Part 2: Why Do People Go To Disney World?

In part one of this two part series, I spoke on the topic of why people of all ages go to Disney World. Whether it be the constant updates happening around all of the parks or Disney World becoming a social norm, many people of all ages attend the parks. In this part of the two part series, I will be speaking on why adults specifically go to Disney World, even without children.

The topic of why adults go to Disney World is an interesting topic to research. There are many adults that go to Disney World, even if they do not have children with them. But why is this?

The first reason that many adults go to Disney World is because of nostalgia. This feeling is something that everyone is familiar with. The feeling of something you haven’t experienced since you were a child coming back and making a special appearance in your life.

Nostalgia is a feeling that many individuals crave, wanting to experience something that they experienced as a child once again. Everything from the characters throughout the park, to the classic attractions that so many remember from when they were kids, Disney World has never lacked the feeling of nostalgia. This is one reason why you will see many adults taking vacation days to revisit and experience their childhood once more.

The third and final reason as to why many adults still go to Disney World is because many of them want the feeling of being young, even if it is just for one day.

At some point in life, individuals realize that they are getting older, which will cause many of them to desire the feeling of being young again. Disney World is an automatic thought for many when they long for this feeling.

With the ability to hang out with childhood heroes like Pooh Bear, Peter Pan and Snow White, eat dinner with Disney princesses in Cinderellas Castle and experience the sights, sounds and smells of Disney World, no place can do it better.

Another reason why adults want to go to Disney World is because many want to get away from the stresses that the adult life holds. Catherine Trevithick is a student at Liberty University who is about to graduate from the psychology program.

“I think it definitely has to do with the stress that comes with adult life, because all of the stresses you experience as an adult are new and you realize how much more of an adult you are,” said Trevithick.

Catherine also talked about how many adults, after they first enter the adult life, begin to make important life decisions, but they still want to be care free and whimsical. This is something that many individuals feel when they first enter into adulthood and this is also a big reason as to why many adults go to Disney World.

Disney is a place for people of all ages. Whether it be a child’s first time experiencing the Magic Kingdom or an adult reliving his or her childhood, there is a place for everyone at Disney World.

 

 

 

Part 1: Why Do People Go to Disney World?

In this two part series, I will be discussing reasons as to why people go to Disney World. The first part of this series will be focusing on the main reasons why people of all ages go to Disney and the second part will be focusing on why adults go to Disney World.

Ever since 1971, Disney World has been a place that has hosted hundreds of millions of people. It has become something that so many know and love, but why has it become this way?

One reason that many people go to Disney World is because it is consistently changing. Disney is always adding on new additions to the four parks, with a recent example being the new Star Wars and Toy Story Lands. Because of these additions to the park, so many people desire to come back and see the new attractions, restaurants or shows.

Another reason that many people go to Disney World is because it has become a social norm in our society. The majority people would say that they have never met someone who has not heard of Disney World.

A poll by Patrick Reikofski revealed that a whopping 19,332,000 visited Disney World in the year 2014. This means that each day, over 53,000 people would enter into Disney World.

Paige Hardy is a student at Liberty University who has studied Psychology for over three years.

“A lot of people go to Disney today because they want to fit in and they want to take their kids to experience Disney like their parents did. They also want to fit in with everyone who went to Disney and they don’t want to feel left out of not going to Disney and having that experience,” said Hardy. “Also, people go to Disney because it is becoming a social norm in our society that everybody wants to go to Disney so they think that since its becoming normalized, they want to fit in with the crowd.”

Interview with Paige Hardy

Not only do children and families go to Disney World, but many adults also enjoy going to Disney World as a vacation or getaway as well. The reasoning for why adults still go to Disney World will be discussed in the second part of this series

Disney Breaks Ground on Brand New Star Wars Land

This past Thursday, Disney officially broke ground for the long awaited Star Wars Land at both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. For all of the Star Wars fans and Disney lovers out there, this is huge news. Disneyland and Hollywood Studios have been planning on this day for a while and now they will officially begin the construction on the brand new Star Wars Land.

