Goodbyes are never easy, especially when you're leaving so much you love behind. Sadness is unavoidable, even more so when you're left standing without the people who you care so deeply about, in a place where your dreams actually came true. It's not saying goodbye that hurts. It's leaving a world full of memories, moments and people you cherish more than anything. Nothing could ever compare to the bonds you created here. It's never going to be a mere vacation spot to us; it's never just going to be that place where we worked. It's home. It's never goodbye here-- goodbye would be forgetting all that this land has given you. Whether it's the place, people or practice, your magic will live on forever. Don't ever say goodbye to something that means so much, it's see ya real soon.
You learned valuable life lessons in your time you put in for the mouse. You laughed, you cried, you worked 14-hour shifts when the park hit capacity at 11:30AM. No one will actually understand what working for Disney is like until you do it first hand. It's hard but trust me, it's worth every second. You would be standing outside at greeter in the blazing sun, praying your water lasts until someone, anyone comes around giving 103s. Then suddenly, off in the distance -- you'll spot some first timers strolling through, holding their EPCOT map upside down wondering where the heck Future World is as they approach Spaceship Earth. You greet them with your warmest smile and engage them into the world you call home. You wrap them in everything and anything they need to know about this magical happy place as you forget all about how much sweat is dripping off your back. You give them their first-time button and wish them the best of times as the muscles holding crevices of your lips upward for so long start to strain. Every second of making magic was always worth it.
It takes people to make magic. The magic makers are some of the most special people anyone could ever interact with. They come from all over. From down under to the snowiest parts of the world, you make friends from across the globe. We all share one major similarity-- we believe in things. We believe that even in the darkest depths, magic can be made. You click with these people. You connect with them in more ways you can ever imagine because they get it. It's so incredibly easy to from bonds and hold everlasting friendships with these people--because they get you.
Leaving them is a touchy subject. They tell you, it's likely to meet your people here. What they don't tell you is that they may live in every corner of the world.
Your last day approaches. It comes faster than you could ever even imagine. You huddle closely as you count the days, hours, minutes and finally seconds that you have left with each other. You try to avoid the fact that that the end is running near. Closing-time approaches as the herds of strangers empty out. Suddenly, you are the last ones left. The world you know so well becomes eerie. Taking up every last moment of all the memories you made. With everything you have in you, you get up with a heavy heart. You do everything you can to soak up every last possible moment you have left together. You look back at an empty Main Street as the Up medley hums through the background. It becomes softer and softer until suddenly, you can't hear it anymore. Puddles gather in the pockets of your eyes, as you attempt hold on to what's left of the magic you brought to each other. You take one last look at the world you hold so dear and walk through the ivory pillar gates.
You pack your bags, clinging on to the tangible items holding intangible magic. You hold your best friends close, the moment comes before you must part ways. As much as you want to add just a little more sand into the hourglass that seems to be pouring far too quickly, we are down to our final grains. If it's one thing we learned. It's not goodbye, no matter how near or far-- no matter how long it will take to get back-- it is never goodbye. It's see ya real soon.
