What is "The Magic?"

[Mom2Stitch]

When ds was 9 we were having an ice cream in DTD when suddenly he told me that the kids at school told him that Mickey wasn't real-"is he real mom?"

I asked him what he thought-"Mom I know what the truth is, but when we are here the magic makes him real "

I think that sums it up for me.

 

[vault19dweller]

+1 The magic is the total package. It's being in a place where pirates live, animals roam free, "subways" are 20+ feet in the sky, where fireworks happen every night, where countries of the world can be traversed by simply walking a few miles, Yeti's/Dinosaurs/and ghost exist, a place where children can see their favorite characters come to life, where you can sleep in a Victorian era room after eating in the Fiji islands for dinner. If people don't understand that is Disney, not FP legacy or plus they are missing the point of it all.

Plus a million to that, I couldn't have put it better myself.

Agree whole-heartily with every word above!!!

 

[Unyeah]

Magic was everywhere when I went!

 

[brandigregory]

I love this thread. Lots of negative threads out here and this beautifully sums up why we all still go. I can't wait to continue to experience my favorite place on earth with my little girl!

 

[jenninaustin]

Entitlement won't get you magic, but receptivity will.

THIS!! Very true for all of life, really...

 

[Missymouse18]

So many of the previous posts share my sentiments of Disney Magic, but might I add: It goes beyond just being there. I carry it with me every minute of every day. It is, for me, being transformed into a "knowing" that whether I am there, or planning my next trip, it is an ever present feeling of happiness.

What could spoil the Magic? No one's actions can take that feeling of Magic from me. Rude people in the parks annoy me, people who abuse policies annoy me, line breakers really annoy me... but the Magic I feel is MINE and I refuse to let anyone steal my joy

 

[RayRay13]

Holding hands with my 7 y/o son as we sing "Yo-Ho" and get back in line for Pirates. Magic!!

 

[burberryplaid]

"The Magic" is being 6 when I'm actually 30 something! It's one of the only places where I feel completely carefree...I walk the parks holding my husband's hand and it's like we are the only ones there...even though I know there are thousands of people around us!

 

[Chuckers]

My last 3 trips have been solo and the magic for me has always started the moment I saw the sign for DME. It's knowing that no matter what happens, I am going to have a good time. All the little problems that happen on a trip are nothing compared to the whole experience and when put in perspective are trivial. At Disney, the attention to detail is incredible.. there's always something new to see/find.

This next trip is going to be different. I am driving down from Atlanta and going with a VERY dear friend. The excitement will start the moment I get in the car to drive down, but I think that the magic will kick in as soon as we go under the Magic Kingdom arch. Knowing that I will be spending 6 days/7 nights watching my friend, as she experiences a lot of things for the first time, is going to make this even more special.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Thanks to all who have sent in their thoughts, thus far! I'm going back to WDW after a hiatus. We have 31 days until we are supposed to be there (30 days until I'm in Orlando!)

So when I was reading about all of the craziness regarding FP+ and crowds, I was still getting excited about going. Maybe I'm weird, but I can stay in line, as long as the people are cool. I mean, I hosted one of the biggest thumb wrestling tournaments ever in the Kali River Rapids line. I convinced a family to sing a chorus- even though I didn't even catch their names. And I remember having a Brazilian Dance Party (Goofy, myself and my DS- along with about 50 Brazilians got DOWN right outside the Space Mountain queue.) That means that lines doesn't get me angry, as long as the people are cool.

So I can't imagine when people say that "The Magic" is gone, especially because the crowds are large or some system doesn't work well. Or this dish didn't taste good or someone stepped on their shoes while waiting in a line. Maybe I'm crazy or have the wrong perspective, so that's why I wanted to hear from you all! And you guys proved to me that I'm not crazy. I just got that "Magic!"

 

[DisneyAllyC]

The magic starts the second you drive through the Disney World sign on the Magical Express Bus. Then you just feel it in your whole body the second you walk onto Main Street and see that castle ahead. You hear that music, you feel the excitement and anticipation. The smiles of the children as they see their favorite characters, everyone walking around with character ears, it's just pure magic. It all goes from sunrise to sunset and then you hear that "Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight" and instant chills.

That's the magic.

 

[mill4023]

For me, "The Magic" is the feeling of being transported to another world. A world where you leave behind the stress and worries of everyday life and just relax and have fun.

Things that take away "the magic" are:
Having to stand in a long line at a kiosk to get a FP+ when it used to just take walking up and grabbing one
Being limited to 3 FP+ and having to pick between two favorites
Having to wait in long lines for all the rides for which we can't get a FP+
Having our experience be less "magical" because we stay in a house instead of a Disney hotel

 

[vweryhappy]

Agree! If you are new to the parks then maybe but if you have been going there since opening. .well..things are going downhill. .

 

[agavegirl1]

I have no childhood memories of Disney but I did have a vivid imagination. I imagined what it would be like to see (at that time) Disneyland when I grew up and saved up my money. I grew up on Wonderful World of Disney and the Mickey Mouse Club but there was no way my family could afford to go. As an adult, the magic comes to me it moments. That moment when I feel as if the seven year old girl is back and the experience meets or exceeds the imagination of that child ...that is the Magic.

Wow, it sure is hard to explain isn't it.

 

[GotLabradors]

Thanks to all who have sent in their thoughts, thus far! I'm going back to WDW after a hiatus. We have 31 days until we are supposed to be there (30 days until I'm in Orlando!)

