The Magic of Walt Disney World
By: Sarah Hampton
September 23, 2025
Image taken by Kurdt Long
After participating in the Disney College Program for sixth months and traveling to Walt Disney World for family vacations every year since before I can even remember, I have always appreciated the dedication and the intentionality behind Walt Disney World’s operations. Just thinking about the amusement parks brings a sense of nostalgia that I do not feel with anything else from my childhood. Maybe it is because of the memories that I possess of the parks, or maybe it is the time spent with family that makes it so special. However, I do think that Walt Disney World has a fascinating formula as to how they execute their daily operations. From the purposeful placement of recognizable characters across the parks, to the scents pumped through the air vents in specific lands throughout the parks, the Walt Disney Company has set the tone for amusement parks all across the globe.
I believe that there are multiple factors that make Walt Disney World the “best.” Like mentioned before, I believe that the placement of recognizable characters from the Disney produced films plays a factor. In addition to this, Walt Disney World is intentional about immersion. In just a waiting queue for a ride, you are already transported to a different world. Lastly, the cast members truly make a difference.
For almost 90+ years, the Walt Disney Studio has been producing movies, TV shows, and short films with recognizable characters and quotable moments. One of the most prominent characters, who eventually became the main mascot of the Walt Disney amusement parks, Mickey Mouse, first appeared in the short film Steamboat Willie in 1928. Following this famous mouse’s debut, Walt Disney Studios continued to produce media with iconic characters such as Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Pinocchio (1940), and Cinderella (1950). These characters still remain to be icons today and you are able to meet many of them around the Walt Disney World parks.
Image of Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse.
Walt Disney World has a unique experience where you are able to go around the parks to different meet and greets with these characters. You are able to interact with your favorite heroes like Spiderman and The Mandalorian, or your favorite princesses like Rapunzel and Moana. Many of the rides at these parks are themed after the Disney produced movies from our childhoods. For example, at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, they just built a brand new ride called Tron Lightcycle/ Run themed after the sequel movie, Tron: Legacy (2010). This film was a prominent movie in my childhood. I have many memories surrounding the Tron franchise, including going to the theatre to watch it with my dad when it first came out and watching the two movies over and over and over again with him. I think that this is an advantage that Walt Disney World has against other amusement and theme parks. While the Walt Disney Company has produced more films that bring a sense of nostalgia than most film production companies, they truly have set the bar when it comes to immersing guests into the worlds of their favorite characters.
Through rides, waiting queues, and experiences, Walt Disney World has perfected the immersion formula. One of the best examples I can think of when explaining the perfected immersion is the waiting queue for the ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, ‘AVATAR’ Flight of Passage. Walking up to the ride you are actively on a journey through the foliage and caverns of Pandora. Then halfway through the queue, you approach the research lab with an impressively sized Avatar animatronic along with interactive elements in the lab.
Another immersive experience that is notable, is the entirety of the ride at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, Rise of the Resistance, a ride themed around the storyline of the recently released Star Wars movies. This ride, placed in the similarly immersive world, Galaxy’s Edge, takes riders through a thrilling expedition as they are attempting to “escape” from the capture of the First Order. The immersion is impressive because not only do the riders feel as though they are actually on a Star Destroyer or in a spaceship, the cast members that are operating the ride are simultaneously acting as if they are a part of the First Order.
Video walkthrough of the Rise of the Resistance queue, preshow, and full ride:
It is well known that our sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses that we possess. Just by smelling a hint of a tropical candle, our brains can be sent back to when we went on a certain beach vacation with family. The smell of grass can remind us of when our dad would mow the lawn every Monday morning. Walt Disney World utilizes this powerful sense by pumping familiar smells through air vents in certain areas of the theme parks.
A popular example of this is on Main Street USA is Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. As you pass by the shops that line Main Street USA, the smells of popcorn, caramelized sugar, vanilla ice cream, and cotton candy fill the air. Many guests believe that these scents are coming directly from the shops that are selling these goods, but they are actually coming from a Walt Disney Company invention called the “Smellitizer.” According to Sarah, or the “PhD Princess,” “Disney's smellitizers involve positioning a scented substance (whether this is actual popcorn or an artificial scent) between a source of strong airflow (fan or pressurized air) and the audience, then turning the airflow on and off so it blows across the substance and toward the audience.” This patented device is utilized not only in the main areas of the theme parks, but also on rides to further create an immersive experience. A ride that utilizes this invention the most is Soarin’ Around the World located in Walt Disney World’s Epcot. During this ride, guests are transported to iconic locations and landmarks around the world. While guests are soaring over Fiji’s Lau Islands, coconut can be smelled and when guests are weaving through the elephants near Mount Kilimanjaro, the smell of dirt and grass fill the air. Despite the model of the attraction being very simple, it has quickly become a popular ride due to these immersive tactics.
One unique factor that has not been able to be replicated in other theme parks that Walt Disney World does an incredible job at is the utilization of the cast members. Speaking from experience, the cast members are the true magic makers within the amusement parks. When I was in my training process to become a cast member, I remember how much they emphasized the concept of “keeping the magic alive.” While this included making sure that I was “in character” while “on stage,” this also included intentional interactions with guests. My favorite task that I would receive while working my job in Disney’s Animal Kingdom was to “make magic.” When a cast member receives this task during rotation they have the chance to go and spread a little magic in whatever way they see fit! Where I worked, we had many cupcakes and fun drinks that we were able to go and surprise guests with. The usual people that I would bring these items to were little kids or people celebrating a special event. However, there was one day in particular where I received this task and experienced my favorite memory of my Disney College Program.
Throughout the year, many different travel groups, foundations, and charities travel to Walt Disney World to gift families and students a magical experience. One of these foundations, the Gary Sinise Foundation, travels to the parks once a year to gift the families who have lost a first responder family member. When I was in my program, I didn't know that this foundation existed and I didn’t know that they came to the parks. I am so thankful that they came to Disney’s Animal Kingdom when I was working. Not only were the families that came in and dined at the restaurant that I worked at so kind, they were so excited and talked about how thankful they were to be at Walt Disney World. I had the opportunity to ask many of the families their stories and how they found the foundation. The stories that I heard hit very close to home for me as my step father was actively a first responder at the time. I can’t remember the exact number of cupcakes that I handed out, but I know that it was several trays. I don't think I will ever forget that day, the conversations that were had, and the families that I met. That day made me realize just how special of a place Walt Disney World is and how incredibly hard the cast members work.
Walt Disney World will always hold a special place in my heart, not just because I had the opportunity to work there for six months, but also because of the intentional immersion and strive for excellence. Disney, in my eyes, has always been number one due to the impressive measures they go to create an excellent experience for guests. However, after my experience in their college program, I was able to see and help create this excellence. I can confidently say that there is a certain magic to Walt Disney World that I don’t think any other amusement park will ever be able to compare to.
Disney College Program Picture Gallery:
