What does Disney "Magic" mean to you

[Kay7979]

Hello everyone,

I just joined the Disney boards yesterday on my birthday. I am a fan of all things Disney. I frequently hear people talk about experiencing the Disney Magic and was wondering what the term Disney Magic really means to you? Is it something you can put your finger on and explain? Or is it an intangible feeling that is hard to express. Just curious about other Disney fans thoughts on this. Thanks!

 

[grinningghost]

Welcome to the DIS Kay I'm a Western New Yorker too.

For me the magic is very hard to explain. But I think it has something to do with the roots of the Disney Company. How one simple man pursued his dreams no matter what obstacles got in his way. And those dreams were so unique. Nothing we'll ever see again.

I recall being a kid and Disney was IT. Sunday nights were weekly EVENTS. Getting the Jiffy Pop popped and settling down to watch Wonderful World of Disney. No home video to catch a Disney movie. If you saw one, you went to the theater, and once it was gone, it was gone. That breeds appreciation. Something kids today don't seem to have. They take it for granted.

WDW was THE most amazing theme park. It was incredible. There was nothing to compare. If you got a chance to go there, you were the luckiest kid in the world. Now you have Universals and Sea Worlds - which don't compare IMHO, but kids have so many choices, they don't see how special WDW is.

Sorry for rambling, but it's a subject that I'm passionate about.

 

[CamColt]

Welcome to the Dis!!!

For me its just sort of an unexplainable feeling. I know as soon as we land in Orlando on Sunday, I will start to feel it, and upon checking in at our resort it will be there full force.

 

[hoosll]

Disney magic - going physically or mentally into another world where the object is: happiness, amazement, belief in fantasy

A happy ending is not necessary (Old Yeller) if the transistion is to the spirit of children and adults. Logic is not necessary if it is true to the nature of fantasy (Toy Story). It should not be you over the head with lessons - but teach by example. It should use the tools of the present to show us the past and present the possibilities of the the future.

 

[Christine]

For me, it is being at the parks and forgetting that there is a world outside of the park. The "magic" suspends my reality for a short time. The Disney environment, cast members, and attractions all play a part in this.

 

[always quiet]

Welcome to the boards...............and happy birthday! :thewave:

For me, Disney Magic is the feeling of leaving the 'real world'..........all your problems are parked out there on I-4, just beyond the gate. Your family seems so close, everyone gets along, siblings actually LIKE each other, parents aren't so 'uncool' anymore, Mickey Mouse is real and pixie dust surrounds you. Adults can act like 6 yr olds and no one thinks it evenly slightly odd..........because they are all kids too! Something as little as Mickey (or Minnie if the case may be! ) waving at you causes your heart to jump just a bit. All seems right with the world!

 

[Kim&Chris]

The Disney Magic, to me, is the goosebumps I get when I enter the Magic Kingdom. Just standing at the beginning Main Street & seeing the Castle at the other end.....complete and total happiness!

Also, being a 40 year old woman posing with Mickey Mouse. Hey, we all know it's an 18-year-old girl inside there, but for that one magical second when you walk up to him for a photo.....HE'S THE REAL DEAL!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Welcome to the DIS and Happy belated Birthday!

~as Quoted from alwaysquiet:~

Your family seems so close, everyone gets along, siblings actually LIKE each other, parents aren't so 'uncool' anymore, Mickey Mouse is real and pixie dust surrounds you. Adults can act like 6 yr olds and no one thinks it evenly slightly odd..........because they are all kids too! Something as little as Mickey (or Minnie if the case may be! ) waving at you causes your heart to jump just a bit. All seems right with the world!

Well said Colleen!

Disney is the only vacation we take, where my ENTIRE family is happy;-)

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by Kim&Chris


Also, being a 40 year old woman posing with Mickey Mouse. Hey, we all know it's an 18-year-old girl inside there, but for that one magical second when you walk up to him for a photo.....HE'S THE REAL DEAL!

I had the same experience. Only minutes before we went up to take our picture, I was thinking "this is silly" and "I wonder what the person under there is thinking about all of us." But then when Mickey took my hand and huged me, I forgot all of that and said "Hi Mickey- I met you once when I was a little girl and it's good to see you again!"

Disney magic is a truly fascinating thing...something that starts out as conversations among artists, designers, architects, storytellers...and then becomes something very personal for the millions who experience it.

Disney magic for me is knowing that there are moments and places put aside for me where I can escape the everyday and become a happier me.

 

[mikesmom88]

For me, it is being in a magical place with my family and being happy and carefree. Leaving my worries behind me!

Disney "magic" is everything everyone has said before me and reading them with tears in my eyes because I feel the same way!

It is sharing with all of you on these boards!

