What is "Disney Magic"?

[KristenF]

How much time do you have?

For me, "Disney Magic" is the complete experience. It's not a theme park; it's an immersing event. It's the unexpected touches that make everything flow together seemlessly. It's the suspension of reality that occurs when we drive though the gates. It's forgetting the outside world exists. It's little things that make you smile. It's watching Wishes or Illuminations and just saying "WOW!" as the night turns as bright as the day. It's tearing up when the little girl's voice floats over the Magic Kingdom singing, "Star Light, Star Bright, First start I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight..." It's the look on my child's face when he sees Mickey and *KNOWS* that is Mickey Mouse - not someone in a suit -- it's MICKEY. It's more than I can put into words, and it's like crack - once you 'get it' you never get enough.

I hope you and your family have a magical experience!

this.

 

[sydneysmom]

truly, you can listen to everyone tell you "what" Disney magic is, but until you walk through that tunnel at the MK and look at Cinderella's castle for the very first time, you won't truly understand. You will FEEL it when you're there.

It's a breathtaking moment, no matter how old or young you are. You "become" part of a magical world where you can be anything you want ....a princess, a pirate, a genie, a Mad Hatter... it doesn't matter. Or you can go a bunch of times but never truly "understand" what the magic is until you see your child's face the first time THEY see the Castle or ride their first ride. My DH STILL laughs at me how many times I got teary eyed over watching our DD discover Disney World.

There is a beauty in a world of fantasy. There is joy in seeing children you don't even know meeting characters for the first time. There is something fun about a character buffet meal and getting your picture taken with Goofy.

The magic is not always in the big stuff. But the little things.... the smell of hot dogs from Casey's corner or the smell of cotton candy. The smell of the mist when you're riding the Jungle Cruise....the first time you get nailed with the water cannon on Splash Mountain, and realize YOU WILL GET WET!! Or the first time you ride Space Mountain and realize your 4 year old is braver than you. Or, as my DD would say, feeling your booty come off the seat on Tower of Terror !

It's a million tiny things that make up the most beautiful memories you'll ever have. Just let it all in while you're there.....

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

If you have to ask

 

[jorybella]

I didn't believe in this "Disney Magic" when we went last year, but let me tell you that you get so caught up in all these wonderful things. Everyone was nice and friendly. There were smiles everywhere!

And there were many "Magical Moments", my friend told me these happen all the time and she SCREAMS "MAGICAL MOMENT".

Example of a MM: My son had on his 1st Visit AND It's my Bday pin. At a shop in in MK a CM gave him a choco dipped marshmallow on a stick and said HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOLAN! . Walking through the candy store a CM gave him cotton candy and said HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOLAN!

I did not yell out MAGICAL MOMENT but definately had a wonderful, warm feeling.

There is just this special "magic" about the whole experience.

 

[grammimouse]

What a great thread !! I just read every single response and have reached for tissues several times. Dh and I will be part of the "magic" in just seven days. Our little God -daughter that used to accompany us is not so little any more , but , the "magic " that we saw through her is not able to be explained.Just when you think you know what will be done for you the CM's surpass your imagination. They leave no item to chance. Walt Disney is surley smiling down to know the dream of his that has brought people of all countries and walks of life together as WDW doesl. Two years ago we went on The Disney Magic Cruise Ship. They repeatted many times "Always Remember the Magic" and I know that I couldn't forget , even if I tried. Enjoy your wonderful and magical visit and when the outside world becomes too much to bear , remember you can always return to "The Mgical World of Dsney "

 

[grandmadebby2]

For me it starts as we go under the Welcome to Walt Disney World Arches coming on to the property. My eyes well up with happy tears and I don't know why. Can't explain the feeling of everything being lifted off my shoulders for 10 days, like the real world doesn't even exsist.

I am crying like a baby reading this, just happy tears, knowing that we will soon be going back. Hope you have the same kind of magical moments on your trip.

 

[ivey_family]

Count me in among those who can't even read this thread without tearing up! Once Disney Magic hits you, merely thinking about your next trip brings on those happy tears!

To the OP - I hope you are bitten by the Magic bug and have a wonderful time!

Regards,
C.

 

[meredith1]

If you have to ask

Sorry to bother Tinkerbellie...It'll be our first trip. I'm so glad I asked. I'm very much enjoying the responses and it's firing me up to go!

