The little things you like.

[EpcotFanatic]

Just a list of little things that aren't ride highlights, but I enjoy anyways. In no specific order:

1. Splash Mountain queue - The silhouette of the frog in the rocking chair. I've been on the ride dozens of times, and each time I pass him, I still try to peek like a little kid.

2. Spaceship Earth - The smell of ashes in Rome. Probably one of the best ride features in all of WDW.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean - Riding through the caverns. Can't explain the feeling, I just like it. Especially the lightning. Also, the skeletons playing Chess. Are they in the right or left line?

4. Peter Pans Flight - Either in the line, or walking by. I like looking at the backdrop as you board the ride.

5. The Haunted Mansion - When the doors open and you first enter. The colder room, the chandeliers, and who can forget the organ music.

6. Tower of Terror queue - Walking through the line right around dusk. Seeing everything lit up, walking through the mist and hearing music from the 1930's.

7. Dinosaur - When it was Countdown to Extinction, the blast off through time was much faster. I know they changed it to be more guest friendly, but I wish they hadn't.

8. Tomorrowland Transit Authority - Going through the dark tunnel.

9. Space Mountain queue - Hearing the Star Tunnel music, and looking at the 3D images. Usually with a longer line, it builds the hype.

10. Muppet Vision 3D - Statler and Waldorf heckling the audience.

I know there's more stuff that I like, but I can't think of them at the moment.

[pook@wdw]

Just to add a few more...
1. the twinkling lights in the sidewalk just beyond Spaceship Earth
2. The key under the mat @ Muppettvision 3-D
3. The wonderful smells coming from the shops along Main St in MK.
4. The dock @ WL at sunrise.
5. The cool stroll thru the Oasis @ AK.
6. The monorail ride round-trip and to Epcot.

I could go on FOREVER!!:cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9:

[LoriMistress]

Being at the front enterance and seeing the train station, and the garden of Mickey Mouse.
Walking down MS USA and seeing Cinderella's Castle for the first time.
Walking down the enterances and seeing the pre shows of all the attractions. I always feel like a kid or pretending or feel like I'm part of the show and I get involved with the storyline and get "emotionally involved" with the attraction/ride. I know this sounds weird or creepy, but it's just how I feel.
Riding the stretching room in the HM. Seeing the portraits change and seeing the hanging man. It's still gets to me to this day.

[LudwigVonDrake]

Here's some....I have so many :mickey:

1) The smell of the water in Pirates of the Caribbean and the sound of the rushing water in the caverns.

2) The sound of Paul Frees voice in the HM

3) The "faraway" music outside queue of the Tower of Terror

4) The music walking down Sunset Blvd. At times it makes you feel transported to 1940s Hollywood

5) The smell of cinnamon on Main Street USA

6) The queue of Space Mountain

7) "Hang on to your hats and glasses...." spiel on Big Thunder Mountain

There is plenty more :tink:

[EpcotFanatic]

Actually, I think you nailed it with #1 for Pirates. It's the smell of the water!

[cinderellagrl]

1. hidden Mickeys... so many people visit, so few discover these tiny touches!

2. Cinderella Fountain near the castle... just beautiful!

3. Pirates with hairy legs on POTC... ha ha ha.... those imagineers thought of everything!

4. Each and every little joke on Jungle cruise

5. the African music on Kilimanjaro Safari, I love it... it always takes me away...yeah I am in Africa!

6. Smell of sulfur in Ellen's Energy Adventure

7. Donald in the wall after Philharmagic.. some people don't even notice him

8. Bubbles and Water in Little Mermaid.... transports me "under the sea"

9. hitch hiking ghosts on HM... I remember asking my mom if they were really going to come home with us!

