A Few of My Favorite Magical Moments at Disney
Disneyland and Walt Disney World are now hosting their Halloween celebrations. So, I’ve had a lot of livestreams pulled up lately.
However, I’m not here to talk about Halloween parties today. Instead, all the attraction videos have given me warm fuzzies. They’ve caused me to think about what I love about Disney.
Here are a few of my favorite magical moments at Disney theme parks.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Not everything we’ll discuss here is significant during a park visit. Some moments are lovely but disposable.
One of my favorites takes place at Haunted Mansion. You know what I mean if you’ve ever ridden this one on a hot Florida/California day.
Remember this?
Yes, while the Ghost Host taunts you with facts about his eternal dwelling, his Doom Buggy carries you past a coat of arms.
Soon after he intones the word “chills,” a blast of cold air washes over you. It’ll instantly drop your temperature by five degrees.
Entering the Lobby at the Polynesian
I make no bones about the fact that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is my happy place at Disney…or anywhere else, really.
As a Disney Vacation Club member, I book this hotel frequently. Even when I don’t have a hotel reservation, I visit constantly.
My favorite moment occurs when I exit the monorail station and enter the hotel lobby.
The Polynesian pipes in an exotic fragrance that hypnotizes me. We own several candles, waxes, and spray bottles that approximate the Polynesian’s smell.
Honestly, none of them quite matches the Polynesian, but I’ll take what I can get when I’m away from the hotel.
Of course, that’s not the only reason why every Polynesian visit feels magical.
The stores on the first and second floor of the lobby, BouTiki and Moana Mercantile, provide the kind of retail therapy I need.
Then, there are the three restaurants and one bar/lounge here, all of which fill me with a sense of joy.
Many of the most magical moments during Disney vacations take place at the accompanying hotels. That’s why it’s so important to pick the right one!
Going Backward on Expedition Everest
I doubt I need to explain this one in detail. If you’ve ridden Expedition Everest, you know the deal.
Your journey up the Forbidden Mountain ends in broken train tracks and, soon afterward, abject terror.
A panicked train conductor senses the presence of the apparently not fictional Yeti.
The driver throws your vehicle in reverse, thrusting you into the darkness at warp speed.
You’ll fear for your life as you careen out of control in the darkness, hearing a monster’s screams all the while. It’s intoxicating!
Going under the Sea
This visual explains why this article exists. I was watching a Disneyland video when someone visited The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.
You’ll find its sibling, The Little Mermaid ~ Voyage of the Little Mermaid, at Magic Kingdom. And both rides share a brilliant feature.
At one point, the seashell ride carts turn in a way where you’ll stare at the one in front of you, which is unusual at Disney.
Imagineers want you to look at the action, not the other riders. This seashell comes into focus for a reason, though.
Projections reveal bubbles rising across the seashell, signifying that you’ve gone under the sea and joined Ariel in her realm. Here’s a video:
I want to fist-bump whoever came up with that lovely touch.
Going Outside at Test Track
Even theme park designers struggle to describe Test Track, an EPCOT attraction with a slot car style but a dark ride structure.
Guests pretend like they’re crash test dummies in a facility brimming with Tron-like lights and colors.
The conceit of the ride involves the final test, although it’s really more of a reward for passing the first few heats.
At one point, the doors burst open, and your test vehicle explodes into the great outdoors. It looks like this:
The stark contrast between the darkness of the attraction before now and that beaming Florida sunlight borders on hypnotic. It’s such a rush to experience!
The Stop and Go
Slinky Dog Dash isn’t a long ride by any stretch. In truth, it’s only in just a couple of minutes. And that’s what makes its most significant feature so memorable.
Midway through your journey, Andy hits the brakes on your ride. He’s the puppeteer controlling everything happening in this roller coaster playset.
For whatever reason, Andy chooses to torture you a bit by bringing your vehicle to a complete stop.
Then, after a few sections, the coaster cart springs into action again, thereby demonstrating another aspect of Slinky physics. You didn’t know you were learning while riding, did you?
Surfing at The Living Seas
Okay, technically, this EPCOT pavilion hasn’t called itself The Living Seas for more than 15 years.
Instead, Disney has themed the place as The Seas with Nemo & Friends, which fits better with the modern park style that prioritizes intellectual property.
While some critics lament this change, I adore this one because the pavilion’s main attraction is so charming.
You recount a similar story to Marlin and Dory’s plight in Finding Nemo. However, since it’s a kind of sequel, you know that everything will turn out okay in the end.
During the journey, you encounter Crush and his kid, Squirt. They teach you how to surf the East Australian Current.
This section of the ride quietly features one of Disney’s greatest Imagineering feats ever.
Your ride cart moves in symmetry with the surfing sequences on the digital displays in front of you. It makes you feel like you’re really surfing beneath the ocean!
That Special Bit of Pixie Dust
Some magical moments occur at the start of the ride. You’ll find perhaps the best example at Magic Kingdom.
On Peter Pan’s Flight, you’ll board what I can only describe as a flying pirate ship.
When you look straight ahead, all you’ll notice is the giant sail that will keep you afloat in the sky.
However, should you glance to your right, you’ll appreciate the real reason why you can fly.
A kindly cast member sprinkles Pixie Dust on your vessel before you take to the skies above London!
This magical moment is simple, brief, and utterly charming.
Okay, those are my magical moments. What are yours?
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Platinum level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!
Photo: Disney Vacation Club