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 favorite Disney magic is also (saw a similar post above) visiting with my sister who has autism and a few other disabilities.
She LOVES seeing the characters and also loves looking at the shadows of her and the characters on the ground, or making a whole group of people strike the same pose. She’s non-verbal, so I have explained numerous times what she’s trying to do to a lot of characters and they are always game to play along. The crazy pictures we have of our family lined up with Goofy, Aurora, or Stitch with everyone putting their hands on their heads or looking down at our shadows is great.
Cast members across the board are great with my sister as well. It is usually clear that she has a disability but it doesn’t change the way they interact with her or our family (which puts us all at ease), and really, if anything she gets a little extra attention with a few more, “Good morning/afternoon/evening Princess!” greetings as we stroll the parks.
(1) Magic. I’m a cynical, pragmatic person, except at Walt Disney World. Whether it’s nostalgia from my first visit 35 years ago, or simply the bit of my heart that resides in Neverland and never grows up, I feel like a kid again at Disney World. Oh, sure, it’s great to see that same reaction from my kids, but I’ve never lost it.
(2) Value. Not many people say this. Disney raises their prices way faster than the rate of inflation, and it’s clear they’re carefully weighing the perfect balance point for profit on the cost of everything about going on these trips. I don’t always believe “you get what you pay for” is accurate, but at Disney World, you most certainly do. From the impeccable cleanliness everywhere you go, to the flawless service from cast members, to all the little things Disney does for you, it’s clear that Disney knows that people like me will only keep paying their prices if they make me feel like I’m getting my money’s worth…and I always do.
(3) Anticipation. Name another type of trip where you start to enjoy your vacation six months before it starts? The moment the 180 day mark hits and you start making those ADRs and planning what parks you’re going to be at on which day, you’ve already started enjoying the trip and it hasn’t started yet.
(4) You already said it, Tom, but Cast Members. Rather than repeat your points, I’m going to tell a story.
On the last day of our first trip to Disney with my then 5 year old daughter, we were at Magic Kingdom getting Peter Pan’s autograph. We were making our way back to Main Street when we noticed the mid-afternoon parade, and there on a Jolly Roger pirate ship float, Peter and Hook were doing battle. My little girl learned sarcasm early from me, and says out loud, “Peter sure got over here fast,” with a fair bit of snark. A cast member holding a broom turns around, kneels down at eye level with my little princess and said to her, “He *can* fly, you know.” My daughter knew better, but her eyes still lit up and she said, “Oh yeah! cool.”
That cast member made our day, as they do oh so often at Disney Parks.
I live in Southern California, am an annual passholder, and have lots of friends that work at Disneyland. Every time I go into the parks, it’s a great reminder that Disney is a great example of customer service at it’s best. I know a lot of people who complain about how expensive Disneyland is, but I really believe that you get what you pay for. I’m often reminded when I go to other theme parks (or other places for that matter) just how awesome their customer service is. And how clean it is! One of my favorite thing about the parks is Disney’s attention to detail. Between the decor, landscaping, music, lighting, etc, you really feel immersed in it. It’s really like no other!
Disney really is my happy place.
I think one of the most important things for me is how accessible Disney is for people with disabilities. I think having experiences going to WDW with my sister who is in a wheelchair has given me an appreciation for it. It’s one of the reasons I hope to become a DVC member someday. Knowing that I can give my sister a vacation once a year at a place with Cast Members who are amazing really is appealing. And knowing that we could travel outside of the parks still getting the “Disney Difference”.
Also there are a number of thing that personally make me smile when being in WDW:
-walking down Main Street USA and getting a first glimpse of Cinderella Castle
-getting goosebumps and tear in my eyes during Wishes!
-watching my sister’s face while on Soarin’
-Walking past Spaceship Earth and taking in the Epcot background music
-hearing the music on Splash Mountain at the very beginning
The list could go on and on, but there are so many things that bring a smile to my face!
Disney just does is better. It’s as simple as that.
Last time at Magic Kingdom, me and my brother were walking down Main Street and we saw a young boy walk into a bench while he was entranced looking at the castle for the first time. He was very embarrassed and we helped him up and told him “been there done that”, Disney Magic. When we see people being mean to the cast members we always tell them they are “Ruining the Magic”.
It’s the little things that so easily go unnoticed that really make the Magic.
I’ve been in Disneyland first thing in the morning while they are mopping Main Street. No wonder it is always so clean!
I love all the little nooks and crannies to just be and experience. Some are still there and some aren’t. Disneyland’s fantasia gardens, court of angels, hungry bear waterside tables, the little courtyard in front of Tiki Room, the flower market. All favorites.
