So what makes you happy at WDW that probably makes no one else happy???

[Parker Clan]

One for now, but more to come probably! We drive, so we love when the CM's say "have a magical day" or "have a wild day" after we show them our parking pass and drive into the parks. If a CM doesn't say it, I say it myself! Gets me ready and excited for the day! Great thread, OP! Can't wait to read thru everyone's responses!

 

[Polyonmymind]

“¡Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas!”


This one may sound strange but I do not mind the heat at the parks. There are always threads expressing concern/complaining about the heat, but millions of people flock to WDW during the hottest part of the year. So, maybe I'm not alone? A couple of years ago, as my DD and I were walking in Fantasy Land she turned to me and said, "Dad, it's so hot and I'm sooo sweaty". I stopped, turned to her and said, "but it's Disney sweat, and Disney sweat is the best kind of sweat!". She smiled, we kept going that day and keep coming back to the Disney sweat every year.

 

[LumosQ102]

• the first few days I'm always up super early (jetlag from London , never easy), waking up early and watching the sunrise with that big big Florida sky means home.
  
• Walking into the Magic Kingdom at night and walking into find the Main Street Electrical Parade traveling around the Square.
• The first drop on Splash Mountain, the smell, the view...
• Riding Big Thunder Mountain at night, even better when Wishes just happens to go off at the same time.
  
• Brown Derby Lounge, Margarita Flight each, watching the world go by with some yummy nibbles
  
• The Electrical Water Pageant. Getting stuck behind it on a hotel launch one night was such a treat.
  
• Jalapeno cheese pretzel at Animal Kingdom, watching the monkeys clambering on the island
  
• The birds. Whether its on the jungle trek, the food attack storks in Frontierland or (my personal favourite) the hawks leaving Discovery Island early in the morning. I love those Disney birds. I have more photos of them than the Castle, who thought that was possible?
  
• sitting on Center Street with a coffee and something sugar filled enjoying the peace and quiet, the sounds and the smells...

 

[YawningDodo]

That dead tired feeling at the end of a long park day, when you're on a bus back to your resort at 2 AM and everyone around you is quiet/sleepy/knocked out. I LOVE that feeling. You know it's been a productive day.

Yes! Your feet hurt, you're damp and gritty, everyone around you looks like the walking dead, and you climb aboard a frigid bus and sit under those glaring lights as everyone gets to their seats...it's terrible, but it's wonderful. It's one of those moments when I feel most connected with the rest of the hoard of guests.

As soon as the warm, humid air hits me as we're getting off the plane at MCO, I'm elated!

Another thing that feels awful but that yes, means Disney. The rush of hot, humid air is kind of blended with a few other memories of the southern states for me, but it makes me feel like I'm coming (to one of my) home(s).

I love that so many of the things people have listed are mundane things or even things that are downright unpleasant. It's fun to see what gives other people that rush of nostalgia. I'm sure I have quite a few, but the one that comes immediately to mind is arriving at Epcot in the evening and just wandering around Future World, seeing the brightly lit pavilions looming up out of the darkness. The first time I went to WDW as a kid, Mom was determined to squeeze in every possible minute in the parks. Epcot was the third or fourth park to which we devoted a day, but because we had park hoppers and the other parks mostly closed at 7:00 that week, we'd always hoof it over to Epcot for the last few hours of the evening. I saw it in darkness before I saw it in daylight, and those happy associations have stuck.

 

[dprincessmom]

I get so excited hearing the air brakes of the buses - I know they are coming and I will be headed to the parks - Makes me smile like a little girl on Christmas morning.

I love the music on the rides (most of them) and tracked down an attractions music CD. Just the opening notes of Soarin or Splash ride music make me smile and my day better.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

We're always right up at front for RD at the MK, so we can watch all the cast members getting ready for the mass of crowds about to enter. I love looking into that empty Main Street, anticipating my first view of the castle.

Evening in the MK, when all the lights are on. Aside from first thing in the morning, Main Street is never so appealling as right then.

