Whether you've visited "The Happiest Place on Earth," or just heard about it, you know that Disney World is a magical place where every child's dreams come true. The iconic Cinderella's Castle that appears in the distance of the park, to many, can only be described as a breathtaking, eighth wonder of the world. I am very grateful to say that I have been given the opportunity to visit the Magic Kingdom four times in my life, three of them when I was under the age of fifteen. This past week, at the age of twenty-one (almost twenty-two) our family embarked on our fourth visit with the addition of my nephew for his first birthday. As we all know, Disney is a place for children, but there is something to be said about #Adulting while in Orlando's pride and joy:

Appreciation.

As I have gotten older, I have developed this curiosity for how everything works. I am that why-is-the-sky-blue? kid, but as a college student. Walking into the park you begin to have a certain appreciation for the realistic character of the world that Walt Disney has built. You notice the close attention to detail that has been paid within every aspect of the park. As you walk towards the life-sized castle, the streets are filled with friendly characters, but only the one's that belong in that specific area of the park. For example, unless there is a parade, you will not be catching Buzz Lightyear wondering through Fantasy Land with all of the princesses. I also found an appreciation for the illusion made by the construction of Main Street. The path that leads to Cinderella's castle becomes increasingly narrower as you approach the castle. This gives you the illusion that the castle is much further away when you enter the park, drawing out the excitement of the journey are about to embark on within the park. After a long hot day in the sun, when your blistered feet are headed towards the park exit, the road widens with each step you take. This gives you that feeling of "We're almost there!"

Resorts.

We had the pleasure of staying in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The five-star, roaring twenty's themed resort is set on the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon. The experience begins as soon as you get out of your car. Every bell hop is dressed from head to toe in long white socks that meet their khaki shorts with a vest and suspenders topped with a duckbill cap and white gloves. When you enter the main building it feels as if you have stepped into a scene from The Great Gatsby. The entire resort is nothing short of extravagant, but they do not forget to include the Disney magic throughout your stay. You can find hidden Mickeys within the granite floors and walls all throughout the main building, as well as a Donald Duck, Goofy, and Tinkerbell. When we arrived to our room there was a message on our phone of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy singing happy birthday to my nephew that could be saved and replayed whenever he wanted. They also brought up a gift basket that included custom Mickey ears and a blanket with Clayton's name on them, with a stuffed Mickey that he slept with each night we were there.

In the morning the resort offers a character breakfast where we had the most amazing buffet style meal and met Pooh-Bear, Tigger, Alice, Mary Poppins, and the Mad Hatter. Our last day of the trip we traveled just across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the Polynesian for a Hawaiian style breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo, and Stitch. This breakfast included a parade through the restaurant where every child danced and sang with all of the characters while shaking maracas.

Food and Drinks.

Wow. One thing you would not expect from a trip to Disney World is the high quality food and adult beverages that you can partake in. At any theme park you can expect to have a fried buffet of delicious corn-dogs and chicken tenders with any kind of potato or onions you can think of. While the park does offer those delicacies, you do not have to look far to find a five-star restaurant where you can indulge in a fancy meal with amazing martinis all while wearing your Minnie Mouse ears. On our last night there we took a trip to Disney Springs where we happily shoveled down steaks and seared tuna at STK, an upbeat steakhouse that just opened the week before we visited. My older sister being twenty-three and free, I twenty-one and full of fun, along with our rad dad decided to explore what Disney Springs had to offer. We found not-so-hidden treasure at Paradiso 37. That treasure- tequila! After having some fun there we were all safely taken back to our resort on a Disney provided bus. Once back we hit the elegant bar within our resort and found ourselves on the Seven Seas Lagoon ferry on our way back to the Park. Accompanied by our responsible nine-teen year old sister we had the time of our lives exploring the park after dark.

Over all, I would say I would recommend everyone plan a trip and experience their own form of Adulting in Disney World. You just have to be willing to allow yourself to let loose and behave like your inner child. Even if that means wearing goofy looking Minnie Mouse ears, or in my twenty-three year old sister's case; an adult sized Snow White dress that resembles the one she wore everyday when she was five.