There is something extremely special about the magic of Walt Disney World no matter what age you are. This summer my family decided we needed one last trip to the Happiest Place on Earth before we all got too much older and boy I am so glad we did.
As we sat down last year to decide what this year's annual summer vacation would be, we all kept coming back to the fun memories and stories that Disneyland and Disney World held for our family throughout each of our lives. My dad would always tell the story of the first time they ever brought me to Disney World. It was the Disney 'off season' and I was one of few kids staying in this particular hotel. We came down the escalator and Mickey Mouse was standing there. Three-year-old Emma took off on a dead sprint across the lobby straight into Mickey Mouse's arms. It was magical, even though I don't remember it. My mom always came back to the story of her parents (my grandparents) taking her and my dad, along with my Aunt and Uncle to Disney World one Christmas before any of my cousins and I existed. As for my sister she went for the sad 'The day I found out the characters at Disney aren't real' memory... kind of a downer right haha. My go-to story was Christmas 2005. As we opened presents at my grandparent's house in Arizona, the last gift contained a Disney t-shirt with a note saying "We are going to Disneyland, TOMORROW". As I jumped up and screamed with joy this was just the beginning of what would become my all time favorite Disney story. To make it just a tiny bit better it also happened to be the 50th anniversary of the park. So with these memories in mind, we all decided that one final family vacation to go see our main guy Mickey Mouse was what we all needed.
Our week of Disney World fun took us to all four theme parks, two waterparks, and the huge shopping district. That's Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Springs for those keeping track. It is pretty easy to get lost in the magic of Disney, much like Pleasure Island in Pinocchio haha. Our week of magic went by in the blink of an eye. We came face to face with a Yeti on Expedition Everest, ate dinner at the 'drive in', fought Emperor Zurg twice on the Buzz Lightyear Ride, dined like the Brits do in Epcot under a shimmery sky of fireworks and experienced the Twilight Zone twice in a row because why not?
Through all of this, my family and I constantly had the biggest smiles on our faces. Going to Disney World as an adult just turns you into a kid again. There is not a limit to the amount you can smile, laugh or exude joy at Disney, I think that might even be written into their unofficial park rules. The cast members always say, "Have a magical day" and I would say we certainly did all week long.
As our final day at the parks drew to a close we ate mini corn dogs in the shadow of Cinderella's castle and tried to determine our new favorite memories. My dad couldn't stop talking about World's Showcase at Epcot and how he wished we would have gone there every day to eat the food and drink the drinks if you know what I mean. But his piece of childlike Disney magic was the giddy feeling he had as he watched his childhood come to life in the form of the Star Wars show at Hollywood Studios.
Now my mom loves anything that turns my sister and I back into the little girls who they first brought to Disney World so many years ago. That means Cinderella's Castle and the early morning Magic Kingdom Welcome Show and seeing our faces light up as we took them in for the first time this trip.
Now my sister instantly went to rattle off all her favorite rides from the week. The thrill seeker junkie in her included Tower of Terror, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the top of her ride list. But for her, those thrill moments were her magic.
As for me, it was definitely finally being able to fulfill all my childhood dreams by getting to 'Be a Guest' in the Beast's Castle from Beauty in the Beast. I ate in the very ballroom that Belle and the Beast danced to Tale as Old as Time and for me that was magical. This doesn't scrape the surface of our memories from the week, but it sure does show that Disney Magic is felt by anyone at any age.
Shh don't tell anyone, but I honestly had tears in my eyes as we exited the Magic Kingdom our last night in the parks. I remember turning around for one last glimpse of the castle and tears filled my eyes. Now I probably could not even tell you why. Maybe it was because it was crazy to think about the fact that the next time I found myself at the Magic Kingdom I would probably be a REAL adult. All married with kids making some new Disney memories for my own children, as my parents did for me growing up. So until the next time I head to a Disney Park I am going to hold on to these memories and much more, with a big smile on my face and happy heart knowing that you can never be too old for some Disney magic.