10. LOVE that the castmembers from the World Showcase are actually from the countries they represent

[johnO]

The things people have listed here are some of the things that set WDW apart from any other place. Thise finer details that stick out in your mind. When you think about them it transports you back to WDW. There are so many things that can be listed. I agree with all that have been said here. a few of mine, in no specific order:

-The music at SFTH.
-The music on Sunset Blvd.
-The music on ToT
-The ducks @ Casey's Corner.
The ducks that love french fries near the mcdonalds at worls showcase lagoon.
-Hidden Mickey's
-All of the pennies in the water on IASW
-The inscribed bricks in front of the MK
-The rumble of the volcano inside Mexico
-Toy village at Germany
*The aromas of Disney are many and the ambient music sounds.....

Im just gonna quit now.

[thejens]

I love the music everywhere!! It amazes me how many different moods are created. I especially love the trolley singers and the mystical night music in Future World and Tomorrowland.

I love the exotic feel of the AKL.

I love being greeted by the nice man in the Contemporary and watch him give the kids stickers.

I also love the sparkly lights in the Epcot sidewalk.

There is so so much more!

[Guya103]

These truly are things that make Disney Magical for all of us!! When I read the first list, I thought that one person had captured it all. It was not until I read on that I realized Disney has endless details that create an individualized, Magical experience for each and every one of us. Simply awesome! Small things make a big difference and here are some of mine:

1)Waiting in line at Small World and hearing the song in the distance

2)The smell of Disney Water on all attractions!

3)The smell of Disney Air Conditioning!

4)The Monorail saying in English & Spanish (Por Favor Mantengense Allejado de las puertas!) My Spanish is a bit rusty :) Honesetly, who doesn't love all of the pre-recorded voices?

5)Hearing Stitch on the Monorail welcoming everyone to the Magic Kingdom

6)The Music on Spaceship Earth (As well as the smell of the coal)

7)First sight of Mainstreet

8)The beginning music to Spectro Magic

9)My first bite into a Grand Slam hotdog from Casey's Corner

10)Hearing "Welcome Home"

I have goosebumps just sitting hear typing this!!:mickey:

[rsumrall]

I have so many, many of which you folks have already mentioned. This makes me long for the World...

The movie playing on the DME bus, hyping us up for our vacation.

All the cameos by celebrities in queu lines - my favorite is Puddy from Seinfeld in the preflight movie to Soarin'.

The Streetmosphere performers in MGM.

The Dapper Dans on Main Street.

All the hula-hoops and fun stuff while waiting for parades in MK.

[Tinkerfreak]

This is such a great thread.

The first sight of the roof of AKL then the music and the smell when you first enter the lobby it is like entering a different place.

The music when you first enter Epcot, it gets me all choked up every time.

I also love the smell of burning Rome on SE.

There are so many and lots have been listed above.

[LibertyTreeGal]

I'm going to mix in DL stuff!

1. Floating past the Blue Bayou (I can hear the crickets in my mind) and the pirate tavern on DL's POTC
2. Jazz in New Orleans Square in DL
3. Getting a cup of tea at Royal Anandapur and sitting with my MIL in the shadow of Everest while the boys ride.
4. The Oasis
5. Getting off the boat/monorail and seeing the train station at MK -- always makes me cry.
6. Stopping in at Main Street Bake Shop for French Toast Loaf :cloud9:
7. Watching the world showcase performers. especially the now absent living statues in Italy.
8. The look on my kids' faces when they see either Woody and Jessie or Goofy.
9. The moment when the music in the lands switches, I love that moment when I hear the Adventureland or Frontierland music start up.
10. Most of all, I love the magic of what it can do to families -- especially how it completely healed the strained relationship I had with my MIL when we invited them along. Now she is my mom too -- that's Disney for you!

[EpcotFanatic]

I've only been to Disneyland once on a school trip, and we spent more time in DLCA. But I did go on Pirates, and the bayou is awesome.

Here are some others...

The smell of McDonald's French Fries outside of Splash Mountain.

The thunderstorm in the Enchanted Tiki room.

The sound effects and water squirts from the AT-AT walker outside of Star Tours.

When all the torches go out at the beginning of Illuminations.

