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4. Tomorrowland Speedway

There are some people who cannot stand the smell of this attraction. I've joked about it before (and even said the attraction is a huge waste of space), but there's no denying that the smell of the Tomorrowland Speedway is memorable. And for good reason – the burning rubber and fuel exhaust really is overpowering at times.

However, there are few smells that are as loaded and as resonant as that particular one, even far beyond the borders of Walt Disney World.

To some, the smell of gasoline and rubber is equivalent to freedom itself. For car enthusiasts, there's a romance to that smell that cannot be fully explained. It represents individualism, ingenuity, creativity, and spontaneity. It smells like speed and summer days. It, like all smells, conjures up a memory, but rather than it being one of Disney, it's one of the freedom of the open road.

And that's why you remember it. Even if you don't like it, you connect with it on a deeper level. And, with Tomorrowland Speedway, that goes a long way toward setting the scene for the ride – it doesn't have much else to go on, so it uses that smell as a sort of shorthand for vintage Americana. And, well, it works.

5. Rome burning in Spaceship Earth

Remember when I said Soarin' arguably had the most famous use of smell at Walt Disney World? Well, here's its competition.

If there is one flaw with this particular scene in Epcot's iconic attraction, it's this: It just smells way, way too good.

I mean, think about it. This scene is supposed to represent the fall of Rome – a moment so pivotal in World history, the era that followed is often referred to as the Dark Ages. What's burning down isn't just a city or an empire, but a center of human thought, commerce, and communication. The loss of such a central place should be somewhat tragic in a ride celebrating the connection of humans and the ways we've learned to communicate in our history.

And yet, the moment anyone enters this scene of the ride, they immediately think, “Oooo! Barbeque!”

It's impossible not to. It just smells absolutely amazing. The smoky, embery smell is what some remember most about the ride, and an element that leads some to hop right back in line to try it again. It really is that good. So good, in fact, that it might be a bit distracting.

Disney wants you to experience their attractions on every level possible. They don't just want you to enjoy them, they want you to savor them using all of your senses. They want you to connect with it on every level, and to leave with deep, full memories of it all. And so, they put the same level of care into the smell of an attraction as they do into every other part of it. It is this level of care that truly separates Disney from the pack.

Now, if only they could bring that same attention to the inside of a monorail car after a long, hot, humid summer day...

 
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Comments

Don't forget the smell of the interior (probably just the AC system) of Space Mountain.

How could you forget to mention the pungent aroma of unwashed tourists sweating in the FL sun?! Nothing quite says "I'm at Disney" like being in a ride line, squished between two tour groups from countries with questionable hygiene standards.

My favorite scent at WDW is TURKY LEGS! On Main Street I believe they pipe in fragrance like at Disneyland but you can't see the vents. By the candy and ice-cream shop I think it smells like waffle cones or vanilla.

I love the smells of sweets on Main Street in the MK. It mixes with the popcorn for a memory like no other. One more is the smell of Boma at AKL. It is always there, smells so good, and makes you hungry for their delicious menu!

What about the burp on Stitchs great escape or the skunk on figment

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