Why Do Some People “Get” Disney and Some Don’t?
FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE MOUSE
There are people who make Disney their only vacation year after year, yet others who say, “No way!” I know couples who argue over Disney. One spouse loving all things Disney and the other just rolling their eyes at their spouse’s excitement over the Mouse.
I wonder if it has a lot to do with one’s experience at Disney. Take me for example, I visited Disney World for the first time when I was 20. It was nice, but didn’t think anything of it. Then I went to Disney World in 2012 again as a mom with Abbie – age 5, Isabella – age 3. We flew down in late April and stayed off property with Ray’s mom and sister in a rental home for a week. I added magic by having a stuffed Sorcerer Mickey who would “surprise the girls with Disney toys and trinkets” each day while we were at the park. We visited the princesses and I was amazed how these girls in their 20s could BECOME the princess they were portraying. (How cool it must be for these cast members to wake up in the morning and think, “I’m Rapunzel!”) Along with Abbie, I was convinced they were the real deal. Isabella didn’t warm up to the characters so quickly, often hiding in Ray’s shoulder. We ate in Cinderella’s Castle, rode the rides, saw the parades, and I held Abbie in my arms on Main Street as we watched “Wishes” for the first time. I cried, my cheek soaking hers! The new Fantasyland hadn’t opened and I had no idea what we were missing. We left Disney with wonderful first time as a family memories.
Then in August 2013 we returned to Disney, just the four of us. Something was calling me back. We decided to drive and not fly, and WE DIDN’T TELL THE GIRLS. I packed backpacks of Disney related books, games, videos – lots to keep them busy in the car. We woke them up at 3am and told them we were going on a trip. Isabella thought we were going to a park and wondered just how far this park could be? We listened to the soundtrack to “Teen Beach Movie” 300 times and the girls were wonderful in the car – the hours flew by. When we stopped for the night around 5:00pm, just before the Georgia border, the girls still didn’t figure out where we were going. Abbie cried because she didn’t want to sleep away from home but was quickly comforted with her required stuffed sleep friends. It wasn’t until the next morning when we reached the Florida information center and Abbie could read, “Welcome to Florida,” that they figured it out. We arrived at our resort, All-Star Music that afternoon, and got settled for the next 12 nights. We didn’t stay at a posh resort, but to be able to be in Disney and stay for almost 2 weeks, without feeling all the rush and panic of fitting everything in, it was so worth it! This time Disney Magic hit me unlike before. I fell in LOVE with the Mouse. The girls were now 6 and almost 4. Isabella wasn’t afraid of the characters. The new Fantasyland had opened and the girls (and I) just ate up every ounce of Disney magic there. We visited Belle at her cottage at Enchanted Tales with Belle. We rode the Ariel ride 10 times easily. We hung out in the Tangled bathroom area and searched for the hidden Pascals under the tower. We ate at the Be Our Guest Restaurant for lunch (thanks to a friend), in the ballroom, with the “snow” falling outside the window next to our table – pure MAGIC! It was when paper fast passes were issued at kiosks – Ray and I had it down to a science, knowing exactly what rides to hit at opening, and which fast passes to get when. We were pros! And with 10 day park hopper tickets, there was no rush. Yes, it was hot in August, so we would be there at rope drop and then go back to the hotel to swim and relax by noon – 1:00. Sometimes we took a nap and went back to the parks when it was cooler and the crowds died down. We had our car, so we shopped at the store and ate breakfast and most lunches at the hotel – “roughing it.” Then for dinner, I had gift cards to chain restaurants to redeem, we tried local pizza places, ate at Downtown Disney, now Disney Springs, and heck, the girls never complain about eating McDonald’s! It didn’t matter that we didn’t have reservations at all these great restaurants, we made Disney affordable and that’s what was important. There was time to just sit on Main Street and take it all in, the sights, the sounds, the delicious smells! I felt like I was home and that I could never leave. I was consumed with Disney Magic and cried like a baby under my sunglasses as we left the park for the last time. I thought, we need to move to Orlando (yes, we called a realtor when we got home but then chickened out). I told my family I wanted my ashes sprinkled in Disney World (no, it is not allowed and since Disney would ban anyone doing that from the parks for life, I changed my mind)! But still, I was (am) all about Disney and the magic I felt there. It stays with me. Since then I have booked 2 more personal trips but due to job changes and financial stress, both trips got cancelled. Still, it does help just know that Disney World is out there! And when someone I know is there, and they post photos I can see…. it helps my missing the Mouse!
Luckily I have a husband who understands my love of Disney. I know we’ll get there again someday. Who knows… maybe when we don’t have family ties here, we’ll take the plunge and move to the Orlando area (Oveido or Clermont – I’ve done my homework). Of course by then, we’ll have new ties as the girls will be old enough to not want to go!
So to those of you who don’t get Disney, please tell me what it is you don’t like? Was it too crowded? Too hectic? Too expensive? I often hear from friends that they need a vacation AFTER their Disney vacation. There is a huge amount of planning that is required, especially now with the pre-scheduled fast passes 60 days out, and if you want dining you have to fight for reservations when they open up at 6:00am at 180 days out. There is so much to think about and plan, and new experiences offered… it’s no wonder a Disney vacation stresses people out. But wait… there’s another option… use a travel consultant (yours truly) to do all that planning for you, for free!! Let my love of Disney and my desire to make you feel the MAGIC, plan a dream vacation for you. Then you can write a post about when you FELL IN LOVE WITH THE MOUSE.
Remember to share, like, or comment! I’d love to hear your Disney stories!! Tell me your favorite things to do and see! – Laurie
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215-435-4151 LaurieFiveStarTravel@gmail.com
Laurie at Five Star Travel Group 