The Most Magical Place on Earth

Yep still stuck on Walt Disney World but really can you blame me?  On our trip to Orlando we visited the four Disney parks and the two Universal Parks. Although we had fun at all of them Disney is where IT was at. 

That’s not to say Universal wasn’t great in its own way. Universal is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and since our entire family is huge fans that park is placed firmly in the number 2 out of the 6 parks we visited.  In the end however, aside from HP, Universal just feels like any other theme park.

Walt Disney World, in particular The Magic Kingdom and Epcot, is like stepping into another world. A world where all the faces are smiling, where people (cast members and tourists alike) dance in the street, where the rides are “experiences” and foot traffic is so well managed that even in the midst of a parade it flows smoothly.

It isn’t just for the kids either and I think that is a big part of what makes Disney so special.  It turned out my husband and I had just as much fun as our daughters did.  While we walked into the parks as Mom and Dad we left as kids having had a day of fun. 

Perhaps it is because of rides like Dumbo which in most parks wouldn’t be designed to seat adults but small children only.  Nothing at Disney is kids only or adults only everything is designed to be an entertaining and fun experience for everyone regardless of age.  Sharing in the fun as a family changes the outlook entirely.  

It’s all in the details and Disney does the details well.  One of those subtle details is the different music for each area which emerges from bushes and along walkways each sound evoking memory and lifting your heart.  Another detail is in the food, everything is specially made for Disney.  A bag of nuts “manufactured” by Chip n’ Dale, Mickey ears ice cream and Minnie Cookies.  Each of the rides are more than just rides they are immersive from the moment you step into line until you step back out into that glorious Florida sun.   The shows are spectacularly put together and the cast members treat you like royalty. 

In no other place have I felt that overwhelming feeling of being a kid again.  Disney focuses on learning and imagination; it is forever optimistic, encouraging and hopeful.  It makes you think about our potential as humans and it truly is magic.

Picture Prompt, Gazing Ball

“What is it Grandma?”Madelyn asked as she held the beautiful glass ball in front of the fireplace watching how it changed in the lights reflection.

“It is a gazing ball and you can see many wondrous things in a gazing ball.  You just have to look hard enough, you have to use all of your concentration and believe in it.” She replied

“Is it magic, like you?” Madelyn asked not looking up still captured by the light.

“Yes and like you” Madelyn’s eyes turned wide to her grandmother and she smiled back “Yes you’re magic; you have it in you just as I do. You still need to learn how to use it but I’ve known since you were just a wee one. Your mother bless her didn’t have the gifts we share and she was hesitant to let me teach you.”

Madelyn looked back down to the ball in her hand tears welling up once again.  For just a moment holding this beautiful ball in her hands she’d forgotten. 

When she and her mother had moved in with her Grandma about a year ago Madelyn hadn’t been told why but she’d known.  In fact she had known her mother was sick long before anyone else, except maybe her Grandma.  She had seen it, she couldn’t say exactly how but she did.

When her mother finally told her she had also told Madelyn that everything would be ok and that she would get better.  That still made Madelyn angry. By the time her mother told her she had known just as well as Madelyn had that she wasn’t going to get better, she had lied.  It was hard knowing that the last important thing her mother had told her had been a lie.

“What else could she have done my dear?” Madelyn’s grandma inquired softly as if hearing the thoughts running through Madelyn’s head. ”She didn’t know, not the way you and I do anyways.  She never stopped hoping that something would change and that she would get better.  To her it wasn’t a lie, besides I think she is ok now. I saw her in the ball.”

“You can do that?”Madelyn asked wide eyed, no matter how angry she was at her mother for lying she would give anything to see her again.

Her grandma nodded with a small smile “I can teach you if you want me to.”

“Ok” Madelyn responded moving closer to her grandma’s chair.