Was there more "incindental" magic this time--or is it just me?

[lovetoscrap]

Brief history: This was our 4th trip. Our 1st was in 2003 and I am a control freak, commando style visitor. I have notecards, and I am not afraid to use them! But I am also flexible to stop if something neat is around and flexible enough to change if the kids really want to do something else.

So this trip I was determined to be less commando, and to stop and smell the roses if we saw any! Well, we seemed to come across quite a few--certainly way more than I had ever noticed before. And I am talking about little things, not normal schedule things like street performers and such, just CM's adding little touches.

Examples:

MK our 1st day. On our way to Buzz first thing in am during EMH. Outside was a CM with one of those big "balloon balls" they sell everywere. He wasn't selling them--just playing with one. He threw it at DD and she kicked it back. We ended up all playing ball with this guy for about 10 minutes--the kids had a great time.

Later in the week we were on the TTA and looked down and saw the group that was waiting to get into Stitch had the ball going through the crowd.

Epcot: A "plaid" CM was blowing bubbles into the walkway. DD's stopped and popped bubbles and talked for about 5 minutes.


Test Track: As we exited the ride a CM in the gift shop right near the exit had 2 remote control cars that they sell, and some cones set up. She invited my girls to come race. DD6 had a great time playing with the car and raced the CM (DD10 was in a bad mood and didn't want to "play"!). CM gave her a Magical Moment Certificate when she was done!


Also in Epcot, Norway: A CM outside the gift shop (at the pin cart) stopped us on the way in and asked if DD's wanted to have a sword fight. DD10 of course thought that was "uncool" but DD6 said yes. The CM gave her a Viking helmet with horns and braids and a foam sword and shield. The CM was also had these all on. She then led DD across to the restaurant to attack the CM's there, and then on to the Maelstrom ride to attack the CM's at it! It was so much fun, DD couldn't believe she got to attack other workers--she was laughing so hard! She had to give the hat and stuff back, but I got some great pictures!


All Over: LOTS of the circular Mickey stickers being given out. We have gotten them before, but it seemed like everyone had them to hand out this time. The kids reached the point were it really wasn't even special anymore!


So was this because it was slow and CM's didn't have as much to do?

Was it because with the "Year of a Million Dreams" they are trying to add more little magical touches?

OR

Have I just always missed this kind of stuff because I was so determined to follow my Touring Plans and get to the next attractions????

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

Have I just always missed this kind of stuff because I was so determined to follow my Touring Plans and get to the next attractions????

I would go with this statement. Commando touring tends to have you doing the park with 'blinders' on. We've done the commando before and it's just not for us anymore. We tour with a 'whatever we feel like doing; we do' attitude these days. Though I do understand commando touring if your on a once in a lifetime, time restricted trip. But if there is any way to avoid the 'blinders'; I would go that route.

 

[msmayor]

Have I just always missed this kind of stuff because I was so determined to follow my Touring Plans and get to the next attractions????

Another vote for this statement.

We make very loose plans for the trip, which usually just means ADR's for meals and a list of the top 3 things each person in our family (four of us) wants to see or do. We promise each other that those 3 things WILL get done, and the rest we play by ear.

I research enough to know when EMH are, but we don't tailor our days to them. We decide the night before..."Here's the park hours, what should we do? Where should we go?"

The absolute greatest moments of our WDW vacations have been the unplanned...the spontaneous. Just last summer, while we waited at the docks for our Wishes Cruise to pick us up at the WL (we were staying there, and had eaten dinner at WCC...had about 30 minutes to kill), my kids found a tether ball pole. They just started playing...my 15 year old daughter and 11 year old son...laughing hysterically and having a blast while my husband and I sat on a bench and just soaked it all in.

Stomping in puddles was my son's favorite activity on his second trip to the World. It was lightly raining all day, the Magic Kingdom was empty. We could have easily walked on every single ride, and if I'd had that "Go here, go there" mindset our son would have been miserable, a meltdown waiting to happen. He was 4 then, and just wanted to get his shoes wet. I have pictures of his drenched body, but the smile on his face was better than any ride we could have walked on to.

The magic is always there...sometimes you just have to slow down a bit so it can catch you.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Have I just always missed this kind of stuff because I was so determined to follow my Touring Plans and get to the next attractions????

Gonna have go with this also. I never understood the commando touring, but if that is what someone does fine. I just feel you miss out on so much, when you don't take the time to stop and look around.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Gonna have go with this also. I never understood the commando touring, but if that is what someone does fine. I just feel you miss out on so much, when you don't take the time to stop and look around.

I agree wholeheartitly. There is so much to see and do outside the parks in all the various resorts that staying in one park, commando style from opening to closing and not really seeing the little stuff, in and around the property is such a loss. We do Disney with our eyes, plus our senses. We try to experience all there is from the flowers around the parks and resorts to the way they cut the grass. So much to see and do and excitement around every corner but you have to stop, look and sense WDW.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm happy to hear that you had such a magical time!
Bobbi

 

[lovetoscrap]

is it always like that? Can those that have been in the last few weeks comment on if there seemed to be MORE than usual???

Even with my commando plan in the past there were lots of times I was often sitting outside rides waiting for others with one child or another, and we never noticed that much "little stuff". Yes, the big things like the street performers or scheduled bands, or the talking tree or trash can, but not the CM's just "having fun" with the kids in addition to their regular responsibilities.