Riding Tomorrowland Transit Authority at night.

[A Big Kid]

Tinkerbell flyingright over my family's head as we sit on the bridge to Tomorrow land.

[Sammyjo]

-I love all the smells of Disney World
-Eating breakfast at Crystal Palace before the park opens and standing outside adventureland hearing the music and drums playing
-When you drive to Florida and start seeing the WDW signs and that moment you drive on to property.
-The queue at Star Tours
-Everything about ToT
-Morocco shops, restaurant, and performers
-The music on the MK resort boats
And so many more!

[Cheerie04]

Wow so many great ones have already been mentioned. :mickey:
My favorites

Entering the WDW gates for the first time

The smell of the hotel

Riding the monorail and listening to the spanish :blush:

Seeing Main Street and seeing the castle

the smells of Main Street

the music everywhere

riding splash mountain and seeing the castle before the big drop

:cloud9:

[mickey-mouse35]

Lots of good ones!!! My favs:
* smell of bakery on Main Street
* smell of oranges on Soarin'
* all the topiaries, but especially Mickey and Minnie holding hands
* all the street performers, especially the Jammitors at Epcot and Dapper Dans on Main Street
* the clock on It's a Small World
could go on and on...

[mainemajor]

walking down MS USA at night w/ all buildings lit up - my greatest joy at Disney
riding the ferry accross 7 ses lagoon and seeing the castle for the first time
tree lady at AK just ppears and disappears in front of you
twinkling lights at EPCOT bringing your day to an end
hearing the screams coming from ToT gets the heart pounding as before you enter the park

[#1donaldfan]

I like everything !!!! The crowds, the heat, not being at work, the smells, ALL the food, going from the heat to a very cool shop, the bus ride back from a full / hot day, I think my best sleep is on that bus. We spend a lot of time in the parks and sometimes we come back in the early afternoon to re-generate, but that only turns into a dip in the pool (the kids insist)...then back to the parks and fun...

[Figment78]

I think someone said some of mine but here are some of my favorite little things:

*Screams of the Tower of Terror riders
*The movie music in MGM
*All the handprints in front of the Great movie Ride (this is probably not a "little" thing but I still look at them!)
*Main Street Dapper Dans
*Jammitors
*The music when you cross over to Adventureland
*The ride queue for Expedition Everest (there is no other ride line the world as elaborate as it is)
*The tiki torches that light the way back to the Poly from the TTC
*The "lagoon show" (Electric Water Pageant)
*The Animal Kingdom Lodge gift shop
*The different language signs at the end of Its a Small World
*Wine tastings in Germany
*The container gardens in Italy
*The Voices of America in the American Adventure in Epcot (spine tingling, heart-tugging perfectly sentimental)
*The art store outside Animation
*The Haunted Mansion headstones

[DizDaddy966]

-the sight and sound of the first firework streaking across the sky as illuminations begins
-Por Favor Mantengense Allejado de las puertas!
-rounding the corner of main st the first day and seeing the castle
-Jamminators
-walking through the lobby doors of the Wilderness Lodge
-watching all of you and your families enjoy the parks as much as me and mine do
-One Mans Dream
-taking a break at the boneyard with the kids
-tinks flight
-washcloth animals
-watching electric water parade from beach in WL
-driving through the front entrance
-monorail going by while at Chef Mickey's

and just a little food for thought

-breadsticks at Le Cellier
-fries at Casey's
-the first spoonful of a dole whip
-deeeeep sniff in(turkey legs!!)
-strawberry vinegrette salad at Liberty Tree

most of all the Magic :magic:

[pshokie]

Both involve Tink.
Having our DD's picture taken with Tink (she blinked and missed seeing her ;) ).

And later, watching Tink fly around her gift shop in MK. It is the one place where a 4yo can "touch" Tink (through the keyhole in the desk).

Makes the picture "real".

[PirateLover]

I love the fact that you can ride something a gazillion times and still find something new.

