What about WDW makes you happy?

[ninahbear]

I am currently taking a Happiness course. Yes, it is a full credit college course. I have to write an essay on happiness. I have chosen to write about WDW. I would like to include what it is about WDW that makes other people happy. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[DMickey28]

Walking through Frontierland seeing Splash Mountain in front of me. The overall feeling of "Magic" in the air when you drive through the gates. The ability to really forget about the reality of your life for just a few hours or a full week.

 

[hulagirl87]

There is just an all around joy that I feel being in the park. It feels magical to me like I am in another world. From the moment we arrive and check in to our hotel, knowing that we have a great trip ahead, to the moment that we walk out of the park knowing that we are headed home. There isn't anything I really don't like about WDW except sometimes the crowds

What a fun class. Good luck writing your paper!

 

[Judy from Boise]

the flowers, the sunshine, the music.

 

[OK!]

I just love the atmosphere. I could go and never ride a ride or see a show and be perfectly happy just BEING there, watching the happy people go by and enjoying the ambient music.

Oh, and the shopping. Love the shopping.

 

[PeterPan09]

The outside world and all it's pressures and stresses VANISH when I drive through the gates.

 

[sjs314]

The Music everywhere , smileing people and the memories of past vacations that always come flooding back as you walk thru the parks, not to mention the turkey legs , yum yum and shopping !

 

[iwrbnd]

Feeling like a kid again!

 

[Tuffcookie]

The Music everywhere

Ditto!

(and the Palm trees!)

TC

 

[piglet50]

the feeling of leaving all of my cares and stress outside of the gates. i feel like i've left the real world out there and will have only good times and happiness when i enter.

 

[cheermom1]

I would love to experience that myself ..it is my dream to take all our kids one day

But in the mean time I love the magic it gives when we watch a movie or buy the disney stuff .heck i have disney towels

I love tink I also have a disney christmas tree ...I try but I have a feeling it is not the same as the real thing ...

 

[ninahbear]

Thanks for the replies.

How about what makes you happy at each park?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

The memories. As my parents (and I) get older I think about all of the trips we've shared (although truthfully, I don't remember much about any trips before I was 19) and how lucky I am to get to go someplace that holds all of these wonderful memories and just relax if I want or can do just about any activity I want from the time I get up until the time I go to bed. I'm such an emotional person I cry tears of happiness 1-2 times every trip .

A close second (or third?) would be not having to deal with maps/GPS, driving here and there to see/do things, trying to figure out how much every activity we want to do on vacation costs, getting varied levels of customer service during a vacation, etc. It's nice to be able to pay the cost (except we don't do the dining plan as we do two TS meals a day and pay OOP for the discounts on room and tickets), park the car (or use ME [or even drive the short, well-signed route to a park]), and not worry about anything else, we can see and do whatever we feel like!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

How about what makes you happy at each park?

MK-riding the TTA, it's the first thing we always do at WDW and just hearing the automated voice and seeing all of Tomorrowland and the castle gives me chills and lets me know it's just begun!

AK-we have a tradition to get snacks/drinks and go to the seating area of Flame Tree BBQ by the water. It's so secluded and no one is ever there (helps to go during a less crowded time) and it's so nice to be able to talk about the trip and life and enjoy our snack/drinks overlooking the water.

MGM-We always go here at night and it just makes me happy to see how beautiful the park is lit up at night.

Epcot-my favorite park, I have so many things about this place that make me happy. The background music, the fountains/water areas, walking around World Showcase at dusk hand in hand with the one you love

Poly-our first (and my favorite) resort. I had never stayed at a hotel as a kid (all of our vacations were camping and never going out to eat) and my parents were the epitome of frugal. They saved for 2 1/2 years for us to go on our first WDW vacation (I was 11, my brother was 14). I still remember the feeling of absolute amazement I had walking into the Poly. I get this feeling of 'home' every time I've stayed there since.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We're going Saturday and my DH asked me exactly this question. My answer was that I will get an entire week of uninterrupted time with my family. It seems that everywhere else we go the outside world manages to creep in, but WDW is so self involved with 24/7 Disney that nothing else manages to squeeze in , KWIM? Since WDW is so family concentric, and I am so family oriented, it seems to be a good match. I also think the fact that there is no down time, unless I specifically make space for it, keeps me perky. For some reason, when we end up with down time on other vacations I end up feeling isolated, but since excitement and energy is only a bus ride away at WDW it never seems to happen there.

As for more concrete stuff, I'd say the happy music and bright cheery colors definitely play a huge park in my mood. Also, coming from a pretty crummy childhood WDW gives me a chance at a much better 'do over' which is probably why I gravitate to it so strongly.

 

[ziggystardust]

for some reason Disney is one of the only places that I'll go to and everything else doesn't exist anymore. Any problems, any concerns, just go away. Maybe its b/c of the childhood memories i have or the idea behind the place. And when I leave, I'm just always trying to find a way back

 

[Tinker74]

The outside world and all it's pressures and stresses VANISH when I drive through the gates.

This is the key!....Its an escape from our real lives...For one week we live in a little town of magic and wonder....complete with a key card to pay for it...

 

[ziggystardust]

I could go and never ride a ride or see a show and be perfectly happy just BEING there, watching the happy people go by and enjoying the ambient music.

ive been to epcot numerous times and just soaked it all in.
perfection.

 

[OK!]

ive been to epcot numerous times and just soaked it all in.
perfection.

I'm going to be staying at my parents' vacation house in Windermere for a month in May and will also be training for the WDW Marathon during that time. I'm planning on doing a lot of my walking through parks. Much less boring than around a random neighborhood.

 

[AlleyKat]

Thanks for the replies.

How about what makes you happy at each park?

I love Epcot due to cultural experiences, the knowledge one can gain there, the layout of the park, the food offered in their many restaurants, the gorgeous grounds, Illuminations, everything!

Animal Kingdom is so unlike any place I have ever been to, it's magical. The beauty of the animals in "natural" settings, the minimal realism of African life, the tranquil beauty of Asia, watching folks come out of Expedition Everest for that last harrowing turn, thanking God I'm not one of them!

The Magic Kingdom makes me happy as I view it as Walt's ideal world! All of the fabulous rides, watching the little ones trying to comprehend the magic, the fact that there are so many areas in which one can whet their whistle, Wishes, shopping on Main St., the ice cream parlor and the unbelievable candy shops that are there!

The Hollywood Studio is lighthearted and somewhat "campy", which is a wonderful thing! Old Hollywood takes center stage, the actors walking throughout the park, the feeling one is waiting to hear "Action", Mama Melrose's restaurant (Disney has great food!), The Muppets, etc.