 

[Kay7979]

I am enjoying everyones' perspective on this. I hope we get lots more replies. To me, the magic is the feast for the senses I find at Disney parks and resorts. Everything is so picture perfect, the grounds, the archictecture and trim details of the buildings, all the antiques and decorative accents that provide a realistic atmosphere of being in a different time or place. The themeing aspect is enchanting. Disney really captures the essence of other times and places and lets you experience it first-hand. To me that is magical. I love the parks and I also enjoy going to the various resorts and walking the grounds. No matter where we are staying, we always go to the Polynesian for breakfast and have Tonga Toast. The staff actually gave me the receipe a couple years ago after I told them we come to Disney most every year just so we can have Tonga Toast! I also particularly love the ambience of the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. We stayed at the Hilton Head resort last year and loved it, also. When we spent the following week at a non-Disney property that was very nice, my husband said, "It's just another beautiful resort!" I had to laugh because I knew what he meant. The resort was lovely but it didn't have the themeing that gave Disney Hilton Head real character and charm.

I am getting to be such a devotee of themeing that I am actually trying to figure out how to "theme" the new house we are building. Is that silly, or what?! We have 15 acres of land with 9 acres of woods and trails, a cedar sided "southern farmhouse" style home with three dormers and a full length front porch. We also have a big carriage barn building that will serve as car storage, wood-working and hobby shop, and antique storage (my husband is an antique dealer). There is also another outbuilding that looks sort of like a little train station with a loading dock. It's starting to shape up to have quite a lot of atmosphere already, so I just need to find the right angle to achieve my year-round Disney-type magic atmosphere. Boy, I really must have the Disney Bug, bad, huh?

 

[tc]

I feel the magic of Disney as soon as I check in. The real world melts away. Last year during our September trip, we had three cars wrecked at home. No one was hurt, but they were fender bendered or totaled within 5 days, nooe of the accidents were my daughter fault and she was fine. Had I been home, I probably would have been overwhelmed with these events. As it happened, I was at WDW, and it didn't even phase me. Kimmi was fine, and I was at Disney World.

My point is, it takes me away from reality, and gives me that mental break I need. I am trying to fit a September trip in because I need that break so bad.

 

[tkyes]

I agree with others who say to them it's an escape.

I don't watch the news when I'm at WDW, I'll catch up on it when I'm home. I rarely know what day it is or the date. WDW has a way of making you forget your to-do lists, your work deadlines, and your hurt and making everything ok.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the DIS, Kay, and Happy Birthday.

This is a bit how I view it..........

Disney Magic

And some of the links in my signature.

Nice to see you, enjoy that magic.

 

[monarchsfan16]

WDW is my escape from everything in the real world. The only thing I can't get away from is the "family" I go with, but even they're a lot nicer there so, Disney Magic is whatever it is that makes the week at WDW tolerable. I love being able to forget what's going on in the world, and in my life.
And Welcome to the DIS!!!

 

[legs22]

cruise ship

 

[Aimeedyan]

I'll admit that I'm not a huge Disney addict... but my mom is, and I've watched how Disney can bring a smile to her face and a tear in her eye. She's been through some crap in her life, that she didn't deserve, but planning a trip, for her or someone else, made her heart sing. There was SOMETHING about Walt Disney World that made her feel at home. I know there are people on here that are like that.

And at age 55, she up and decided to follow her dream of working at The World and packed her stuff and moved from Texas to Orlando, all alone. I was never more proud of my mom.

She is truly HAPPY there. She visits the park when she wants, is on the inside, and loves it...

So the Disney Magic for me is watching my mom have such joy. I love visiting her now, because now as an adult, I see the little things in Disney that she's always seen, and we can connect on that level. Plus she gets a great discount and I get in free

I can't wait for my (future) children to get to visit Grandmom that works at The Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[WDWLVR]

Disney Magic - it is so many different things to me.

Quality - I know that be it the parks, the hotels, the cruise line. Quality all the way!

Fun - I know I can always have fun at Disney or at a Disney movie.

Family - Disneyland was built as a place for families. The same holds true with WDW and the cruise lines. For us family means just the two of us. I know that Disney is a place where my DH and I can spend time together, enjoying ourselves.

 

[square pond]

To me Disney Magic is how my heart almost pounded out of my chest the first time I laid eyes on Cinderella's Castle also the tears that welled up in my eyes when we watched Spectromagic. I know some people might think I am a fruitcake for getting misty about spectromagic but it is "Disney Magic" weaving its spell on all who visit!!

 

[Lewski709]

It would be MAGICAL if someone wanted to take and pay for me.

Other than that, it's magical to be with friends and/or family. There is so much happiness at Disney. I love to sit back at take in all the "magic" happening around me.

Magic does happen!!!!