Disney is more than just rides and attractions. It’s the whole package that makes it an experience like no other.
I am LOVING this post! My husband and I recently moved to the Orlando area, and we’ve realized one of our favorite things about watching Wishes over and over is seeing the reactions from the people who are watching it for the first time. It really makes you appreciate being able to go so often, as well as adds to the magical feeling you have when you watch!
My husband and I go to Disney twice a year and have seen Wishes countless times. We were just there this weekend and stood next to a lovely couple in their twenties who seemed to be from overseas. During the show, I saw the woman wiping tears from her eyes and the man whooped and whistled in appreciation multiple times. I have never once cried during Wishes, even though I really love the show, but I got misty eyed seeing how much they loved the experience. Getting to see other people experience the parks, especially first timers and little kids, is such an awesome experience and really adds to our enjoyment.
Great post Tom. Disney does a great job of making sure visitors remember the setting through sight, smell, and sounds in the parks and resorts. Whether it’s area loops or park ride audio, or even the resort audio, all I have to do is listen and I’m right back there, reliving a great memory from a trip, or just remembering a quiet moment where I was taking it all in. And the great photos you and others share help take us right back too. Some of the greatest images, though, are some I only have in memory because I purposely put down my camera so I could watch my family experience great times.
For every meltdown any of us have ever seen, I’d bet most of us can remember 20 instances where we’ve seen an unforgettable family moment. And as a father of children who’ve grown too quickly, I’d give anything to go back to the moment my children first saw the Castle or had a one of a kind interaction with characters and cast members. And I eagerly await the chance to make new memories – with my older kids who now like to do more grown up things, yet still remain so much like the little kids I long to put on my shoulders for fireworks and parades. Luckily for me, we have a little one who’ll soon go for the first time, so I’ll get another chance to make those memories we’ll cherish forever.
Don’t feel bad if you take soap and shampoo from the resorts. More of us do it than you think.
I love everything about Disney World! It really is a magical place. My favorite thing is walking down Main Street & seeing the castle. My first visit I was 23, a mother of 2 and always dreamed of visiting. I cried when I first saw the castle…it’s a moment I’ll never forget. I ended up with a kidney stone trying to pass that evening, but we still stayed & my husband & kids watched the parade & fireworks at the end of the night (no way were my kids missing that!) My night ended in the ER & surgery a week later, but it is still one of the best days of my life!
Now 20 years and many family visits later, my favorite thing is taking a newbie and watching their reaction at the first sight of the castle. We’ve taken a number of our childrens friends over the years & sharing that joy makes me so happy! I really look forward to taking my future grandchildren. There is nothing better than seeing the children so happy in such an amazing place.
I think seeing cast members handle “unpleasant” interactions, while uncomfortable at the time, is definitely one of the most heartening aspects of the place.
One CM was put in an impossible position when a mom (who, although thoughtless, was looking out for her daughters experience and clearly under researched) started ranting in public to an unrelated cast member about “why the heck that mickey guy keeps going off for a bathroom break, why can’t they send another one out”.
Which is a valid operational criticism (and the topic for another day), but certainly not the topic for a crowded theatre preshow to a CM not empowered to change the system.
So of course, while the CM empathising would have placated the complaining mom, the scene had drawn a bit of attention and the CM was cornered into feigning ignorance – ” well there’s only one mickey and he does need his rest”… (The KTTK tour referred to this as “giving the on-stage answer to questions”).
The response clearly enraged the mom further (and made her day less magical), but it preserved the Disney magic for the hundreds of other guests and children waiting in the same room.
At the time of our first trip to WDW (2012), my then nine year old son was unable to eat due to an allergic disorder, requiring him to be 100% fed through a feeding tube. All of the servers we interacted with over the course of the week were sensitive to the situation, but one in particular stood out. At The Wave, our server noticed that my son had a pin lanyard and brought over a huge ‘pin board’ for him to trade against while the rest of us were eating. She trusted him with the board, and left it with him for the entire meal. I was just so touched that she realized how tough it was for him to watch the rest of us eat and came up with a wonderful solution that kept my son busy and happy throughout the meal.
For all those who love the cleanliness- be sure to say “Thank You” to the Custodial staff.
Another happy moment_ I wanted to “ride up front” in a train like I did when I was a kid. The Conductors said they couldnt do that today, but they had two extra spots on the “Lilly Belle” tour! (Usually reserved for VIPs and C33)- so nice!
