The Magic Of Magic Kingdom.

[real mad hatter]

Good Morning Everyone..I was pondering last night on a conversation I had at the weekend with one of the party of nine that went on their first WDW vacation in September this year staying onsite.He was the oldest of them ( 66 ) and I asked him if he would go back.He said " No.!Done it,Seen it." I could tell by his answer he just didn't get it.It reminded me of the end of the film "The Polar Express" where the parents shook their sons bauble that fell off santa's reindeer and couldn't hear it ring,yet the children could still hear it ring. So am wondering.Do you ever feel when you arrive at Magic Kingdom that the magic will no longer be there.I personally hope not.Anyway to my question.What makes the magic work for you and doesn't for other people? I once read a saying " Only those who are willing to see the magic,will find the magic." So what's your play on this? Why does the magic of Magic Kingdom work for you and not everyone..

 

[AndyS2992]

I find that to most people see Disney as just a once in a lifetime experience. It's only really us Disney/theme park fans that do go there more than once. Most people I know who have gone will say they loved it but won't go back becasuse they have done it all already and also because it is so expensive to go there.

 

[Sharired]

I think some of it has to do with the level of exposure you've had. Many of us grew up going to the parks, or were at least immersed in all the Disney movies and characters. The people I've met that say they'd never go back or just didn't really care for it, were never really Disney fans to begin with. I'm not saying that's always the case. It's just an observation I've made.

 

[Tinkerkell]

The magic will always be there for us!

I've met people that have gone to WDW and hated it. This is because they did no research whatsoever before their trip. They didn't make dining reservations and were turned away from restaurants. They didn't make rope drop. They didn't understand Fastpass, so didn't use it. They waited in line an hour or more for attractions, and complained about the heat and the crowds. They were on a death march, trying to "fit everything in" and didn't take time to swim or relax. I'm not saying this is what the family was like in the OP's thread, but many families have this experience when visiting and do not enjoy themselves at the parks.

Also, there are people who just don't get it. They want thrill rides, and not attractions, atmosphere, and pixie dust. They are better off at Universal, or Six Flags. That's OK, though----people like that visiting other parks means one less person in my line at WDW!

 

[ParentsOf4]

In the U.S., WDW is a rite of passage for a lot of people. It's something they did when they were young and then want to go back again once their children are of a certain age. The U.S. TV ads are full of nostalgia and designed to appeal to families with young children. If WDW makes a strong impression, it might be a place where families go 2 or 3 times while the children are still young. However, for most families, once the children reach a certain age, WDW is no longer "cool" so they end up abandoning WDW until it is grandchildren time.

Some adults (i.e. those like me that post on this website) catch the WDW bug but, for most, it simply doesn't have the same magic. When someone I know makes one of those once (OK infrequent) in a lifetime trips, I like to discuss their trip with them. The conversations usually end up sounding like this:

- "So, what did you think of WDW?"
- "It was great. The family had a great time."
- "Are you planning on going back?"
- "No"
- "Why not?"
- "Too expensive, nothing changed since my last trip, long lines, rather do something else, ..."

I suspect people would go more often but WDW is simply too expensive now. Adjusted for inflation, a ticket today costs about 4 times more than it did 30 years ago. For the amount of money spent on a WDW vacation, people do a mental calculation and decide they'll get a bigger bang for the buck by spending that money on something else.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I suppose it’s a state of mind. Some of us have it some don’t. Everyone has a passion whether it’s sports, music or Disney.
I’m older than a lot of you. I saw the opening of Disneyland on TV as a child and watched “The Wonderful World of Disney” Sunday nights for years so there was always magic there for me. My father, brave soul that he was, drove us across country, much like Clark Griswold to visit the park in 1959. I will always remember the submarine ride and waiting with my dad, my mother and sister were afraid to go under the water. Years later when I went again with my dear wife and son, the magic was still there for me.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I am looking at the entire story from an even more remote perspective. Coming to WDW is also always coming to America. We have to cross an entire ocean to get there so WDW already is much more adventure to us than it is to Americans. It's the same when we are leaving, we are not only leaving WDW but also the USA so leaving is even more depressing than it is for visitors from the US. That already creates a kind of magic, that adds to the magic of the parks. But it's also a very heartwarming feeling I experience at no other place on Earth arriving and being there. It's coming "home" far away from your real home, a quite bizarre feeling. I think that makes a trip to the World different than any other vacation and magical.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I suppose it’s a state of mind. Some of us have it some don’t. Everyone has a passion whether it’s sports, music or Disney.
I’m older than a lot of you. I saw the opening of Disneyland on TV as a child and watched “The Wonderful World of Disney” Sunday nights for years so there was always magic there for me. My father, brave soul that he was, drove us across country, much like Clark Griswold to visit the park in 1959. I will always remember the submarine ride and waiting with my dad, my mother and sister were afraid to go under the water. Years later when I went again with my dear wife and son, the magic was still there for me.

