WDWFG Superlatives: Best WDW Scent

Good one! Like the sound, there are so many!

Mine is a strange one and I'm not sure how to describe it. It's the smell of Disney World air conditioning. I know that's weird, but I've only been to DisneyWorld once NOT during the summer, when it wasn't quite as hot, and I noticed the buildings didn't have quite the same smell as they do on hot summer days when the blast of air conditioning hits you in the face when a door opens or you get to JUST that point in the queue. It's a very distinctive smell, and it's one that when I get it any where in the world automatically brings me back to Disney. Weird, right?

A more traditional answer: the oranges in Soarin'.

Ha ha! Mine's going to be equally weird. I like the disinfectant they use in the bathrooms. My first trip to an MK bathroom and I feel like I'm home.

Here's another weird one. I like the smell of the merchandise shops. Doesn't matter which, they all have that scent. The Emporium, World of Disney, MouseGear, doesn't matter.

I don't know if it's the rubber from the figurines, or the fabric of the apparel they sell, but something in those shops gives off this aroma.

Every once in a great while, I'll walk into a store elsewhere and get a whiff of a similar scent, and it puts me right at WDW in my mind.

For the record, the shops at Disneyland have the same smell.

This isn't my FAVORITE scent, but it's really distinctinve: the carpet shampoo that the resorts use is always the same, and whenever I smell it I know I'm in Disney World.

I think my favorite would have to be the smell of Laila perfume in Norway. It's the perfume that I use (when I actually wear it), and every time I smell it I'm reminded of being in the World Showcase, just getting off of Maelstrom.

I love the smell at Goofys Candy and the candy shop on Main St
I love smell of the H20 shampoo in the rooms at the Grand Floridian, it is so good.

This is one of my favorite threads of all time. Keep it going!

I love it too! However...I do not have a favorite scent. I will get back to you in August.

I don't know if it's my "favorite" but I definitely associate it with Disney World:

The smell of the chlorinated water on the flume rides. Florida water smells funny to begin with, so when you have huge quantities with chlorine in it (I think?) it generates a distinctive smell.

I love the fake smells from all the restaurants and bakeries. It makes me feel hungry and manipulated at the same time!

Two of my favorite feelings!

@Imagineer--I know exactly what you're talking about! One of my favorites as well as I really like to browse in those shops (rarely buy for some reason.)

@Kelly--That H2O stuff is great! I always keep a couple of bottles in my bathroom so I can be reminded of WDW.

Does it count to say that my favorite scent at "WDW" is the smell of the air when I walk off the plane into the Orlando airport?? Not sure why it's distinctive from any other airport, but I just KNOW I'm on vacation.

Great topic.

I have to agree with those who've said the "smell of clean" is their favorite.

This thread will certainly have me taking more notice of scents on my next trip!

Yeah ! I love the smell of the Main St. Bakery at the MK. I read somewhere that they actually grab that smell of items baking and pipe it out through vents to the sidewalk in the front of the store to increase "impulse" buying.

The ONLY place I've ever travelled where there is a smell that has stuck with me over the years is at the Mirage in Las Vegas.

I don't have any idea what it is, but there is a distinct smell that grabs you when you enter the lobby that I've never smelled anywhere else. It is wonderful.

I was told one time it had something to do with increased ozone in the air, but I have no idea if that is true or even feasible.

Do you find your sense of smell is not strong? I have a friend who can barely tell the difference in any smells.

Not at all, I think its fine, but I just pay more attention (and catalog in my brain) SOUNDS more than smells.

I guess when you are at Disney, you are really inundated with a LOT of smells, so to me none have registered as favorites.

I wonder if being particularly affected by, or noticing, smells is a function of food-interest? I'm big into eating, so maybe I'm always on the hunt for the next thing to eat.

The smells don't always have to do with food though. Also, smell has often been said to be our strongest sense. It's supposed to most easily trigger memories, so it makes sense that we associate smells with something we enjoy.

That's a good point about the memories being associated with smells, I had forgotten that. Although I'd honestly say at WDW sounds dominate my memories more than smells.

The restaurant at my first meal there is always a great smell.

Really? It's always the smells/scents for me. Sounds are good, but nothing smells like the beach club lobby or the H2O products in the rooms. Funny how it can instantly relax me.

*DING*DING*DING*DING*

Had to cut my original post short; was just leaving work. My favorite scent, I think, is the uber-chlorinated water on the rides (apparently umlauts are not allowed - tried to spell it correctly).

My experience with smells is casinos is rarely positive.

One of the things that's really neat to me about Disney experiences (speaking of the normally purposeful scents) is that even when you're fully aware of these things; it still works. I've always been fascinated with Walt Disney, so I've learned over the years a lot about why things are done the way they are. Even when you know full-well something is being done to impel you to spend just a bit more; it doesn't matter to me. It's still a wonderful experience.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I wasn't insinuating money is the reason everything is done the way it is at/by Disney. Meant things that clearly are like rides exiting through the gift shop - seen everywhere now, but signature Walt Disney.

I love that answer!

LOL

Well, you wouldn't know it as often as I have to go back and fix things nowadays but I abhor typos and grammatical errors in my writing. When I started at the PD and people told me that would happen (again because of all the abbreviations and shorthand). I said to myself "Pssh...not me..." Well guess what? It did...happens to the best of us. Use it or lose it y'know?

Hey that was my answer too! You didn't love it when I said it! I'm feeling pro-Gonzo bias on this thread!

On the plus side at least I have an uber-chlorinated water compatriot!