A new favorite we discovered last trip is riding 7DMT at dusk. Being elevated gives a whole new perspective to that area, whirling past all the lights...loved this and still think about it all the time.

The mosaic in the castle.

On a lazy MK day, I love people watching from train platform. I also love watching FoF from here...truly amazing.

Standing in the center of the acoustically perfect temple in China and talking to myself. (You'll hear what you truly sound like to everyone else.) Very surreal, though I look like a danged fool doing it!

One of my favorites used to be sitting on the benches in the unload area of Maelstrom. I wanted to stay in that little village forever. The bench furthest back actually had a neat surprise - the couple in the house directly behind was having a conversation in Norwegian, only audible when sitting there.

Smells, smells everywhere! The intentional and the nasty.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Dab and I both love the preshow video for Soarin. Patrick Warburton is great.

 

[Delilah1310]

I absolutely LOVE the morning sunrise over the lake at the Contemporary ... and then the early morning sun as we wait for MK to open ... its not too hot yet but has that glisten that just lets you know that it's going to be an AWESOME day!

Oh this looks like great fun! Good post!

1) The morning announcements after the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show. From the moment Mickey says "Have a Disney Day!" to the announcer saying "whether this is your first visit or your 100th, we welcome you to our family of over 500,000,000 guests" to my favorite rendition of Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." Most people are running to their first attraction, but I like staying in town square for a few minutes and really relish that I'm in one of my favorite places.

And I love the characters "walking in" with us. like they are just headed to work! Adorable! We walked with Alice one morning through the castle ... she was just charming and it was magical!

2) The napkin twirling at various restaurants. I know they do this at Whispering Canyon and Chef Mickey's, maybe others. I find the actual act of twirling the napkin gross since food is probably flying everywhere, but for whatever reason in that moment, I laugh so hard and twirl. that. napkin!

one morning, we spied the mousekeeping staff on the floor above Chef Mickey's all lined up, watching the show and twirling along before they started their day. such a cute little moment that made me feel like all CM enjoy where they work!

The first time I hear "dead men tell no tales" at potc."

This ... times a million!!!

fun thread!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Ugh too many to count to be honest!

But I will say to me I love the scents that are sprayed in Disney that make you so immersive and feel like your in the moment. When I smell the "Gray Stuff" in Philarmagic I get so happy like wow I'm in Disney

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

OMG I love the smell in IASW. I thought it was only me

I love it, too! It's funny, I was just talking about this with someone yesterday. If they ever extensively refurb it, I'll be sad. It smells like a musty old rec room or something. Very nostalgic.

 

[BudgieMama]

Great question, OP!

The fact that your bus talks to you and welcomes you back to your resort at the end of a long day of fun.
Those character meets where they just "get" you, and the interaction is so much fun.
Chatting with random people, when you're able to help them with something (like reassuring a really nervous little girl on Mission Space).
DH and I quoting Pete at each other- we often say "Stay out of the damned lakes" at each other. It's only funny at WDW!
Coming across something you're not expecting (completely didn't know about the Move It Shake It parade, and came across it by accident)

 

[she's_a_funny_girl]

As soon as the warm, humid air hits me as we're getting off the plane at MCO, I'm elated!

Oh, my gosh, me too!!! Coming from the Northeast, we don't get that kind of heat or humidity very often, and most of my trips have been in the colder months. Getting off the plane and feeling and smelling that air means we're in ORLANDO!

Although, every once in a while, we DO get that kind of weather - and in the very early morning, when it's been raining all night and you can already tell it's going to be a hot, humid day...it smells like Disney.

This thread is wonderful and I'm smiling at work (shh!) reading everyone's happy memories!!

 

[Magick29]

I love watching people asking how long the wait is at Cinderella's Royal Table, and then them being angry when told the restaurant was booked 180 days ago. "No, it's ok, we will just wait for a table". "Sorry, sir, there is no availability, at all, today, tomorrow, or next week. We are booked". Just makes me smile. Yeah, I am a masochist, but for some reason it just makes me happy. I will sit and watch it like a show! LOL!

