I Live 5 Minutes From Disney World. These Are the Things I Never Get Tired Of

Most of my friends think that I’d get sick of Disney World because I live so close to the Most Magical Place on Earth. Soon after my wife and I moved close to Disney, I started thinking the same thing. After all, I’d have access to all the Disney World theme parks and resorts. We’d go there almost every weekend. Believe it or not, I’d even go straight from work to the theme parks!

However, the longer we lived here, the more I realized that there’s so much more to discover and re-discover about Walt Disney World. From my favorite ride to the smallest hidden Mickeys, there’s magic at Disney that I love experiencing over and over again.

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Here’s Why I Never Get Sick of These Disney World Things

Tree of Life

Most people that visit Disney World love the feeling of seeing the newest attractions Disney has to offer.

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The new update for Test Track. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. They even love ride updates like the holiday overlay for Living with the Land.

On the other hand, I love the sense of nostalgia and discovery that certain things in Disney World bring. Even if I’ve ridden a ride or heard a certain sound hundreds of times, I never get sick of them because of the nostalgia it brings me. It’s as if I’m experiencing that thing again for the very first time. On the other hand, the same ride can still give me a sense of discovery because I may notice something on it that I’ve never noticed before.

After all, even Walt Disney built parts of Disneyland with the idea of bringing a sense of nostalgia and discovery to guests.

Disney World’s Icon Reveals Never Get Old

Every single time I visit the Disney World parks, it feels like I’m seeing the park icons for the first time.

Tap into Magic Kingdom, stroll under the Disneyland Railroad, then make the slight turn onto Main Street, U.S.A. to reveal the beautiful Sleeping Beauty Castle. Take the monorail to EPCOT and marvel as your vehicle gives you a 360-degree view of the geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth. 

Tap into Hollywood Studios and make a right turn onto Sunset Boulevard to see the Hollywood Tower Hotel looming over you in the distance. Tap into Animal Kingdom and adventure through the fauna to reveal the beautiful Tree of Life.

Disney made these icons for a reason. More than just symbolizing each park, they signal to me that I don’t need to worry. I’m home.

The Sounds That Define Disney World

Skyliner

Disney’s ability to appeal to all your senses, especially with their sounds, will never get old.

Before even hearing the ring of tapping your Magic Band into Magic Kingdom, you’re greeted by the whistle of the Walt Disney World Railroad that evokes the sense of nostalgia and adventure that Walt Disney felt as a young boy. Soon after you board the Disney Skyliner, you’re greeted by a warm welcome of the narrator’s voice as you’re taken up to a highway in the sky to your next destination.

But the Disney World sounds go much further than Disney World transportation.

Every time I hear the opening notes of Fantasmic!, I get the chills and remember my very first time sitting in awe at this show. Whenever I hear Jordan Fisher sing “Ready to begin,” marking the start of Happily Ever After, I have to fight back emotion and tears of holding my wife when we first watched it. And with new rides and shows coming soon, I wouldn’t be surprised if more new sounds will bring more emotion over me!

The sounds of Disney World bring a sense of nostalgia for the most magical moments I’ve had at the theme parks.

The Disney World Scents I’ll Never Forget

Pandora

If you’ve ever been on Soarin’ Around the World at EPCOT, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

But that’s just the icing on the cake!

As you stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom, you smell the warm, buttery aroma of freshly made popcorn, reminding you that you’re the star in this adventure. After stepping into your boat on Pirates of the Caribbean, you smell the mustiness of the water that transports you to the time of swashbuckling pirates. Midway through your adventure on Flights of Passage at Animal Kingdom, the scent of fresh ocean water fills your nose as your banshee takes refuge in a dark cave, where one-by-one, woodsprites start lighting up your way.

Disney has a way of using the sense of smell at just the right time to create unforgettable moments. With one whiff, you’re transported out of this world and into these adventures.

It’s no wonder that these Disney scents stay with you long after you leave the parks.

The Ride I Never Skip at Magic Kingdom: Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

TTA PeopleMover

The PeopleMover is more than just a relaxing ride through Tomorrowland.

With a bird’s eye view of Magic Kingdom, there’s always new details to notice when riding. Along the way, the model of EPCOT always reminds me of my love of miniature towns as a kid. And even with the updated narration, Stephen Stanton still brings a feeling of nostalgia every time I ride the PeopleMover.

The PeopleMover is a ride I’m willing to get on over and over again.

The Most Underrated Ride at EPCOT: Living with the Land

Living with the Land

Whenever I visit EPCOT, I’ll rarely skip a ride on Living with the Land.

During my first few visits to Disney World, I used to see Living with the Land as the perfect napping ride. Now, it’s my reminder of how amazing Disney does attractions, agriculture, and conservation. Of course, the greenhouse portion of the ride is my favorite, with new details to spot every time I ride it again. The seasonal decorations also add to the novelty of the ride, making it feel completely new during the holidays.

