I may be in the minority here, but when I think of my past WDW trips, its not even the attractions that come to mind the most. I think about how I feel the moment I walk into my resort room for the first time after all that flying and check-in. Or that first walk around the resort, or getting off the bus at Magic Kingdom for the first time of my trip. I love all the attractions, but that isn't what immediately comes to mind when I think about what makes it my "special place". Its just that joy of walking around the beautiful parks with the people that I love in my life, creating memories and just enjoying the surroundings. Im a 30 yr old male and while I don't have any connection to the princess movies of the 90's, Disney always does everything so far above and beyond expectations that even grown men can find something to like. I'll walk around the new FL and enjoy all the water features they add, the architecture of the villages and Beast castle. Those are attractions in themselves to me. An attraction is something that attracts you and doesn't always need to be an actual moving ride system.
Definitely not the minority. I am not saying anything negative about Universal here (I do not want to start that war on this great thread), but let's be honest. Why are people travelling from all parts of the country, all parts of the world to Orlando? There are plenty of amusement parks out there with thrilling as well as kid attractions closer to their homes. Universal has amazing rides and hotels attached to their property. There are many other choices. But, people are travelling the long distance and bypassing these parks spending more money than they had to because of how Disney does it.
I agree with you. I obviously have my favorite rides and enjoy those. But, my favorite part of the entire trip is upon my first entry into MK. Walking under the RR tracks of Magic Kingdom, intentionally keeping my eyes gazed to the left or right as I round the rotary, and then turning the corner to seeing the castle. There is no feeling like it at any park, anywhere (and it is the same feeling each time no matter how many times I go). Same thing when you come to the bridge and first see the Tree of Life at DAK, or walk under SSE or see the Tower of Terror up close. Who else does these things? For ToT, they did not have to spend the money and build a 'hotel' around it...it could have been like every other exposed free-fall ride. But, they did. Who else puts hidden (Mickeys) on their rides or builds stories for not only their rides, but their parks (Typhoon Lagoon) or adds the details no one may ever notice (all the real names in the Main St windows or when HM used to have the wedding ring in the pavement).
But, on top of that, where else can you go where the employees are so sold on the purpose of what the park stands for. These cast members may not always agree with management or the company, they have their own stress in their lives, but they put that all aside and create such amazing experiences for people. When I was younger, I always wondered where they found all these nice people (Remember, I am from MA...haha). And this magic flows through every Disney park, hotel, and service and you feel it everywhere you go on property. This is why we love it. It is the 'feeling' these places and people create. Who else does this?
No one. This is why you are not the minority. This is why people travel from all over the world to come. Because even though there are other rides, other parks, and other attractions, there is no place that does it like Disney. And that is why my family and I went down there so many times when I was young and it is why my wife, daughter and I go down now, and it is why my daughter and her children will one day go down (with me following in a walker...haha) as well. It is not about attractions, it is about this 'feeling' they create for you and your whole family regardless of age or gender. This is why I am so excited about the FL expansion...it just seems Disney is spending the extra money to keep this tradition going.
