WDW Theory.

[real mad hatter]

I've often wondered if i was living in Orlando and was just 30 mins or so from the parks,would I enjoy it so much,or would it be just another day in the parks. My own theory is if your miles and miles from WDW then the excitement of getting there is all part of the package. The reason I ask this was last year I met this American family on vacation in Scotland. They spent 2 days in Ireland and 2 days in Scotland and they were now heading to Disney in Paris for 5 days and this was the highlight of their trip.When I mentioned that I love Disney and go to Florida to the world,they said, " Oh we stay in orange county in Orlando,so we can visit it anytime " Thats when it got me thinking,is it because your so near to all this magic that it's just another day?What are your theories on this?:shrug:

 

[LuLaSue]

Well Hatter, I think for some people, the excitement never dies. I have a handful of friends that moved down to Orlando and now work in WDW. They tell me, they live the magic everyday and love it! :wave:

 

[Susan Savia]

We live close to Washington, DC and all the monuments and musuems and yet we haven't been to visit in over 20 years. We visit WDW once a year and the excitement and anticipation builds over the year so when the time comes we're super charged and ready to return. I think that old saying, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' is true.

 

[msmit002]

Susan, I think that's because 495 Beltway traffic kills the 'magic' for us even before we reach DC.:lol:

 

[real mad hatter]

Now Your Talking.

Well Hatter, I think for some people, the excitement never dies. I have a handful of friends that moved down to Orlando and now work in WDW. They tell me, they live the magic everyday and love it! :wave:

Oh yeh,I agree,getting up in the morning and off to work in the most magical place on earth.I have just found out this week that my good Scottish friend who was a CM at Rose & Crown is back home,I think his work permit was only for so many years and Altho he's now working at a hotel in Glasgow,his mother says he's p..... Off. So there you go.

 

[Lucky]

We live close to Washington, DC and all the monuments and musuems and yet we haven't been to visit in over 20 years. We visit WDW once a year and the excitement and anticipation builds over the year so when the time comes we're super charged and ready to return. I think that old saying, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' is true.

Same here. My office is a 5 minute walk from the White House.

 

[sgtmgd]

Hatter,

I lived less than 90 minutes from Disney...(Daytona Beach) from Birth til almost 19....I went Dozens of times and never got tired of going to Disney and could never wait to go back. When I joined the Army in 1988-2012 I never lost my love for Disney and have come back to visit many times..my teenager..who graduates today..also has the Disney bug...we were there last January and she mad eme promise I wouldnt schedule another family trip until her off season from College Soccer...lol so Xmas 2013 we will invade again (unless I sneak down with my girlfriend in late august for a weekend get-a-way)

 

[ECU_PIRATE]

Knowing that we are heading to WDW is the only thing that makes an 1100 mile drive go by quickly. Waiting an entire year to go and finally getting there is a big part of the excitement so I don't think living close to Orlando would take away from the actual WDW experience but there would not be the high level of excitement that we get on the long ride there.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I think it certainly changes things...

Living close would allow you the luxury of attending specific events - food and wine, the holiday seasons, and any other kind of celebratory event (ie 40 year celebration).


I can also attest to the whole "I've lived here my whole life and why do people come here" attitude. In Boston... we have boat loads of tourists here all day. My office is a stones throw from Faneuil Hall and I can't seem to understand why people come here and do this stuff. Perhaps people from Orlando feel the same way.

 

[rufio]

I think it certainly changes things...

Living close would allow you the luxury of attending specific events - food and wine, the holiday seasons, and any other kind of celebratory event (ie 40 year celebration).


I can also attest to the whole "I've lived here my whole life and why do people come here" attitude. In Boston... we have boat loads of tourists here all day. My office is a stones throw from Faneuil Hall and I can't seem to understand why people come here and do this stuff. Perhaps people from Orlando feel the same way.

I agree. I lived in Anchorage, AK for four years and once the novelty wore off it was just another place. A beautiful, wonderful place, but still just another place. Of course, every summer we had loads of tourists who paid thousands of dollars to visit! To be honest, it took moving away to remember what it was that people paid so much to see! Familiarity definitely makes things seem more dull.

 

[pamousefan]

Thats when it got me thinking,is it because your so near to all this magic that it's just another day?What are your theories on this?:shrug:

HATTER,

I live in PA and it wopuld be like going back to Kings Dominion, Six Flags(MD), or the beach. Whatever is local, I guess you make due with what you have available. I remember growing up, I am only 45, but we always went to a small park called Williams Grove, in PA. It was a small family park probably NOT EVEN the size of Fantasyland, and that was like the yearly excursion and the highlight of the summer and every summer! We would stop early and grab a bucket of chicken, chips, and soda...and of course bread to feed the ducks! and we would head to the park! Kids nowadays would think that is boring!:ROFLOL: Ah, the good ol days and the memories!

