I love to travel. I’ve been to nearly every state in the U.S., visited over a dozen countries, and even lived overseas for two years. I consider myself well travelled. Yet I keep coming back to Disney destinations. Many people wonder why, or are confused by my interest. Isn’t Disney like really expensive / commercial / fake / fill-in-the-blank with whatever criticism has been leveled at Disney over the years.
You want to know why? The real reason? It’s because of this …
It’s the smile I see on my son’s face when we’re having a great time at Walt Disney World. Prior to this photo being taken, my son hadn’t smiled for a photo back home for quite some time. “Mooo-ooom, I don’t WANT to smile,” he’d say. It’s not that he’s not a happy kid, he is — I think he just didn’t think it was “cool” enough to smile, or something like that. But at Disney, the facade dropped away, the smiles came out, and my confident, happy boy shined through.
And it’s not just my son. Here’s a photo of me, on a trip without Alexander, posing with Sharkey and Bones (aka Captain Boog and Salty), of whom I’ve been a fan for several years before the Jake and the Neverland Pirates TV show debuted.
I am happy, and I smile (and laugh) a lot, but silly is NOT my normal nature. I’m pretty serious and “responsible” most of the time, but you wouldn’t know it from this goofy look on my face with the pirates.
But how does Disney bring out this side in us? I think it’s because Disney makes it really easy to have quality time together, experience silliness and playfulness, and basically just RELAX from the deadlines, homework, and pressure of everyday living. Sure, you can have fun anywhere, at anytime, but at Disney, you’re encouraged to have fun. Some people resist it, we’ve all seen them, stressing out in the parks — but most of us give in to the excitement and wonder of it all, let out a collective sigh, and melt into Disney.
I’m not alone. Other PassPorter contributors have written on this topic here and here, too. So why do YOU keep coming back to Disney?
We keep coming back to Disney. We can’t seem to get enough Mickey ears. There are very few places our oldest daughter, can go and be happy. With her special needs, Disney has wonderful accomindations. Many ask us how can you keep coming back..I always answer why wouldn’t we?
Good answer!
I keep going back to Disney because as a single mom I feel safe bringing my son. Not that I don’t have to remain somewhat vigilant but I feel safer than if we were anywhere else.
Yes, I know how you feel. Disney has always felt like a pretty safe place. 🙂
We went last fall with my family, a group of 10, and had such a wonderful time. Even as a large group. I wondered what my husband would think of vacationing at WDW after spending 5 days. So many people told him is was for the kids. To my great surprise he LOVED it. He thought the parks were so nice (as well as the cast members), clean, family oriented. He actually found himself relaxing, yes a stress free man. No transportation worries, table meals with reservations, fastpass rides. Everybody happy, happy. We had gone to Disney in Paris before kids which was cool but there is something magical about staying on the property.
So we have booked for January 2014 at Port Orleans with the dining plan … the countdown has begun …and we are hooked.
How wonderful! Thank you for sharing your story. 🙂
I also love the fact that no-one seems to want to get their cell phone out and check their Facebook at meals, you enjoy the food and the atmosphere and actually talk at dinner. The outside world fades away and you live for the moment. That’s what makes it great for me, I keep coming back and constantly want to bring others to enjoy it with me.
I do it because as a single mom, its a place where I can relax and have as much fun as my daughter is having. I get a “real” vacation. Disney takes care of all the details for me. They pick me up at the airport, drive me to the parks, clean my room, serve me meals, and take me back to the airport when I’m done.
I do it because I see the joy in my daughter’s face (and unfortunately, the tears when we leave). We can be silly and no one gives it a second thought. We get to make fabulous memories that we laugh about years later. We can sleep in late or hit the parks running (much more likely).
We get to try new things, eat different food, explore different countries. We can eat Dole Whips, Mickey Bars and Mickey Pretzels. Its great for making memories and reconnecting after the hectic day-to-day stuff.
With a special needs child who is now a married adult, and kids who are up to 21 years apart, Disney parks are a wonder. We can all find something we love to do, have a great time while interacting with each other, and for the times we’re not together, have something fun/interesting to tell the others. Disneyland Paris was a great way to ease our friends and children into their first European experience; something familiar (Disney), but different. And let’s face it; where else can an adult wear a Goofy Hat and look perfectly normal?
Very simply, because it is my Happy Place. <3
I keep going back because every time our trip is magical! If you ask each of my family what their favorite vacation memory is, it ALWAYS involves Disney 🙂
LIke you, it’s that ‘smile’ I see in the pictures….it’s our laughing place…. My kids are quite a bit older than yours, but it’s still the place where the smiles appear! And the depressed faces when we leave… it’s just a fun place to play!
We love going to Disney! We had our honeymoon and 20th anniversary there. Even though we were never blessed with kids, we still enjoy going. It brings out the kids in us! It sparks imagination and even allows us to “travel” between countries to experience many cultures. We have gone with our niece before and love the 1st time experiences that she has while there. Although her mom is a park commando making it hard to relax and just take it all in when with her we still have special memories. No schedules except Fast Passes and dinner reservations. Very enjoyable!
Your post brought tears to my eyes! The picture of your beautiful, beaming son and your description of how the magic of the park let him drop his facade spoke so much to me.
I live a pretty non-mainstream lifestyle. I spent 9 years living 1/2 time in Europe, have lived in vans, slept outside in the city…I live in a low income co-op where we have regular potlucks, host benefits for the Occupy movement…all things I love and chose. I just spent 9 weeks in Nicaragua staying at Youth Hostels with my husband and 5 year old, when we weren’t staying at the circus school for low-income kids…I think you get the picture…
And yet, I’m dreaming of my next Disney vacation. Yes, it’s corporate, artificial, mainstream. And I love it. I am free to enter into a world of disbelief and magic, I can just soak it all in and love every minute. I do think it somehow has to do with the sense of safety and good vibes. Everybody, the other guests, the cast members, are into just having a good time.
I do Disney on my terms. I minimize the souvenier purchases. We don’t stay in Disney lodging, We don’t eat at the park eateries (ok, on our 4 day trip we split an icecream at Gibson Girl and a clam chowder over by the canoes). But we do it our way and I just LOVE it.
There are a few other places that feel equally magical to me. And they each have this same quality. Safe and normal to pick up your feet and let the current take you.
Thank you for your post.