I will NEVER be too old for Disney. The first time that I went to Disney World was when I was 12 years old. It was a great experience but past having a good time, I didn't think much of it. When I was 18 I decided that I needed to get out of Northern Virginia, so I moved to Disney World for 8 months. I'll be honest with you, I didn't really have any expectations other than wanting to be on my own for awhile. I'll be honest with you again though, working at Disney was the single greatest thing I've ever done for myself.
You may tell me that I'm silly when I get sentimental over the castle coming on the screen when a Disney movie plays, but did you know that I saw that castle every day for 8 months and that I cried with some of my best friends in front of it on the last night of my program?
You may tell me that I need to get in touch with reality when I plan my 4th Disney trip for the year, but did you know that I have friends that are like family to me living 800 miles away and that I would do anything to see them on a daily basis again?
You may tell me that I'm weird when I call a customer a guest at my store, but did you know that I could have gotten written up had I chosen to do that when I worked at Disney and now it's embedded in me?
Working at Disney taught me so much. It was the first time I had to buy my own groceries, get myself to work every day -- on time. It was my first experience with roommates and because of that experience I've not only been a bridesmaid but I'm also lucky enough to have a god daughter who I love with all my heart.
I was able to be there when she was born and that's a moment that I hold very near and dear to my heart. That moment taught me that life is short and your whole life can change in an instant so we need to cherish every moment we have with the ones that we love.
The friends that I made at Disney are friends that I know I'll have for life. They are friends that I suffered with, cried with, had weekly dinners at TGI Fridays with, ate kitchen sinks full of ice cream with and who I know would be there for me in an instant if I needed them.
You may say that I need to grow up and get in touch with reality and realize that I'm not 4 years old and that's okay. Disney to me isn't just a place that I met Mickey, or that I watched amazing fireworks every day for 8 months.
It's a place where I ate more food in one sitting than I could ever imagine, learned how to dream, learned what I wanted to do with my life, and found my passion. It's where I feel that I truly grew up, it's a place that I hold very close to my heart and it's my second home.
