Nothing in life is perfect, but Disneyland comes pretty damn close. Sure, you sometimes have to deal with hot days and significant crowds [1], but in the end, the true essence of the park is what really matters. It's hard not to sound cliche when describing Disneyland as magical, but there really isn't a better word to sum it up than that. We discovered a thread on MiceChat [2] where fans named the small things that make the parks so special to them, and if you're a Disney-park-lover, these will pull at your heart strings and have you nostalgic for the place — even if you just got back from it. Read on and prepare to get a little teary-eyed as you nod your head.
- "Seeing the castle at the end of the street always lifts my spirits, no matter what mood I'm in beforehand."
- "Everyone is welcome at Disneyland."
- "That fresh air-conditioned smell inside so many buildings (especially on Main Street) — ahhh!"
- "When I'm there, I'm not in the real world."
- "To me it feels like I am really going on an adventure on the Jungle Cruise."
- "Buying popcorn outside the Haunted Mansion and sitting on a bench in that area is always a fun treat. If the pirate band is around, I will sit near them for a while."
- "Love seeing what candy they're making on Main Street and Buena Vista Street."
- "Looking for cats on the tram ride back to the car."
- "The Mickey-shaped waffles at Carnation Cafe."
- "I love to hear the call 'all aboard!' from all the Disneyland Railroad Stations."
- "For breakfast, nothing beats a couple of fresh churros and a cup of coffee in the morning!"
- "Walking through the gates and hearing the music and seeing everything. It's a very special place to me. It's what I think about during my days at work. I don't like my job. Thinking about Disney helps get me through the day. I really love looking at the little details and riding the rides. I love most about everything at Disneyland. It's my happy place."
- "I love how, when I first walk out onto Main Street, I feel a giddy excitement I haven't felt since I was a child."
"I love the live-performing cast members. They really are a great part of the park in every way."
- "The live music, spontaneous and everywhere. Probably my favorite thing about the parks, now or ever. Sometimes I think I could spend a day there, just listening."
- "Dill Pickle with a small drink under shady tree on a park bench and people watch."
- "The attention to detail. Even the smallest details that very few people would notice. For example, I remember at Flo's Cafe, they had a model of a V-8 car engine on display. As it turned, small lights would flash in the cylinders indicating the combustion of each cylinder. Only a true motorhead would notice this, but they got the firing order correct. Each cylinder's light lit in the exact order of a real V-8."
- "I have always enjoyed seeing the waterfalls coming down from Matterhorn."
- "The wind noises at the Matterhorn have always captivated me. It's always the little things about Disneyland that keep me coming back."
- "Mint juleps!"
- "The Mickey beignets were still being sold 15 minutes to midnight! It was magical and happy ending."
- "It may be crowded, but those faces have smiles on them. People are excited to go. There are still hundreds of first-time-ever and first-time-in-a-long-time visitors. There are families who haven't spent time together at Disneyland in years. There are people who just love the heck out of being there. If we take a moment to notice those details instead of only seeing the sea of visitors, we may find that happiness infectious."
- "I love the feeling of nostalgia I get every time I climb aboard Peter Pan's Flight."
- "The smells and sounds."
- "I love eating junk food and snacks and ruining my appetite, but then eating dinner at Carthay Circle anyway."
- "Being one of the last people to leave the park so I can get that empty Main Street photo. There's something so peaceful about the park when the night has come to an end but everything is still on. If I can't hold out that long or if security is less willing to accommodate the request, then so be it. There will be another day."
- "The music unique to each attraction or land."
- "What truly makes me feel like I am in Disneyland is when I walk through Adventureland and make my way onto Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion.
- "The smell of churros and cotton candy."
Links:
[1] https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Avoid-Crowds-Disneyland-43737744
[2] https://discuss.micechat.com/forum/disney-theme-park-news-and-discussion/disneyland-resort/8533472-the-disneyland-positivity-thread
[3] https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Best-Things-About-Disneyland-37570757