In an article by Sarabeth Pollock, entitled “Disneyland officially breaks ground on Star Wars Land,” she states that:

“When the park is finished, Disney says that it will be an immersive experience that will make fans feel like they’re in the middle of a new world. Two major attractions are planned, and while the Imagineers are keeping mum about the details, they have confirmed that one of the rides allows guests to take control of the Millennium Falcon,” Pollock said

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Star Wars has already begun to take over part of the park itself. With attractions such as Star Wars Launch Bay, Star Tours – The Adventure Continues, Star Wars: Path of the Jedi and the newest firework show at Hollywood Studios, Symphony in the Stars, people everywhere are looking forward to the new additions coming up in the Star Wars Land expansion.

Looking to the future, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is making way for the new Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land by changing different sections of the park. The main change that will be occurring with the new addition of Star Wars Land will be the removal of the Streets of America, which was home to different events, such as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

Along with this removal, Disney will also be removing the show Lights, Camera, Action! Though these removals are taking place, many are very excited to see both Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land be added in to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

What do you guys think about the new Star Wars Land in both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios? Are you excited to see these changes happen? What are you looking forward to most about the new Star Wars Land? Comment down below and let me know!

Disney Stories: A Wet, Cold and Fun Night at The Magic Kingdom

Some people love to take advantage of all the time they have and do everything they can on vacation, no matter what the circumstances are. Brady Snyder and his family took an incredible trip to Disney World during the Christmas season a couple of years ago. While there, the weather outside was especially freezing. Because of this, everyone in the parks consistently attempted to stay as warm as they could to brave the ferocious weather.

On the Snyder family’s final day of vacation, some of the family members decided that they wanted to throw in the towel and head back to the hotel they were staying at. It was getting late, the crowds were becoming greater and greater and the temperature was consistently dropping. Though all of these things were occurring at the time, Brady would not let that affect the last day of his trip.

At the time, Brady and his family were at Epcot, walking around the world and exploring different attractions around the park. After they finished their time at Epcot, Brady was looking for the next big thing to do on their last day of vacation. “I went over to a cast member to find out the hours for The Magic Kingdom that night and she said that there would be Magic Hours in the park until 3:00 a.m.,” Snyder said. This sparked a thought in Brady’s mind.

Brady decided to go up to his family and ask to see if anyone wanted to join him and go to The Magic Kingdom. After speaking with them, his dad and two brothers agreed to go with him and spend the rest of the night at the park. They then began their journey to The Magic Kingdom.

Once they got to The Magic Kingdom, they were shocked at how it looked on the inside. “So it was freezing at the Magic Kingdom… I don’t think I have ever experienced Florida weather that cold. When we got in the park, there was nobody there. I think I saw about two or three people walking out of Mainstreet U.S.A., but other than that, all we saw were cast members in the park. They then began their journey through The Magic Kingdom.

Brady, his brothers and his dad started to walk around all of the park and ride everything they wanted to. With the lines being as short as they were, they were able to walk on any ride they wanted. “We made our way to Fantasyland and rode ‘it’s a small world.’ With no one else waiting in line, my father, two brothers and I chose our own rows, spread our legs out on the seats and took naps throughout the ride,” Snyder said.

They then began their journey through Frontierland. While there they noticed that there was no wait for Splash Mountain. With the weather being as cold as it was, it would have been crazy to go on that ride, but Brady was determined to finish the night with this incredibly wet ride. Brady then began to speak to his family, trying to convince them to join him on the ride. “My dad was very adamant, saying that he did not want to get wet because he would freeze and then he would have to walk back to the hotel. I then talked with my brothers, trying to get them to go with me and finally they decided to join me. All that was left was to convince my dad,” Snyder said.

