Comments on: WDW Radio Show # 314 – Top Ten Places to Stop and Smell the Roses in Walt Disney World

By: MelissainSC

MelissainSC — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:26:45 +0000

Just about any day in the early morning is a wonderful time to look around and just enjoy being in the world. We have always visited during the very busy spring break time so those moments when there are not lots of people around are precious and lovely. Last time my favorite moments were on the walk from our room at the Carribean Beach to the Custom House for coffee early in the morning (or a drink/food run late in the evening). Stopped one morning to get a picture of the lovely sunrise and resort buildings reflected in the lake. Ah… I want to go back now.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:42:52 +0000

Ha Lou,

Guess I’m in the 1%. Last year I put up a photo post about the sunken patio area across from Yak and Yeti here: http://wdwphotographics.tumblr.com/post/18321744071/yakiandyeti

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 01:42:02 +0000

Every trip we do a “monorail tour” and stop at each of the monorail resorts spending the most time at the Polynesian and Contemporary. We love just walking around and enjoying the atmosphere!

By: Brent buttrum

Brent buttrum — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:45:50 +0000

My top 5. I believe you can stop and smell the roses right smack in the middle of the action.
1. Grab a free ice cream sundae(free dining) at auntie gravity’s at MK. Find a seat outside under the futuristic trees with the branches shaped like discs. This is my wife April’s favorite spot. A lot happens around this area.
2. You have to eat at Flame Tree BBQ at AK. Sit all the way down by the water with an excellent view of Expedition Everest. If you get in line 15 min before opening you might get lucky and be the “opening family.” This is a very restful spot for my family.
3. At Epcot , one time we were waiting for our reservation at Coral Reef and it was right at sunset. We were sitting outside in the waiting area and it was a really nice spot to reflect on our trip and relax. The monorail track goes right over your head and it was fun guessing when the next one would come by.
4. HS is a tough one because its usually very busy. We like to get a smoothie(free) down at Rock And Rollercoaster and sit on the rock wall and watch the Amazing amount of people go back and forth thru that area. You can also hear the screams from tower of terror, and maybe a song or two from Beauty and The Beast.
My honorable mention would be the MK train. We love to ride all the way around.

By: Tena

Tena — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:54:27 +0000

My favorite place to stop and smell the “roses” is at the ice cream shop at MK as the park is closing. I love to see all the tired/happy faces as they leave the park (and thankful that they are going to wait in line for the boat/bus/monorail/tram and I’m not going to!). After a while, the crowds die down and you can experience an almost vacant Main Street all lit up, you can hear the old time music, reflect on the experiences of the day. Regardless of how tired my family is at the end of a big day at the park, our last stop is the ice cream shop – and maybe we’ll even get some ice cream!

By: Mike Christoferson

Mike Christoferson — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 01:32:19 +0000

There are so many little things to do that almost out weigh actually riding attractions or watching shows. I believe the more chances you get to visit a Disney park the more of these types of getaways you discover.

5) When staying at the Beach Club I enjoy an early morning stroll to the Boardwalk Bakery for a coffee croissant. Complete the round trip while you enjoy a delicious breakfast.

4) Grab a milkshake (you’ll needs a spoon to consume) from Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner, find an empty bench around Echo Lake and watch the people rush by.

3) Take the long way from Splash Mountain to Liberty Square. The path along the river is seldom crowded and full of great views.

2) Morocco. Just go explore. It is an amazing place.

1) Literally smell the roses. The rose garden in the Magic Kingdom and the gardens near the Imagination Pavilion. Great photographic opportunities at both locations.

By: Krissy @ Shiawase Life

Krissy @ Shiawase Life — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:47:58 +0000

Mine is a little different, but it’s Ellen’s Energy Adventure. It really is a marvelous attraction and I really appreciate all the ‘moving parts’ and the story.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:51:22 +0000

Hiya Lou! The first place that sprang to mind, even before listening to the podcast, was the Maharajah Jungle Trek. There were a few times during the show when the concept of “getting lost” in Animal Kingdom was mentioned. Well, where else can you get lost and become totally absorbed by events, but in a great story? The main mantra of what WDW offers its guests is, above all, STORY! Nowhere else in all the parks & resorts does the idea of a completely immersive story come alive more than in the Maharajah. The theming and detailing are so rich, it really becomes a transporting experience. Not only do you feel like you’re in India, you feel as though you’ve stepped off the page of a Kipling story, expecting to see Baloo & Mowgli strolling from behind that ruined temple up ahead. With Animal Kingdom being the most recent park to have opened, you can tell the Imagineers have really honed their art at delivering story, and the Maharajah Jungle Trek nails it perfectly.

By: Benjo

Benjo — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 03:55:56 +0000

I’m a life-long WDW fan, and I was lucky enough to get down to the parks just about every other year growing up. I was able to get my wife hooked on Disney when we were still dating in college. We took a trip with my parents to the World as a graduation gift. She hadn’t been since she was 9 years old, and it was amazing to see her fall in love all over again with the parks that I loved so much.

After that time, we had made lots of trips down to WDW and had gone “commando” style; getting to the parks at 8 am and staying out until 2 am and getting in as many rides as humanly possible in a day.

In 2007, our first daughter was born. On the first trip we took her to the World, I can remember my parents telling us that “you’ll need to slow down and enjoy it now.” I remember being frustrated on that first trip as parents, as we could no longer get in 9 Tower of Terror rides in one day.

On one of the final days of that trip, we went to Epcot, my favorite park, and went straight to for Soarin’ FastPasses, and any Disney fan would. After navigating the cattle herd with our stroller and getting our FP’s, our daughter was crying and hungry. We decided to get some breakfast from Seasons.

As we sat there with our food first thing in the morning, my wife and I realized how serene and peaceful it was to relax in Seasons with some breakfast, and just people watch. It was a real turning point for us as parents, as we realized that we do really need to “slow down and enjoy it.”

It was in that moment of stopping to smell the roses in Seasons that my whole viewpoint of vacationing in WDW changed. I no longer try to speed through the parks, but try to take this very special time away from work and the busyness of life to enjoy the time with my kids, slow down, and soak in the wonderful experience that is Walt Disney World.

By: Craig Hargrove

Craig Hargrove — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:34:23 +0000

Our favorite “Stop and Smell the roses” spot is on top of the Wilderness Lodge. We have had the chance to be the Flag Family of the day on two occasions. There is nothing like the view from on top of the Lodge. All the major icons from the parks look beautiful, and you can watch the monorail and ferry boats as they start the morning rounds. It is a very special experience to raise our Nation’s flag and to recite the pledge of allegiance as a family.