If you’re a cast member working at Disney World, or a frequent guest of the parks, you know what people mean when they talk about that “Disney smell”.
It actually starts when you arrive at Orlando airport and walk outside for the first time. Florida smells like Florida…it has a sweetly fragrant scent due to all the blooming flowers and trees. Many returning tourists pause for a moment when they walk outside the terminal and just take a deep breath of sweet Florida air. Ahhh, breathe it in…
Even more special, there is just something about the way the all the parks, attractions and Disney resorts smell…all so good! Long ago, Disney realized that if the parks smelled good and unique, you’d remember it long after your vacation was over. And, more importantly, you’ll remember how good you felt at the time.
Did you know that Disney World pumps irresistible scents onto its lobbies and streets to entice park goers? There are strategically placed devices called “smellitizers” dispersed throughout the resort and they emit pleasing scents throughout the day and night.
Ask any cast member to name where a particular scent is associated with and we can all pass this test with flying colors!
The smell of oranges
While flying high above orange groves in Soarin’, you are surrounded by the smell of freshly squeezed oranges.
The smell of burning wood
That would be the smoky smell of burning embers from the Rome burning diorama while riding Spaceship Earth. Just before that scene, as your loading onto the ride, you smell the smoldering ashes from cave-dwelling prehistoric man discovering fire.
The smell of the water rides
Guests say that you could line up bottles of water with scents from the fog from Pirates of the Caribbean, the indoor water rides (It’s a Small World, Splash Mountain, the Three Caberos ride), to Kali River Rapids and they could correctly associate the water’s scent with the attraction. And, they would be right.
The smell of the Disney Resort lobbies
This is not a hard one at all. In fact, the fragrances are so specific that you can actually buy candles online with the scent of each resort. For example, the Polynesian lobby smells vaguely “Hawaiian” with floral and wood notes. The Grand Floridian lobby smells of “rich money” to me, except when the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is up in the lobby during the holidays. Then, of course, it smells strongly of freshly-baked gingerbread. The Yacht and Beach Club smells of “seashore”, but not in a bad way, more like a fresh salty sea breeze.
The smell of Karamell Kuche in Epcot Germany
My ICP friend from Germany worked in this sweet shop making the caramel popcorn with Werther’s Original Caramels all day. In fact, he was kind enough to share the secret recipe with me. (Of course, the recipe makes a huge batch!)
On one of my last days at the DCP program, I stopped in to say good-bye to him and him made a Magical Moment for me by bagging up a small bag of caramel popcorn that he had just finished making. It was delicious!
Every time I smell the caramel on my daily Starbucks caramel latte, I always think of him and the sweet Karamell Kuche shop at Epcot.
The scent of Disney Resort soap and toiletries
If you’ve stayed at any of the properties onsite, you know this scent! I call this smell “rich spa”. It’s so wonderful a scent that guests often pause while washing their hands and just smell the fragrant bubbles.
The special Parade scents
If you’ve ever had the chance to go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in the fall, you know that the ‘Boo To You’ parade smells just like candy corn.
And, if you’ve been on Main Street USA during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party during the holidays, you’ve noticed the smell of sugar cookies baking and scent of peppermint candy canes is in the air!
The scent of DAK
The number one smell that I associated with DAK is probably not the one you’re thinking of! No, it’s not the smell of animals and animal manure!
After working at DAK through every season, I would have to say that the smell I most associate with my workplace is sunscreen.
Working at the front of DAK, it seems like everyone that gets off the trams coming in from the parking lots pauses and literally hoses down themselves and their children with sunscreen. And, not just the lotion kind that comes in bottles. Over the past few years, aerosol spray sunscreen has become very popular. They spray it like it’s free!
At 9am, the vaguely coconut smell of sunscreen fills the plaza in front of the entrance turnstiles. It’s a smell I’ll always associate with DAK! 🙂
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Two Girls and a Mouse Tale
by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins
Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???
We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program (Fall 2013/Spring 2014) and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.
We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney.
Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.
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Our Magical Disney Moments 
This is so true! One day while working in the hospital I asked a patient what his favorite smell is to help with a guided imagery relaxation exercise and his mom said “You know what it is, it has to be the smell of Disney!” From there we had a great session going through the sights and smells of the parks which completely eased his anxiety. There certainly are Disney specific smells! One that I can always distinctly remember (aside from the ones you mention here) is the smell of Pirates of the Caribbean… sure it’s the smell of recirculated water but there’s also dungeony hints in there. People who don’t do Disney might think that’s gross, but I love it!
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