The Magic of Disney

It has been just over a year since my last trip and arriving at Walt Disney World was just as exciting this time as it was the first. We drove down the highway and as the sun began to set, the night air was thick with excitement. Finally, that familiar sign came into view and I knew we were here!

Each Disney trip is memorable in its own way, but what really stood out to me on this trip was the reoccurring theme that Disney magic is all around me.

We stayed at Saratoga Springs in a Treehouse Villa and I love how they are designed. Each individual villa is propped up on stilts within the tree line. Every morning when I opened the curtains my view was the same as any bird would see while sitting in their nest.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is impressive. Countless numbers of guests pass through the gates each day. Despite the crowd levels, it can still make me feel like I’m in the middle of a jungle experiencing close encounters with some of the world’s most majestic and magical creatures.

My next magical moment occurred when I stepped onto Main Street USA.

Walking into Magic Kingdom and seeing the sun shining on Cinderella Castle is the view that I remember most about being at Disney World. It was breathtaking, magical and timeless.

The sight of Cinderella Castle makes me feel like an 8 year old child living in a world full of corndogs and Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars.

I embrace my inner child as I experience the attractions in each of the parks. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, and Expedition Everest are so much more than rides. The amount of detail work the Disney Imagineers put into creating them is amazing.

To think that somewhere a group of Disney Imagineers gathered together to create so much detail into each attraction is no small accomplishment. Maybe, just maybe they had a bit of help from a Mouse.

Moving from Imagineers to Cast Members; it is a magical moment to watch when one goes above and beyond for a guest. Ahead of me in line was a young girl who wanted to ride Space Mountain with her Stitch doll. However when she pulled down her safety bar it lowered too far and Stitch’s head couldn’t pop up to see over the safety gear. The little girl tried unsuccessfully to adjust. When the Cast Member realized what the little girl was trying to do, she released the safety bars in the car so that the little girl could reposition herself and Stitch could see. This act of kindness took just a few seconds for the Cast Member to release and reset the safety bars. Watching the smile on that little girl’s face once Stitch was safely secured into the ride was so special that I want to share this story with the world.

Finally, the best example of Disney magic is one of Disney World’s largest spectacles and that is Wishes. No other venue can do fireworks better than Disney and this show is in a class of its own. Even more magical than the show itself is what the show represents. During Wishes, when I look around at the crowd, I see that almost every couple (young or old) are holding hands or sharing a hug. That makes me feel like the world truly is a magical place.

Looking back at my trip, I’m reminded that at any age Disney can be magical as long as we pause and take a moment to see the magic.

~ Kelly Mullett

Photos © Kelly Mullett