Disney World: An Olfactory Oasis

          If you are a Disney World fan, you undoubtedly know what I mean when I refer to the smell of pirate water or Splash Mountain water.  While these smells are not the most fragrant aromas on Earth, they are a signal to me that I have completed the long journey to the World.  For fans new to the Disney World craze, the water to which I am referring makes its home in any of the Disney World water rides.  All of these rides have water with a very distinct smell.  I have no idea what creates the smell, but whatever it is; it is magical.  It is kind of a cross between stale water, maybe mildew, mold ???  You might be thinking that I am crazy, but take a whiff of any water ride at WDW, and you too can behold the powerful magic of the water smell.

            The pirate water smell is not the only smell that is unique to Disney World.  There are many smells that can tempt your nostrils and get those olfactory senses going.  For example, there are many smells that are associated with Soarin’ in the Land Pavilion in Epcot.  These smells are a little more conventional than the pirate water smell.  When you fly over the orange groves in California, you can smell the delicious scent of oranges.  When you soar over the forest or the ocean, those smells also stimulate your senses.  In fact, the entire Land Pavilion has a certain smell to it that probably emanates from the food court area. 

Since we are in Epcot, it would make sense to discuss the smells present in Spaceship Earth.  The most obvious and well-known smell in this ride is the smell of Rome burning.  This is such an EPCOT Center smell.  It has been there since the beginning, and I think various Disneyphiles would launch into a riot if it were to be removed at any point.  Epcot is just full of tasty smells associated with all of the fine dining establishments throughout the World Showcase.  The various rose gardens also create lovely smells as you stroll through Future World right outside of Journey into Imagination.

Before we leave Epcot, I would be remiss in not mentioning a smell that is long gone but not forgotten.  Of course, I am referencing the smell of oranges in the much-loved Horizons ride that closed many years ago.  This smell has been imitated on Soarin’, but it is just not exactly the same.

As we leave Epcot and board the monorail, the smells continue.  The monorail has a very distinct odor that, again, I cannot identify, but I know it when I smell it.  Sometimes, I will catch a whiff of something in the real world that is like this smell, and it just brings me back to WDW again.  Now, after exiting the monorail at the Magic Kingdom, my absolutely favorite smell is that of the popcorn that is being freshly popped on Main Street.  This smell always makes me want to eat popcorn even if I am stuffed. 

Continuing on our journey down Main Street, the Confectionary always beckons to passersby with the tempting scent of tasty sugar treats of all kinds.  We always make a little detour into this store in order to take in the smells and the sights.  As you make your way around the Magic Kingdom, you will also smell many other tasty treats.  For example, Frontierland smells like hamburgers and turkey legs.  I am not a fan of turkey legs, but the hamburgers smell so good.  They always make me crave that for my meal. 

After you leave the Magic Kingdom, perhaps you want to take a quick stop at the Polynesian to get some Kona coffee.  This smells absolutely delicious.  This would be considered a normal type of smell to like, but there is another smell in the Polynesian that might seem odd to your average park guest.  I love the smell of the lobby at the Great Ceremonial House.  It has to be something to do with the water in the plant arrangement in the center.  It smells sort of like the pirate water.  I cannot get enough of that smell! 

These are just a few of the many, many smells that grace the grounds of WDW.  I could go on and on, but I will save those for another article.  Disney should bottle those scents some way so that guests could take them home.  For example, candles would be an excellent idea.  Even shirts with scents or stickers or stamps with various scents would work.   I would buy Rome burning and the pirate water smell as well as the orange smell from Soarin’ or even the smell of the pies from Philharmagic.  Even if you aren’t in WDW now, I hope your day is filled with the scent of happiness and success!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!