I hope you didn't experience the same misfortunes on your way there? At least DL wasn't closed for refurbishment as you finally arrived.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I laugh when I see that movie but no we drove route 66 and had a great time. as we are part Native American we stopped at a reservation along the way. I remember there was Chief this name and Chief that name, and I turned to my father and said "dad these guys are all chiefs where are the indians?" He laughed about that one for a long time.

 

[rufio]

I don't know why some people just don't get it! Several people in my family look at me like I'm crazy. You know that, "oh, honey," look? Like you have some kind of an ailment requiring pity. Luckily, I get to take my mom, dad, and brother to MK for the first time ever this December. Unfortunately, it'll be on a 9/10 day and will only be for a few hours. Hopefully that doesn't ruin the magic!

 

[real mad hatter]

Hey! Really good range of answers on this topic..To Andys,yes I agree it is expensive,but I'd rather splash out on a vacation that am gonna really enjoy.My last trip to Europe was in 2011. 2 weeks in Cyprus for three of us,room only in a 4 star hotel.package was $4500 then the cost of food & drink ( crap euro rates ) reckon it cost us in total $7000. Thats what I paid for 14 nights this year at PORS.( free food included ) And yes Tinkerkell,couldn't agree more about people not planning.I remember one American woman asking me a few years back " where do we buy the FP tickets?" And Zurgandfriend my buddy,you can't be older than me, I found the magic at the ripe old age of 52,and long may it continue.

 

[real mad hatter]

I don't know why some people just don't get it! Several people in my family look at me like I'm crazy. You know that, "oh, honey," look? Like you have some kind of an ailment requiring pity. Luckily, I get to take my mom, dad, and brother to MK for the first time ever this December. Unfortunately, it'll be on a 9/10 day and will only be for a few hours. Hopefully that doesn't ruin the magic!

One hour in Magic Kingdom is worth one week sitting on a sandy beach in Spain watching football lager louts throwing up. Have a magical vacation.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Enjoying a Disney park is more then a state of mind, it's a state of being. One needs to allow themselves to be something other than what they have to be in everyday life. They have to suspend disbelief in massive amounts and they also have to be able to let the inner child out. As an adult we sometimes tend to take ourselves too seriously. Perhaps that came from when we were young and tried so hard to be an adult. Whatever the reason for many it is very difficult to let that go. To let themselves be amused by stuff that out in the real world would make them seem "weird" or uncool.

I don't get upset with those that cannot make that adjustment, but, I do feel sorry that they cannot let their guard down long enough to just enjoy a less complex view of life.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I laugh when I see that movie but no we drove route 66 and had a great time. as we are part Native American we stopped at a reservation along the way. I remember there was Chief this name and Chief that name, and I turned to my father and said "dad these guys are all chiefs where are the indians?" He laughed about that one for a long time.

I actually laughed quite some time about it. Was a good one.
When you drove the route 66, did you come through Radiator Springs?

Sorry just can't stop it.

 

[rsoxguy]

Personal preferences dictate our enjoyment in life. While I can respect someone who can not enjoy WDW as an adult, I can not understand why people of that stripe can not respect me for my desire to visit The Mouse from time to time. I enjoy traveling to different locations, I frequent museums and places of historic significance, and I enjoy an occasional opera by Puccini or Verdi. Why I am reduced to the level of an unsophisticated cretin by those who do not enjoy WDW is a mystery. Perhaps they have never truly grown up, and they are desperately trying to hide it.

