The Essence of the Disney Parks’ Magic
Now that I’ve “Aired My Disney Parks Grievances,” I figure it’s time to show the other side of the coin and share why I enjoy the Disney theme parks so much. Frankly, there’s a lot more that makes Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the other parks special places imbued with a sense of magic than there are mild annoyances.
Most of the time, the little pet peeves I mentioned don’t even phase me; they’re just little, fleeting moments. I’m guessing this is true for most people. While America’s national pastime is complaining (sorry, baseball), I think we all mostly enjoy life or, in this case, the Disney theme parks.
For the most part, what I’m going to list here as the “essence” of what I find endearing about the parks is what makes the experience something more than the sum of its parts. Sure, the parks wouldn’t be what they are without amazing E-Tickets like Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror, but rides alone are not what makes the Disney Parks special.
There are literally hundreds of different things about the parks that put a smile on my face and make me a hopeless Disney “addict,” but instead of simply posting a laundry-list without much explanation for each, I want to focus on a select few, saving the two most important things for last…
Quiet Places
I am a huge advocate of the Disney theme parks as holistic experiences. I don’t mean that in the hippy-dippy, new-age medical sense (although if some crackpot wants to assert that the parks are beneficial to my health, I’ll totally buy that and use it as an excuse to visit more). Rather, that the parks are so much more than a collection of attractions.
This will be borne out throughout this post, but what I mean as a general matter is that to me the parks are much more than racing from E-Ticket to E-Ticket, experiencing attractions as if I’m scratching items off of a checklist. For me, part of drinking-in the parks is taking quiet moments for relaxation, to soak up the ambiance, and to reflect upon the experience.
Whether this means quietly sitting on a bench at park closing in Tomorrowland as the neon and background music assault my senses (totally in a good way) or watching the sunset along the Rivers of America at a tucked-away table in Hungry Bear Restaurant, these moments are as paramount to the park experience for me as doing Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean.
Lighting
Have you ever noticed that the parks have a totally different vibe and look at night? That they have a certain texture and color not seen during the day? This is the result of meticulously arranged lighting schemes, and when you think about it, it makes perfect sense that the parks would have a better visual storytelling quality to them at night.
One thing at which the Imagineers excel is perfectly controlling environments to evoke certain thoughts and emotions, but this really isn’t possible in terms of outdoor lighting during the day, because of that pesky “sun.” Night provides a blank canvas for lighting, and the Imagineers largely use this to great success via hidden show lighting and visible light fixtures.
Regular readers of this blog know I’m a huge fan of the lighting of the Disney theme parks, and view it as a big deal in the parks. Lighting might seem like an insignificant detail that many people take for granted, but without this attention to detail in terms of lighting, instead of the great kinetic energy and beauty the parks have at night, they would instead feel dark and empty.
Background Music
Continuing on the topic of things that many guests don’t notice, but that they would definitely notice if it were missing is background music. A lot of effort goes into creating the music heard in the parks, and while the songs from ‘it’s a small world’ and Haunted Mansion have permeated pop culture, most music in parks isn’t so prominent.
Off the top of your head, you may not have any idea what music plays in the ‘background’ of Tomorrowland or the Innoventions breezeways. If you’re a regular guest, though, and you were to download and play those tracks, I’ll bet not only would you instantly recognize them, but you’d be transported to those places, or memories of being in the parks. You know music is pretty powerful if it has an evocative quality like that despite you having no explicit memory of it!
The Cast Members
This really should be its own article, and at some point soon, it probably will be. I guarantee any of you who have been to a Disney theme park can think back to a moment when a Cast Member put a smile on your face. Whether it be someone in Guest Relations fixing a frustrating problem with a MagicBand or the custodial artist painting Donald Duck with a mop, every Disney Cast Member has the capacity to make the guest experience special.