Case in point: We just got back. My bf has been to WDW about 7 or 8 times now, and this was my 5th time. Haunted Mansion is one of our favorite rides, and it wasn't until this trip that we noticed there is actually a shadow on the ground of someone playing the piano when you pass by it.

[Jedi.Princess]

* "This is the time. This is the BEST time. This is the best time of your life!"
* Dole whip, omg! My absolute favorite.
* Cheese quesadillas at La Cantina de San Angel in EPCOT
* the pesky birds at The Electric Umbrella in EPCOT
* the slight downhill walk down Main Street, at the end of a long day
* watching the U. S. flag go up in MK when the park has just opened on early entrance day and the sun hasn't quite come up yet
* AEROSMITH at MGM Studios!!!
* taking the short cut through the restaurant on your way from Main Street to Tomorrowland
* the jumping fountains at EPCOT
* jumping on the TTA when you're completely worn out and overheated, just to take a snooze and cool off
* the Jammitors
* The Main Street Mayor
* The Dapper Dans
* Riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad underneath the dinosaur ribs
* Maelstrom
* The Voices of Liberty - omg, I cry every time

and not quite the same thing, but still so special to me:

* The time Cinderella's Prince told me he thought I was Snow White, with my dark hair, fair skin, and red lips. That I will never forget....

[Juniorunc2001]

All the music - if you hear the song, or something similar when you are at home, you are taken to that ride immediately in your mind.

[Rosanne]

MAJOR props to whoever started this thread. Well a lot has been covered, but here is what I came up with:

- Discovering something new while exploring the World Showcase
- The wishing well next to the castle
- The music, oh the music.
- Cast members playing with children on main street before the parades
- The Main Street Flag Retreat (If you haven't seen this, DO IT!)

[klynch7]

All the music - if you hear the song, or something similar when you are at home, you are taken to that ride immediately in your mind.

I bought the music from the parks last time I went and we're going in about 3 weeks so I have been playing it at work for about a month now and nobody there understands, but that's exactly what it does. It takes you back to that ride!!

[AdventurerKim]

1. Haunted Mansion old house scent--when I smell this, I'm in the stretching room and then on the ride!

2. Apple Pie from Philharmagic--any scent of apple pie baking takes me straight there.

3. The wind in my hair on Dumbo and TTA! I love that relaxing feeling!

4. The ride from the airport to the grounds, passing through the archway onto WDW property! It doesn't get any better than that!

5. A clean room after a fun day in the parks! Ahhh....

[MOJoe]

I enjoy many, many of the things listed, in fact i am amazed how people remember so much! One more i've not seen.
While in line at EE, my son and i love to pitch pennies into the bowl in front of the Yeti. He got one to stay in! :number1:

[tink2006]

The water "falls" that go up instead of down
The jumping fountains at Epcot
Talking trash cans
Drapper Dan
Devine
Live statues in France
Tinks flight
Ice cream breaks

I could go on and on.......Wow, I miss being there! 73 more days!

[johnO]

- The street signs that are unique to WDW. Just another reminder that you're "On Property" and secluded from the "Real world".

- "People watching". Noticing the many different counties that people are from. Kinda brings significance to the "exclusivity" and "Lure" of WDW. The fact that people travel from Far and Wide to be there.

- The Dessert at 'Ohana :tasty:

- WDW Buses

- Passing by the old runway on the way to the MK.

- Doing the "Wave" while waiting for fantasmic to start.

I could keep going, but I've got to get going.

