#11-20 of Our Top 50 Reasons We Love Disney
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…. We’re counting down the top 50 reasons we love Disney, Disney World, and all things related to the Mouse in celebration of The Mouse and Men’s 50th podcast episode and Disney World’s 50th anniversary in October. These are really in no particular order, but we’re having fun with it, so here are numbers 11-20:
20. The Keys to the Kingdom - Where there once were four there are now five. Inclusion has been added to the Keys of Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency. These are the keys that drive the decisions made by everyone at the Disney resorts, and it’s a great way to make decision just about everywhere!
19. The Disney Institute - Disney is great at what it does. Some of those things include hospitality, customer service, and operations. And when you are as great as Disney at something, you get the question, “How do you do it?!” quite often. So they developed the Disney Institute to teach others just how they do it.
18. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue - It’s a ritual for Chris’ family to take one evening and spend it deep in the Fort Wilderness Resort. It is tradition, and with all traditions, it must be upheld. The fun, the food, and the family. You couldn’t ask for much more!
17. Repeatability - When you create something as great as the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, you just want to keep going back. Or if you didn’t get to do everything you wanted, you want to go back to try what you missed. Disney World has all of the above. A so-so experience is not one you want to have again, so Disney makes sure every experience is unforgettable.
World Showcase in EPCOT is a place I can go again and again
16. Monorail - A futuristic train elegantly elevated above the ground escorting you around the Most Magical Place on Earth - Disney’s Monorail. It’s a fun way to get around and a great way to see Disney from a different perspective. Catch the Electrical Water Pageant after dark or ride through the middle of a hotel. Even if you aren’t staying somewhere along the Monorail loop, be sure to go around once or twice.
15. Creating Magic - Cast Members aren't the only ones that create magic. It’s fun to be a part of creating the magic for someone else. When we were at Disney World celebrating my wife’s birthday, someone noticed the “Happy Birthday” pin she was wearing while we were standing in the queue for an attraction. They started singing “Happy Birthday” to her, and soon the whole queue was singing! Talk about the most special birthday ever!
14. Dole Whip - Pineapple soft serve really hits the spot, especially on a hot Florida summer day. It is a Disney legend all its own, and it has its own rabid fan base. Found at several places around Disney World property, it is a must-try once and will likely become a must-do for every trip.
13. Catering to Guests’ Needs - My son has a lot of food allergies. It makes it very hard to eat out or even eat at larger family gatherings. It’s not easy to remember to make something free of nuts, seeds, egg, gluten, strawberries, and beef if you aren’t thinking about it for every meal every day. While he hasn’t eaten at Disney yet, I have all the confidence that Disney will go out of their way to meet his needs.
12. Childcare - Family vacations should be vacations for mom and dad too. When mom and dad need to get away for a little time to themselves, Disney has (when not under threat of a global pandemic) had great options for childcare. When Chris went to pick up his kids after he and his wife went to dinner, the kids didn’t want to leave!
11. Family-Friendly Experiences - Walt’s idea for Disneyland started when he realized that there wasn’t a great option for a place where a family could go and everyone could be entertained. So he created one. Family-friendly, in this sense, means that every member of the family will be entertained, it will be age-appropriate, and the family can be together. And when something might be too scary or not suitable for little ones, they tell you.
Tomorrow we count down to number one of our top 50 reasons we love Disney. And there are a lot more than just 50 reasons we love Disney. Maybe we’ll create just a little extra magic before it’s all said and done.
P.S. I just found a lovely spot to get a Dole Whip in Franklin, Tennessee! Head over to Sweet Haven in the Westhaven neighborhood to get a delectable Disney treat when you can’t be at the parks. If you look around, you might find one in your neck of the woods as well.