Ever wonder where the most magical place on Earth is? If you’re thinking Baylor, that’s close, and maybe even a tie, but think. Magic is basically code for Disney. I know with recent events, Disney may not seem so magical, but let’s look beyond that for a moment. There’s a time in every child’s life where they hope to meet a Disney princess, Mickey Mouse, or even come face to face with the 183 foot tall Cinderella Castle.
For me, I have grown up loving Disney. Starting from the classic Mickey Ice Cream Bar, to sitting on my dad’s shoulders gazing in awe at the booming, colorful showcase in the sky, to even venturing into the Twilight Zone, Disney trips have played a vital part in my family. Now that I have graduated high school, I had to think of a place for my senior trip. For a while I was set on taking a plane to Washington D.C., but something about that made me uneasy. If you know my family and I at all, we like to be good at the things we do, but are always up for an adventure. Going to D.C. meant that we would be rookies on a family vacation. When I thought about this, I’m pretty sure I threw up a little in my mouth. Therefore, I chose to go back to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
This trip will indeed be my 18th time to go. I know what you’re thinking — so stop judging me! No, I never get tired of it. Yes, it is still the most magical place on Earth to me, besides Baylor, of course. We plan months in advance, play Disney trivia games at the dinner table, and mentally perfect our packing lists. There’s something about a place that has successfully thrived for years on the enjoyment of guests all ages, shapes and sizes, that never makes me lose interest. There truly is something for everyone. My family’s obsession for Disney has gotten to the point where we have appointed the tram ride, from the terminals at the Orlando International Airport, the Happiest and Saddest Ride. It’s the happiest ride when you are beginning your vacation and relentlessly point and laugh at those suckers whose vacation just ended (while on a normal day we would not dare point and laugh at depressing people, our uncontrollable Disney itch causes us to act a little more unsympathetic). On the flip side, this ride is also the saddest because by the end of the trip, guess who the suckers are… All this to say that we have each part of our Disney Vacation mapped out to the point where the excitement becomes unbearable. If you couldn’t tell already, the Ummels have a special place in our hearts for Disney.
Disney brings out the best in us all, from oblivious grandparents running over Cast Members on their motor scooters, to children..I mean adults..whining because they haven’t had their afternoon naps yet, to teens Snapchatting a selfie with every character they can. Granted, at the time, those moments are rather horrifying, but in hindsight, they make for a good story.
Even at the age of 18, I still lie awake at night unable to sleep, knowing that the next day we head out to Orlando. So, if I have been to Disney 17 times, why on God’s green earth would I choose to go there again? Fasten your seatbelts as I explain: the melted chocolate decorated faces left over from Mickey Bars, churros (mmm :) ), the characters and rides, the family friendly atmosphere, the moment when a Cast Member tells you “Welcome home,” each infamous landmark in the parks—it’s the largest and smallest of details that make a Disney trip a Disney trip. Aside from the fact that my family by no means likes to be the rookies in a situation, Disney honestly feels like a second home to us. I know you’re probably thinking, “good Lord this family is a bunch of weirdos,” but rest assured, we embrace our weirdness in full. So, before I head off to college, I could not be any more excited to tighten my Chacos, grab the fanny pack and autograph books, and head out the door for a senior trip that will have memories of its own.