For me, this is embodied by two things: the regular and consistent hard work that the Cast Members put into the regular aspects of their jobs, and those small moments when they do something that leaves a lasting impact upon a guest. Of these two things, the former is what I feel is the bulk of what makes Disney Cast Members so amazing–and also where they are most under-appreciated.
Anyone who has been to Walt Disney World or Disneyland enough times has likely seen a guest meltdown directed at a Cast Member. These meltdowns happen for any number of reasons, but the underlying reasons mostly relate back to the sense of entitlement at the core of the Disney Parks Pet Peeves article, or the stresses and pressures that many adults feel when going on a Disney vacation.
With rare exception, in my experience, these meltdowns are not the fault of the Cast Member who catches the ire of the guest, but are caused by the guest themselves or decisions made by Disney management that are out of the hands of the front-of-the-line Cast Member.
It is thus no small miracle that Cast Members are able to deal with belligerent guests while essentially becoming a punching bag. Not only that, but once the unpleasant interaction is over, the Cast Member resumes their normal role as if nothing happened, putting on a smile and going out of their way to be pleasant to other guests. These Cast Members are typically not especially well paid, and yet they are verbally abused by guests and then can quickly set aside those emotions so it doesn’t negatively affect the experiences of other guests.
Let the incredible fortitude and positive attitude that requires sink in for a moment. I’d like to think I’m a pretty level-headed person, but based on some of the guest horror stories I’ve heard from my Cast Member friends, I doubt I would last a week as a Cast Member. I simply don’t have the incredible level of restraint to ‘smile and bear it’ that it takes to handle some of these situations. How many of you do? Can you honestly say that a negative interaction with a coworker hasn’t soured the rest of your workday before?
The role of the Cast Member as “magic maker” is that which is more commonly lauded, and probably what is brings the sense of satisfaction and joy that keeps them going through those unpleasant encounters. I’m sure this role is no easy task, either, as you never know what will trigger a special moment for each individual guest.
For some people, it’s a Cast Member telling them “happy birthday” or “have a magical day”, for others, it’s being given a sticker or a surprise snack on their honeymoon. The list of potential examples goes on and on. Most of these things are not major in the grand scheme of things, and could just as easily be ‘throwaway moments’, but end up being things that stick with guests for years after the trip.
One of my fondest memories from our engagement trip to Walt Disney World some 8-years ago was being congratulated by the Cast Members at Crystal Palace and being presented with a certificate signed by Pooh and friends. We still have this certificate and whenever I look at it, it brings a smile to my face.
The Children
Children have a sense of wonder and innocence about them that is amplified by the Disney theme parks, and seeing the parks reflected in their sense of wide-eyed mysticism is truly something to behold. Whether they are running around swinging around light sabers or watching in awe as they witness a giant talking Mr. Potato Head, there is a sense of life that kids breathe into the Disney theme parks.
What, exactly, that means is impossible to articulate. It’s one of those things I know when I see, and it brings a smile to my face, every time. If I had to try to pinpoint it, I think it’s probably equal parts envy and nostalgia. Even as adults, many of us are entranced as we watch Mickey Mouse fight a huge dragon in Fantasmic. There are many jaw-dropping moments that are impressive to kids and adults alike.
However, some of that mysticism wears off as we get older. Whether it’s a result of the natural cynicism everyone grows to various degrees as our lives wear on, or due to simply being “wiser” and understanding more about how things work, or something else entirely, adults tend to see less magic in the world than children.
While this blindness exists in every adult to varying degrees, one thing we all can see, if we look for it, is that sense of mysticism reflected in the eyes of children. The things we can’t see directly, we can see through them. For parents, this ability to experience the parks vicariously through children must be truly amazing. For non-parents like me, it’s not quite the same, although as someone who has been going to the parks since I was in diapers, it brings back fond memories of those simpler days when everything at Walt Disney World was magical.
I am loath to quote Walt Disney as I think his quotes are over and misused, but I think this quote is apt here: “you can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” Those words ring as true today as when he uttered them five-plus decades ago.
