The small things you like.

[WDWCrazyKaren]

When people duck as the golf ball comes at them on Soarin'

I was just going to say that one!

And the damp, musty smell in the cave-like lines for Splash.

[Joannelet]

The first time you see a character!

Eating a chocolate chip cookie from Ghiradelli's.

Enjoying a Dole Whip float.

Seeing the Hidden Mickey I found myself on Peter Pan's Flight!

Seeing the ballroom scene in Haunted Mansion.

Walking through Animal Kingdom at night

Watching the fireworks over the castle!

[5MemphisTiggers]

1) Flower beds and landscaping

DW said this was one of her favorite details about the resorts and parks, too!

[TheVBs]

What are itsakadoozies??

Those are the twist popsicles they sell at the same stands that sell the Mickey ice cream bars. My girls love them too!

This was from my first memory of the Magic Kingdom (maybe 3 or 4). My dad just got me a popcorn and I proceed to drop it on the ground right away. It went everywhere. Before my dad knew I dropped, a CM was there sweeping it up and another had already gone to get me a new one. This no longer happens.

It does! Last time we were at Epcot we bought the girls some of those fruit smoothie drinks right between Mexico and FW. There wasn't anywhere to sit at the time, so we found an out of the way curb and our youngest DD promptly spilled hers and burst into tears. Before I could tell her I'd get her another one, a CM was already bringing one and another was preparing to clean up the spill!

A couple of my favorite little things:

Seeing the details they put in the sidewalks. My favorite is the one around Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride with all the jewels set into it.

I also love the music and atmosphere when we walk into our resort, especially the first time.

And, the CMs who hand out all those stickers. It's amazing how happy a sticker can make a little one.

[BigRedDad]

It does! Last time we were at Epcot we bought the girls some of those fruit smoothie drinks right between Mexico and FW. There wasn't anywhere to sit at the time, so we found an out of the way curb and our youngest DD promptly spilled hers and burst into tears. Before I could tell her I'd get her another one, a CM was already bringing one and another was preparing to clean up the spill!

I don't disagree that it still happens. I do know that it is definitely no where near the way it was when I was growing up there in the 70s. You simply do not see the ratio of CMs to visitors. They simply cannot keep up. I also remember when all CMs were supposed to be happy. In many cases, this is still valid. It is the ones that are not that make it noticeable.

[ANG]

I just love how in character the CMs can be. Like the HM and ToT. They look so grim and speak so in the part.

[Nut4DW]

My first favorite thing is when the cast member at the Wilderness Lodge says "welcome home" just before I go through the doors to check in. When that is said, all the "stuff" from home falls away and I am definitely HOME.

[phillydan]

I really enjoy walking through the castle and looking at the beautiful mosaics on the walls- especially at night when the crowd is light and you can take them all in. I think these are an often overlooked treasure.

[LynBug]

Some of mine are:

-The smell of the candy store in MK

-The freshly made cotton candy

-Seeing the "Welcome Home" sign at our resort

-Seeing the "Walt Disney World" sign from the Magical Express

-Seeing the castle in the distance while riding the Magical Express

-Walking into MK for the first time on the trip and seeing the full view of the Castle

-Finding the hidden Mickey's in the parks

-Taking the first bite of your favorite foods

-That rush of cold air when you walk into a building on a hot day

-The teary feeling I get when I think about Disney World

Thinking of all the little things makes me want to go back even more now!

[Laughin' place]

Thanks for a great thread and great posts. It has been such a lift today. Intercot rocks!
Here are mine (altho I share many of those already posted):
the first sight of palm trees (we're from Chicago, this alone is a big deal, esp in the winter)
getting your Key to the Kingdom
first time you open the door to your "home" at the resort
turning on Resort TV and our girl Stacy
the tone that precededs monorail announcements
the tone before various 'stops' on TTA (hope thats still there)
our first ride (a full lap on the railroad before riding SM)
Lapu Lapu

[Renfairwedding]

The whistle of the Steam Train arriving at Main Street Station.

[Jennifer_and_Chris]

The whistle of the Steam Train arriving at Main Street Station.

I was going to add this to the post!

Hearing the whistle in the distance with the faint sound of welcoming music when you get off the bus, monorail or boat.

How giddy with anticipation I am at this point!!!

[darthmacho]

Details! Details! Details!

Theming in every hotel, restaurant, gift shop, queue, and area of each theme park. There is simply too many to list, or to even remember.

One of my favorite, however, is a set of paintings in the Splash Mountain queue:

Brer Rabbit: Lookin' for Adventure
Brer Fox: Looking' for Trouble
Brer Bear: Just Lookin'

Animal Kingdom has the best decor and detail, however, especially in the colorful Discovery Island area. Love it!

[Suz36]

There are so many!
-seeing Mickey for the first time
-seeing the monorail for the first time
-Dole Whip floats
-setting and then receiving the wake-up calls
-Tink flying down from the castle during Wishes!
-orange and evergreen scents on Soarin'
-themed trash cans
-CM chalk or water artwork on the ground
-how all the CMs call the kids either princess or prince
-shouting "hooray!" with my family at the end of the Pooh ride
-all the music
-getting to the bus stop just as your bus pulls up!

[Gator]

The ewoks talking in the Star Tours forest as night time.

[ILoveLegos]

Subtle changes in landscpe & ambience when entering a new land

Almond covered pretzels in Norway

Shaved ice in Japan (reminds me of Hawaiian Shaved ice)

Thr Hidden Mickey in Japan hidden in the garden (I aways check to see if it is still there)

Enjoying the details of the Tree of Life's trunk like artwork

The smell of the water in Florida

The sound of the Monorail swooshing off

The feel of touching down on the run way in Orlando, FL

Fresh toll house cookies with a scoop of vanilla in between from Main Street Bakery/Ice-cream shop

Guarding your fries from the birds (or at least watching other guest do that, ha-ha-hah)

[Fastpasssteve]

I love these small things:

In Magic Kingdom....I love the beautiful Ibises that inhabit the small swath of green grass right outside Casey's. They gaze on the hot dog eaters with deep disapproval.

In Hollywood Studio...I love the small blue flowers that 'pour' out of the buckets held by the brooms from The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

In EPCOT...I love watching the Glass Artisan working on miniscule works in the Mexico Pavillion.

In Animal Kingdom...I love watching the Tibetan prayer flags gently fluttering in the breeze outside Expedition Everest.

[SandmanGStefani24]

another vote for Rome's burning smell

the smell of the Pirates Ride

the music inside Space Mntn

the view outside Tokyo Dining

WDW TV when you first turn it on...

I'll have more later...

[Septbride2002]

every time we go I have to visit the little shop in England where tucked away in a corner is the carpet bag, lamp, and umbrella from Mary Poppins. This year I'm hoping to get a picture of my kiddo by it.

~Amanda