Disney "Magic" or Location...Is it Worth the Trade Off?

[mjaclyn]

In recent podcasts I've heard some of the team say that when you move to Orlando and are able to visit WDW whenever you want, the magic is lost. My question is...was it worth it? Or, if you're like me and love WDW...would the trade off be worth it to you to live closer?

My family loves WDW and we would be thrilled at the prospect of being able to visit more than once or twice a year. I can't even count the number of times we've been to the parks, and yet I still feel that overwhelming sense of 'I'm home' whenever I set foot on Main Street. There is something about Disney that takes you away from everything and gives you that magical, pixie-dusted feeling. It's the feeling that brings tears to my eyes when I watch Wishes with my kids or get that perfect photo in front of Cinderella Castle. As much as I want to be part of it, to live close, to work at Disney, I'm just not sure if I'm ready to give up what makes it special.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We're not in a position to move for a lot of reasons, but I would love to *someday* work in the parks. Maybe in twenty or thirty years.

Although, yeah, I do get worried about Disney losing the magic if we ever chose to live there (which my DH would never agree to, LOL). I see tourists all the time in Manhattan, who are awed by the city, and to me, it's just home. A few times a year (Christmas, the first big snow), the opening of a really good show, NYC gets its magic back. But it's rare, you know, because I live here.

 

[sayhello]

I was thinking this same thing while listening to the Podcast. I think it would be sad for me to lose that Magic. I don't know if I want to get to where I take it for granted. I'm sure there are pluses to living there and being able to go whenever you want, but I don't know that it would be worth it to me. In fact, there was a period of time where I deliberately didn't go to the Parks for a while, because I found it was getting less magical. Just how it works for me.

Sayhello

 

[safetymom]

I can't speak for the rest of the team but I love, love the fact that I can go to WDW whenever I want. It hasn't lost any of the magic for me. I do tour the parks differently now but I still get goose bumps at those certain moments just like visitors to the parks get.

I can also go to any Disney resort to get a "fix" when the urge strikes.

Living here hasn't taken anything away from the magic, it has made it better for me.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

We have lived here for 2 years and it has not changed things for us. We definatly do Disney different now but the magic is not lost at all. I can go over when my son gets out of school and do a few rides, have dinner, and watch the fireworks on a whim. I still get goosebumps. If we are bored on a Saturday afternoon we can head over to the Contemporary and just hang out at the arcade and then hit a few rides at MK. I could never just relax and enjoy people watching before. Now I find myself just hanging at a resort for the day or letting my son explore every nook and crannie of a country in Epcot. So yeah it changes but it was a positive change for us. It is no longer about just doing the rides now we really enjoy the sites and appreciate the little things along the way. Every few months we rent a room for the weekend and live in the bubble for a few days. It really is an amazing thing.

 

[PeterPan09]

I can't speak for the rest of the team but I love, love the fact that I can go to WDW whenever I want. It hasn't lost any of the magic for me. I do tour the parks differently now but I still get goose bumps at those certain moments just like visitors to the parks get.

I can also go to any Disney resort to get a "fix" when the urge strikes.

Living here hasn't taken anything away from the magic, it has made it better for me.

Ditto! This is my fourth year here, and I've been working at Disney for over a year. NONE of the magic has been lost for me even though I'm pretty immersed in it. I just spent 2 hours at MK this afternoon taking pictures of the construction progress!

I think I enjoy the parks more now that I can go more frequently. I don't have to do everything, I don't feel rushed or pressured. I also try to stay at a resort at least once or twice a year just to get the experience of vacationing there.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We have lived here for 2 years and it has not changed things for us. We definatly do Disney different now but the magic is not lost at all. I can go over when my son gets out of school and do a few rides, have dinner, and watch the fireworks on a whim. I still get goosebumps. If we are bored on a Saturday afternoon we can head over to the Contemporary and just hang out at the arcade and then hit a few rides at MK. I could never just relax and enjoy people watching before. Now I find myself just hanging at a resort for the day or letting my son explore every nook and crannie of a country in Epcot. So yeah it changes but it was a positive change for us. It is no longer about just doing the rides now we really enjoy the sites and appreciate the little things along the way. Every few months we rent a room for the weekend and live in the bubble for a few days. It really is an amazing thing.

Wow Liz, it's been two years already???? I remember when you were talking about moving.

