The "Little Things" at Walt Disney World

[Mikeb1892]

This is a great topic, the little things are a big reason why Disney fans keep coming back. Here are some of mine.

• Planning the trip to the point of over-planning because just the thought of going is so exciting

This is so true...love it.

 

[YawningDodo]

* On Space Mountain, as you are climbing the first hill (when you are preparing to "launch"), there is normally another rocket that passes by you going the opposite direction. If you can time it correctly, you can scream at this other rocket to scare them! It's always a good joke and a thrill. Plus, I've heard people laughing after we scared them, so nobody has been too frightened or actually hurt.

Okay, I giggled at this one. I've never been fast enough to do more than notice whether the other car is timed right to zip past us (or to notice whether there's a car on the lift hill when we're the ones zipping past).

• Seeing someone experience a ride/attraction for the first time (even if not in your party)

Not Disney (boo, hiss!), but last time I rode the Spider-Man ride at Universal IoA as a single rider I ended up in a car with a family who had clearly never been on it. They actually screamed the first time Spidey jumped onto the front of the car, and from there on out I just watched my fellow riders because it was much more entertaining than paying attention to the actual ride for the umpteenth time.

I also love looking at photos from Tower of Terror, even the ones my party isn't in. You can always spot the first-timers.

 

[ZoZo]

I know it's hokey, but I always try to catch the golf ball during Soarin'!

 

[aprincessatlast]

* I enjoy making a concerted effort to try and discern all the ambient music, sounds and scents in every themed area. To me, that's the biggest thing that sets Disney apart from every other amusement theme park.

100% agree. This is how disney got me hooked! Background music being subtly played gets me every time.

 

[slbgnb]

Getting ghost portraits at Memento Mori

what is this??

 

[BrianL]

what is this??

At the Memento Mori gift shop outside Haunted Mansion (been open about a year now) they can do a "Spirit Photograph" where you get a lenticular image of yourself that turns into a ghostly version. I got one and they are great. They also sell nice frames for them.

 

[buccikulju]

What a terrific topic!The ambient music themed to the area whether in the parks or at the hotels is wonderful, the subtle lighting effects everywhere, and so forth. The attention to detail in sounds, sights, smells, and everything really does add up to a major reason Disney is better than the rest.
Also, the little extras CMs do to make the attractions better; for example the "bellhops" at Tower of Terror saying, "Oh I forgot, one last important thing..." just as the doors close!

 

[DrKev]

I love late night extra magical hours at Christmas time in the Magic Kingdom. When the crowd has gone and you're standing in front of the castle and Christmas music is drifting through the air, and you can see the carousel spinning dreamily. Experincing this with my beloved wife is one of my favorite memories ever

 

[WIcruizer]

- Seeing the purple signs, knowing you have arrived.
- Seeing the credit card bill when I return, proving I had arrived. ; )
- EMH at MK, especially real late. Quite simply my favorite time, favorite place to be
- Checking into resort while others are leaving, feel so lucky!
- Ongoing contest for highest score on Buzz
- Paging Mr. Morrow...

Many, many more....but that's off the top of my head.

 

[DisneyOma]

Riding Spaceship Earth on our first day - it's a tradition! That 'burning Rome' smell, as much as I hate it, makes me think "yup, we made it back!"

DD makes CDs for our 22 hour drive. She has it timed so that Walt's speech at the opening of Disneyland plays just as we drive under the WDW arch.

Mango Green tea slushie from the tea cart in China. Bunnies in the morning at the resort. The first bus ride to the park, sitting on that bus seat and relaxing after driving 22 hours...

 

[theone74733]

I always have to watch Must Do Disney the day I get to the resort hotel. Also, when I wake up each morning at WDW, I always tune to the WDW today channel which shows all of the park hours of each park plus the nightly shows. Weird, but it's tradition!

 

[3Goofy's]

LED lights in the concrete at Epcot.

The little details in just about every attraction - far too many to list!

I love these lights too! I could walk over them all night.

