Waking up at the crack of dawn on your first full day because you're too excited to stay asleep. Throwing on some clothes and strolling around the resort while nearly everyone but the CM's are still asleep, taking in the details built into the resort grounds and breathing that muggy Florida air when it's still cool enough to be pleasant on your skin. I like early mornings like that at home, too, though, and I think the link to WDW in my mind started when I was a CM there and I'd get scheduled for 6AM-2PM laundry shifts -- arriving at the parks at the crack of dawn and knowing that I was there getting things set up so the magic could happen for everyone who was still sleeping always felt special, even if the magic wore off a little when I got in and had to actually get to work. It's that anticipation, though, the calm before the day.
Lots of posts that reminded me of other things, though!
The Carousel. From the time my daughter was very young even until today (she is 19), she has always loved carousels. We have ridden dozens all over the world. But the one in the MK is truly a marvel. Big. Beautiful. Always in great shape. And with Disney music playing on the calliope. It can easily be overlooked as "just a carousel" but in context, it is so much more compared to others.
I had never ridden the carousel at WDW before our last trip in 2015, but I was really glad that we went on it then! I think it especially helped that we rode the Seuss carousel at Islands of Adventure earlier in the trip and found the animals incredibly uncomfortable to sit upon. I was glad we took the time to ride the one at MK.
Animal Kingdom.
I can't count how many posts about how it's a half day park, help me like Animal Kingdom, can we skip Animal Kingdom, etc.
This. When I was there on the College Program and would visit on my days off, I found myself gravitating toward AK more often than not. I can see how one would want to skip through/past it if one were focused just on riding as many attractions as possible, but when you take the time to explore the place, watch the shows, and take in the atmosphere, it's one of the best places on property. At least, in my opinion.
Another one I have not seen mentioned here is the magnificent film in the France pavilion, Impressions de France. Yes, the shots of the people in 1970s clothes feels outdated, but the marvelous cinematography and soundtrack with works by Saint-Saens, Debussy and others is sublime.
Yessss. That 2009 College Program was when I finally took the time to view all the films in Epcot, and Impressions de France came out on top for me. The wraparound theater hits the immersive factor without being overwhelming like CircleVision (...plus you can sit down), and the film itself is one of the best ones in the park.
I was just fixing to say the same thing. Most of our experiences using the buses are great but we only remember the bad experiences. Usually the drivers are very nice and colorful. And their stories are so.....
I recall one bus ride on Disney property when the driver turned the trip into a game show. He'd ask questions, call on passengers, and flash all the different interior lights if you got it right.
After seeing it get slapped down a lot in the other thread, I think Fantasmic is underrated. Our last trip was the first visit to WDW for my GF and it was her favorite thing there. In fact, she loved the show so much I still catch her singing some of the music to herself now (over a year later). Awesome show that definitely has that Disney magic.
I almost feel like I can't comment on Fantasmic anymore because I'm biased from having worked backstage there. I think my mom didn't get why I insisted we had to watch it when we went in 2015, since I spent something like four months hearing/watching/working on it from backstage multiple times per week...but I do love that show. The water curtain projections drag on a little for me when I'm watching from the audience, but even knowing how everything in the show is done I still get caught up in the illusions.
Also... dare I say it's underrated... It's a Small World. I find so many people hate on the attraction, yet to me it's part the "heart" of Disney, and a must-do on every trip.
I unironically love It's a Small World. I wouldn't ride it over and over or anything, but I insist on riding it at least once every trip and I legitimately enjoy seeing all the different areas of the ride.