In a perfect world, I'd like to have a winter home near Disney. 6 months there, six months here. I doubt I'd go to the parks much in the summer and I'd be miserable in the summer heat in Florida I think too. I can't imagine losing the magic either, I think I'd be much like you and Kathy...still getting the goosebumps and being able to just totally relax and people watch, ect...The only thing is really enjoy the resorts and think I would miss staying at them. When I go to WDW one of my favorite things is pulling into OKW and walking through the breezeway, sitting out on my balcony at night. I would miss that.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I still see the magic, I just see it differently.

It's the rare opportunity that I get to see Disney from that relaxed, laid back "vacation mode".

Life intrudes. Laundry still needs to be done, pets still need to visit the vet and groceries have still have to be purchased. On top of that, I still have a job to do.

The other side of that is that Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, Featival of the Masters, Candlelight Processional, Christmas decorations etc are only 20 minutes away.

That being said.... I still get goosebumps driving up to the Contemporary. I still get a lump in my throat riding "it's a small world".

I'm really not sure any of said we'd lost the magic.... I think we said we just see it differently.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

The Disneyland podcast team had a "magic" discussion on our podcast dated 5/26/11. Check out the last 25 minutes for that.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I still see the magic, I just see it differently.

It's the rare opportunity that I get to see Disney from that relaxed, laid back "vacation mode".

Life intrudes. Laundry still needs to be done, pets still need to visit the vet and groceries have still have to be purchased. On top of that, I still have a job to do.

The other side of that is that Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, Featival of the Masters, Candlelight Processional, Christmas decorations etc are only 20 minutes away.

That being said.... I still get goosebumps driving up to the Contemporary. I still get a lump in my throat riding "it's a small world".

I'm really not sure any of said we'd lost the magic.... I think we said we just see it differently.

I know you love your job Kevin, but I wonder how much do you think your job
effects your view of Disney?

As I sit here at my job (that is not at all Disney related), I would love to get off work and go watch Wishes or on my day off tomorrow, head over to Epcot for lunch at Chefs De France, but for you, do you go to Disney all that often when it isn't work related? Do you think you would feel differently if you lived there, but were still a teacher?

 

[YukiPhnx]

I love hearing the responses of everybody here!!

I've always thought of moving to a warmer climate because weather up here isn't that great....But I would have more than just Disney and the weather as reasons to move there.

I can't relate to living near Disney, but I think I have a good grasp on how it feels. I live about 15-20 mins drive away from the Ontario Science Centre. I've been a couple of times as a kid and I always love it there. Now that I'm much older and have a car (or know how to bus there by myself), I find myself going there a lot more often, even getting the Annual Pass.

Some people ask me if I ever get tired of it, and I don't think I have. Sure, most of the exhibits haven't changed in over 10 years, but there's something really fun about the place that I just love. Whenever I have a spare couple of hours, I end up visiting by myself and still have a lot of fun. I might have seen everything, but it's great to just slow down and notice even more of the details, kind of like at Disney.

The same goes for the Royal Ontario Museum. Most of the exhibits haven't changed, but I still love going there on occassion, reading about everything and looking at every little detail cause you can never see REALLY see it all.

And I think the same thing that can compare to Disney is seeing the reactions of new visitors, especially children. I love watching them discover new things and being eager to tell their parents about it.

Of course, once in a while they have new exhibits and that's always exciting.

I can never get tired of going to these places, and I think that's how it feels for those that live near the Mouse.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I know you love your job Kevin, but I wonder how much do you think your job
effects your view of Disney?

As I sit here at my job (that is not at all Disney related), I would love to get off work and go watch Wishes or on my day off tomorrow, head over to Epcot for lunch at Chefs De France, but for you, do you go to Disney all that often when it isn't work related? Do you think you would feel differently if you lived there, but were still a teacher?

We do run over to Disney frequently.

Today we went to see a movie and review the new dining option at the AMC theater.

After that, we poked around the West Side seeing what was new.

This was terrific as we had a bit of free time. I dont know about the rest of you, and maybe I'm scheduling my time poorly, but most of the time, I dont have enough time to get the stuff I need to get done done.

A trip to Chef's de France for lunch is a 3 or 4 hour commitment, and possibly longer. I dont have a lot of 3 or 4 hour blocks of free time.

When I worked outside of the house, I used to daydreams about all of the places I would go and things I'd do if I was out of work. When I lived in upstate NY, every vacation day I earned was earmarked and scheduled for trips to Disney.

That changes when you live near Disney.

It's not that I've lost the magic...it's that I'm not on vacation.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We do run over to Disney frequently.

Today we went to see a movie and review the new dining option at the AMC theater.

After that, we poked around the West Side seeing what was new.

This was terrific as we had a bit of free time. I dont know about the rest of you, and maybe I'm scheduling my time poorly, but most of the time, I dont have enough time to get the stuff I need to get done done.

A trip to Chef's de France for lunch is a 3 or 4 hour commitment, and possibly longer. I dont have a lot of 3 or 4 hour blocks of free time.

When I worked outside of the house, I used to daydreams about all of the places I would go and things I'd do if I was out of work. When I lived in upstate NY, every vacation day I earned was earmarked and scheduled for trips to Disney.

That changes when you live near Disney.

It's not that I've lost the magic...it's that I'm not on vacation.

I know what you mean, but I don't think it's poor time management on your part, my work hours I think are much more structured than yours...or more accurately from what I gather, your work takes up more time than mine. My days off are basically days off...although I do have to be available by phone for emergencies, I do have set days off and while there is always something that needs to be done at home, I make time to do fun stuff. I work mostly 2nd shift, so I am able to get alot things done during the day before work,
I don't sleep in as late as I'd like, but then I do have time on days off to go shopping and out to lunch or take the kids to the beach or whatever.

Glad to hear you got out and fun today. How was the movie?

 

[DisneyKevin]

I know what you mean, but I don't think it's poor time management on your part, my work hours I think are much more structured than yours...or more accurately from what I gather, your work takes up more time than mine. My days off are basically days off...although I do have to be available by phone for emergencies, I do have set days off and while there is always something that needs to be done at home, I make time to do fun stuff. I work mostly 2nd shift, so I am able to get alot things done during the day before work,
I don't sleep in as late as I'd like, but then I do have time on days off to go shopping and out to lunch or take the kids to the beach or whatever.

Glad to hear you got out and fun today. How was the movie?

We saw X Men - Cuties...or X Men First Grade or something like that.

Can you tell it wasnt my choice?

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Magic is just an attitude; it's a choice. Although Disney magic is one kind, I try to see every day magic as well. I love watching my kids sleep. Hearing their funny stories. Watching the same people running for the same bus every morning on my way to work. Everyone has a choice about how they feel, and it's up to you to actively decide what works best for you in any given situation.

Just yesterday my daughter Jessica made me laugh so hard. "Daddy, I TOTALLY pwned Jacob in tag today!" I was so shocked that pwned had made it's way into 7 year old vocabulary.

I'm not saying just sit there and bliss out, but if you really want magic in your life, you can find it.

 

[sayhello]

Ditto! This is my fourth year here, and I've been working at Disney for over a year. NONE of the magic has been lost for me even though I'm pretty immersed in it. I just spent 2 hours at MK this afternoon taking pictures of the construction progress!

I think I enjoy the parks more now that I can go more frequently. I don't have to do everything, I don't feel rushed or pressured. I also try to stay at a resort at least once or twice a year just to get the experience of vacationing there.

But see, I don't live in Florida, but that's still how I do Disney. I never go commando. I know I'll always be back in a year or two. I love to people watch, strike up conversations, sit and absorb the atmosphere, explore the resorts, stuff like that. I rarely feel rushed or pressured. I guess everyone is different.

Sayhello

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

But see, I don't live in Florida, but that's still how I do Disney. I never go commando. I know I'll always be back in a year or two. I love to people watch, strike up conversations, sit and absorb the atmosphere, explore the resorts, stuff like that. I rarely feel rushed or pressured. I guess everyone is different.

Sayhello

I'm the same way now that I own DVC. I try and plan ahead, but if a given attraction is too busy, we know we can do it next time. I do a lot more people watching and the "little" things now that I know we'll be going every year.

 

[PeterPan09]

Before I owned DVC I was a commando, so the DVC ownership might have had the same effect on my trips even if I hadn't ended up moving here. That's a good point.

 

[Cherinva]

If given the opportunity, I would relocate to Florida in a heartbeat....just so I could go to WDW anytime I wanted. I don't think it would change the magic for me, but I do think I would tour differently....like some others have said, it would be a more laid back way...one can dream...

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We are about to join DVC (waiting to see if they're going to announce the Grand Floridian Villas this summer or not), and I wonder if our attitudes will change when we're down more often. We shall see!