Living with the Land evokes nostalgia and gets seasonal updates, making it feel fresh every time I ride it.

The Disney World Shows I Could Watch Again and Again

Happily Ever After

Disney knows how to do stage shows so that you want to watch them over and over again.

Festival of the Lion King will always have a special place in my heart because its incredible acrobatics and storytelling reminds me of a Cirque du Soleil show. Fantasmic! will always be my favorite stage show because of its effects, storytelling, and music. But even smaller shows like Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire is always an automatic reminder that I’ve stepped into the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Each stage show at Disney World offers incredible visuals and catchy songs all tied together with their own unique storyline. 

Just like a classic Disney movie, Disney World’s shows have lasting power, making me want to watch them over and over again.

Why I Love the Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt

Polynesian

Finding hidden Mickeys around Disney World has been one of my favorite pastimes.

There’s no better feeling than finding the shape of a Mickey hidden in plain sight. And when you do find it, it feels like your little secret that you only want to share with your closest friends. And even if I’ve found a hidden Mickey in the past, I absolutely love passing by the same spot just to give myself reassurance that it’s still there.

Take, for example, the three palm trees you see as you get off the Disney Skyliner and walk toward the Riviera Resort: the two outer trees are slightly taller, making Mickey’s ears while the center tree makes his head. Another one I love is in Japan Pavilion’s koi pond at EPCOT. As you step close to the railing of the pond, look down at the drain to spot it!

Finding hidden Mickeys give me a sense of both nostalgia and discovery as I find old ones and new ones every time I visit Disney World.

I Could Visit the Walt Disney World Lounges All the Time

Topolino’s Terrace

Disney World has the best collection of lounges you’ll ever visit in one place.

What keeps me going back to any one of their lounges is not just their unique cocktails. Each lounge is themed in such a way that it tells you a story and whisks you away on an adventure. Take, for example, Abracadabar, a magician themed lounge at the BoardWalk Inn. Abracadabar whisks you into the golden age of magic with disappearing posters, endless props, and unique cocktails.

Even if I visit the same lounge more than once, each adventure is wildly different thanks to the interactions I have with bartenders and guests. In fact, if friends visit me from out of town and want to visit a bar or lounge, I automatically point them to Disney World because their experience will be unmatched.

By the way, if you haven’t read our ranking of the top Disney World Resort Lounges, you’ll need to read it to see why I’d never get sick of them.

Why Disney Springs Keeps Pulling Me Back

Disney Springs

As a pre-teen, I used to love roaming the local mall with my friends – shopping, eating, and just hanging out. Now, as an adult, Disney Springs gives me that same sense of joy when I go out to eat with friends or shop with my wife.

Additionally, there will always be something about Disney Springs that makes me excited to visit it over and over again.

That something might be sitting at the outdoor bar at The Boathouse with the perfect view of the lake at sunset. It might be perusing the merchandise at World of Disney for the fifth time to see if there’s something new to purchase. It might be the sounds of the live band playing covers of my favorite songs as I stroll past. These are just a few of the unexpected joys I’ve experienced at Disney Springs that keep me coming back.

Believe it or not, Disney Springs brings me a sense of nostalgia and discovery that I originally never thought would happen.

I Could Never Forget the People of Disney

Cast Member

The number one thing that never gets old about Disney World is the people.

It could be the Cast Member that sings his parking lot spiel while riding the tram. Or the child who can’t seem to let go of Mickey at his meet-and-greet. Or the new friend you make while in line for Tower of Terror.

These seemingly small but significant moments are engrained in my memory because they remind me why Disney World is so special. They remind me how special Disney is to everyone but also give me a sense of nostalgia for the magical moments I’ve experienced in the past.

Meeting new people and seeing people keep the Disney magic alive is something I will truly never outgrow.

READ MORE – 11 Unwritten Rules of the Disney Parks You Really Need to Follow

From knowing what time the park opens to getting the right ticket, understanding park hopping, and hitting all the top attractions, it can be tough to keep it all straight! Along with those more logistical items to keep track of, there are also quite a few “unwritten rules” to be aware of. Learn this secret code of Disney park etiquette here so you don’t unknowingly make a faux pas on your next visit!

Disney Cast Members are specially trained to provide the ultimate Guest experience. No matter what their job entails, the goal is to create the happiest atmosphere for Guests to enjoy. While it’s important to keep the magic alive, real life does still happen. Take a look at some of the codes that Disney Cast Members use to discuss troublesome situations amongst themselves.

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About Stephen Cabebe

Stephen is an author, Doctor in Physical Therapy, and runner. He's a California native and recent Orlando transplant who's traveled to Disneyland and Walt Disney World countless times. Outside of sharing his love of Disney, Stephen helps Disney travelers physically prepare for their vacation so they can walk more, enjoy longer days, and make magical memories with their loved ones without pain or burnout.

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