After a while, they finally convinced their dad to go on Splash Mountain with them in the cold on one condition. That one condition was that Brady’s dad would punch him for every drop of water that got on him during the ride. Brady agreed completely and they began to walk through the line. “There was nobody in line, so we just walked right on because we were the only ones dumb enough to ride Splash Mountain at 2:00 a.m. in the freezing cold,” Snyder said.

They then proceeded to go on Splash Mountain. Once they got to the final drop, they looked around at each other and then proceeded to plunge into the Briar Patch. After they got to the bottom, Brady looked around at everyone. He noticed that him and his brothers were completely dry, but when he looked at his dad, he realized that he was the only one to get wet and he was completely soaked. “I start laughing really hard and my dad just punched me once right in the arm. It was a good memory of Disney World that me and my brothers will always remember.

Brady Snyder talking about his experience at Splash Mountain:

Do you have any fun Disney World or Disneyland stories you would like to share? Comment down below and let me know!

 

 

The Legacy of Walt Disney’s Christmas Parade

Toy soldiers marching through the street, gingerbread men dancing all around and Christmas joy being shown for all to see. All of these describe a Walt Disney World tradition that people look forward to and have the chance to experience throughout every Christmas season.

Ever since 1971, Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida has celebrated the Christmas season by having an annual Christmas parade. This parade features some of the world’s favorite Disney characters and special guests that will put anyone in the Christmas spirit.

After looking at pictures from the 1971 Christmas parade, which was called “Fantasy on Parade” at the time, there seemed to be a number of similarities that have not changed since that day.

Toy soldiers have been a huge part of Disney’s Christmas parade since the first parade in 1971. The toy soldiers that opened the parade and the toy soldiers that are still going today have had very little changes done to them throughout the years. The toy soldiers that appeared in Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade this past Christmas season appear as exact replicas of the toy soldiers that marched the streets in 1971.

Along with the toy soldiers, the parade also incorporates some of Disney’s most classic characters. Characters such as Peter Pan, Tigger and Pinocchio join along in the magical march through The Magic Kingdom to spread Christmas joy to all of the Guests.

Another similarity of the 1971 Christmas parade compared to today’s Christmas parade is the Mickey and Minnie Mouse float. Ever since the beginning, Mickey and Minnie have shared their own float in the Christmastime parade at the Magic Kingdom. The beloved couple make their way throughout Magic Kingdom, spreading joy and seasons greetings to Guests of all ages.

Two of the main ways that Disney has changed their Christmas parade in the past 45 years has been through their characters and floats.

Throughout the years, there have been new Disney characters added to the parade. Some of these new characters being Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf from the recent hit movie, Frozen. Even though Disney has added brand new characters to the mix, they consistently continue to involve the classic and beloved characters that will always be close to our hearts.

Another aspect of the parade that has changed over the years has been the floats. Last year’s 2015 Christmas parade had a bakery float that spread the scent of baked goods and candy all throughout the Magic Kingdom. They also added a beautiful crystal float with different princesses aboard such as Ariel, Belle and Jasmine.

At the very end of the parade, a very special guest from the North Pole joins the other Disney characters in welcoming the Christmas season. Santa Claus has served as the grand finale of the Walt Disney World Christmas parade ever since it’s debut in 1971.

Whether it be the marching toy soldiers, the many Disney characters roaming the streets or seeing Santa Claus himself, the Walt Disney World Christmas Parades have allowed guests of all ages to be filled with the spirit of Christmas and create magical memories that will last a lifetime.

What’s your favorite part of the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade? What do you think will be some new additions to this year’s parade? Comment below and let me know!

The History of It’s A Small World

Traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures in just ten minutes is something that is only possible with one ride at Walt Disney World. “It’s A Small World“is a classic Disney World attraction that been around for over 50 years.

The 1964 New York World’s Fair was the first to see the brand new ride, “Children of the World,” which would later be the ride known as “It’s A Small World.”According to an article by Genevieve Brown entitled It’s a Small World: 9 Little-Known Facts, they never thought that the ride would actually last after the World’s Fair was over (Brown, “It’s a Small World: 9 Little-Known Facts“).

