I have a confession to make… I am completely Disney- obsessed. I own entirely too many rodent themed clothing items for any self-respecting 40 year old mother of two and my house is beginning to feel a bit like a shrine to the Mouse. I cry every time I hear Wishes, even if I am sitting on my couch listening to Mouse World Radio. To most of my family and friends, it is hard to understand why I have such a strong connection to “a little kids’ park”. “Why do you want to go there AGAIN?? Aren’t you sick of it?” My answer, like that of so many of my fellow Disney kin, is a resounding “NO”.
My affection for Disney began when I was a teen, with an ever-growing appreciation of both classic Disney animated features (Lady and the Tramp was my first Disney love) and later the “new” classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. I became fascinated with Walt Disney, the man, and the history behind the company. Although I had been to Walt Disney World once as a 6-year-old child, I was not even close to prepared for what I would feel when I visited for the first time as a young adult.
The year was 1998 when my husband and I took our first trip, and on the risk of sounding dramatic, it was truly a vacation that changed my life (yep, that’s dramatic, all right!). I distinctly remember stepping off of that Disney bus in front of the Magic Kingdom. Standing there in front of the floral Mickey and looking up at the train station, my heart pounding and the butterflies dancing in my stomach, I knew instantly that something had just begun. That moment was the true birth of a love affair that has only deepened over the years.
Walt Disney World became our young family’s go-to spot for fun and the making of lasting family memories. Both of my daughters’ first airplane rides were to MCO, with one being only 4 months old on her first trip. WDW was our “thing” as my then- 5 year old described to her kindergarten teacher. I watched my babies grow to toddlers, then preschoolers, then to confident young girls with Cinderella Castle as their backdrop. Although we could never go to WDW as often as I wished, the once-yearly trip was enough to stave off my Disney blues.
As much as it pains me to report, the Disney pull started to wane for my husband a few years ago. He began to feel as if he had “seen it all” and became more interested in seeing other new, exciting places for our family vacations (I know! The travesty!). This has been a devastating turn of events for me, as my Disney love has only grown. Although my husband may not love WDW as much as he used to, he does love me- he gave me the most amazing gift of an annual pass for my last birthday! My WDW trips look a little different now, with a few solo jaunts stuck in between trips with my family, but I am adjusting.
Why do I love Walt Disney World so deeply? WDW is a place like no other that I have experienced. From the moment I drive under those iconic gates, I am immersed in a world that is both fantasy and a sort of reality perfected. My worries melt away. For just a while, I can be free of the craziness of “normal” life, with its endless driving, forgotten lunches, annoying co-workers, lost shoes, and sick dogs. For me, the draw is not really the attractions. Don’t get me wrong, I love a soggy plunge down Splash Mountain or a flight over California as much as the next girl. I enjoy each attraction for its inherent merit. I find the magic, however, in the moments between the attractions; in the small, more hidden, intricate details that can easily go unseen in the mad dash down Main Street or the hunt for that perfect spot to wait for Illuminations. In the immaculately themed street lights and marquees.
In the smell of freshly popped popcorn, or the musty water of the Pirates of the Caribbean. In the look of amazement in the eyes of a young girl with a fresh lipstick mark on her check from her meeting with Ariel. In the taste of a Nutella and fruit waffle sandwich while watching the late Main Street Electrical Parade. In the cast members, who work hard every single day to make each guest’s experience magical. They truly are the stars of the show- without them, there would be no “most magical place on Earth”.
Is Walt Disney World perfect? No. It only takes a quick look around on a hot, July afternoon to quickly see the weariness on parents’ faces; sunburn, blistered feet, whining children, ridiculously long lines, and high prices can quickly take the sails out of the best laid plans. It might even be true that WDW isn’t for everyone. In my opinion, however, the good far outweighs the bad. Even on the worst Disney day, it is still a Disney day. The magic is still there- it might just take a harder look to find it right under the surface.
So I will continue to make my pilgrimage as often as I can, like so many others. My time at Walt Disney World is my time to recharge. The magic innate to this special place feels like a sustaining life force. When I drive through those gates, my soul is at peace and my heart is bursting. That’s why for me, and for fellow Disney lovers everywhere, a trip to my beloved Walt Disney World is not just a vacation- it’s a way of life.
And in case you are wondering, yes, I have been drinking the kool-aid. And loving every sip.
