Disney World is more than just a theme park where you may have rides. There are tons of entertainment and activities that are enough to submerge you in the most magical place!
But what does it mean when someone mentions “Disney Smell”?
If you have ever been there before, there is no way you could have missed the fantastic scents inside. And, once you have experienced them, you will probably never forget them.
So, how does Disney Word smell so good?
How do they manage to diffuse the scents all around the place?
In this article, we have discussed the reasons and logic behind why Disney World smells so good. Moreover, we have gone through some of the most iconic scents Disney World has to offer.
Walt Disney World uses “Smellitizers” to disperse different scents in the surroundings.
According to research, the sense of smell is more strongly associated with memory and emotion than other senses.
This concept is known as “scent-evoked nostalgia.” Although it is a popular topic among academics right now, Disney mastered the art of using scents to evoke emotions decades ago.
Some iconic scents you will experience at Disney World are:
- Pirates Of The Caribbean.
- Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
- Soarin’ Around The World.
- Flight Of Passage.
- Spaceship Earth.
- It’s Tough To Be A Bug.
- Haunted Mansion.
- Journey Into Imagination With Figment.
- Mickey’s Philhar Magic.
- Living With The Land.
- Norway, World Showcase.
- The Special Holiday Parade.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
- Popcorn.
- Karamell-Kuche.
In this article, we are going to break you a secret you might have never known before. Also, we are going to list some magical scents which you are going to experience while you visit this amazing place that we call Walt Disney World!
Why Does Walt Disney World Smell So Good?
In reality, Walt Disney World uses a variety of “Smellitizers” to diffuse distinctive scents in the surroundings.
“Smellitizers” are machines that work on a simpler formula. A scented substance is placed inside, and then strong air is made past the substance, which results in scents spreading in the surrounding areas. These are placed all over the place to create a smell that will trigger feelings associated with that specific section.
As a result, a diverse variety of scents and aromas can be felt in eating areas, attractions, and even hotel lobbies.
The Science Behind This ‘Scented’ Magic
Researchers have found that, compared to senses, smell has a higher association with memory and emotion. That is why some smells can take you back to a specific moment.
This idea is commonly referred to as “scent-evoked nostalgia.” It is quite a common topic among scholars right now, but Disney mastered the technique of using scents to trigger emotions years ago. The parks use the smells to arouse the feelings of the visitors and bring back memories of certain locations.
Why Does Smell Have a Strong Ability To Evoke Emotions?
- For a human brain, very few steps are involved in pattern recognition of smell as compared to pattern recognition of sound or sight.
- Smell memories are the finest ones lasting over time. This is the reason why the faintest smell can take us back to the moment as compared to the sight of that object.
- The unique receptors we have for smell are much more in number as compared to the ones we have for sight.
- Also, memories of smell require a less complex integration of sensory information than all others.
15 Iconic Disney World Scents
Okay, so enough of science now!
As you may know, Disney World has numerous rides and attractions, and each one is specifically made to reflect a particular fantasy world. Therefore their smells are also particular.
Let’s now quickly go over the mesmerizing (though some can be nauseous, we won’t lie!) scents that you will experience while visiting Walt Disney World.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
A musty and moist smell that perfectly matches the theme of Pirates Of The Caribbean. Usually, chlorine is used to keep the water clean and free of germs, but Disney uses Bromine instead, and its smell penetrates the area all around the attraction.
So if you ask any visitor about one scent associated with Disney World, it is probably going to be Pirates Of The Caribbean in Magic Kingdom.
2. Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe
Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square Magic Kingdom is a place where it is Christmas every day. Not just with its goodies but also with it its fragrance. The shop is full of a pleasant smell that feels like cinnamon and pine scent, which gives a “Christmasy” feel to everyone entering the shop.
3. Soarin’ Around the World
Soarin’ Around The World has a pleasant scent of orange orchards which is just too good. Perhaps it is because this smell is well known in Florida, and it just smells very authentic on this ride.
From the orange groves of Camarillo to Malibu’s ocean mist and Lake Tahoe’s pines, every scent this place offers is just amazing.
Another one is the floral scent you experience when flying over the Taj Mahal. Moreover, you will smell fresh grass as you soar over elephants on the African Savanna as one of the elephants has thrown dirt up in the air.
