The smells of Disney World

[MonorailMan]

I know this is gonna sound weird, but when I was growing up, the first thing I remember about first going to the Polynesian Hotel was the smell that was present in the main building. And I've always looked forward to smelling that smell....even though I have NO idea what it is. It's been a while since I've been back there, but I know I'd recognize it immediately....and I'd love it!

Another WDW smell that I fell in love with was the smell that's always present in most of the water rides. It's like a mixture of chlorine and something else, but I'm not sure what it is. It's not offensive....but at the same time it's not like Chanel could bottle it either. I've yet to smell this at any other theme park that isn't Disney.

I always know I'm at WDW and feel so comfortable when I smell those WDW smells. There are a couple more that I fell in love with, but I'd have to be there to describe where/what they are.

I'm not insane.....much.

 

[ConcKahuna]

LOL The loby of the Polynesian is probably a combination of the orchids, the water (with chlorine) and the mulch.

While recently talking to a DISer in person, she mentioned how when she walked into the Dolphin she thought it smelled like Pirates. She was saying how much she loves that smell LOL

 

[MonorailMan]

LOL The loby of the Polynesian is probably a combination of the orchids, the water (with chlorine) and the mulch.

While recently talking to a DISer in person, she mentioned how when she walked into the Dolphin she thought it smelled like Pirates. She was saying how much she loves that smell LOL

Yes! Exactly! LOL Now I know I'm not the only person. I tend to be fairly sensitive to smell too. I don't get offended by a way someone or something smells, but I guess it's just part of my brain that is sensitive, and is, in turn, how I remember certain things.

A couple months ago a friend brought something of mine back to me that he had borrowed. I told him, "This smells like your house." He replied, "Ohhhh noooo! It doesn't smell like dog, does it?!" It didn't. It just smelled like his house.....but he didn't understand that I wasn't saying his house reeked. It was just a smell I had recognized.

I'm not sure if it's the actual smells, or the memories I have attached with them that makes me adore the "Disney smells" so much.

 

[ConcKahuna]

I'm a smell person myself. It's odd, I'm not big on wearing cologne (I'm allergic to most of it anyways LOL), but when a person smells good I just melt. It's not necessarily what they are wearing, but body chemistry can do amazing things with or without cologne sometimes LOL

 

[MonorailMan]

I agree completely. My ex got me hooked on cologne, but I don't wear it if I know I'm going to be around a bunch of people I don't know, in case there's people with allergies.

 

[donald...really]

There was a hotel in Boston that had huge waterfalls in the lobby, along with large plantings. Because of the water/chlorine smell, the smell of the plants, and the humidity in the air due to the waterfalls, whenever I walked through the lobby it felt like I was walking through the Polynesian. I know exactly what you are talking about.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I have a few favorites.

The popcorn as soon as you enter the Theme Parks.

Chocolate Chip Cookies on Main Street.

The odd mix of suntan oil, chlorine, and Pina Colada mix at the bar at Typhoon.

And the smells of the World Showcase as you go through the countries.

 

[Saxton]

For me it's the glazed pecans. Last fall a friend asked me to go to a local festival. It sounded good when she invited me - in the country, arts, crafts, etc. but the weather was cold and rainy. We were walking through this one section looking at all the booths and trying to stay out of the mud when all of a sudden I thought of EPCOT ... sure enough there was a booth making the pecans. They weren't as good but it really made the day tolerable.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Reminds me of a trip I took with Shrek and my two nices to MGM.

We were walking past one of those stands and my one niece asked "Uncle Mike, do you like roasted nuts?" I said "Ask uncle Shrek."
They asked and needless to say the girls instantly had a bag of nuts each!

Another time we were with my Grandparents and my grandmother said "Where is Shrek" I said "Let's see....we're in China, he must be gettiing egg rolls!"

Gotta love em!

 

[Saxton]

Reminds me of a trip I took with Shrek and my two nices to MGM.

We were walking past one of those stands and my one niece asked "Uncle Mike, do you like roasted nuts?" I said "Ask uncle Shrek."
They asked and needless to say the girls instantly had a bag of nuts each!

I have some creative comments that involve other foods and drinks but I'm going to control myself since this is a PG board.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Oh come on Sue! ConcK got a note sent home while dad ws away, why are you so afraid? Dad's still away, an Mom just found the pitcher or Martini's

Your golden!

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

You folks back east probably don't notice it but your mixed conifer/deciduous woodlands (like around WDW) have a very distinct earthy smell (I think it's from decaying leaves). It is such a nice, rich, humus-y smell that our primarily coniferous forests don't have. Somebody else mentioned humidity affecting their associations with WDW and I think there is an element of that in this as well.

 

[ConcKahuna]

For me it's the glazed pecans. Last fall a friend asked me to go to a local festival. It sounded good when she invited me - in the country, arts, crafts, etc. but the weather was cold and rainy. We were walking through this one section looking at all the booths and trying to stay out of the mud when all of a sudden I thought of EPCOT ... sure enough there was a booth making the pecans. They weren't as good but it really made the day tolerable.

Those smell amazing!! I think they do pecans and almonds at Epcot, I know they have the almonds because those are what I eat LOL.

You folks back east probably don't notice it but your mixed conifer/deciduous woodlands (like around WDW) have a very distinct earthy smell (I think it's from decaying leaves). It is such a nice, rich, humus-y smell that our primarily coniferous forests don't have. Somebody else mentioned humidity affecting their associations with WDW and I think there is an element of that in this as well.

The woodlands around here mostly smell like swamp. That being said I used to live in Maine and I LOVE the smell of the coniferous forests.

Another one of my favorite smells is the smell in the air just before a big storm rolls through, as the pressure and temperature are dropping.

 

[MonorailMan]

I do think the humidity plays a role in the smell. The Grand Floridian has its own smell too, but it doesn't seem to involve an earthiness.

(I've gotta stop putting an "e" on the end of the word "Grand". It's not a Mexican resort......or a medium Starbucks beverage. )

 

[OrlandoMike]

You wanna have some fun? Call the Grand and ask "Is this the red roof inn?"

Honestly, some CM's have no sense of humor!

 

[ConcKahuna]

You wanna have some fun? Call the Grand and ask "Is this the red roof inn?"

Honestly, some CM's have no sense of humor!

LOL We call it that here all the time!

 

[MonorailMan]

You wanna have some fun? Call the Grand and ask "Is this the red roof inn?"

Honestly, some CM's have no sense of humor!

LOL If it's the same call you book a reservation on, I'm sure your tires would be slashed in the "Red Roof" parking lot by the time you leave.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

You wanna have some fun? Call the Grand and ask "Is this the red roof inn?"

Honestly, some CM's have no sense of humor!

Some of us do. When I used to work the monorail station at the Grand, I'd always answer the internal phone, "Red Roof Inn!" My co-worker would answer her phone at the CR, "Splash Mountain, Jim Bob!" Ahhh, those were the days.

 

[Bocabear]

When I wasa kid I always remembered the smell of the Contemporary...it was probably just the scent of new carpet and all of those modern synthetic fibers...LOL but it had a very distinctive scent...like the Poly...and now if I ever smell either of those it takes me right back to being a kid again...

 

[Szymanbeck]

I remember the smell of the Contemp and Poly too. But my favorite smell... the smell of Rome burning in Spaceship Earth. Many years ago I went to Italy with my sister, while in Rome, she turned to me and said "This smells nothing like Epcot".