So when I was reading about all of the craziness regarding FP+ and crowds, I was still getting excited about going. Maybe I'm weird, but I can stay in line, as long as the people are cool. I mean, I hosted one of the biggest thumb wrestling tournaments ever in the Kali River Rapids line. I convinced a family to sing a chorus- even though I didn't even catch their names. And I remember having a Brazilian Dance Party (Goofy, myself and my DS- along with about 50 Brazilians got DOWN right outside the Space Mountain queue.) That means that lines doesn't get me angry, as long as the people are cool.

So I can't imagine when people say that "The Magic" is gone, especially because the crowds are large or some system doesn't work well. Or this dish didn't taste good or someone stepped on their shoes while waiting in a line. Maybe I'm crazy or have the wrong perspective, so that's why I wanted to hear from you all! And you guys proved to me that I'm not crazy. I just got that "Magic!"

 

[Sparkly]

I love the total immersion of the Disney parks- not having to worry about real life.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The "Magic", for us, isn't necessarily a Disney-infused thing, as we find the magic in so many places throughout Orlando. Our "magic" is still spending time as a family, and LOVING it, even though our kiddo is no longer a little boy.

Its being excited and awed over new experiences and places unlike anything we have at home.

Its enjoying the heat and the sunshine and even the torrential rains, because there are palm trees swaying in the breeze in the midst of it all. Even Orlando's "cold" is warm to us.

Its swimming in the winter.

Its seeing our teenager excited about leaving his cell phone behind and just soaking up the moment.

Its all the smiles we have in the photographs lovingly captured during our travels.

Its being pampered and relaxed and spontaneous.....seizing the moments as they arrive, and not adhering to schedules.

The "magic" gets lost for us when we're overburdened by deadlines, micro-management of our time, alarm clocks, crowds, schedules, and super-planning. Our everyday lives are busy and hectic and planned so far in advance that knowing the same must occur on our vacation in order to have "fun" is rather discouraging.

For us, Disney has some great concepts and a child-like appeal, but having to worry about Fastpasses and ADR's, in particular, has zapped enough of the "magic" that we have found more our family's style of vacationing at their Orlando competitors. We don't want to have to decide six months ahead of time where and when we want to eat. We want to be spontaneous. We want to go with the flow.

The super-inflated pricing also kills the magic. Ticket prices are one thing, but the resort prices are ridiculous in so many instances. I can see Disney resorts being offered at a premium, but at 500+% in cost to their comparable offsite counterparts? Same for Disney dining.....$50 for Chef Mickey's dinner?? Our family just can't justify paying that much for cafeteria-style food. The atmosphere is great, and the opportunity to meet the characters is awesome, but that cost just takes it out of the realm of reasonable (and definitely not in the "magical" category).

If I could pick one park that most clearly depicts our vacation style, its Discovery Cove. Its easy. Its relaxing. Its beautiful. Its all-inclusive. It includes 14 days admission to both SeaWorld and Aquatica (two other parks we adore). It includes unlimited food and beverages (including alcohol) for the day. We get the amazing opportunity to swim with dolphins. We get a souvenir photo to take with us. And its less than the price of a 3-day Disney ticket. And its the park that we will talk about for years after our vacation ends. That's the magic for us.

Edited to add....we are not anti-Disney. In fact, we are hoping against hope that the rumor is true and a MNSSHP will be held on August 29th, so we can squeeze in a Disney visit during our next trip (otherwise, its a mostly Disney-free vacation....again). But this is something that can be enjoyed without Fastpasses, without an ADR, without massive crowds (we hope) and while staying in our beloved offsite location. We love the Disney experience when the other factors are not killing the "magic" for us.

 

[tsme]

"The Magic"

The sights, smells, sounds, colors, & all the small details of the resorts & parks. I love the feeling when I step off the ME Bus & take it all in. It makes me smile, feel light & happy. It's like going home.

 

[jimmalru80]

My Magic is the insulated feeling I get while there. The knowledge that if anything goes wrong, someone will fix it; that the joy you extend is returned to you; that I don't have to drive if I don't want to!! No where else is a character going to kneel down in front of my son and allow him to be in awe, as if we were the only people he had to see that day.

So many little things make me return. Atmosphere, service, consistency--all things I don't see on other trips. Don't get me wrong I like other places too, going to the Amalfi Coast is outstanding, but when sh!t goes sideways there, nothing gets done!! Even with the changes, I find these things to be true.

I think some of this is the attitude people bring as well. Entitlement won't get you magic, but receptivity will. I go with the idea that speed isn't important, that we get done what we get done, and someone will carry my bag, take my picture, bring me my food, and clean my room. I guess that can happen at any resort, but I think at Disney they do a better job of immersing you in your vacation.

Things change and I'm cool with that. Generally I find Disney course corrects and the changes don't make my trips less magical; sometimes the magic comes in different ways. I've also found that as my view of what is magical changes, Disney meets that--before kids was one kind of magic (FWF, Sig Dining, Spa) and after kids its another.

That is just a wonderful way of describing it. Well said!!

 

[JRawkSteady]

"The Magic" is a feeling you get. It's the feeling you got the first time you saw Cinderella Castle in person, when you first rode the original Journey Into Imagination, when you first tasted a dole whip, when you first smelled Rome burning, when you first heard the pianist outside of Casey's, when you first noticed references to familiar Disney movies scattered all over the park... It's a feeling that lasts forever. You may push it down every time you go back home...but then you see a commercial for WDW and there it is again. In the pit of your stomach. It makes some tear up... it makes some long for vacation... it makes some just go and listen to the old Epcot soundtrack album... It's something that cannot be taken away by anything. Something you remember every time you return. "The Magic" is a plethora of memories that you continue to gain and never give up.

Yeah, sometimes it gets interrupted by the occasional rude guest or cast member...but that's it. Just a slight interruption to something you can never lose. And nothing can ever take it away from you.