I was talking to my mother the other day about an article I had written entitled, “And to think…it all started with my mom!” She was saying that there was something extraordinary with me and Disney, as she had also taken my sister to Disneyland and Disney World, and many of our other relatives and friends have traveled there, but somehow I was the one who just fell in love with it. It was like it became part of my soul. What is it? I call it the Disney Magic.
Chances are that if you are reading this and you are a follower of Chip & Company, you know exactly what I am talking about. You LOVE Disney! It seems like such a simple thing, doesn’t it? You work just to be able to spend that vacation with your family in the most magical place on Earth.
Some people, especially those who have not visited Disney World, do not understand what drives me. Some of them have asked, “Why are you going to Disney World AGAIN?” There are two phrases that encompass my sentiment for those people: 1) I am sorry, Peter Pan, that you seem to have grown up, and 2) what can I do to help you plan a trip to Disney World so you can see for yourself?
Occasionally, people ask me, “But don’t you want to see other places?” The answer is yes, I do want to see other places. In fact, I have those places written down on a bucket list. Several times, my husband and I have flatly decided we were going to go somewhere else on our list rather than Disney World and it never fails that we change our minds. Once, we teased the kids that we wouldn’t be going on our annual trip to Disney that year and they acted like we said we were getting a divorce – like oh my gosh, what could be so wrong that we are not going to Disney World? They are very aware that we have gone super cheap during the years where just going was truly a miracle, as well as the years we have gone all out with free dining and gained weight despite all the walking. So they couldn’t image what could be so wrong that our trip would be off. They were glad to find out we were only playing a joke, although they did not find it amusing in the least. Anyhow, they should have known we were kidding because as soon as I am home from one trip I am already planning for the next one.
I am not exactly sure what drives us back, or what Disney Magic really is. Maybe it is how I am always wishing for a better tomorrow, where people smile more or reach out to each other in friendly ways but something about Disney definitely touches my heart. Then again, it could be destiny.
Whenever I read about Walt, it is as though I have a real connection with him somehow and, through the years, even when I haven’t had Disney in the forefront of my mind it seems to end up right back there. For instance, I host a book and film club at my home in which we read a book a month. Once a year we each choose a book we would like everyone to read. Last year, I chose a book called The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall. I loved the book and, wouldn’t you know it, while reading chapter 10 there was a true tale about Walt Disney staring me right in the face and warming my heart. These kinds of things happen to me often – I believe it is fate!
People either get the magic or they don’t. I know that I actually feel more alive and happier than at any other time when I am at Disney. I feel bad for those who don’t have it as I feel like they are missing out on something really special. I find myself rooting for them to get it and I would do anything to help them acquire it. I hope you have it, and I hope you will never lose the magic.
