It’s the Little Things: Disney Moments I Love Most

Posted:  DVC Rentals Parks Resorts

As someone who loves going to Disney and has never been a big fan of rollercoasters (I know…hot take!), I like to find all my magic and thrills in the smaller, unexpected moments.

The colorful track and themed décor around Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios are seen under a cloudy sky. There is a circular sign over part of the track reading “Go!” in neon green writing.

I’ve always been a go-go-go kind of person, wanting to cram everything in and squeeze as much magic as possible out of every trip. But on my last couple of trips, I’ve learned that slowing down and taking in the little moments can be just as magical. So I wanted to share some of my favorite Disney experiences that might not be the first things people think of as the highlight of their trip!

Two brown chairs are seen on a private patio at the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge as the sun sparkles through the trees during golden hour.

 

When Your Resort Becomes the Highlight


Starting off strong, right at the beginning of a trip, I love a travel day.

Hear me out, I know it can often be a long and exhausting day, where you’ve woken up early, probably sat in an airport for way longer than you ever hoped, and are constantly moving all day, carrying heavy bags. But nothing beats the anticipation of arriving and starting your trip!

The white and blue porte-cochere of Disney’s Old Key West Resort is seen under a blue sky. Palm trees and colorful flower patches can be seen along the pedestrian walkways.

That moment when you’re dropped off at the front entrance and get to walk into the lobby of the resort you’ve been dreaming about staying at. The scent of the resort hits you (those wonderful Disney resort smells!), and suddenly you’ve entered a whole new world: Vacation Mode.

A wooden Tiki statue is seen in the main lobby of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. The dark woods in the resort’s décor can been seen along with green foliage, and brightly colored lanterns hanging from the glass ceiling.

Extra stars for the trips when your room is ready when you arrive, and you get to mosey right on over to your room! Picture it: you walk into a cozy villa, open the curtains to a beautiful view, and realize you’re probably about to have some of the best sleep of your life after a long travel day. And then you remember: tomorrow you get to go to a Disney park!

A Deluxe Studio at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The room is decorated with neutral tones and bright Disney-themed art. A view of Bay Lake can be seen from the balcony door.

 

The Magic of a Pool Break

 

Taking a break in the day to sit and relax by the pool is so unmatched.

Guests enjoy the Beach Pool at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa under a bright blue sky as the monorail glides by in the distance.

The parks are fantastic and a lot of fun, but it’s also good to balance the noise and crowds with some time relaxing, reading, or enjoying a snack by the pool.

The Boulder Ridge Cove Pool is seen under a blue sky at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. There are lounge chairs surrounding it and the resort’s exterior can be seen in the background.

One of my favorite moments from my last trip was dipping my toes in the Boulder Ridge Cove Pool at the end of the night. The sound of Beauty and the Beast played in the distance as other guests enjoyed the Movies under the Stars experience, but the pool was nice and peaceful, with only a few other guests in it at the time. This allowed for such a unique, quiet moment to dip my tired feet in the water and just sit back and enjoy the end of my night.

 

The Pause You Didn’t Plan (AKA People Watching)

 

When you’ve had a long day and need a break, one of my favorite things to do is people-watching.

Whether you’re at the parks, at Disney Springs, or at your resort, there are always spots to sit and enjoy a moment where nothing is scheduled, and you just want to relax and enjoy the views.

The words “Disney’s Boardwalk” are seen in gold script on the side of a wooden bench with green accents as the resort’s exterior is seen in the background.

Often, I only mean to sit down for a few minutes to rest and enjoy some food, but then I’ll look down at my watch to see that time has flown by. There’s so much to see as you watch families walking by, children experiencing magical moments for the first time, and characters arriving to meet guests. There’s always something unexpected to catch your eye!

DiVine, a character made of green foliage performs for guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

My personal favorite is to sit upstairs on the outside balcony at Pinocchio Village Haus in Magic Kingdom with my chicken fingers and fries, and watch people down in the area behind Cinderella Castle! There’s something magical about seeing people coming through the Castle into Fantasyland, excitedly passing through on their way to Peter Pan’s Flight, or one of the other nearby rides. The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel down below is also mesmerizing and fun to watch!

The exterior of Pinocchio Village Haus quick service restaurant and its outdoor seating areas are seen under a bright blue sky at Magic Kingdom.

The Cast Members Who Make the Magic

 

Nothing adds magic to a Disney trip like really great Cast Members, in my opinion, and sometimes those little magical moments can really make or break your experience!

