We've seen the commercials and felt the pull of Disney's charms, but what really makes Disney World so special? Well after working for the Walt Disney Company for 8 months in two different Disney College Programs, I picked a few of the things that helped me feel the magic.
1. Cast Members
As a former Cast Member I want you to realize that all we want to do is make your vacation a memorable one. We will go out of our way to make sure you get a new ice cream if you drop one or get you a cookie if it’s your birthday. Now with that being said, please be nice to the cast members and it will make everything better. We work strange amounts of hours and do crazy things backstage to make sure your vacation is a safe and magical one.
2. Celebration buttons
If you haven’t ever seen one of these magical creations, do not fret I will explain them to you. Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have created a few buttons to make sure everyone knows that you are celebrating something. The buttons include “Happy Birthday,” “I’m Celebrating,” “Happily Ever After,” “Family Reunion,” and “Happy Anniversary!” The Cast Members will make sure to give you a shout out no matter what they’re doing if they see one.
3. Characters
Character meet and greets are an essential part of any Disney vacation. I would go see my boss, aka Mickey Mouse, almost every time I went to Magic Kingdom. My favorite experience by far was when I met Pocahontas for the first time. She asked about my program and told me how proud she was of me and that no matter where life takes me Disney is rooting for me. I hadn’t had any face characters make such an effort to make me feel loved and I honestly started to cry a little when I walked away from her. It was a memory I will hold with me for the rest of my life.
4. Main Street USA
Main Street USA in Walt Disney World is modeled after Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri. Walt Disney wanted everyone to feel like they were at home in Magic Kingdom no matter where their real home was. The moment you walk through the gates you smell cookies from the Confectionary and hear the faint music being played and for me at least it gives me a sense of happiness.
5. Cinderella's castle
Cinderella’s Castle is the first thing you see when you walk into the Magic Kingdom and trust me it only gets prettier the closer you get. A family is chosen as a grand prize to stay in the castle for the night. I’ve only seen pictures but it is a suite of pure dreams and magic. You can make reservations to have dinner with Cinderella and her royal guest at Cinderella’s Royal Table. It was the best character dining I’ve ever done. During dinner you will get to meet Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine and Aurora.
6. Wild Africa Trek
One of the cool activities you can experience is the Wild Africa Trek in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You are taken on an interactive tour of Kilimanjaro Safari and get to see the animals fairly up close. Included in the price of the activity is lunch, a name tag, a metal water container, as many pictures of as many animals as you want during your tour, and a pin showing that a portion of your money went to the conservation fund to help the animals in your name. I recommend it to everyone, I went with my best friend and we had an absolute blast on it. At the end of your trek, the Cast Member tour guides give you a card with a link to all your pictures and a picture of them saying "Asante Sana" which means "thank you" in Swahili.
7. The Monorail
The monorail is Disney’s “highway in the sky.” It goes roughly 35 miles per hour and it by far my favorite mode of transportation between EPCOT and Magic Kingdom and also to some of the Magic Kingdom resorts close by. I have taken Spanish for three years and honestly can’t tell you much if you talk to fast but one phrase I will never forget. “Por favor mantengase alejado de los puertos” or “please stand clear of the doors.” I have no idea why I love it so much but it just makes me smile every time I hear it.
8. Magic Bands
Magic bands are honestly one of the best things Disney has done in the way of technologically moving forward. With this little wrist band you can pay for anything, after you put your credit card on file, get into the parks, grab your ride photos and validate your fast passes. If you stay at any Walt Disney World Resort, they will mail them to your home before your vacation starts. They even have your name engraved in them so you won’t switch with your family member.
9. Rides
Disney has some great rides and after once or twice on them you can find the camera and make silly faces or whatever you please as long as it is appropriate for everyone since this is a family theme park. Please enjoy this picture of one of my roommates and I on Seven Dwarves Mine Train in Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland.
10. Fireworks
Every night three of the four parks have a firework spectacular. Disney’s Animal Kingdom does not offer a firework display for the sake of not frightening the animals; however soon there will be a laser light show for nightly entertainment. My favorite part of the fireworks at Magic Kingdom is the display before the fireworks start called “Celebrate the Magic.” It is a castle projection and it makes me cry every time I hear Walt Disney say those famous words, “Let us never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a mouse.”
11. The after vacation Mickey
Now that your vacation is over, Disney World sometimes sends you a parting gift, a sketch of Mickey done by one of Disney’s animators. I framed mine and hung it in my room as one of my favorite mementos of my many trips to my favorite place in the world.
Big or small, young or old Walt Disney World has something for you. It is a place where both children and adults can come and have a great time together. I can’t wait until my next trip; I don’t think I could ever get enough of the magic I feel when I see the Partner Statue of Mickey and Walt holding hands.
