WDW Daily News

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.

With every event in your life, whether it’s good or bad, leaves an impressionable memory. Memories can fade in and out at random times, however the memories that last are always the 1st impressions because those are the times you talk about the most. Spending your vacation at Walt Disney World is no different. I would like to share with you the 1st memory I have with my very 1st visit to the World.

For those of you who don’t believe in magic, take a trip to Walt Disney World for a change of heart. I was once a skeptic. I believed that the saying, “The Most Magical Place on Earth!” was simply a myth…That is until my very first visit!

In February 2007, my wife, 3 children and I, decided it was time we took our first real family vacation, and the top spot on our list was Walt Disney World. Now planning your first vacation can be frustrating, but just pretend you’re Santa Claus…make a list and check it twice…or 3 – 4 times just to be sure. In our case, it was more like 14 times.

Words can’t express how excited my whole family was for this trip. Finally the day has come. From Pittsburgh to Orlando we go. This was pretty much a 2 for 1 deal because this was also are first trip by airplane. Counting down the hours, the minutes, the seconds. We’ve landed. Already we’re amazed, just by the seemingly Disney themed portion of the airport where we await the Disney Magical Express. On the bus trip to our hotel, we were also greeted by a video from the Disney characters themselves, which made me feel nostalgic. Knowing that we’ll be there soon, made our hearts race with anticipation. The bus arrives at the All-Star Movie Resort, 101 Dalmatians to be exact. We go to our room, just briefly, to view and awe over the decor. We then immediately proceed to the line to wait for a bus to transport us to the Magic Kingdom.

What’s so magical about this you ask? Well, wouldn’t you believe that while we were in line for the shuttle it begins to rain. Much disappointment covered our faces , as well as the others in line. The bus arrives and my saddened family, along with several other grumpy (no pun intended) faces boarded. All the way there, the rain seemed to get harder and harder. I tried to stay optimistic because, HEY…it’s Disney World. Whether it’s raining or snowing, we’re going to have a good time. The shuttle driver announces we will be arriving in just a moment. We look out of the window…our bodies shaking with excitement…we see the sign.

The sign ahead reads, “MAGIC KINGDOM”. We made it, despite the rain, we were going to have the time of our lives…and then it happened. As we passed under the “MAGIC KINGDOM” sign, the rain instantly stopped. It was an amazing and memorable moment for my family. At that moment, I believed…we believed in magic.
The one thing I have learned from this experience, is to, always stay positive! Even when the rain starts…the sun is always shining somewhere. And even if it kept raining…It would be better to be in Disney while it’s raining then working in the sun!

I have twelve tattoos, five of which are Disney related (with several more planned in the future.) I generally receive compliments on my artwork, but I also encounter condescending comments. My favorite is “Wow… you must really like Disney.” This comment makes me feel more judged than if someone blatantly tells me my tattoos disgust them. I don’t know why it irks me so much. I think it the patronizing tone or the implication that my art work is immature.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you don’t like my work you don’t have to say anything. The truth is I wear what I love, and my tattoos are for me and only me. Disney has been such a huge part of my life that I wanted it to be on me forever. I know any tattoo is an invitation to disapproval, but I don’t want to be called childish because I carry permanent artwork of something that is very dear to me. You should never judge a book by its cover; or a person by their seemingly childish tattoos.

So how do I respond to negative comments? I usually just smile and walk away, but sometimes I take it a bit further. Sometimes I share a piece of the tattoos meaning. This simple action of personally opening up to a stranger has changed how some people react to me. The best example I have is my tattoo that says “You are my sunshine” with a classic Winnie the Pooh. The handwriting is my mom’s and she’s called me Pooh for as long as I can remember. I’ve seen people’s faces totally change after hearing the background. Another positive story, one time I was given V.I.P. seating at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular just because the Cast Member really liked one of my tattoos.

I’m going to wrap this up now by proudly saying yes I do have Disney tattoos. No I do not think they’re childish, and I will never regret them! Do you have Disney tattoos? How do you handle any negative feedback? I’d love to see your art and hear your stories. Hit me up on Twitter @hoodie_life.