Other guests may do things that irritate us and it’s easy to fixate on that, but I think it’s critical to remember that people–all people–make the parks what they are, and usually our fellow guests have no malicious intent in what they do; even if misguided, they are just trying to have their own little slices of the magic.
For Walt Disney World trip planning tips and comprehensive advice, make sure to read our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide. For those headed to the West Coast, check out our Disneyland Trip Planning Guide.
Your Thoughts…
What do you love most about the Disney Parks? Think the magic is in the details, Cast Members, fellow guests, a combination of the above, or something else entirely? Do you agree or disagree with our list of what makes the parks special? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
My husband and I also find Disney has a certain “smell” (in a good way). Especially on the water rides I think. But just in general, we find ourselves saying, “there’s that Disney smell” whenever we visit. The background music has to be my absolute favorite though. On my first visit, we were in MK early in the morning with little crowds, and the music gave me an overwhelming sense of joy. My favorite line from your article was when you said, “I think it’s critical to remember that people—all people—make the parks what they are, and usually our fellow guests have no malicious intent in what they do; even if misguided, they are just trying to have their own little slices of the magic.” I am definitely going to keep this in mind when I am there next month!
For me the smells of Disney make it magical too. From the smell of the water on rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, to popcorn on Main Street, to the smell of Rome burning in Spaceship Earth to the Fountain of Nations – those smells are instantly recognisable and I know I’d know exactly where I was if I was blindfolded and transported there! It’s like you say Tom it’s the things you don’t necessarily notice that make the big difference and you’d notice if they were gone (like the mist in ToT – Imagineers please please take note!). Another of my favourite things is (and this is super corny!) to see a huge bunch of balloons floating on Main Street with the castle in the background. So simple yet perfection. Thanks for this blog Tom it’s my slice of Disney here in the UK, can’t wait to be back next year!
Most of the core elements of the Disney experience have already been expressed by you or by other commentators. Something I was thinking about two weeks ago while we were in the parks in Tokyo, was the unending optimism for the future that’s expressed. The Tomorrowlands have their issues but I’m grateful that there’s still a place, in an era where the future is viewed almost only through a post-apocalyptic lens, where the future is a viewed as a great big beautiful tomorrow. It’s that optimism for the future, found in every park, that gets me emotional these days. Whether it’s the hope in Spaceship Earth or the positive belief shared in Carousel of Progress, Wishes or a multitude of other attractions, I’m grateful there’s something out there telling us all to be hopeful for tomorrow.
I’m always left crying happy tears at the end of Spaceship Earth. The news is so depressing and gives me a feeling that the world is falling apart. Spaceship Earth reminds me of the great achievements men have made even in the darkest of times. That hope and optimism stays with me months after a trip to WDW. Thanks for reminding meD
For years, I went to the Disney parks, both growing up and later with my wife on our honeymoon. But thanks in large part to living in places far removed from any park, we fell out of the habit. Around Christmas of 2012, we found ourselves with three kids under the age of six. I was facing my third deployment in less than four years, and my second to Afghanistan. We decided to visit my sister and her family in Orlando for the holidays. While there, we took our girls to WDW for the first time, and had an amazing experience. The memories from that trip helped sustain me during my time away, and also gave our girls (at least the older two) a great family event to be reminded of. We just finished another trip to the Tokyo Disney resort. My older girls still remember and get excited talking about their first trip, though
I’m so grateful for the vision that spawned all of these wonderful places where adults can feel like children, and families can spend time together. And it’s true that the little moments are the ones I remember the most. I’ll also echo the appreciation for cast members. We had several go out of their way in Tokyo to brighten our already-amazing days!