 

[Jennasis]

The boat horns on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. People complain about them all the time...getting woken up by them, etc. I LOVE them. And the WDRR clang and horn as well.

 

[missnic]

Another one - I'm not sure when we first saw her, but there is/was an older lady who carried the scooper behind the horses on main street. She was having the BEST time ever, singing, dancing, interacting with guests. we've seen her a few times since, and it's always the same. There's something about seeing someone who has a pretty crappy job be that happy that just makes you happy too. I don't think I have ever seen a cm that happy.

 

[JoAnnPan]

• Standing on the bridge between France and the UK facing France - looking down at the water - the french painting on the water's edge with the bicycle - nice breeze blowing - the faint sounds of music - from there i can watch people meeting Sleeping Beauty or Marie in France - just peaceful.

• Sitting in the section between the shops on Main Street - listening to the piano and dance school sounds from the open windows

• Being the first person at a quiet pool in the morning

• Call me crazy but i love doing laundry on my Disney vacation!!

 

[asbyrneva]

At Liberty Tree Tavern when they call your party and of course get it right that its the "Commonwealth" of Virginia

When DS thinks he's a big shot at sorcerers and teaches newbies then gives the kids a few duplicate cards.

Watching the CMs in the background before the welcome show (putting down the ramp across the tracks etc.) I know its early but I'm always glad Im standing right there cause I know in a few minutes everybody is going to be smiling.

I love the look on a CMs face when I stop somebody from foolishly using a FP on a ride with a posted stand by of 10 minutes or less. "excuse me, you can ride standby just as fast and change that FP for something else right on your phone". I don't do it often cause usually I'm too busy feeling SMUG and SUPERIOR... But when I do it right at the FP line entrance - the guests then check with CM about what I just said. And then the CM smiles, tells them I'm right and gives me the "you're in the know" head nod. Guests are usually appreciative but the look from the CM is the one I love.

 

[Jennasis]

Another one - I'm not sure when we first saw her, but there is/was an older lady who carried the scooper behind the horses on main street. She was having the BEST time ever, singing, dancing, interacting with guests. we've seen her a few times since, and it's always the same. There's something about seeing someone who has a pretty crappy job be that happy that just makes you happy too. I don't think I have ever seen a cm that happy.

Um...my job is to (among other things) scoop horse poop. Best. Job. EVER. LOL!

 

[disravenlaur]

Walking into MK for our pre park opening CP ADR and the ground is still wet
Getting on the Disney bus and hearing "Welcome, we're on our way to the Magic Kingdom etc..."
Finally getting there after 14 hours of driving from PA and seeing the POR sign
The smell of walking outside in the early morning at POR and there's dew on the grass and the sun is coming up
MNSSHP is usually our first day and our first visit to MK on our trip..love it

And my most favorite..the Resort TV. That music gets me every time. I sit there and enjoy it every morning while waiting for the rest of the troops to get ready. And what's even better is if you're obsessed with the planning and getting excited part before your vacation, there are YouTube videos of the Walt Disney World Resort TV. I play the video, listen to the songs, while I'm surfin the boards..currently. I'm glad there are others just like me!

 

[Jennasis]

Walking into MK for our pre park opening CP ADR and the ground is still wet
Getting on the Disney bus and hearing "Welcome, we're on our way to the Magic Kingdom etc..."
Finally getting there after 14 hours of driving from PA and seeing the POR sign
The smell of walking outside in the early morning at POR and there's dew on the grass and the sun is coming up
MNSSHP is usually our first day and our first visit to MK on our trip..love it

And my most favorite..the Resort TV. That music gets me every time. I sit there and enjoy it every morning while waiting for the rest of the troops to get ready. And what's even better is if you're obsessed with the planning and getting excited part before your vacation, there are YouTube videos of the Walt Disney World Resort TV. I play the video, listen to the songs, while I'm surfin the boards..currently. I'm glad there are others just like me!

We have all the Resort TV loops on our Roku and watch them at night to fall asleep to when we're home.