Favorite Moments from a Memorable Disney Visit
We all make magical memories each time we visit a Disney theme park.
No matter whether you haven’t gone to Disney in a decade or you show up twice a week, you’ll still make memories each time.
So, what are your favorite moments during a Disney trip? Today, I’ll share a few of mine.
Arriving on Main Street, U.S.A.
More than 70 years ago, Walt Disney planned Disneyland, and one of his ideas stands out.
In terms of schematic design, Uncle Walt had a blueprint in his head that has stood the test of time.
Specifically, the entrepreneur planned an unforgettable entrance that would welcome guests in a homey, inviting way.
Whenever you walk down Main Street, U.S.A., for the first time, you forget the outside world. It’s a transformative moment.
As you take in the sights and smell the aromatic fragrances, you know you’ve made it to Disney.
The Best Music Soundtrack
Something else Walt Disney understood was that music punctuates and elevates any entertainment experience.
Many Disney theme park attractions and events come with their own soundtracks.
So, I often find myself humming music for hours or sometimes even days after I’ve visited.
For example, when I used to ride the former Splash Mountain, the word “satisfactual” would pop into my head at random intervals.
After I watch Mickey’s PhilharMagic, the various movie songs get stuck in my brain for hours, and I’m just randomly humming Be Our Guest.
The Fall of Rome
Okay, from a historical perspective, I recognize this was a terrible moment in civilization.
From a Disney perspective, a trip to Spaceship Earth perfects my vacation. I feel unfulfilled until I’ve time-traveled at least once.
While I can recite countless highlights of this attraction and frankly bore you to tears in the process, one moment stands out.
You’ll know this instance by the smell, as Disney’s Smellitzers pipe in the fragrance of burning embers.
Disney is immersing you in the experience of watching the entirety of Roman civilization burning to the ground.
I love this moment so much that I’ll sometimes anticipate the smell when I’m on the airplane flying to Orlando.
Going Backward on Expedition Everest
The funny part of writing a list like this is that the answers might be totally different if I did it tomorrow.
So much that happens during a Disney visit is memorable, but some moments are unforgettable and communal.
For example, on certain rides, you’ll get the same reactions every time because the experience is so impactful.
On Expedition Everest, no matter how many times you ride it, seeing those broken train tracks remains fear-inducing.
You know you’re about to zoom backward at maximum velocity to escape whatever broke those tracks.
You know you’ll feel it because the G-force of that action will teach you some laws of physics you’d never considered.
Grinning with the Ghosts
I’m actually not much of a horror fan. I’ve seen hundreds, possibly even thousands of slasher flicks over the years.
My tastes run more toward the It Follows/Ready or Not side of the aisle than the “violent murders for all” side.
Still, I can explain my adoration for Haunted Mansion by mentioning another film I like.
Are you familiar with a cult classic called Tucker & Dale vs. Evil? It’s decidedly slapstick for a slasher film.
My horror story type injects a healthy dose of humor, and that’s why I ride Haunted Mansion so often.
Disney creates a charming but incongruous tone on this ride, combining the chills of The Attic with the shenanigans of the Grim Grinning Ghosts.
I shouldn’t find the thought of a gravedigger and his loyal puppy shaking in their boots as funny as I do.
This ride shakes the very fabric of my moral compass, and I’m here for it.
There’s just nothing like that moment during a Disney vacation when I hop on a Doom Buggy for the first time.
A Hug from Stitch
Okay, this one isn’t for me specifically, but the idea translates for all of us.
Everyone has that favorite Disney character they want to see at the parks.
Sometimes, you’ll find them at the resorts or restaurant character meals as well.
For me, Lilo is the superior character in Lilo & Stitch, but I realize that is the extreme minority opinion.
For my wife, Stitch is everything. The amount of Stitch merchandise we own fills up multiple closets, and I’m not speaking theoretically.
So, when she gets to Disney, she plans to encounter Stitch in as many places as possible, and I treasure watching it happen each time.
I’m sure that you and members of your traveling party feel similarly about various characters and get that same joy.
That’s the magic of Disney right there. These aren’t people in costumes. They’re the real-life versions of our favorite characters.
Noticing Something New
Imagineers are so good at their jobs that you’ll always notice something new, no matter how often you visit.
I’m not speaking hyperbolically here because Disney updates all its attractions regularly.
During the week I wrote this, Cast Members had just plussed the attraction queue for Jungle Cruise, the park’s oldest ride.
So, part of the game during a Disney visit is studying the surroundings and noticing what you’ve never noticed before.
A while ago, I detailed all the attraction queue elements hidden in plain sight at Frozen Ever After.
I’ve got hundreds of pictures on my phone of several other Disney attractions, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which I sometimes study.
Disney even incorporates the theming into the power line plate names at this ride!
That’s how meticulously Disney implements its attractions to maintain the immersive illusion.
When you take a moment to examine your surroundings at Disney, you never know what you might notice.
Visiting the Polynesian
Everyone has a favorite Disney resort, and I’m straightforward with mine.
At Disneyland Resort, I prefer the Disneyland Hotel due to its marvelous history and central location.
At Walt Disney World, I have a rotation of eight or nine resorts where you’ll likely find me, but one towers above the rest.
As a diehard fan of the Polynesian, none of my Disney visits feel complete until I walk into the Great Ceremonial House.
That glorious aroma of the South Seas wafts through the building, and the tranquil sights and sounds remind me I’m at Disney.
I sorely miss Aunty Kau’i placing a lei around my neck, but her spirit imbues this building with kindness and grace.
Any visit here requires a few minutes and more than a few dollars spent at BouTiki, my favorite Disney shop.
Watching the Fireworks
Here’s my confession. I’m not much of a parade person; I’m more about the fireworks instead.
However, I’m only like this at Disney. Whenever family members ask me if I want to watch local fireworks shows, they know the answer.
Having watched Disney’s professionals create dazzling pyrotechnical displays, I just can’t settle for amateurs.
At Disney, you’ll often find me watching the digital projections splashing against the castle or on Main Street, U.S.A.
I usually sing the words, especially if Go the Distance or anything from Moana is playing. And I sing with my eyes closed.
That’s the power Disney has over me, as it delights my senses with sights, sounds, and smells.
So many of my memories involve one of these sensory experiences.
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Feature Photo: Disney