I also forgot to mention the CM in Tomorrowland that came racing up to DD and asked for her autograph (he had an "official" autograph book)! She was stunned and thrilled. Unfortunatly he didn't ask older DD for hers and her feelings were a little hurt. I did wish that they would extend the "fun" to all members of a family--not just the smaller, cute ones. (older DD is cute, but you know what I mean--not like a 6 yr. old!)

 

[MagicMe]

After many trips to WDW, I am lucky that I can now take the time and pick and choose those special things we want to do and then just relax and let the vacation happen. Most of the best times we've experienced at WDW have not been planned. Example - last year arrived on the bus to MGM and everyone was quickly heading towards the gate. My DS (23) and his GF (22) stopped to look over the fence along the walkway (where there is water) and saw some ducks swimming over. We spent several wonderful minutes just feeding the ducks and watching them scurry and try to out-manuver each other to the food. If we were going commando style, I would have insisted that we rush to the gate and get in quickly. Instead, we laughed and really enjoyed a great moment!

 

[chigirl]

Our very first trip last Sept 05 was a "stop and smell the roses" trip...we were sooo excited to be there after years of praying and saving, that we wanted to soak it all in. We had so many pixie dust moments from the way we toured, that a friend of mine swears I had a Disney chip implanted in my brain that makes me go gaga over all things WDW.

Had to say I was disappointed when dear friends of ours came back last week after their first-ever trip. They refused to listen to anything we had to say prior to their departure: they stayed offsite, etc, had made plans to see just MK and MGM, there was no convincing them otherwise. When they came back they said that MK "did not impress" them and they stayed there 2 hours! They have 3 kids!!!! They didn't go on Splash Moutain because it seemed "too scary" and they didn't even get a Dole Whip because it "looked like anything from Dairy Queen". Their kids just wanted to swim at the hotel! Man, I was sad!!!! We asked them if they liked the tiki statues that shoot water and they were like HUH? We asked them how many characters did they see and they were like HUH?

I guess everyone tours their own way, but man we had an awesome trip last year...filled with the small stuff like playing ball w/the characters and chatting with the college-aged CM's and the people of all different nationalities in Epcot; my son danced with the Africian dancers at AK, my daughter was picked for the Belle storytime show, we did the chicken dance with Chicken Little. Just priceless stuff like that that we experienced because we were open for it.

I had a bad year prior to last year's trip and this year has been another bad year. My DH and I have stressful jobs and we've had troubles with a troubled teenage neighbor who tried to burn ours and his homes down and my DH and I both had health scares...going back to WDW this October to share that magic again is what got me through it all!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

The reasons I love Disney. Magic.

 

[Danemom]

So was this because it was slow and CM's didn't have as much to do? Was it because with the "Year of a Million Dreams" they are trying to add more little magical touches?

We noticed this a couple of weeks ago - before the Million Dreams began. We've never noticed it before either. There were CMs with those balls everywhere, CMs with bubbles, and CMs with hula hoops. Sometimes groups of them. They were all trying to get guests to interact with them. I like it!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Now that you mention it I did see the CM's with Hula Hoops at one of the parks--can't remember where.

It just seemed like there was MORE of this than I had seen in the past.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Now that you mention it I did see the CM's with Hula Hoops at one of the parks--can't remember where.

It just seemed like there was MORE of this than I had seen in the past.

There is, and it's going to continue. They've been amping it up for a bit now.

Those CM's aren't there by accident...remember, a computer spits out where a CM is to be at just about every moment, so very little is "spontanious". However, they have been working to make the "little" moments more magical.

Part of this is a huge increase in "Magical Moments" certificates. They have always been around (every ride, restaurant, etc. has a stack of 'em under the counter), but you will see them being used much more as we go into the "Year of a Million Dreams". The corporate goal is to reach out to individuals as much as possible to imprint the Disney brand as unexpected, and magical.

On some other Disney boards people are looking at this very critically (i.e. big whoopie, a certificate that they can make endless copies of...) but for most people it really is a special little touch, and that's a large part of what makes the Disney experience unique. A few extra smiles, and acknowledgement that you aren't just a walking wallet, etc.

I think it's great.

NED

 

[Smileybug]

I really do appreciate the reminder that Disney magic is in all of the little things too. I know our upcoming trip will be at a slower pace.

 

[inaminute]

From what I've read it sounds like there's definitely more magic happening. It sounds like the old Disney is back! Yay! Can't wait to go in--WOW!--only 12 days!

 

[disneytraveler]

I received some little touches of magic on my last trip a few weeks ago. At Mgm 2 Cms cames over to me and talked to me. Then i was given a mickey
mouse sticker.

 

[Stitchfans]

Reading all this makes the waiting so much harder. I am so looking forward to our trip and I am so excited!!

 

[ColoradoDis]

For the last few trips, we've taken a lot more time just to absorb the magic. Even things like stopping to talk to the CMs that are working to keep the flower gardens so beautiful. We also stop to see the wildlife around the parks, like the birds.

Glad to see that more CMs are able to participate in the magic with the guests.

 

[aviva5675]

It sounds nice to be able to just relax and not worry about going from ride to ride, but when your trips are few and far between (this will be our 2d- first was in 02), its hard to not plan alot and try to fit as much in as possible...Maybe one day Ill be able to go without any kind of schedule or plan and just --smell the roses!

 

[jenr812]

So glad to hear you had a magical time We had a bit of a commando attitude last time, but after two days, the kids were exhausted and we realized it wasn't working. We slowed things down and had the time of our lives! We still had structure (mostly due to ADRs and trying to be sure we had a fast pass in hand at all times) but those things didn't hinder our fun! The only complaint I had is not enough time! So we're going for 10 days this time It'll be nice to be able to relax more!