The older we get, the younger we wish we were. We see something on TV or hear it on the radio and it instantly takes us back to the times of our youth, and only increases our longing to travel back to the good ol' days. Back to the times when things were carefree and the biggest responsibility we had was making sure our room was clean. Our parents were always there, our bellies were always full, and good always beat evil. Unfortunately, the older we get, the ideas we held onto as children no longer seem to hold true. But that’s where Disney comes in. And that’s why we love Disney so much. The company, in myriad ways, allows us to feel like we’re young again and tells us that good can actually win.
Now, I know that when I say Disney, so many people are quick to say: “Disney? Blah, forget that company. They only want to make money. Capitalist conglomerates. Blah, blah, blah.” But, I say that’s hogwash. Yes, the Walt Disney Company is a business. They’re going to try and make money, but they make more than that. They make happiness. They make dreams come true. Sure, they’re going to make money, but they’re making a whole lot of memories in the process. Every product they sell, every service they offer, everything they do is meant to put their guests in an atmosphere where they can experience childlike wonders. They make us feel young again.
Regardless of age, if you want to be a princess, you can be a prince/princess in Disney World. You can be a Jedi. You can be a sorcerer. You can be whoever the heck you want and every Disney Cast Member will treat you however you'd like. They’ll refer to you as Princess, Master Jedi, or whatever you want, because they just want to make you happy. They want to make you feel young again. Through this immersive atmosphere they create, they’ll make you feel like a child again. They’ll make you the happiest you can be. I don’t care who you are or how old you are, I dare you to not smile and jump up and down like a child the first time you see Cinderella’s Castle or the first time you give Mickey, Donald, or Goofy a high five. You’re happy because you know you’re safe.
The second thing that Disney does is make you feel like good can win the day. In the real world, it seems like evil always wins. The news is full of bad guys doing bad things. But not at Disney. At Disney, the hero always wins. No matter how many villains Sorcerer Mickey has to face, he will defeat them all. In every movie or TV Show, the hero wins. That gives us hope. It reminds us of the ideas we held as children. Sometimes, we all need to remember our childish selves and remember that sometimes good can win.
For these reasons, I love Disney. I love it because that’s when I’m my best self. I can feel like a child again and forget the troubles of the real world. Plus, any place where it’s socially acceptable to carry a lightsaber around is the place for me. That’s why I love Disney, and I’m sure it’s why you love it too.
"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse." – Walt Disney