My first holiday abroad was to Disneyworld Florida (I’m from the UK) when I was 9 years old. After watching Fantasmic for the first time I became obsessed with Sorcerer Mickey, bought all the cuddly toys and grew up with him being my favourite. After many years of wanting to go back (I’m now 25!), I traveled in March with my partner, who had never been to Disney before, but he knew how much it ment to me. We saved Fantasmic until the last night, and started queing for the first showing at least 2 hours early. Just before they were due to let the guests into the arena, a cast member came over to us and asked us to help them open the show. They said they picked us because we’d sat there for so long and I had my Sorcerer Mickey hat on (lets face it, novelty headwear is a must in the parks!). So we were first into the arena, the cast members made an archway for us to walk through whalst the audience applauded us and we got some free snacks, and a magic moment certificate that we were the ‘Sorcerers Apprentice’ for that nights showings. As soon as Mickey came out on the top of the mountain at the end both me and my partner were crying. The music, the atmosphere, the people all enovoked this amazing emotional connection that I, and now my partner, have with Disney. Thats the reason why we’ll return time after time.
Although I’ve scoured your blog for Disney advice throughout the past few years, I have never commented. Recently, I have found myself desperately attempting to convey to a few good friends who have never been, nor desire to go, to Disneyland, just what makes the experience so special. They love that we enjoy bringing our family there so much (we just became annual passholders!!!), but they “just don’t get” what’s so great about it. They think it is just an overpriced theme park with rides that have ridiculously long lines and college students dressed up in costumes. I try to explain that there’s magic in the way that all of the little details work seamlessly together: the music, lighting, building design, attention to detail in EVERYTHING, cleanliness, talented performers, incorporation of park history, yummy food, thrilling rides, over-the-top entertainment, little quiet corners, enthusiasm of park-goers…the list goes on and on. That magic translates into a sense of child-like wonder and nostalgia. It leaves adults wanting to “play along” and allow themselves to believe in fantastical things. Above all, it immerses children in a world of fantasy and there is NOTHING like seeing the sense of awe in my children’s eyes when they see Mickey defeat the dragon in Fantasmic or the sweet blush in their cheeks when that princess pays them a compliment. I know this sounds so hoaky and I can hear how it must sound to my friends, even as I am conveying it: impossible. But, it isn’t! I understand the fact that I went as a child (only a handful of times) adds a layer of nostalgia that perhaps, simply cannot be replicated for them, but my husband did not go as a child and he experiences a bunch of nostalgia, as though he had! I think only the most jaded of people cannot feel at least a bit like a child playing make-believe while at the parks. I really appreciate this post and will be passing it along to my lovely friends to show them that my husband and I are not the only crazy people who think this way!
Spot on!
Many years ago I purchased a red Special Guest personalized name tag. I wear it every visit to Disneyland.
I never cease to be surprised when a cast member calls me by name. They notice everything.
I adore the whole package, lighting, music, attention to details.
I hope someone saved that pretty girl from being eaten by Woody-zilla. I mean, HE’S RIGHT BEHIND HER!!!
There were no Cast Member casualties in the making of this blog post. I swear. 😉
I didn’t leave a comment on the other thread (although I probably ranted at you/others in my head 😉 ), but I want to commend you on a great new post. Disney does create magical places. For me I think there are a few awesome things that stand out. 1. The details. I feel like no detail is left to chance. Everything works perfectly together. 2. The experience of my kids. I loved WDW as a child but it doesn’t compare in the least to the excitement I feel as I see my kids (ages 4 and 1 presently) experience it. All of their favorite characters are there to greet them and hug them! We are making memories that they will cherish forever and hopefully one day get to experience with their kids too. There aren’t many places that can make that happen.
My family visits every year. There is an 8 year age difference between my kids. It is by far the best place that we can go and enjoy being a family. The time we spend there are some of the best family memories that we have.
Love your articles, and yep, I too ranted on the “pet Peeves” article, but would love to share a few magic moment stories.
