A Big Post about Disney World

Now, you've all had your fair warning! But after a sort of lengthy discussion about Walt Disney World with some friends today, I decided to post my feelings, thoughts, comments about WDW for their benefit. I won't be offended if you don't read this. It's still good for me. Be prepared to think I'm a total psycho by the end of this post. (Or MORE of a total psycho.)

The question that was posed to me was: "Why do you love Disney World so much?" This was actually a really difficult question. It shouldn't be - goodness knows, I think about WDW enough - but the real REASON behind why I love it so much is something I haven't much considered. I just took it for granted that I do. It's hard to describe exactly why, so instead I'll list some things I love ABOUT WDW and then maybe it will help me figure out why. (It's good for me to do this. I should probably examine why I have the passions and interests I do, just for an existential exercise. )

1. It has a fantastic "feeling" about it. It's hard to describe this part. It's an atmosphere, sometimes described as magical, that's created to make you feel happy. I know it isn't a "real" place; that is, the whole thing has been made to specifications, but the feeling you get is definitely real, and very positive.

2. People are on their best behavior. Need help with a bag or stroller? Ask anyone. Are you holding a sleeping toddler? Here, take my seat instead. Did you want our Fastpasses to Test Track? We can't use them but don't want them to go to waste. Are you crabby because you're hot, but you still want to go on this ride, but only the second half, because your daughter will get scared on the first half? Here, I'm a High-Ranking Cast Member. I'll get you into the second half only. Did your waitress at Akershus just spill drinks all over your lap? When you get back to your room we'll have flowers on the table and we'll credit $50 to your room to pay for your ruined clothing.

3. Everyone talks to everyone else. I'm referring to the ease of conversation here. We once met a nice older man, visiting the Disney Studios by himself, who had fought in WWII and was on the beach at Normandy on D-Day. It's so easy to strike up conversations with people you've never met.

4. It's safe. My sister and I were all over the World (buses, monorails, rides) at 12 and 15 years of age without any problems. If your kids do get lost, the Cast Members have an EXTENSIVE system to return them to you within a few minutes.

5. The ability to escape from your "real" world. Your whole life is "real." You deal with "real" all the time. At WDW you just don't have to. It's clean, beautiful, happy...add your positive adjectives here.

6. WDW works very hard to create atmosphere and ambience throughout the whole enormous property. For example: If you enter the Magic Kingdom at the park's opening and listen to the music playing, you'll notice that it's upbeat, exciting, happy. By the end of the day, when you're tired and ready to relax, you'll hear softer, smoother, slower music that matches your mood. The closer you look, the more you see the physical details, like the extensive (and outrageously varied) landscaping, or the small details in a ride that give it depth. The garbage cans are even matched to the decor of the park or land they're in - Adventureland's trash cans resemble bamboo, Epcot's Future World cans are futuristic (one of them talks to you!).

7. The rides are fun. I didn't fall in love with WDW because of rides but they are good. They DO NOT compare, at all, to rides at any other amusement park. In fact, WDW is NOT an amusement park. Michigan's Adventure, Cedar Point, etc., are all about thrill rides, really, while WDW's rides are first about story. It's a Small World isn't much in terms of a ride (you sit in a slow moving boat on a track) but the displays around you are beautiful and detailed. However, they do have thrill rides that pack a punch. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a case in point. It's not just a free fall; it's a free fall, then another, then another. Or the Rock 'n Roller Coaster with Aerosmith - count me in for ANY ride featuring Aerosmith music.

8. It's beautiful. Everywhere. There is NO ugliness in the whole place. (That guests can see, anyway.)

9. There is so much to do. This might be a problem if you've never been before and want to do everything in one visit, but since I've been several times now, I don't feel the pressure to do it all. We take a break in the afternoon to nap, read, swim by the pool, and then go back to the parks in the evening. There are also things like waterskiing, parasailing, golfing, tennis, fishing, etc. to try that I've never had time for yet. Maybe someday.

I'm not sure if I'm in love with WDW because it's become a hobby, or if it's because I have so many great memories from there, or because I need psychotherapy. But I get thrills there when...

I walk onto Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. My chest feels like it will burst.

I see Helena's reaction to It's a Small World.

I am there with my family and we're having fun without telephones, computers, or interruptions - just us and families like us.


I do know that I am only this passionate about a few things: My family, the gospel, WDW, maybe one or two others. Unfortunately, this is an expensive passion. With good planning I've never NOT enjoyed a trip to WDW, even when it was hot and humid, or had to stand in lines. Even though there are always lots of people at WDW, I have experienced a lot of quiet and peaceful times (during the least busy times of year).

Holly, it's probably not the typical vacation that your family has been on. (Dan empathized with Nathan's ideas about just buying a camper instead!) But it also isn't ANYTHING like any amusement park you've been to before. (This is not a week at Deer Park Funland.) Your two older kids will remember most of it, and your youngest will remember more than you think. If you decide to go and you plan it well, I think I can promise you'll have a great time. You can probably go at any time - in 3 years, in 5 years, next year - and there will be good experiences no matter what. I'm not a great fan of Florida itself, but there's nothing like driving from MI to FL in the winter...it's like slowly entering paradise. It gets warmer and greener with each passing state, and all of a sudden there are orange groves and Spanish moss everywhere you look. And then at the end of your journey through the Midwest, to the Appalachians, to the honest-to-goodness South, you're at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Sorry I couldn't be a touch more pithy in my answer to Why I Love Disney World!