What is Disney World?

[DisneyTiger]

How do you put the answer to this question into words? That's what I need help with. My sister is planning her family's first trip to the world and she has no idea what it's all about. She asked me, and I quote, "What is Disney World?" How in the world do you answer that question. I kind of found myself at a loss for words. I would love to hear how you would sum up what Disney World is to you.

 

[ajk912]

I would show her your pics (I am sure you have some!) to show her what's there, and order her a copy of the planning CD- give her some park maps too, if you have them!

Oh, there are a TON of guidebooks too for beginners. Have her read one of those!

 

[saraheeyore]

How do you put the answer to this question into words? That's what I need help with. My sister is planning her family's first trip to the world and she has no idea what it's all about. She asked me, and I quote, "What is Disney World?" How in the world do you answer that question. I kind of found myself at a loss for words. I would love to hear how you would sum up what Disney World is to you.

its actually really hard when u think about it
its a theme park i guess but i don't really like normal theme parks so i guess its not really just that
ummm thinking now
its a place that is just sooo special and magical u can't really describe the feeling u get as u first glimpse the castle and walk down main street
its pretty much everything u could want from a holiday guess u can do as much or as little as you want there.u need to show her lots of videos and leaflets and anything u have

 

[tinkerlisa]

its actually really hard when u think about it
its a theme park i guess but i don't really like normal theme parks so i guess its not really just that
ummm thinking now
its a place that is just sooo special and magical u can't really describe the feeling u get as u first glimpse the castle and walk down main street
its pretty much everything u could want from a holiday guess u can do as much or as little as you want there.u need to show her lots of videos and leaflets and anything u have

yeah what she said!
My Hubby to be says that he does not like going to Disney but when I get him there, its like the pixie dust in the air rains all over him because he gets so happy and excited. Its hard to put into words what Disney is. All I know is I feel home when I am there. When I go someplace else for vacation, thats when I feel like a tourist

 

[*Seanaci*]

That's not something you can put into words. That is something better left to pictures.

 

[james'mommy]

There is no way to describe it. The happiest place on earth and the most magical place on earth won't mean anything to her. For me it's a place to revisit childhood. I feel like a kid whenever I am there. Some of my best memories from childhood involve WDW. I'm just really glad that my own kid "gets" it.

 

[daisyduck123]

"Disney World is a resort with 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, many hotels, & recreational facilities". How does that sound?

**I also always tell people it's the size of San Francisco.

 

[ChristineAndMatt29]

It's something she'll just need to experience herself to fully understand But I agree. Show pictures of the parks etc. It's a whole other WORLD and it is magical. That is why you cannot put it into words.

 

[Rylee]

How do you put the answer to this question into words? That's what I need help with. My sister is planning her family's first trip to the world and she has no idea what it's all about. She asked me, and I quote, "What is Disney World?" How in the world do you answer that question. I kind of found myself at a loss for words. I would love to hear how you would sum up what Disney World is to you.

I just went through this last year, when we vacationed at Disney with our best friends and their 4 children. None of them had ever been before.

There are 2 answers to this question... the technical descriptive answer, and one of sentiment.

As for the MAGICAL SPIRIT of Disney... once they arrive, they will either "get it" or they won't. No explaining is necessary for those who do, and no amount of explaining will change it for those who don't. Traveling as a kid with my parents, my Dad and I "got it." While my mother enjoyed our trips and could appreciate many things about Disney... how well it runs as it's own city, the cleaniness, the details, etc., I don't think she ever caught the spirit of Disney.

We spent many dinners with our friends, planning out our trip. Their questions were sometimes quite funny... "But I thought you said we were staying at Disney, why do we need to ride a bus to the parks?" And, "If there are highways running through Disney, isn't that kind of dangerous for the kids? I guess they were picturing their hotel was located inside an amusement park. We discovered the key word for someone who has never been, is WORLD. Our friends could not grasp the sheer size of Disney World... so a map of the world comes in handy!

I also planned trips for 2 other "first-time" families last year. All felt frustrated and overwhelmed on their first day... Dining Plans, Fast-Passes, Park Hopping, etc., it's a lot to learn. By the second day, they said everything I'd been telling them just "clicked!" They felt like pros.

 

[EvanMaddieMouse]

This is what I would say:

Disney World is the happiest, most fun place you will ever get to experience! Everyone gets to act like a little kid, even Mom and Dad. You can go on rides, and see parades, hang with characters you've only seen in movies, and eat eat eat.

Once you go, you will want to go again and again and again. It's something that needs to be seen to be fully understood, but you will never regret going!

 

[worm761]

Disney is a five year old girl meeting Cinderella for the first time. She is not meeting a girl dressed up but the real deal. The is THE Cinderella. She has a fairy godmother, Prince Charming, a Castle!!!, a coach, mice for friends. She has it all and all little girls idolize her.

Disney is a five year old boy meeting his favorite hero, Buzz Lightyear. Buzz is from outer space! How cool is that!
It is the look on your child's face when they see Disney for the first time. It is coming home and smelling something and you back at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

What's Disney World? Well.....

It's a place where I go with my child...and get to act like a kid again without anyone thinking I'm strange!

It's a place where the characters of my childhood come to life and make me feel like I've stepped into one of the "Wonderful World of Disney" episodes I treasured as a child!

It's the place I only read about in books as a child (my first trip was when I was 17)...but is really real!

It's more than rides (and lines) and characters (and lines) and shows (and lines)...in fact if that is all you see, you've missed the magic of it all.

Disney World is a place you have to experience with a child's delight of magic rather than an adult's perspective of cynicism. Your heart and mind have to be open to the possibilities....otherwise, you might as well go to Six Flags!

Hope this helps.

Karen

 

[DisneyTiger]

OP here - wow, these are great!!! My eyes have welled up a few times reading them. I would love to hear more. This is fun! Keep em' coming! I told my sister that I posted a thread on the DIS to help with her question. She looked at me like I was crazy and said "The DIS???" I don't want to overload her brain just yet. I will have to save the DIS explanation for later