Many involve cast members, such as last year when I thought I successfully changed our peter pan’s flight fast pass to 9am on our last day, (and you have to understand I was like the commercial you see where the athletes buy stuff while using their phone and doing some amazing athletic feat) and was gloating that I could walk and change ride times at the same time!, and in fact had changed it to 9pm!! As we tried to get on the ride and the Mickey circle just kept going around and around, a NOT so nice older cast member told us too bad, get in the 90 min line-and when the younger cast member saw my upset face (because I goofed it up for my family) he said, lets make some magic, pushed some buttons and let us on the ride and we were able to make our bus to the airport.
2 years ago, while seeing Mickey at town square theater,, my 27 yr old, sophisticated but not jaded, daughter turned to me with this huge smile on her face saying “he talks”!!!
Watching my too cool for it all 14 year old son laughing like a lunatic on a ride or busting a gut at the “frozen sing-a-long” show at Hollywood Studios.
My grumpy husband who is always grumbling at home before we fly to Disney, who when we get there starts walking faster than us, saying “c’mon everybody, lets go!”
And for myself, while I am very grateful for the job I have, I am a physician, it is very stressful, and when I am having a “this cant get any worse, moment”, I just let some random memory of the parks flit through my mind, walking down an empty main street, riding on the Kilimanjaro safari, sitting and watching a parade, and I am able to chill and refocus.
Totally agree with everything in this post especially the cast members. 3 years ago my sister and I visited Disneyland as part of a 2 week holiday in Southern California (we live in Australia.) It was my sister’s 1st visit to Disneyland (in fact her 1st visit to America)and 2 small gestures by cast members made Disneyland the highlight of the trip.
One cast member called her “a princess”, just in passing as we were entering a ride. It was totally unexpected but it made her feel special and she keeps reminding me that she was a princess that day. I guess it was unexpected and memorable because my sister is not a child – we are in our 40’s!! The 2nd one gave her a “1st visit” badge after starting a casual conversation with her; she has kept the badge and its included in some of the more expensive mementos of the trip.
Disneyland Resort was the highlight and that is why we are planning another visit on our next USA trip!
I love your blog, but never commented until today.
I have only been to Disneyland 3 times (spanning 25 years), but it is my favorite place on earth. You hit the nail on the head with the music- so wonderful. It envokes such powerful memories; going as a child, college graduate with my parents, and then with my own children.
When I was there last (2 years ago), we were sitting by the jolly holiday waiting for the fireworks. It was an especially stressful year leading up to that summer and as the fireworks started, it all melted away. My son on my lap, my daughter and my husband next to me…. I was In Disneyland! I’m not ashamed to say I cried all the way through the fireworks. And I cry now thinking of it. It was such a happy culmination to
a fantastic experience. So rarely in life do you KNOW in the moment that THAT moment was something really special. Usually you reflect and understand its importance later. I think that’s why the experience is so powerful- I knew in the moment.
I was sitting at the White Water cafe at the Grand Californian. The wife was off on a shopping trip. I had a cold beverage in front of me, and a much re-read book. It was cool, with a nice breeze. You could hear the water from the Redwood trail and in two directions (the pool and Grizzly River run) the muted sound of happy children. Nice background music as well as from a small banjo group outside Rushin River outfitters.
One of the most pleasant hours I have ever spent. And, this wasnt even a ride.
Great post, Tom!
The background music is #1 for me. I’ll randomly pull up a song from Epcot or the Magic Kingdom on Youtube without warning my wife, and we both get to smile and reminisce about our Honeymoon.
I am currently obsessed with your blog, and I love this post so much I just had to comment. I am long-winded, so I apologize for the length!!!