 

[Epcot-Rules]

Hatter,

I lived less than 90 minutes from Disney...(Daytona Beach) from Birth til almost 19....I went Dozens of times and never got tired of going to Disney and could never wait to go back. When I joined the Army in 1988-2012 I never lost my love for Disney and have come back to visit many times..my teenager..who graduates today..also has the Disney bug...we were there last January and she mad eme promise I wouldnt schedule another family trip until her off season from College Soccer...lol so Xmas 2013 we will invade again (unless I sneak down with my girlfriend in late august for a weekend get-a-way)

Thank you for your service!!

I live in Northwest Florida, so it's about a 6.5 to 7 hour drive for us. We go once a year to Orlando, sometimes Disney sometimes Uni. We do like Sea world and Busch Gardens. I am thinking about buying Annual passes this year for when the 3 day weekends come up. I can make the drive standing on my head. In short, I will let you know once we go 4 or 5 times in the next year lol..

 

[ScoutN]

I feel this topic will yield results across the board. I lived two hours away from WDW for two years a couple years back. I visited on a regular basis (monthly bimonthly) and it still held the same excitement for me. The people I went with where "whatever" about it and form people I know in Orlando some enjoy and some do not that used to. I feel there is no conclusive or definitive answer for this inquiry; just scattered opinions from those who have actual experience but most not.

 

[JOSHG]

There is no conclusive answer to be made here.

However, I live in the Panhandle of FL (Panama City) and WDW is only about 6 hours away. I've probably been at least 75 times (probably more like 100+ times) in my life and still love it.

My son will be 3 in August and has already been on 10 different trips, he still gets just as excited as well and talks about it every day.

 

[jlevis]

Except for my time in the service I've never lived anywhere but SE Michigan. I do know that even after 35 -40 visits the magic is still there. I agree with the pp that the drive to Orlando is part of that magic. We enjoy the drive during the differing seasons, seeing the changes in the scenery. I would miss that aspect of it if we were to move closer. But, I think the magic of the World would still be there.

 

[Jakester]

It takes me 45minutes to drive west on SR408, and West on I-4, Onto US192, to World Drive, Up to Magic Kingdom Parking Lot from my house, I do this usually once a week.

Ive visted Magic Kingdom so many times I couldn't even tell you a number, I haven't lost the sense of Magic that Makes Magic Kingdom well, Magic Kingdom.

I always vist that park every July 4th, and every New Years. My friends (and girl) can't understand how I can vist this place alot, and not get tired of it.

 

[CleveRocks]

I live at the beach (well, 4 blocks from the beach) in a seasonal resort town. My wife and I grew up in a big city about a 2-hour drive from here. As kids and as young marrieds, we went "down the shore" as often as we could during summers. The beach was always a magical place to us, and we craved being there.

We moved to the Midwest for a few years, and from there we moved here to the shore.

I've lived here for 14 years now. And I'm still SOOOOOO happy to get to the beach or the boardwalk. When I run on the boardwalk, it's easy to not even notice the ocean is there, but I remind myself of where I am and all those wonderful feelings immediately fill me up.

When I drive from the mainland and I reach the crest of one of the bridges and I see my island out over the bay with the ocean on the other side, I get a thrilll like a little kid and I get this great feeling and actually say to myself, "WOW! I live on an island" And even some people who live here think I'm weird for this next one, but I love driving onto the island at low tide in the back bay and smelling that distinctive low tide smell. It's still magical to me, and it tells me I'm home.

And actually sitting or walking on the beach? Forget about it! I'm in heaven, and so is my wife.

So if after 14 years we can still feel so excited about some sand and water, imagine how thrilled we'd be if we lived 4 blocks from Disney World!!! :ROFLOL:

 

[AswaySuller]

I'm sorry if this is douch-ey but.....

Y-o-u-'r-e is you are, y-o-u-r is your!

 

[real mad hatter]

Whit The !!!!

I'm sorry if this is douch-ey but.....

Y-o-u-'r-e is you are, y-o-u-r is your!

Well as Eric Clapton said, " It's late in the evening,and iv got a splitting head " :shrug:

 

[jaques21]

I live 90 mins from the WDW and I love going every time! never gets old for me :ROFLOL: