Perhaps you have a fancy collection of Disney Vacation DVDs. Maybe you’ve caught a few Disney World advertisements or you’ve watched the slew of rotating commercials on the Resort Television. If you’ve been to the parks, then you know that they often spruce things up a bit for promotional material. Disney commercials show us so many things that we would love to take part in, but many of them…you won’t be able to.
Here are eleven little things that are not usually very accurate in Disney commercials and promotional material:
1. Children walking hand-in-hand down an empty Main Street USA with Mickey – In reality, Mickey would be shaking in his yellow shoes, before being trampled by the thousands of other children who would also like to hold his hand.
This is more likely what will happen on Main Street.
2. MagicBands that spit out pixie dust – The purpose of a MagicBand is for relatively smooth sailing during your trip to the Disney Parks, but as you wave your adorned wrist over the fancy FastPass+ return post, pixie dust will not fly out from the green Mickey silhouette and dance around your family.
3. Perfect weather – Most Disney promotional material is filmed in the fall and winter when the weather is cooler. Sunny, pleasant days are a given, but be warned that it will probably rain at least once during your vacation! And you will sweat. Which brings us to the next point!
4. Ironed clothes and perfect complexions – Are you one of those vacationers who roll up or use space saver bags for their clothing? Chances are you won’t be looking as sharp as the families in Disney World commercials, especially with all that sweat dripping down your face and onto that lovely sunburn!
5. Lumiere as acting Guest Relations spokes-candle – While it is true that Lumiere can be found over at Belle’s Enchanted Tales, you and your children may be disappointed to learn that he will not be your VIP tour guide and escort your family and their MagicBands to predetermined locations (all while singing). The commercial is slightly inaccurate there.
“I have to extinguish these on Haunted Mansion, you know?”
6. Picturesque resort room locations – The vacation DVD may make you think that every view at Animal Kingdom Lodge offers giraffes within necks’ reach, or that a room at the Contemporary will automatically allow for a sweeping view of the Magic Kingdom. Chances are the monorail will not pass right by your room and you may be facing the parking lot, unless you ask at check-in for what’s available or pay for a better room while booking.
7. Children holding Mickey balloons – Chances are a child does not see much of that $20 balloon. It either a) floats away, b) is tied to the stroller while the child rides inside the stroller, or c) makes it back to the hotel room where the child falls asleep immediately upon hitting the pillow.
8. People freely standing inside the elevator on the Tower of Terror – Do they still show that 90s commercial on the Resort Television? The one where the kids are standing inside the elevator as it drops (and remain firmly rooted to the floor as it drops)? That was terrifying to see as a child. Equally terrifying is the billboard on World Drive that shows the elevator quivering outside of the building.
There’s a reason that these people are ghosts. Don’t do it.
9. No crowds – If you think that the Disney Christmas Day Parade doesn’t make the parks look that busy, then remember that this is not a live telecast and is filmed weeks before. Disney Parks will be busy; even Extra Magic Hours can bring the crowds. If you are lucky, you may be able to travel during the winter or fall months during periods where crowds may be light. But this is still a rarity these days since Disney always seems to have some kind of vacation offer on the table.
10. Characters riding the attractions – Unless it is a hard ticketed event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or special events such as Star Wars Weekends, chances are slim that a character will leave his or her meet and greet to go ride an attraction. Dopey will not ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with you or your child. Nor will he wear those sunglasses that he dons in the commercial.
Editor’s Note: While this does happen very rarely as Callie has stated…do not go to Disney thinking you even have a 15% chance of it happening. RARE!
11. The Disney Vacation Club being really affordable – Known as “Disney’s Best Kept Secret,” it needs to be said that the DVC is not for everybody. Expect to spend quite a bit of money on points toward vacation. You will still spend thousands of dollars on a vacation. It works for some Guests’ needs, but not for all.
There is no denying that Disney World is still the most magical place on earth. Commercials and vacation DVDs may add a few extra sprinkles of pixie dust to get you excited. And it works, right?