My sister and I are both in our mid-twenties, last year we visited WDW for the first time since we were toddlers. My sister had broken her leg and just gotten out of her cast and into a walking boot the day before we left for Orlando, so we used a wheelchair that first day in Magic Kingdom, as it was still very painful for her to walk (not to mention difficult, as she still needed crutches). We were at MK for a 8am rope drop and stayed until past 12am, so that chair was necessary! A few times in the day we were a bit overwhelmed, and finding a quiet spot to just sit and breathe really made the whole thing so much more special. I will never forget finding an out-of-the-way path by Cinderella’s Castle where we sat on a bench and enjoyed a muffin while seeing zero other people! Our favorite park was Animal Kingdom – so many quiet places to explore!!
The other thing that was amazing was the other guests. Sure, there are lots of rude people out there, and we encountered some, but I like to think most are genuinely happy, wonderful people. We met a really nice mom who was waiting for her husband and kids at the Tangled restrooms, and we ended up giving her our Be Our Guest souvenir glasses that we didn’t want to take back on the plane with us – she and her kids were so excited, it just made our day! We had similar, awesome encounters with people every day. My favorite was at Biergarten – the middle-aged couple we were seated with ended up being so much fun, we stayed there for 3 hours just talking!! Maybe it was the Disney Magic blinding us, but while I can remember in great detail some wonderful encounters with fellow guests, I can’t name one specific instance where we had a problematic one!
That being said, if there is a wheelchair behind you, don’t stop suddenly! I had a few near-misses with other people’s ankles! 🙂
I don’t know that I can express that special Disney something in words. All I can say is that I’m writing this as I sit on my BLT balcony looking at Space Mountain and Cinderella’s Castle, and everytime I hear the train, I smile.
P.S. I saw you and Sarah enter Trader Sam’s this evening but didn’t say hi. So hi!
Belated hello to you, too! 🙂
I visited Disney World for the first time as an adult, and I was basically dragged there against my will by my sister. I remember how amazing the whole thing was. I loved the “Disney Bubble”. I loved the cast members, who provided a customer service beyond anything I could have expected. I assumed they would be like the bored teenagers who work at my local Six Flags. I was pleasantly surprised how clean and welcoming the parks were. And I really loved the quiet and detail you experience when exploring the World Showcase.
For all the things I could complain about, and there were some, I have about ten things I could say I loved about my trip. And the things that I loved are the reasons I’m going back and dragging my boyfriend against his will 🙂
My office brews Joffreys coffee, which they use in the parks. On my first day I commented (shrieked in delight) that it reminded me of Disney, and firmly solidified my spot as crazy disney coworker.
I found the smell of Disney an even more powerful memory trigger than music. We stopped at a roadside restaurant in Wisconsin and the smell of the bathroom soap or cleaner or something transported me back to Disney. My husband thought I was nuts when I came out all excited “they’ve got the same soap as Disney bathrooms!” But just that smell relaxed me and brought me happy Disney memories.
My favorite part is
being able to yell at someone to put down their ipad…wait I’m confusing threads…You’ve captured what keeps me coming back. Disney is a place to get lost in the moment. The lights, the sounds, the scenery, the smells, it surrounds you. The same way one might jump during a scary moment because they are so immersed in the story, Disney creates an experience to leave the real world behind. I’m not overly concerned by extra calories or dollars when I get that extra Mickey bar, I’m caught up in a fantasy world.
Being a parent allows me to see the wide eyed wonderment up close. The innocence in a child meeting Mickey or the heroic Buzz Lightyear for the first time is magical. I’ll never forget my son (1.5yrs at the time) leaning over Lightning McQueen do give him a kiss. It caught us all off guard, but that was the star of his favorite movies right there in front of him–which if I met certain actresses, I’d probably be equally enamored and react similarly.
The cast members. Wow. My father passed away unexpectedly while I was on a trip, (got the phone call while exciting Soarin’)we quickly left EPCOT and headed back to PORS. I was trying to settle my bill and check out when one of the CMs gave me a Mickey sticker. It wasn’t much, but as miserable as that day was up until that point, that simple gesture brought a small smile to my face and a bit of brightness that I needed. I wish I had caught his name, but I won’t forget him.