We just returned from our wonderful trip to Walt Disney World. As always we had an absolute magical time and in future posts I will tell more about the experiences that we had while we were down there. In this post however, I would like to talk a bit about something I discovered about myself while I was there. I think I found the reason why I love going back to Walt Disney World so much. In the end, the reason was pretty simple. The attractions are wonderful, the events are spectacular and the food is out of this world. But at the end of the day, the emotions that all these wonderful events produce that make all the difference. I think that a day didn't go by that I wasn't emotionally moved to shed a tear or put my hand to my mouth in amazement.
Standing in front of the castle watching the fireworks and the amazing projection show I felt like I was 10 years old again. I felt like a boy. That is no mean feat for a 53 year old man, Especially when the feet of the 53 year old man were being particularly mean. It actually wasn't the first time I had felt that way during our trip either. I felt the same while watching the Osborne's Specticale of Dancing lights. And maybe even more so when we watched IllumiNations, Reflections of earth. at Epcot. I just understood the feeling for what it was while I stood in front of Cinderella's castle and watched as Tinkerbell flew again across the sky on the magic of her LED wings. The woman that plays Tinkerbell for this stunt has to be among the bravest women around.
One of the park attendants had talked with us early and had informed us of a spot to watch the fireworks. He said it would be less crowded. He told us that we would be able to see 80% of the projection show on the castle and 90% of the fireworks and we wouldn't be packed together with so many people. You know, I'm sure he was giving us good information, but a fireworks show is a shared experience I don't mind a crowd around me when watching the shells go off or seeing something magical appear before my eyes. There is a shared consciousnesses about a group experience and the bigger the group, in some cases, the more powerful the experience. So we choose to stand right in front of the castle, right there on main street with several thousand other enthused Disney fans. We were all ready to watch the special fireworks show that Walt Disney World does during the "Very Merry Christmas Party". These fireworks are longer and have significantly more shells and fireworks. Also, Instead of all the fireworks appearing from behind Cinderella's Castle, the fireworks are launched from all around the parameter of the park. So, for parts of the show, where ever you were in the park, you could fireworks were bursting all around you. I felt fantastic. I felt young. I had some of the people I love the most with me. It was at that moment I knew personally what the magic of Disney was. I knew, that for me, Disney's fireworks and shows could make me travel back in time when I was more filled with wonder at the universe. I was transported back to a time when amazing things were still amazing and my jaw would drop from the things I was witnessing.
I was happy to share these feelings of wonder with all the people around me. When you are experiencing something profound its always better to be in a crowd of people. Before the fireworks and the projection show on Cinderella's castle, I started singing the carols they played over the speakers... is wasn't long before a few more people were singing right a long. I thought this was a lot of fun. I'm not sure this would have happened in a smaller group.
It was wonderful to capture a moment that makes you feel young. The feeling has lasted for a while now. My age is only a number. How i feel about the world around me and wonder and joy I find in it defines how old I am. I've been content for the 53 years I've been on this earth for the most part. my wife and kids have helped me stay young in my mind. Disney World reminds me to feel young and fresh and reminds me that the world if full of wonderful things. I think you should live your life in wonder and awe of beautiful things.