I always enjoy the little lights in the concrete outside of Spaceship Earth. Also, Inventions Area Loop music is my favorite track that plays in the park. It always takes me back to Future World!

Thank you for sharing this! For me the Disney happiness is mostly about the wonderful music - ambient and ride music. I love to listen to it all year long. I used a lot of it for my son's space birthday party!

The first thing I do is to take my shoes and socks off and walk in the green grass when we arrive at our resort-always the All Star Music. My wife and I travel down to WDW every February so we are usually leaving a lot of snow and seeing green grass is magical. I am always the first to rise so I get up in the morning, shower and dress and then head out to get a cup of coffee. I then spend 15-30 minutes walking around the resort enjoying my coffee and talking to other early risers. Our first park is always the Magic Kingdom. My wife and I are in our 60's and we grew up Disney kids watching the original Mickey Mouse Club and dreaming of this experience. After we wipe the tears from our eyes after first spotting the Castle we then go on our first ride which is always It's a Small World. Following that we get a Mickey Ice Cream Bar. After that we let our hearts guide us. No fast passes, no expectations. We just let the parks guide us for seven glorious days. Spending this time together, just the two of us in a place we dreamt of all our lives is truly a dream come true and it comes true every February for us. 113 days left before our dream is once again realized.

Oh, so sweet! Disney-sweethearts!
Our first ride is always Small World too. That's when I know we have arrived. Small World sums up what Disney means to me the most.

 

[over50visits]

Stop and talk to a CM at random. Whether it's a restaurant host, a street sweeper, a tram station conductor, or anyone, they ALL seem so happy to talk, stop and look you in the eye, and share their excitement and knowledge. It really makes our day.

 

[JRennie]

This is going to sound absolutely stupid..... but I really enjoy the musty water smell on big thunder when walking through the queue, it brings back good memories from prior trips. Ridiculous- I know.

 

[nanienamou]

I love the smell of water at BTMRR and at Splash! The bus announcement for MK and Epcot (with the Figment song). Extra Magic hours at Magic Kingdom. The details in the concrete (horseshoe print in front of HM, peanuts near Dumbo, shells near little mermaid ride...), the fountain of Nations in Epcot, the general atmosphere in Animal Kingdom, the music everywhere.

 

[emonade8]

STACY!!!!
Trying to get as many pictures as we can where it looks like we're the only ones in the park.
Entering World Showcase and getting a jalapeno margarita from La Cava.
Funnel cake at Sleepy Hollow.
Looking "terrified" for the photo on DINOSAUR.
Where's the Fire? (until they closed it)
"That paint mixer of yours just sloshed paint across my rump—er, rumpus… room."
Kaki gori and mango green tea slush (my kids).
Tipsy Ducks in Love.
Shopping in the China and Japan Pavilions.
All the little details in the Muppets store.
Building our future at the end of Spaceship Earth.
Hearing "Promise" while leaving Epcot after Illuminations.

 

[CdnCarrie]

The bus announcement pulling into the MK. It always brings back so many memories.

 

[apple9117]

so many great tidbits here!

 

[bmalonef45]

- EMH at MK is also a favorite of mine. Riding BTMRR over and over with my kids will always be a memory for us.
- Every time we drive under the big WDW entry sign on the highway each of us chooses a character voice and say "Welcome to Disney World!"
- The over-priced margarita bar in DD. I've been to WDW 17 times and I think I've had a margarita here every time.
- Table Service meal at Pecos Bill's Cafe (we keep going back)
- Inside the Mexican pyramid in Epcot. Sometimes we just go in for the atmosphere and don't even ride the ride or eat at the restaurant.
- Wilderness Lodge lobby. If we have time, even if we're not staying there we try to get by for a visit.

I could go on and on... and can't wait to get there in two weeks to add to the list!

 

[DisneyDawg2]

This is going to sound absolutely stupid..... but I really enjoy the musty water smell on big thunder when walking through the queue, it brings back good memories from prior trips. Ridiculous- I know.

This definitely isn't ridiculous! It's certainly a nostalgic smell.