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. : )

 

[PAcpl]

Okay....tell me about this "disney magic." We are taking our three yr old the week after Thanksgiving. We are seasoned travelers but, this will be our first to WDW. What is this Disney Magic that you guys refer to?

For you it may be.......

• The snow falling on Main Street as you watch the Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Parade
• Watching a couple of hundred people in the Candlelight Processional choir go through the story of Christmas
• Being in the middle of Hollywood Studios while the MILLIONS of dancing lights parade around you in The Osborne Family Lights

DW and I just came back from our sixth trip to the World. First one during Christmas. And this one was just as magical, if not more so then the first four. I don't know how Disney continues to do it, but im glad they do.

There really is nothing like it. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[cbeehler3]

This whole thread just made me shiver.

 

[EKW]

Disney magic is the CM who checks you in calling your 4 year old over to the desk and telling him that a friend left something for him...then bringing out a bouquet of balloons and a personalized autographed card from Buzz and Woody...all done without your having asked for it!

Disney magic is returning to your room at night and having your children's favorite toys arranged in a magical tableau on your bed.

Disney magic is a CM at the Pooh shop at Epcot turning a simple sales transaction into a pirate's duel-to-the-death with your 7 year-old.

Disney magic is having your child chosen to participate in the Jedi Academy...and the light in his eyes after he's defeated Darth Vader.

Disney magic is a cm with a golf cart giving you a ride from the bus stop to your room...just because!

Disney magic is a bus driver from another resort realizing you've been sitting at the stop the last three times he's passed, getting approval to change his route, and stopping to take you back to your resort when he could have just gone home for the night.

Disney magic is an off-duty CM taking the time to have other CM's locate your 8 year-old who took off down Main Street after the parade so he could take just one more picture.

Disney magic is the cook who makes your finicky eater chicken fingers and fries when they aren't on that day's buffet.

Disney magic is having a CM who is sweeping the streets stop you to wish you a very happy Mother's Day.

Disney magic is watching your normally-shy child jump up on stage and participate in a goofy game show...and love it!

Those are some of my "magic" memories from our 4 Disney trips. The magic is the extra mile some CMs go to make your trip more than just a vacation!

 

[symilymom]

 

[carone0318]

Disney Magic is not something you seek out or purchase - it just happens on it's own, which is what makes it soooo special! The magic is like a drug, a euphoria and it's what makes so many of us keep coming back year after year. The magic is different for each and every one of us, but it is there. Go and enjoy your vacation and let the magic come to you - cause it will!

 

[honugirl]

Disney magic is me getting to ask for what I want to eat, not thinking in terms of what I can eat with my food allergies. It's the only place where I get to eat corn dogs that are safe for me.

Disney magic is coming to a place and knowing I'll come home with a new friend or 2 or 3... I don't have many friends at home because of my disabilities. But the CM's are so good at dealing with people like me, that I actually get to have friends to interact with face to face for a few days. It gives me something to look forward to because I'll have people to visit the next time I come.

Disney magic is getting to (for the most part) "forget" that I have disabilities. My life isn't ruled by doctor visits and medical tests. Disney magic means means that for a few days, I actually fit in somewhere. I'm not a "freak" like I am at home.

 

[cocofifi]

I love warm and fuzzy threads like this one!

 

[MichMickey]

Let me pipe up as another male voice on this subject. Many people have already said that there is no easy way to define "Disney Magic" but what they have ended up communicating was the experience they had. The one thing that you find in common with all their experiences is that WDW touches you in a lot of ways deep down that makes it hard to explain.

Some of the more common "Magical" experiences that I will echo are:
-Coming through the Gates under the Train Station and seeing Cinderella's Castle for the first time-I been down there 7 times and it gets me every time.
-Watching your kids interact with Mickey or any of the other Characters.
-Being greeted by Cast Members at any of the on Property Resorts with "Welcome Home"
-Hearing the otherworldly/Futuristic music as you walk through the Gates of Epcot and move towards Spaceship Earth.
-Watching the Wishes Fireworks shows in the Magic Kingdom on Main Street in front of the castle with your family.
-Seeing my DS11 face when he came off Rocking Roller Coaster for the 1st time at Hollywood Studio's.
-Listening to my DS9 Laugh/Scream as we went down the Red Slide together on a 2 person inner tube at Blizzard Beach.