There are so many things that make Disney magical,the cleanliness, the attention to detail, but it truly is the interaction with Cast Members that puts it over the top. The first time we took our children, my oldest was just 3 years old and she was infatuated with Cinderella. After meeting her hero, my daughter turned to me and said in awe, “Mommy, my dreams came true!” I will never forget that moment. Ever. Our last trip was at Christmas in 2012. We entered MK early and went to Adventureland. Peter Pan came up behind our 3 kids and challenged them to a game of “follow the leader”. It was so wonderful to see our children, running around with Peter Pan in a virtually empty Adventureland. When they were done, he told them how to protect their treasure from Hook (and other important life lessons). My parents came with us that year, and my dad was made “That Guy” at the Laugh Floor. He wore his sticker all day, and all the CMs noticed and yelled out, “It’s That Guy!!” or high-fived him. He felt like a celebrity! I think part of the magic is that, young or old, we all enjoy seeing our imaginations come to life. Hearing Disney music always gets me misty-eyed and visiting any of the Disney Parks makes me feel excited and ready to explore, and also gives me a sense of comfort…like I’m coming home! For my husband and myself, Disney helps revive that child-like sense of wonder and leave the concerns of adulthood behind for a week. For our kids, it’s a week of pure fun and magic. We’re hooked and counting down the days until our next trip in September!
I agree with all of this so much. The part about “Background Music” was really driven home to me on December 30 when we were in the Magic Kingdom during the pre-New Years Eve celebration. Instead of normal Magic Kingdom music they had “dance party” music playing. To me, it detracted from the experience tremendously.
As for the part about “the Children” – wait until you go with your own should you and Sarah decide to have a child. The effect is magnified tenfold!
I love the attention to detail that you see at Disney that is missing from other amusement parks – the cleanliness, the themed queue lines, the food, the backstory of attractions and resorts, etc! We enjoy other theme parks, but we LOVE Disney!
I’ve always thought that instead of getting upset at the visitors stopping in the middle of a walkway people should politely remind them they are blocking the way. Don’t be mean or nasty, just tell them they are blocking the way…
If you get upset at them it does nothing especially if you are a regular or multi-trip visitor. Remember there is a good chance they are leaving in a few days (at most) and probably never coming back.
If they do catch the Disney ‘bug’ then by visiting this and the many other Disney specific web sites they’ll find out that their actions are not friendly or acceptable.
Before I got to visit WDW I use to kind of scoff at it being ‘the happiest place on earth’ because, even tho I was a big Disney fan, I thought there was no way some place that busy and corporate could be anything but stressful. But it really is! Even tho it is busy, and corporate, and your surrounded by people that are pretty much guaranteed to do something to piss you off, all it takes is a smell or a sound or some simple lighting and you’re in the magic of Disney and your a little kid watching Beauty and the Beast or the Little Mermaid in theatres for the first time!
Spring of 2014 was my first time there and I went back again in October, and am planning my next trip for September! Most people I work with, etc, don’t understand why I would want to take the ‘same vacation’ every year but for me it’s like the first time each time.
Glad to see the lighting is one of your reasons, cause I think it’s something they do so well, expectly for Halloween! I plan on doing MNSSHP multiple times because just walking thru the park with the Halloween lights are on just makes it feel like Halloween! Plus the Ghost Host over the PA gives me chills. I love being in the park before the party starts to here his announcements.
Thank you for this post. I think it’s important to understand just why we as fans love Disney in the first place.
As much as it is a fault for people to stop in the middle of a walkway, there is a certain ambiance of the parks that one really soaks in upon stopping to smell the roses. The sights, the smells, the sounds. It’s a sensory experience.
And background music is very important to me. I especially like the music from the Land pavilion in Sunshine Seasons and upon exiting Soarin’. Background music everywhere is an important unsung hero of the park experience.
The music and sounds really transport me back to the parks in between trips. I’ve had a ton of stress at work lately, but when I start feeling overwhelmed, I’ll put on magical mouse radio or mouse world radio and the familiar music has really helped calm me down. I just close my eyes and I can picture strolling down Main Street or where ever the music takes me.
I am fortunate enough to be a former cast member, and it was a very magical experience to work there. Just to know that you were a part of a family’s once in a lifetime trip made the mundane days seem special. It has been years since I have worked there, but I still go back with my family every year and even knowing what I know, I am still enchanted by all of the sensations, I love the sounds, smells, sights, and just the overall feeling that being there give me, and I love watching it thru the eyes of my young son who somehow has the awesomeness to love Epcot as much as I do! I love that they keep updating things, I am very excited to see the new hub this year and the updates to Downtown Disney (Disney Springs), but that I can still go on the Carousel of Progress or Haunted Mansion and feel like I am 10 years old again!