Williams Family: Do You Tour Like a Guest or a Local?

 

After years of making the Walt Disney World Resort a vacation destination I have always said, "there is more than one way to do Disney."  And, I firmly believe that.  As a family, our touring style morphed over the years from commando to more leisurely.  Now, we live "here" meaning in Central Florida, in Walt Disney World's backyard, basically; able to see and hear Magic Kingdom's fireworks nightly.  Which means our touring style has transitioned from Disney Guest to Disney Local.

While it needn't have been a forehead slapping moment, it was.  Upon returning from EPCOT last night, accompanied by a neighbor friend and fellow Disney fan, who experienced the American Garden Theater for the first time along with her first Eat-to-the-Beat concert performance it donned on me that it was her first time touring as a Disney Local.  On the car ride home, she said that she would have never sat and watched a concert like that when her family traveled from Illinois to Walt Disney World.  And, while our neighbor friend has lived "here" for over a year, her daughter works for Disney, when she goes to the parks, sometimes with me in tow, the touring style is more as a guest than a local.

Disney Guests want to make the most out of every moment.  Attractions, shows, characters, snacks/drinks, and nighttime spectaculars make up the itinerary.  Solid shoes, solid plans. Go, do, see!  Making the most of the experience to get the "worth the squeeze" out of the investment.  I get it.  Been there.  Sometimes still do that if accompanying other guests, including our neighbor friend. 

Disney Locals, which I will clarify as anyone within a 2-hour drive, have a more targeted, yet chill approach to park touring.  Locals come to the parks for a specific reason--like a new restaurant or attraction or specific entertainment.  Familiarity allows for efficiency, still leaving room for a bit of magic.  Last night, our neighbor friend wanted something specific at an outdoor kitchen (Food and Wine Festival) and then we walked to the American Garden Theater.  She said, "This is a long walk when you aren't wandering and looking at things."  Targeted--we knew our destination.  When exiting EPCOT, the lights and music made it magical--and we said as such.  No rush of the crowd exiting; a stroll to the car in the parking lot and home shortly thereafter--chill.  We know we'll be back. . . and soon.

When processing this idea of different park touring styles out loud with the husband, he added his own story of the evening.   When pin trading with a Cast Member, he had to answer a trivia question to get access to a mystery pin.  "Name 2 places at Walt Disney World where you can find Sorcerer Mickey."  The husband rattled off Mickey's Philharmagic and Fantasmic.  He said the Cast Member was stunned and asked if he was a regular.  He fibbed a little and said that he lived in Iowa.  As he was telling me the story, I added that Sorcerer Mickey is a meet and greet at Hollywood Studios.  

As we walked back to the car lot last night, we talked about how we have chosen to live here; near Walt Disney World.  Disney fandom was a part of the decision as well as living a dream and escaping Midwest winters. We shared how we had experienced skeptics/doubters. But in the end, made the move and made the dream life a reality.