The article states that the composer of the song used throughout the ride, Richard Sherman, stated:

“We thought, ‘Well, when the World’s Fair is over, that will be the end of it. For two years, they’ll have this thing.’ We never dreamed it would have the ‘legs’ as they call it, the distance that it’s run,” said Sherman.

But that was not the case. After the fair was over, the ride was moved to Disneyland in California to make its premiere in the park on May 28, 1966. “It’s A Small World” was the perfect addition to the park, causing so many to fall in love with the ride itself. For many, once the ride was added to Disneyland, it was like adding the final piece of a puzzle to make it perfect and complete.

It’s A Small World went on to be one of the most well-known rides at Disneyland and later was one of the few first rides to premiere at Disney World on opening day in 1971. To this day, people look at It’s A Small World as one of their favorite classic rides at Disney and the happiest cruise that ever sailed the seven seas!

Growing up, It’s A Small World was one of those rides that always came into my mind when I thought of Disney World. From its exotic landscape and fun dancing characters, to its theme song that left me singing the same lines all day long, this ride always left me smiling. It’s A Small World has earned a special place in hearts all around the world, allowing so many to come together and say “it’s a small world after all!”

 

Sources used in this blog: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/disneys-small-world-facts/story?id=22990670

The History of the Osborne Family Lights

This past Christmas season, the world said a special goodbye to a Walt Disney World spectacle. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights celebrated it’s 20th and final year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since 1995, The Osborne Lights have amazed guests all around the world and it all started with one girl.

Jennings Osborne was a successful microbiologist that was born in 1943. In 1980, he and his wife, Mitzi Osborne, had their first and only daughter, Allison Brianne. Jennings, being the successful business man he was, usually was away from home and busy with work, but one Christmas changed all of that for him.

On Allison’s 6th Christmas in 1986, she asked her dad for something that was not a normal or trendy thing for kids to ask for. This being to spend time together with her dad and hang up Christmas lights in the front of their house.

When Allison said this, it caused Jennings Osborne to realize the time that he had been missing with his young daughter and his wife. Because of this, he decided to go out and buy over 1,000 Christmas lights to hang up with his daughter that year.

In an article entitled Secret History of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Jim Korkis states that “it became a tradition and Jennings kept adding more and more lights. However, his home was located on one of the busiest streets in Little Rock and, as the fame of this display spread, it resulted in severe traffic problems as visitors clogged the street to experience the illuminated spectacle” (Korkis).

Because of this publicity, the Osborne’s lights started to become an issue for some people. In 1994, after accumulating over 3 million lights, the Arkansas Supreme court ruled that the Osborne’s lights be taken down immediately.

After this occurred, the vice president of Walt Disney World at the time decided to give Jennings Osborne a call about the lights. After 9 years of using the Osborne family’s front yards as their display piece, the Osborne family decided to donate all of the lights they had to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.

Combined, this entire showcase that the Osborne family had created up to this point included over 3 million lights, 100 angels, two working carousels, a 70-foot-tall Christmas tree, and a train conducted by Mickey Mouse. The entire display made it Disney on November 4th, 1995 and from there, the team of Disney’s Imagineers began to put up the lights.

By the end of November, the Walt Disney World had set up all of the lights and prepared them for the upcoming Christmas season. Everyone who came to see these lights were amazed at the spectacle and from that point on, The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights began growing in the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As of this past Christmas season, the Osborne Lights had accumulated over 5 million total lights!

The lights have allowed so many around the world to experience a showcase like never before for just over 20 years. Though it is sad to see the lights go, the legacy of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights will live on forever.

Sources used in the blog: https://www.mouseplanet.com/11210/Secret_History_of_the_Osborne_Family_Spectacle_of_Dancing_Lights