When I daydream about being at Walt Disney World – which I do often and for extended periods of time (Don’t you?) – Magic Kingdom is one of my favorite places to bring to mind. It’s easy, thanks to my memories of those incredible, magical Disney details, to recall certain sounds, sights, smells, flavors and feelings. What makes my family passionate about our favorite vacation destination is how easy it is to re-live (in our memories) our happiest Disney moments!
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom – A Feast for the Senses
Take all those favorite moments and add them together. It’s easy to imagine myself in each of my favorite Magic Kingdom locations. Here’s what’s going on in my mind:
The cool, humid air inside the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean – Often a welcome respite from the Florida sun, the smooth feel of the plastic seat when I board the boat, the smell (OH, that smell!) of the water as the deep, eerie voice warns, “Dead men tell no tales“. Then I can see, perfectly in my mind, all the best (to me) moments of that attraction! The dog with the jail key and the pirates behind bars whistling and coaxing him, the pirate on the bridge with his dirty food and hairy leg, so many great details! “We wants the redhead!”
See how easy it is? Engage all your senses in your memories and it’s the next best thing to being there! Let me get you going with a few more iconic Magic Kingdom moments, categorized by sense involved!
Sight – Main Street U.S.A.’s colors, signs, window decorations…the motion of the crowd and the Main Street Vehicles against the backdrop of Cinderella Castle. Imagine the glint of light reflecting off the castle’s turrets or the details that are lit up in the queue for Space Mountain – oh, wait! How about Space Mountain itself – the exterior is an awesome sight. As is the sheer magic of Big Thunder Mountain!!!
Sound – The Dapper Dans, Casey’s Corner piano player, the screams and booming whoosh of the Splash Mountain logs plunging into the briar patch! Do you know that weird clicking sound in the first part of Haunted Mansion? I love that sound! How about the radio voice in the queue for Jungle Cruise? Wonderful! Doesn’t Jiminy Cricket’s voice make you SO happy during Wishes? I also adore (beyond a reasonable amount) the prospector’s voice on Big Thunder – “…hang onto them hats and glasses, cause this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” 
Touch – My kids have always made fun of me for my need to touch store merchandise as I shop. I can’t help it – how things feel is part of the experience! Take the seats on The PeopleMover – not only are they a beautiful blue, they feel great! I also love the smoothness of those clam mobiles in Under the Sea – Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Fantasyland. Have you ever noticed the contrast between the felt part and the ears on a classic Earhat? Part of what makes a churro a great snack is the crunch when you bite into it! Same with the outside of a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar.
Taste – Doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Magic Kingdom popcorn, Dole Whip, Citrus Swirl, churro, ice cream, turkey leg, Mickey pretzel or hotdog – everyone has their favorite Disney foods and Magic Kingdom offers plenty of the good stuff! Personal favorite – the sweet and spicy chicken waffle at Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square.
Smell – I’ve already mentioned the water smell in Pirates, but how about that delicious smell on Main Street? The exhaust from the Tomorrowland Speedway? The pies in Mickey’s PhilharMagic? What are your favorite scents in Magic Kingdom?
Hopefully by now you’ve got the hang of this total Magic-Kingdom-memory-by-senses thing and are completely immersed in happy memories! Now it’s your turn! What special things make your pixie-dusted vacation memories special?