My Disney Love

There is a reason my heart keeps coming back for more!!

Disney adults have always gotten such a bad rap. So much so, that I have spent most of my life being a bit reserved when it comes to sharing my love for this special place. I was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, (once a very short trip to the parks) and have been coming for many years with my family. I don’t have a ton of memories of being here with my parents and siblings when I was little (after all, there are 8 of us, and that is a hard thing to do), but we did come. However, once I had my son, well… that is when things REALLY changed.

I have always LOVED Disney in all forms. Movies, characters, and music. But my love for the grounds and all the little things that Disney pays such close attention to…well that love came with the time I spent there with my young son and my husband.

I was a young mom and found myself in somewhat of a world of my own. None of my friends had babies and because I was in a realm of my own, “Mommy & Me” groups and various socializing activities for children weren’t readily in my view. I’m sure they were there; I just didn’t know about them. What I did know was that I had a little one full of love and energy who needed things to do. Disney was out of my financial reach for the first couple of years. So, we started off with passes to Busch Garden and Sea World and that morphed into passes to Universal & Islands of Adventure and finally we graduated to where we want to be all along, and that was Disney. There was a happiness that came with having access as a Passholder at Disney. It felt different in all forms. From the cleanliness at the parks, to the kindness from the cast members. I remember always feeling safe and secure there and being a young mom with a small child, that was important. As someone who can let anxiety cast a shadow on moments, it always felt carefree being there. And perhaps that is what my heart has fallen in love with.

The ability to enjoy the moments.

Brecken and I would go multiple times a week. We’d drive over after a nap and explore the parks until dinner time, and head home. Other days we’d eat an early dinner and drive over to catch fireworks. The number of memories I have with my son at the Disney Parks is incredible and there are too many to count. A few that stand out are his naps on the train. I can’t tell you how many times we’d loop around, and I didn’t care. I loved the snuggles from him and the atmosphere of watching the magical world go by. As Brecken got older, we would add on an adventure go and stay for long weekends once a year. Our first stop was always the Lego store where we would pick out project for the trip and work on building it during our stay. Brecken turns 22 and that is something we still do to this day. From the ice cream stops, to the insistence of always riding Pirates down to fireworks watched through his eyes, all of it always made my heart beam brighter. I only wish that I could go back in time and soak it all up with him, again. It flashed by in a blink of an eye, but it was magical.

As Brecken grew and became a man, his time with me at the parks became less and less. He still goes with me a few times throughout the year, but visits started to look different. My husband Glenn and I started to go alone more, and this gave us an opportunity to explore things we didn’t even realize were available. To say there is a whole other world available to adult is an understatement. When I tell people I love Disney, I think they assume I have a strange obsession with fictional characters. And while I do love Mickey and Minnie, that is very much not the essence of what I love most.

What I love most is the creative immersion that happens once you set foot on property. As someone who likes to create, I find inspiration around every corner. Everything is so intentional and well thought-out. One is constantly reminded that this all began with one man’s dream. If that doesn’t inspire you, I am not sure what can. It is mentioned often that Disney World is an escape from reality and while I think that is true, I think it is more of an escape from a negative and jaded reality and a visit into a positive and inspiring reality. It’s a place where you are reminded, deep in your core, that “if you can dream it, you can do it!” A place where you are accepted for who you are without judgement and where happiness prevails.

But happiness is also found in the peace on property. Something most people probably don’t think about when the thought of Disney enters someone’s mind. And that is because there is a right way and a wrong way to do Disney.

Blend that peace with delicious food, fabulous entertainment, beautiful golf courses, gorgeous artwork and so many other things in between and you’ll find a utopia for today with memories from yesterday. Today, when I am at Disney, not only am I enjoying the moments in front of me, but all those moments from the past, flash in my heart and mind. It’s somewhat of a vault of memories and times together with those that I love most!! It's a reminder of the laughter I have shared there with friends so many times!! But most importantly it is the essence of happiness that I feel while I am there and it always brings me back for more!