Yes, DVC does smell.
But what an odor!
When I walk into the elaborate lobby of the Grand Floridian, it’s not just the ornateness of Disney’s flagship resort that blows me away. It’s the signature scent that immediately wafts into my nostrils.
The same thing happens when I walk into the Polynesian, or the Beach Club, or Wilderness Lodge.
You can ‘scents’ where I’m going with this.
Now, this is not a blog about which resort has the best aroma. Frankly, I couldn’t even rate them. They all are distinctive and easy on the nose.
Rather, this is about how Disney goes that extra mile in creating a top-notch resort experience. They didn’t have to do this. They could have created these beautiful resorts and left the natural smells, and I’d still be a happy DVCer.
But the smells add that extra layer that enhances the feeling that you’re truly in a special place. That smell – along with the music geared to the theming – touch a subliminal chord with visitors. They may not even notice how much they like it until they are away from it.
But I believe there is more going on. I suspect Disney is aware of the science behind the scents.
It has been proven that certain smells can influence everything from the way you vote, how much you give to charity, and how nice you are to the people around you. Those artificially-induced smells in everything from cleaning fluids to casino lobbies are there for a purpose.
Buying into DVC is a whole sensory experience. We see it with our eyes, hear the music, taste the cuisine and – yes, smell the smells. So much so that it becomes a part of the whole. When we book a studio at, say, the Grand, Bay Lake Tower, or the Polynesian, we tend to associate not only the overall design and layout but also to that aroma, and it draws us back. I mean, how many people associate a trip to Grandma’s house at Christmas to hot home-baked apple pie?
Lynyrd Skynyrd was onto something when they sang: “Ooooh that smell. Can’t you smell that smell.”
So did Thalassa Cruso, the well-known plant expert, who wrote: “Scents bring memories, and many memories bring nostalgic pleasure,”
Cruso applied that quote to gardens. I apply it to DVC resorts. Ah, I can smell it all now!
About Michael Bates
My wife Lori and I bought into Saratoga Springs in 2014 and added Copper Creek Villas in 2017. We typically visit a resort and the parks every two months or so and never looked back on our decision to become DVC members.