[DisneyorBust]

In no particular order: 1)The Walt Disney World Resort sign as you enter the property.
2) The 'smell' in the lobby of the POLY!
3) The Monorail!
4) The opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom.
5) Walking on Main Street..day or night!
6) First sighting of Cinderella Castle.
7) Illuminations!
8) Seeing Spaceship Earth.
9) Riding Spaceship Earth:D
10) The Adventureland sign.
11) Adventureland background music.
12) The World Showcase.
I could go on for days!
GREAT THREAD!!:number1:

[dizne4me]

I have to agree with an earlier poster - this is such a great thread...It brings back sooooo many wonderful memories and it's a nice break in the middle of the day. Some of my favorites are
1-The "monorail" ride in the airport(that's when it "officially" begins for me)
2-Porch rocking at Davy Crockett's with an ice cold beverage:beer:
3-The "walk" to the marina in Ft. Wilderness
4-Golf cart ride first thing in the morning with a good cup of coffee(just me and DH)
5-Waking up and "remembering" you're in Disneyworld.
6-Prehistoric prints in AK
7-The heat on the Adventureland bridge.
8-The blast of cool air when you walk in front of City Hall
9-Boat ride from MK to Ft. Wilderness at dusk
10-Watching the silver balloons "wave" at you on a windy day at MK
I could go on - but I want to read other peoples thoughts. Thanks for the thread

[brad192]

In keeping with the spirit of the OP, I've tried to keep it "little":

MK -

-The sound of the train whistle.
-The paw prints outside Tony's.
-The sounds from the upstairs rooms on Main Street.
-Squirting Tikis in Adventureland.
-The dog howl at HM.
-The horses on Main Street.

Epcot -

-Enterance music.
-The sound of the TT cars.
-Koi fish in Japan.
-The smell of funnel cakes.
-The fountain.
-Mine! Mine! Mine!
-CM's waving goddnight with Mickey hands.

DS -

-The Singin' In The Rain umbrella.
-Screams from ToT.
- The Indy well.
-Walt's drawing table in One Man's Dream.

AK -

-Wandering the Oasis.
-Getting in or near the "bird seat" at Flights of Wonder.
-An "up close & personal" encounter on KS.
-Baby animals.
-Watching a tiger - watching ME!
-The environment booths at Rafiki's.

[Laughin' place]

what a great idea, thanks for some really enjoyable reading...
I am going to take it one park at a time, as the "little things" are some of the things I love the most.
The Magic Kingdom:
MS- looking to see Walt's "light in the window"
(I miss the flower cart, scene of the annual family photo)
FantasyL - hearing the Peter Pan music in the background ('you can fly, you can fly, you can fly')
TL - the narration on the TTA ('paging Mr Morrow, Mr Tom Morrow)
ToonTown - face to face time for the kids (and me, too) with characters who have the time to play and have fun
Frontier L- all the details packing into Splash Mt -- the frog's shadow and voice, the cross stich and photos on the wall, the tune everywhere. i dont think there's anywhere else with this much detail
Lib Sq - looking for the bride's "ring" ( I SWEAR its not a pipe that was cut off)
AL - Dole whip ! (really miss the "Chinese hotdogs" -- anyone remember them ?):cloud9:

[WEDTOPIA]

I could literally fill a book with a listing of all the little things I love about WDW. But ,my favorite things are the minute details that set Disney light years apart from the competition. Like the signs ,engravings , and little touches that go the extra mile. Animal footprints in the paths , embellismments , gold inlays , lace curtains ,and authentic props. How about the owl inside Potters Mill ? The secret passage out of Ft. Langhorn ? The wooden leg named Smith at the Frontierland Railroad Station ? The chess stalemate in PotC ? The playbills at It's Tough to be a Bug ? The Impressionist painters equipment by the river in France ? The list is endless.......

:mickey:

[Septbride2002]

I love this thread.

I love the sidewalks that light up in Future World.

I love to watch the fountain "dance" to music in the morning while I sip coffee from the the Fountain Cafe.

I love the horse shoe prints outside the haunted mansion.

I love "Zippe do dah! Zippidie Ya!" I sing that song the entire week we are there.

I love the monorail at the airport - the absolute first sign that I am on vacation is seeing palm trees from there.

I love hearing the screams from Tower of Terror, and the shops along Sunset Blvd.