So, overall, Soarin’ Around The World can stand at the top of other rides from the scent perspective.
4. Flight of Passage
Avatar Flight Of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom uses various smells to immerse you fully in the experience. There are various fragrances. The greatest, however, is the scent of the flowers you can smell as your banshee pauses to rest in a Pandroian mushroom cave.
It is the most peaceful and magical moment of the attraction, and that is mostly because of the aroma that penetrates the air as the sight completely envelops you. The only thing that can be said about this scent is that it is lovely and enduring.
It feels like a fragrance that is a combo of freshly picked flowers and sweet-scented mist. Dinsey managed to produce an alien-smelling flower, which fits perfectly here.
5. Spaceship Earth
The scoring smell of all those books on fire is a distinctive smell that you will experience on the ride Spaceship Earth. It represents the burning of the Library of Alexandria. As you load onto the ride just before that moment, you can smell the burning ashes from the man who discovered fire while living in a cave.
Although each of us would feel the sorrow of a burning library, that smell is something that received a very good response from everyone, and from that time, Disney fans have been keen and trying to replicate it.
6. It’s Tough To Be a Bug
If you have ever seen It’s Tough to be a Bug at Animal Kingdom, you already have a fair overview of the odor we are discussing here. The show has a scene where the stink bug releases his stinky gas, and you will be smelling it here.
You are right. It is terrible!
7. Haunted Mansion
Old houses have a distinct scent that is kind of like a gloomy, musty and moldy smell. And the scent inside Haunted Mansion is a fantastic example of how Disney has nailed it. It is genuine. Although it smells somewhat like vanilla, it also possesses odors of decay, mold, and dampness.
8. Journey Into Imagination With Figment
The smell of the ride Journey into Imagination with Figment at Epcot is just like the smell of skunk, and it is not a good one. In the attraction’s smell section, a figment transforms into a skunk and sprays visitors with the smell.
The stench is actually of burnt coffee, which is fairly putrid but not quite as offensive as the smell of actual skunk.
9. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
In Mickey’s PhilharMagic, a scene features a newly cooked pie, and the auditorium is filled with the aroma of apple pie. Ah! Mouthwatering!
Every time you smell that beautiful aroma, you will get hungry.
10. Living With the Land
The aroma of Living with the Land at EPCOT will make you fall in love with the greenery once again. Who thought that fresh dirt would smell so pure when it is blended with the smell of oxygen?
You will enjoy taking the boat journey through this area, and simply inhaling the extra oxygen the plants provide is truly refreshing.
11. Norway, World Showcase
Norway, World Showcase has an aroma that can be best described as that of freshly showered angels dancing in Norwegian mountain lily fields. That is probably the best way, to sum up how wonderful it smells.
However, it can also be referred to as a traditional combination of crisp, clean fragrances with a light floral scent.
12. The Special Holiday Parade
If you have ever been to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in the fall, you know that as Goofy’s float passes by in the “Boo To You” parade, it smells exactly like candy corn.
Additionally, if you have ever visited Main Street, USA, during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you have probably noticed the aroma of baked sugar cookies and the flavor of peppermint candy canes.
13. Disney’s Animal Kingdom
What is the first smell that comes to your mind whenever you think of Animal Kingdom? Probably it is of animals and manure.
But no! This is not the case. Animal Kingdom smells very fresh, and its scent is mostly like that of sunscreen! Because everyone who comes to this outdoor place has loads of sunscreen on, or Disney sprays some sunscreen-like thing in the air to lessen the effect of UV rays, maybe?
14. Popcorn
The aroma emanating from the popcorn vendors in Disney World is another pleasant scent. Because there is a popcorn cart right there in Main Street, USA, it is also the first smell you will notice upon entering the park.
It is a salty, buttery smell that tingles your taste buds for popcorn (pretty common, right?) But that somehow tastes better in Disney World – partly because of the smell that surrounds you.
15. Karamell-Kuche
The scent that comes from Karamell-Kuche Store in Germany is one of EPCOT’s most exquisite smells. It is the delicious aroma of caramel popcorn and all the baked caramel goods made with Werther’s Original Caramels.
You will always be overcome by that smell whenever you pass by and won’t step any further without ordering anything.
Takeaway
So that’s all about why Disney World smells good and the scents Disney has to offer.
Hope that you will have a good trip!
