Destination Disney
Destination DISNEY!
I celebrated three birthdays in the last two months at Walt Disney World in Orlando! Not that I am complaining, Disney is definitely a magical destination, and the one of choice for over half of the children I have the privilege of granting wishes for as a volunteer for Make a Wish. There is certainly something special for everyone there and the customer service is stellar. My God daughter is an intern in the college program and she invited me to come celebrate her October birthday with her and her new Disney friends, before she even had any! Of course my husband, celebrating his half century mark in November, insisted on following suit, so I went again. I hit the same milestone in September and have been celebrating ever since so I didn’t mind a bit.
Of course I flew in early both times to make the most of my days. We went resort hopping, downtown shopping, and out to eat before we ever made it to a park. It was different, and delightful to be so carefree, no schedule, and no agenda to accomplish.
I had been to Disney several times before, so I had no need to do or see anything specific. The first trip was on Rebecca’s time, the second on Gary’s, and I was ready to go with the flow, though not my typical M.O.!
We were waiting for the shuttle to take us to Epcot, when several went by en route to other parks. We waited patiently as buses bound for the same places came and went, leaving us wondering when our chariot would arrive. When the third bus came by, displaying the same destination as the previous two, we wondered if the driver could change course. As I considered asking, I saw him reach above his head, flip a switch, and suddenly his bus was bound for Epcot and we eagerly expedited our adventure.
With a push of a button his course had changed, As soon as the new route was revealed, all of us excitedly boarded the bus.
We went around the world, twice, for both birthdays, stopping to sample the various cuisines. Happy Hour at the Rose and Crown was the highlight, complete with a customized Birthday songs by Carol both times. She wrote songs on the spot, based on several simple questions she asked of her subjects.
We stayed in the same room at the same hotel both trips, overlooking downtown Disney, a lake, and daily fireworks displays at two parks from our balcony. We were regulars, greeted graciously each day upon departure and return, invited for complimentary breakfast buffet, and drinks downstairs in the lounge. I was amazed how such simple gestures made a measurable difference in our Disney days.
What if we could all change our destination with the flick of a switch? And write our own songs on the spot? What if Disney was a mindset and Walt was our mentor for how we live our lives? We can’t all live in the wonderful world of Disney, but we can go there in our minds and hearts anytime, even if our bus has a different destination!