 

[sgtmgd]

Words couldnt adequately describe my love for Disney. Ive been visiting since just after WDW opened the gates for teh first time and the wonder and awe I felt as young 5 year old..has never dissappeared..my daughter whom just turned 18 also has a fire in her soul for Disney and she's only been a few times..case in point she texted me from college Saturday and asked if shew could rent a movie through Direct TV...she was considereing Batman and Snow White and the Huntsman...I saw last night she went with neither..but instead "Brave" was purchased...lol Disney princess to the end

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Personal preferences dictate our enjoyment in life. While I can respect someone who can not enjoy WDW as an adult, I can not understand why people of that stripe can not respect me for my desire to visit The Mouse from time to time. I enjoy traveling to different locations, I frequent museums and places of historic significance, and I enjoy an occasional opera by Puccini or Verdi. Why I am reduced to the level of an unsophisticated cretin by those who do not enjoy WDW is a mystery. Perhaps they have never truly grown up, and they are desperately trying to hide it.

If I am confronted with such morons I always answer "A place where Salvador Dali, Charles Laughton and Ray Bradbury enjoyed themselves a lot can't be completely the wrong location to be." Alright they had been to Disneyland, not WDW but most of that kind don't even know the difference.

 

[real mad hatter]

Words couldnt adequately describe my love for Disney. Ive been visiting since just after WDW opened the gates for teh first time and the wonder and awe I felt as young 5 year old..has never dissappeared..my daughter whom just turned 18 also has a fire in her soul for Disney and she's only been a few times..case in point she texted me from college Saturday and asked if shew could rent a movie through Direct TV...she was considereing Batman and Snow White and the Huntsman...I saw last night she went with neither..but instead "Brave" was purchased...lol Disney princess to the end

Ive pre-ordered Brave DVD on blu-ray,comes out on November 26th ( my birthday ) Can't wait to see that Bonnie wee lass.Had a meet & greet with Merida in July.She could Nae understand a word I said.But as I walked away I heard her mutter " Awa and bile yer heid ya big Jessie "

 

[jlevis]

Yes Disney is expensive but have you been to NYC lately? The magic is there for us and we'll be back to the World because it is like no other place. We travel a great deal and there are many places we enjoy, but none like Disney. I can't explain it but when you get that look down Main Street toward Cinderella Castle there are no cares.

 

[Vader2112]

As I find that a lot of first timers or once in a lifetimers tend to be so because they did not plan carefully or do any research. On the other hand some have overplanned had a tight schedule and the trip was so regimented that it became like work instead of fun. I can understand the wanting to see it all thing but when it creates any level of stress that will ultimately end your enjoyment quickly it is just not worth it.
As many of you know I go to the world frequently. The only time it had no magic for me was on my first visit! My wife had surpirsed me with a trip for Christmas one year as she felt I was a deprived child never having gone. It was miserable we went in August and it was literally 100 degrees out with high humidity and the tour/youth groups staying at out resort made it miserable riding the buses. i wanted to see it all and could not fit it all in totally missed AK.I just did not get it and vowed never to return... I had scene it and done it.
Funny thing happened The next time we went was a random trip during a visit to see family in FL. Just a day at EPCOT and then hopped over to MK. We had a great time. The next visits were after moving to FL and going to the MNSSHP on a whim and overnight stay it was my Bday and we great time. When my daughter was born and made her first trip to WDW at the age of about 18 months and seeing her reactions even then to a simple ride on the tram from the parking lot and monorial to seeing fireworks for the fisrt time is when I really got what WDW was all about and since have looked at it through the eyes of a child and taken a different approach enjoy want you take in and the people with you. Damn even enjoy meeting people from differnt parts of the US and the World both cast members and guests. I have some great converasations with other guests while just waiting online or sitting at a bar. I think some of us have a different persona when we set foot on the Disney property and it is truly visible. I see it extended here on this site as well.