, trees, plants, etc.)..

Decent tasting food..

And cheerful CM's (although I do recognize that they are human and can have a bad day just like the rest of us do)..

The first time I ever went to WDW (back in the 80's), I had never been anywhere that was as clean or well cared for as the Disney properties.. Since that time I have been disappointed by the lack of attention to details that so amazed me on that first trip.. I don't expect that it will ever go back to "the way it was", but if the 3 expectations I listed above could be - or are - met, that's good enough for me..

You won't find me cursing someone out over the lack of a towel animal - or reading someone the riot act because they failed to acknowledge my birthday button.. I guess I'm just not geared that way.. LOL..

No worries, if I'm near you and I notice that a CM didn't acknowledge your birthday button, I'll go bonkers on them for you.

 

[escape]

As others have said, the magic for me is that I'M AT DISNEY WORLD. WOO HOO!

I've never been upgraded at any of the Disney properties we've stayed at (value to deluxe) and I've never received any special treatment (that I'm aware of) and I don't care. I'm at Disney World!

Actually, that's not quite true. KiminChicago, you just reminded me of some very special magic we received a few years back. We had an ADR for Boma for our marathon celebration dinner. We were running late. In order to get to Boma from Pop Century, we had to take a bus to one of the parks and then catch a bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We just missed the bus to Animal Kingdom so we boarded the bus to EPCOT and we were the only ones on the bus. We were wearing our medals so our bus driver asked us how we were feeling (after the marathon) and one thing led to another and the next thing we knew, he was taking us to the AK park instead of EPCOT (after telling him that we were going to Boma's for dinner. He said that he couldn't take us to AKL but he could take us to AK park (after confirming, I guess, with someone). Not only that, he found out that a bus had just arrived at AK going to AKL. He arranged for the bus to wait on us. I so wish I would have gotten his name so I could have thanked him formally. That really was a nice thing for him to do and was totally unexpected.

 

[Goofyluver]

No worries, if I'm near you and I notice that a CM didn't acknowledge your birthday button, I'll go bonkers on them for you.

I'd make sure to tell the CM that I'm not with THAT guy, you know, the one acting so DISrespectFUL.

 

[escape]

OK, I thought of something else. C.Ann brought up something that I've noticed as well - attention to details. Back in the '70s and '80s, I, too, thought they did a little better in the maintenance department within the parks. However, I'm not complaining with what they do now. It's just something I've noticed. Also, I'm sure many of us have experienced a less-than-"happy"-employee at WDW at one time or another. That really doesn't bother me unless that person goes out of their way to be rude and I haven't experienced that. Like C.Ann said, the CMs are human; they have their bad days like we do.

I had the pleasure of going to Tokyo Disneyland a few months ago, before the earthquake. The attention to detail was very visible. It kind of reminded me of the "old days" at WDW. The employees were incredible - very, very friendly and if they didn't know the answer to something, they did their best to find out. It appeared that the employees were happy to be at work and happy to help you in any way they could. I must say, it did add to the magic. I attribute this to more of a cultural thing than a Disney thing. On the other hand, the guests at Tokyo DL are probably friendlier, too! I'm sure they don't have to wait on as many crabby, demanding people as they do here in America.

 

[Becky2005]

Actually I don't expect anything and usually end up pleasantly surprised. I do read spoilers so most of the time for things like tours, I do tend to hope what I read for spoilers is usual although I know there is no guarantee.

Then again a lot of the little things people talk about I couldn't care less about. A towel animal is cute but I don't expect it, didn't get a single one at our last stay and didn't matter one bit. I haven't done the birthday button but I have done the guest of honor/name badges (not sure they offer them anymore) and basically I forgot I even had them on at times so didn't really expect anyone to notice.

For me on our last trip the 3 big things that stood out as magical were things I wasn't even expecting NOR would have expected as I considered them above & beyond. I don't have super high expectations in general though I suppose. LOL! Two of them involved restaraunts and the 3rd was ummm...losing my family at Downtown Disney.

That one was impressive enough that I wrote a compliment letter to Disney about the Security Guard that I'm 90% sure stayed past his shift time (not because he was acting put out but just casual conversation I picked up on it) but just would NOT leave even though I felt he didn't need to stay but he wanted to make sure everything was 100% before he left. We had found the rest of my family but he insisted on staying to make sure my tickets for the La Nouba show we missed were replaced. That was something they did not have to do in any way whatsoever. Even after I was at the ticket window and it was being taken care of he would NOT leave until I had the new tickets in my hand and I verified everything was good. I even remember his name to this day!

 

[Respect]

I'd make sure to tell the CM that I'm not with THAT guy, you know, the one acting so DISrespectFUL.

That's fine. I'll let them know also.