One of my favorite recent experiences was dining at Liberty Tree Tavern; our server was fantastic. He was so lively, chatty, and fun. A couple of us also had dietary restrictions, and he put so much care and attention into our allergies, making sure we had lots of options and suggestions.

A white and green wooden sign for Liberty Tree Tavern restaurant is seen in Liberty Square at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

He told us all about his wife’s similar dietary needs and gave us suggestions based on their personal experiences. It was so great to hear and very helpful! He also gave us extra packaged desserts to bring with us when we were done, going above and beyond to provide us with a magical experience!

Thanksgiving-inspired foods like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and meatless meatloaf are seen served on white plates at Liberty Tree Tavern at the Magic Kingdom.

For me, these are the memories you don’t always take photos of—you simply experience them and carry them with you. It’s the little things that you bring up in stories as you tell all your friends about the special moments that added a bit of extra pixie dust to an already fantastic trip!

Finding Your New Favorite Foods

I’ve got good news and bad news for you…

The Good News: Disney has so many delicious things to try, and every trip seems to come with a new favorite snack.

A hand holds up a chocolate-covered Mickey ice cream treat in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

I am a huge fan of Dole Whip. I don’t think you can go through a Disney trip without consuming at least one. It’s refreshing and delicious, and the original is such a classic for a reason. For fun, I recently tried the “I Lava You” Float. I could tell from the pictures it would be good, but I was not prepared for just how good it actually was.

A hand holds up an “I Lava You” float made with orange Dole Whip at Sunshine Tree Terrace at Magic Kingdom. Red popping candies can be seen on top of the frozen treat.

This float, inspired by the “Lava” Pixar short, is made with Orange Dole Whip, and the popping candies really gave it that lava-inspired feel. The mixture of the different fruity flavors together just made it the perfect dessert to enjoy on a hot day. I split it with my group on our way over to sit down and watch Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, and we all still talk about how great it was!

The Bad News: Sometimes Disney snacks just don’t taste the same at home. No matter what I do, my recreations of some of my favorite trip treats somehow just don’t taste the same if I’m not walking around Disney property! But I guess that means I just have to plan another trip to go back!

The Perfect Fireworks Spot

Fireworks are one of my favorite sights in the whole world. There is something so spectacular about seeing fireworks light up the sky, and that is only exceeded by being paired with the Happily Ever After soundtrack and Castle projections. There are a number of good Disney firework shows, but nothing will ever truly beat Happily Ever After for me!

Golden fireworks sparkle over Cinderella Castle during the Happily Ever After fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

That is why finding the perfect spot to watch the fireworks is so important. On my last trip, it was something completely unexpected, but we happened to catch the boat between Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom at the exact moment the fireworks were happening! Though you can sit and watch the show in areas around Wilderness Lodge, it was a special moment to be enjoying a ride across the water while seeing the fireworks high in the sky!

Red and white fireworks shine above the Magic Kingdom as seen from a water taxi boat as the monorail glides by under the night sky.

I wouldn’t do this every single time, as I like being in the park to watch the show, but it was such a special moment that just happened organically, making it feel even more magical.

Disney After Dark

 

The only thing cooler than the fireworks is having Extended Evening Hours in the parks.

Spaceship Earth is illuminated with shades of pink, purple, and orange under a night sky as guests make their way to the park’s exit.

This perk for guests staying in Deluxe DVC Villas adds that extra bit of magic, and Disney at night is a whole other experience! I love walking through the parks when the sky is dark, and the lights seem extra bright. And we can all agree that seeing Spaceship Earth in EPCOT all lit up at night is a peak experience, right?

Expedition Everest is illuminated with purple light under a dark night sky as warm white lights glow around Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

Even on evenings without additional park hours, Disney at night in general is a special kind of magic. There is something special about staying until closing and making your way out of the parks knowing you’re one of the last guests around. The parks feel so calm and serene—a total contrast to the middle of the day, when everyone is rushing from ride to ride. Your feet may be tired, but your heart is happy knowing you spent the whole day making memories, eating great food, and enjoying as much magic as possible!

EPCOT’s grounds and Spaceship Earth icon are lit up in blue, green, and yellow lights under a night sky as the park prepares to close.

Finding those little moments on your trip that really elevate already great experiences is what Disney is all about. It’s part of what makes each trip so special!

What are your favorite little Disney moments?  

 

~Emma M.

 

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