Some unique "Magical" experience that we had are:

-My whole family was escorted to a special private viewing area at Epcot to Watch Illuminations just because I had struck up a random conversation with a Cast Member!
-On our Honeymoon Found Champagne waiting in our room when we first got there along with a note congratulating my wife and I-Found out that was not standard that was thrown in just because we had told them at the front desk it was our Honeymoon.
-Off Duty Cast Member walked me from downtown Disney Bus stop to hotel I needed to get to in order to pick up a rental car.
-Got to participate in the show at the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor as "That Guy" my kids were cracking up!
-Got to ride in the front car of the Monorail with the operator again just because I struck up a conversation with one of the Cast Members on the Platform.

My wife and I realized last time we went that the Magic is not just the rides, the shows, the fireworks, the Hotels, the music or the Cast Members it was also something we could actively participate in even if only in a small way. We decided to make a conscious effort to be Magical where we could. We took pictures for families where the Dad or Mom were taking pictures of the rest of the family. We struck up conversations with other families on the bus back to the resort asking them what there favorite ride was or where they were going tomorrow. This often had the effect of distracting the little ones from their tiredness as well as reminding them of what they had to look forward to. We ate lunch with a very Kind elderly couple from Belgium who offered to share there table with us so we could sit down at a very busy restaurant in Epcot and in doing so I saw them smile more then a few times as our boys shared there excitment over there last ride. We also realized as we did these things that we went deeper into the "Magic" ourselves!

So I guess all I can say is enjoy your trip and i wish I was going down sooner.

 

[MichMickey]

BTW-Thanks to everyone that shared on this thread! Reading some of your post put a lump in my throat or made me laugh and that is why I keep going back!

 

[honugirl]

Disney magic was also being stuck at Pop Century on my last trip due to really, really bad weather. I went down to the food court to eat lunch. I was alone and there was an older lady eating alone. She hollered out "Hi!" to me and asked me to come over and eat lunch with her. We ended up having a 2 hour lunch and had the BEST time! She'd been to WDW every year at least once since it opened. She worked in motorhome parts sales and loved to soup up old cars (I also love old cars and motorhomes!). It was awesome!

 

[amitrat]

I still remember our breakfast at Crystal Palace on our first trip with her, when DD at 18 months old, first saw Pooh and friends and when her favorite character, Piglet, appeared at the table, she was shaking with excitement. She hugged and kissed each of the characters.

Have a magical trip!

We had a similar experience on our first trip last year - DD was the same age as the above poster's daughter and was screaming for Piggy and Bear (she did not know who they were at the time) - when Pooh cam to her, she layed her head in his lap and stayed there until we had to take her off - every table around us felt that magic.

Other little things that made our trip "Magical" other than it just being Disney was the barber shop quartet coming in a singing to my daughter as she got her first hair cut and the Major came into the Plaza as we were eating lunch to crown someone Major for the Day - it is all those little and spontaneous things!

 

[esbrick]

For me, Disney Magic can be found in my memories all the time. Those memories are what make up my happy place

I remember when on our first trip my DSD asked if I would do the hula hoop contest for the "big people"! This was our first trip together and wanting to make a good impression of course I did it! To my amusement and her encouragement, I WON!!! Next thing I hear this little voice running towards me shouting "She won! She's mine! She's Mine! She won!" That day I fell in love with my girl!

We took her on our next trip to the BBB and dinner at Cinderella's Castle! She was so excited that everyone wa looking at her calling out "Hi Princess! Look how beautiful!" We had a fantastic night at the MK and took the bus home where she fell asleep on my lap! Talk about love!

Two years ago in Epcot we met a mom and her two sons watching the fireworks from Mexico. The little boy, around 5 years old was holding a Micky stuffed animal and couldn't really see. The mom and I had been talking so I told her that I could hold her son while he sat on the wall while she stood next to me. She agreed and we watched the fireworks and talked! In the middle of the fireworks the little boy held up his Mickey Mouse stuffed toy and said "Look Mickey! Look at the Magic!" OMG the tears came into my eyes!

This year my DH and I are going for a long weekend next week. I will be taking a special package with me, the little boy growing in my belly I can't wait to share a Micky bar and a Dole whip with him and for him to feel the joy in my heart making new memories to share with him!

The Magic never ends since being at Disney gives you the gift of memories you can take with you and share everywhere you go enabling you to spread the magic! It's a wonderful gift to be able to give someone something to make them smile like a story