Help me explain it

[mm4ever]

The other day I was trying to explain to a friend who has never been to Walt Disney World how special the rides are. I guess I didn't do a good job because she still doesn't get it. How would you explain what makes Disney rides so special and different from other theme parks?

 

[tassie42]

For me, the rides bring back childhood memories of the disney movies and songs. We used to read the Disney stories all the time since we couldn't watch videos. There was a theatre in our neighborhood that always played Disney movies in the summer though.

What about explaining the animatronic figures and how neat they are and that each ride has a theme. We have six flags Great Adventure here in NJ but it just doesn't compare! Those are just a step above carnival rides.

I have a friend I was telling about our recent trip.I told her if they were planning and had any questions to ask me if she wanted and she said "well eventually I guess we'll HAVE to take our kids but my husband is just not interested!"

I started to say "well you don't know what you are missing" (Neither one of them have ever been either)

but then I decided to mind my own business. Whatever!

 

[dansyr]

If you've never been there.....you just can't understand.

 

[oogieboogie]

IMO, it's not the rides that makes Disney special. What I think makes Disney special is the whole package: the atmosphere and the level of attentiveness, the level of service that you receive.

When I'm Disney, I don't think about the outside world for one minute. I may be overworked, underpaid, but when I'm at Disney, all I can think of is having the best time of my life.

Sure the rides are great because each one comes with a story behind it. There's the anticipation and a neat background story while you're waiting in line. No where else do you see that.

But... at the end of the day... when I go back to my room at a Disney resort, what I remember is the look on my sons' face the first time they saw Mickey, or the first time they saw a parade like no other. What I remember is the little cake they got just because they were celebrating their birthday. What I remember is the smiles of the CM and how they bend over backwards to make each and every guest feel special.

That, IMHO, is what makes Disney special to me.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I know there are many people who just don't "get" Disney. The people I work with don't understand why we are going back. If they don't share the Magic, I'm not sure the WDW rides will be special for them. For me, Disney is all about the childhood memories and making new ones with my kids. I just LOVE going to Disney movies. I know they will remember them when they are older. I was thrilled when they put Lion King in the IMAX. It's probably my deep loved movie as my father passed away that year when it came out. Seeing a movie on the big screen is so much better than on TV. I know Pirates will be a memory my kids remember till they are 110 years old

 

[Karibeth19]

If you've never been there.....you just can't understand.

So true. Last year, while driving to WDW on my and my husband's first trip in 10 years and my then 5 yr. old DD's very first trip, she asked me what Disney World was like. I knew I couldn't possibly begin to explain it to her, as my descriptions would pale in comparison to the reality she was about to experience. So, I simply said, "It's like nothing you've ever seen before." To which she replied, in her most disgusted tone of voice, "Mommy, that's really not telling me much!" We arrived later that day, and after a few hours she turned to me and said, "You were right, Mommy! I've never seen anything like this before!" She has been Disney obsessed ever since (along with me and my husband!).

 

[Tigger&Tink]

FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE DISNEY MAGIC:
NO EXPLAINATION IS NEEDED!!!

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T NO EXPLAINATION WILL DO!!!!

 

[debkorb1]

I love theme parks and I've been to a lot over the years. There is no one thing that makes Disney a head above the rest, but as other readers have posted its just the overall atmosphere and variety of the world.

I think Space and Splash Mountain sum it all up. For the former they simply took the Wild Mouse rollercoaster (a standard coaster that has been at state fairs for about 50 years!) and turn it into an amazingly themed ride through space. Splash Mountain is a flume ride - I have been on A LOT of those. But where else can you find theming of that scope throughout the ride and on the drop?

And hey, some people just won't enjoy it. My friend recently did a six week hike around South America - lots of sleeping on coaches, constant travelling around, not knowing where he was going next. Me and my boyfriend would hate that, but our friend loved it, whereas he probably wouldn't put Disney on his holiday list!