I love the hand and feet prints outside of the Great Movie Ride.

I love the way they set up Asia in Animal Kingdom wth the prayer flags.

I love Beigniets at the PO FQ.

I love the spell of cumin and cinnamon at the AKL.

I love the smell of the flowers at the Polynesian.

~Amanda

[grumpycajun]

Not necessarily in this order but here goes:

Spending a while with the kids watching old Disney cartoons in the lobby at PoP. Also, checking out the 60's memorabilia in the lobby. Reminds me of being a kid.

The music in Spaceship Earth.

The queue for Space Mountain.

The queue for POTC.

The pirate sleeping with the pigs.

The store in Japan.

Seeing the castle for the first time each trip.

The CM's dancing to the twist at the PoP food court. I'm gonna get up there with them this year! Our kids will be absolutely horrified!:D

Watching our kids trade pins with CM's.

As a few people have said, the smell of the water in POTC.

Watching other people watch the 3D shows.

There's so much more.....

[WDWTEXAS]

-I love the evening and night time lighting all over the World. They do a wonderful job with that.

-The attention to every thing is pretty awesome. It's pretty cool that Disney works stories into everything.

-Hidden Mickeys. Those are always fun to find, and it feels pretty cool to point them out to others. I had fun explaining them to my friends on my school's choir trip. After I showed the first one (the glasses on the desk at ToT), they were trying to find HM's everywhere, even at our off-property hotel.

[DakotaDisney]

I agree with a lot of the posts here, but there are way to many for me to list.

One of the main things that I really love with Disney Parks is there attention to detail and setting the stage. From atmosphere to plants, to color, to sound, to smells, to the pavement, etc. everthing just sets the stage for the rides, shows and different areas.

Everytime you can see something new in each area of the park or on a ride.

[EpcotFanatic]

I like waking up early in the morning and feeling the warm air when I leave the room. Then heading down to the cafeteria and getting some breakfast as they're still putting it out. This way I'm filled up and ready to hit the parks when the first bus pulls up. :thumbsup:

[Mickey91]

Love the theming! Love the crisp new look almost everything has. Family Fun Magazine in the room. Mickey soaps. Sights and sounds on the monorail. Walking down Main Street USA!:mickey:

[Darin M]

1. My favorite things are the echoes of "Dead Men Tell No Tales" while riding Pirates.

2. Pulling the rope right outside of the Indiana Jones stunt show.

3. Trying on the crazy hats at MGM.

4. The pickles at the Electric Umbrella in Epcot.

5. Singing Along while riding Splash Mountain.

6. The crazy tunnel you go through in the beginning of Space Mountain.

7. The remnants of Who Framed Roger Rabbit memorabilia.

[PhilHarHarMagic]

I can't for the life of me remember what it is called, but during the "new" tiki show, there is some sort of person that comes out of the middle and dances around. It's amazing how "fluid" it is...

[wilshade]

In no particular order than what comes to mind.

1). Watching the characters interact with the kids.

2). Seeing the hotels from the monrail

3). The castle lit up at night

4). Getting hungry just walking by Pecos Bill's

5). Listening to Off Kilter from across the lake.

6). Driving through the WDW entrance and leaving the real world behind.

[Mr. Incredible]

Oooo... I have several:

The film montage at the end of GMR
Frozen lemonade from the Outpost in WS (on a good hot afternoon)
TTA spiel
the sparkling clean pool area at each resort every morning
Rope Drop opening ceremony at MK (makes me watery eyed every time)
MGM at dusk takes me away to another place and time
Big Al
breakfast at Main Street Bakery
Cinderella's Surprise Celebration (I really miss that show; glad I filmed it before it left)
Tomorrowland at night
paint brushes on TSI
free cookies at Wilderness Lodge
CBR gift shops
lying in CBR hammock and watching Illuminations
new last scene in PotC
Mickey bars
names on the doors in JIYI queue
Harambe
castle changing color at dusk
Adventureland BGM