We started a series a while back about our Favorite Disney Things. It was a fun way for all of us at The Affordable Mouse to share some of the things that we just LOVE about our favorite place to be…..and I would like to add a new one today. 🙂
I was trying to explain to someone the other day exactly WHY we go back to Disney again and again. As I shared how friendly people are when there… I realized that this is truly one of my favorite Disney things!
Yes, I know there are a lot of folks that are clearly not having a magical day while they are at Disney. But by and large, I really think that those people are the exception. In my experience, most people are the opposite….they are warm, friendly and helpful. In fact, I have honestly not ever found another place where the vast majority of people are just so…..happy. And I’m not talking about just the castmembers either, although they are a very special group of people.
I am talking about the people that you strike up a conversation with while waiting in line. You know, we’ve met some pretty cool people by just asking the simple question: “Where are you from?” We waited in the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad line once with an Imagineer and his young daughter, who were just spending a Sunday afternoon like you or I would, visiting Disney World. What a really nice guy….and what great stories he had to share! I love meeting people this way, and honestly, it makes waiting in line go a lot quicker.
I am also talking about the people that you chat with on the buses at the end of the day. I know I know, there are some pretty hot, cranky, sweaty people at this point each night. But there are also some really nice people, adults as well as teens, who are quick to give up their seat for a mom who has a sleeping child in her arms.
And I am also talking about the folks who jump in to do “random acts of kindness” whether it is giving away a FastPass that they aren’t going to use, or offering to take a group picture for a family, or giving up a seat waiting for the parade so that a little one can be up front for a good view.
Having lived near major cities my entire life, I grew up learning “not to talk to strangers” but at Disney, people look each other in the eye, smile, and say “good morning” or wish one another a Happy Birthday, or congratulate newlyweds. I realize that it’s a different situation….but that is actually my point. It IS different from the life that most of us live, and that is truly one of the things I love about Disney! You don’t walk around worrying about strangers at Disney: everyone else is just another Disney friend.
I’m not entirely sure why this is, but I guess that Disney magic just brings out the best in most people…..and to me, that’s one of the most magical things that Disney does.
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Most people who visit Disney parks on a regular basis are used to the question about why they go back again and AGAIN. Of course there are all kinds of reasons why, but I was thinking a bit about this over the past week, and realized that some of the things that bring me back are, in fact opposites: I love the “traditional” things that we are used to and so love doing over and over again…and I also love the “new surprises” that Disney is so very good at offering their guests, in so many ways. I think that this second part was very much evident this past week. Read more
