Happy people-watching at WDW

[Bay in TN]

I actually posted this in a ... well, a rather unpleasant thread on the Trip Reports board. I thought it was better suited to a generally happier place like this section! Writing it actually made me cry. I'm a sentimental sap!

I hope it inspires another DIS poster to find happy people-watching opportunities at WDW!

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I love people-watching at WDW. I love watching happy people being happy. I love watching young couples in love, old couples enjoying the fireworks arm-in-arm, little children at play, and adults who are enjoying the peculiarly grown-up delights of the World. I love watching people rush for their favorite attractions while other people stroll by and enjoy the ambience. I love watching the CM's make guests happy. I love watching that expression of recognition pass over a woman's face when she realizes the music playing on Main Street was a song in the musical during which she met her husband 20 years ago.

I love watching children spy a bunny on the lawn in front of the Plaza Restaurant. I love watching parade performers as they smile and wave at guests. I love watching kids when they get their first taste of a Mickey bar -- or the shocked disappointment that comes when they drop their ice cream, and then the expression of happiness when they're soothed by their parents over the mishap. I love watching people's mouths drop open in wonder when they examine the carvings on the Tree of Life. I love watching everyone -- young, old, and in-between -- point and gasp when they see the tigers on the Majaraja Jungle Trek. I love watching entire families laugh and talk about their day so far while they ride the train to Toon Town Fair.

I love, love, love seeing a child's face when she finally gets to hug Cinderalla. I love watching children run out of the exit from Buzz Lightyear, yelling at their parents about how cool the ride is. I love watching the CM's at the Haunted Mansion as they cast their spell over guests waiting to enter the doors. I absolutely adore the way the whole audience slowly turns around to face the back wall at the end of Mickey's Philharmagic as it dawns on them that there's something important going on back there.

I love people watching at WDW.

I can't wait to get back there, myself.

How about you?

--Bay

 

[TinkNH]

Thank you ..for the reminder of what it is all about

 

[DisMN]

Me too, me too, ME TOO!!!

Best.
Thread.
Ever! LOL

I love watching happy people so much that a few years ago I ended up taking pictures of this sweet little peanut as she danced during the parade at AK.
I didn't catch any of the parade itself, just the little 3 year old girl waving and laughing as the characters waved back.
After the parade I asked her parents if they had an email address I could send the pictures too.
The joy in that child just made my week!!

.

 

[resol37]

When I was an intern at WDW, I only made 3 really good friends that I hung out with all the time. On days that I had off and they didn't, I would often people watch. Since Studios has always been my favorite park and it was also the park where I worked, I'd usually hang out there. I love the other parks, too, but I was more familiar (both on stage and backstage) with Studios and even if I didn't have tons of close friends, I knew a lot of other CPs and a couple of locals who worked there so it was fun to run into people at certain spots.

My favorite spot to people watch was a bench on Sunset Blvd. It's just outside of the Beauty and the Beast theater in front of a shop. Between B&tB, ToT, and RnR, that area was always full of excited people. ToT is my absolute favorite WDW attraction so it was a blast to see guests off all ages running up to it and then coming off a little later. I could also keep an eye on wait times and pop onto the ToT whenever I wanted.

Another good spot at Studios is at the Sorcerer hat. It was great to see all the kids meeting characters right there. Plus, Aladdin was pretty cute.

 

[stemikger]

That's great. And thanks for a reminder of what it's all about.

The best things in life truly are free.

I love to see people happy, it is like a pay-it-forward kind of thing, whatching the happiness is contagious.

I think that is a huge part of people who love Disney so much. The world can be so hard and filled with sadness, that when you vacation at a place like Disney, you really forget about the real world and can be in a place where happiness is the norm not the exception.

 

[Lizzybear]

What a great thread! I agree, it's what it's all about

 

[sjcmi]

What a great reminder... I am just a couple of weeks away from being there and getting worked up in a flurry of planning and preperation. Thank you for reminding me to slow down and enjoy the "important" moments at Disney. Its not all about the big rides and shows, its the little things that make Walt Disney World so special.

 

[scorp111]

As others have said... great thread!

21 days until our trip!

I love watching people.

I love watching the expression of my two kids even more

 

[NC State]

I think everyone should stop and look more, than to find fault in our vacation.

Thank you for posting this much needed topic. I enjoy my people watching skills on top of the train station in MK.

 

[Catrin]

Thank you for this post!

We leave for WDW this afternoon - just me and DH.

We said that we are going to take it SLOW this weekend - Stop, smell the roses and people watch!
We just want to take it all in..... see people skip down main street like we used to do, see happy faces on Dumbo, listen to the fun screams of SPace Mountain, and look at the "WOW" faces when they first see the projected images on the water at Fantasmic.

Now, THAT is a vacation!
Catrin

 

[Judge Fudge]

I love watching the CM's at the Haunted Mansion as they cast their spell over guests waiting to enter the doors.

They get my wife freaked out everytime we go on it! They give her that blank stare and it scares her to death! LOL But they can see it, so they do it more, and it's just so funny to watch.

She always asks me why they pick on her!

As for other people watching, I think you summed up all of it there. I can't wait until I take my kids one day, just to see the looks on their faces, and watch the magic overwhelm them.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

OP that is so true. Sometimes it is better to watch others be happy. I loved just spending the day in MK watching the little kids eyes light up. I know I posted a story on here before about watching two brothers meeting characters. The older boy was so happy just watching his little brother meet goofy. I also enjoyed bringing DBF for his first memorable trip to disney 2 years ago. Watching his face when he saw the castle for the first time and when he rode Buzz Lightyear was worth the admission price.

We had a fun people watching moment on our last trip in Sept. In epcot me and DBF decided to get mickey bars. There were a few kids in front of us on the line. The CM at the cart was so great to these kids. They were using their free dining plan snack credits and they had to sign for them. After they signed the CM grabbed the receipt and ran around the cart jumping up and down screaming "I have so-&-so's singature! Look what I have!" Then he'd show it to a few people walking by. The kids thought they were celebrities!

 

[GrandFloridian4]

One of the best things - & mostly the reason we moved down here - is being able to just 'get up & go' down to Disney whenever we want some fun, are bored, need some serious "pixiedust" . Several times each month, my DH & I run down alone & just catch a show, grab something to eat & 'people-watch'. Our favorite thing to watch is adults & kids who are visiting Disney for the very first time. It is so awesome to see the wonder & magic (hey! the ships ) in their eyes & faces. You can tell who they are right away by the look of amazement that they have. Another great way to find out is to go to a show that asks who is visiting for the first time & then we find ourselves focusing on them & enjoying their enjoyment.

 

[Disney4Drew]

What a great post!! I will make sure I take time to people watch on our trip. Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[Scot-n-Michelle]

Reading your op made the tears come. Everything you said described my grandmothers attitude towards Disney. She passed away a month ago today and her and my grandpa visted Disney about 6 times. When I told her last year that we were going she would tell me about her "people watching experiences." She loved to just sit on a bench and watch everyone. As my DH told me after our first trip - it's not about the rides we as adults got to do it was about watching the magic thur our DD4 and DS2 eyes.

 

[princesspiglet]

This brought tears to my eyes. What a great thread. I am also a big people watcher and can not wait to see my DD's expression when she sees Ariel and Cinderella in person. She went once before when she was 2, but does not remember it. She will be 4 when we go this year and will be so excited! I tear up just thinking about it!

 

[LVSWL]

Thank you for reminding us WHY we really love going to WDW. It is the feeling we have while we are there. You just don't get that anywhere else. Can't wait to go back!

 

[sunny_]

What a wonderful post and a great reminder about all the little magic that happens at Disney everyday. Having my hands full with my kids, I don't get to people-watch at Disney very often. But if anyone is watching feel free to watch us (I just hope you catch us at a happy moment and not at my and dh's we're-not-speaking-to-eachother-but-will-pretend-to-be-happy-for-the-kids moment)! lol

 

[miste76]

I'm 9 days and a wake-up from my wedding... and then it's off to Disney World. I have planned for this vacation to be a lot more relaxing... with a lot of people watching and general scenery looking. Although we always try to notice the little things, this will be the first trip in a long time that I am not running to any rides... instead, spending the first hour or so on Main Street!!!

I'm so excited!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

One of my favorite things to do is people-watching. One great place is in front of Tony's, sitting in a rocking chair. If you get there near park opening, you shouldn't have much trouble finding an available rocking chair and there'll be lots of people watching opportunities. There's nothing like seeing people coming in studying their guide maps, getting what's maybe their first glimple ever of the castle. And if the characters are in Town Square, you can watch the kids (and adults) rush over to get in line and interact with the characters.
Another great place is the rocking chairs on the elevated wooden porch in Frontierland. You can watch people rushing by when they hear the sounds of the joyous screams on Splash and BTMRR. Then you can see them as they walk in the other direction, either wet or a little damp, talking about how much fun it was. Frontierland also has the best music, IMHO.