Dear Disney

[mejo]

I am an avid fan, I dream my days away of walking down Main Street and immersing myself in your fantasy, I pretend I am rocketing through space, or a swashbuckling pirate. I imagine what it would be like to live during the golden ages of Hollywood or even traveling down the great rivers of the world. But more than that I see the excitement on my kid’s faces, the week where they fight not over toys but because they don't want to go home.

I have seen you grow from one park to two, three and now four. You have matured over the years since that time long ago where I had to have a booklet that only let me ride certain rides one time no matter if I wanted to stay in line or not.

You will continue to evolve and change and I will come to understand how the process works, but you won't change one thing. You will continue to put that smile on my face and you won't take away memories I have or have yet to make with you.

Thank you.

 

[Disflyer]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I had begun to dread logging onto the Dis boards the past couple of weeks. The doom and gloom posts have seemed to get worse every day. I will admit, when I clicked on your "Dear Disney" post, I expected more of the same, but almost cried when it was actually a love note to Disney that I could have written myself. Our 4th WDW trip is coming up in October. The first one was in the summer of 1997 as a gift from my mom after my father died. We took our 10 year old DS and almost 13 year old DS with us and even with the heat and crowds even they became children again! The last trip was with our late-in-life surprise child, almost 4 year old DS. MNSSHP and all the magic on top of the joy of our son made memories to last a lifetime. Our DS will be almost 9 when we return this October and he could care less about FP+, or having to stand in line, or any of the other things so many adults fret over. He can't wait to re-experience the magic that is Disney! I am sure I could ruin the trip for all of us by stressing over what rides to ride with what FP and all the rest, but I refuse to do that. Sorry to hi-jack your post, but you finally gave me something to post about!!

There was no hijacking! THIS is what it is all about! We make the most of the trips we have, does everything work out the way we planned? NO! But that doesn't change that the reason we all go and frequent these boards, and talk about it, and dream about it... It is the only place I have ever been in this entire world that when I walk or drive through those gates everything else melts away, no line or process will ever change that for me.

Two years ago our shy little girl met her heros for the very first time, she ran up to Princess Aurora without looking back at me or her mother for approval, took her hand, and had the time of her life. My wife and I both cried over this, cheesy and silly but I can't tell you how hot it was, how long the lines were, how crowded it was, or anything else about that day...

 

[disneydennis]

Thank You so much for this!
Was well past dreading coming here, and seeing not only your wonderful letter, and the overwhelming posts of appreciation, I feel that through all the negativity, not all people are entilted spoiled brats afterall!

 

[summerskye]

I am an avid fan, I dream my days away of walking down Main Street and immersing myself in your fantasy, I pretend I am rocketing through space, or a swashbuckling pirate. I imagine what it would be like to live during the golden ages of Hollywood or even traveling down the great rivers of the world. But more than that I see the excitement on my kid’s faces, the week where they fight not over toys but because they don't want to go home.

I have seen you grow from one park to two, three and now four. You have matured over the years since that time long ago where I had to have a booklet that only let me ride certain rides one time no matter if I wanted to stay in line or not.

You will continue to evolve and change and I will come to understand how the process works, but you won't change one thing. You will continue to put that smile on my face and you won't take away memories I have or have yet to make with you.

Thank you.

Nice comments and thoughts

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I am an avid fan, I dream my days away of walking down Main Street and immersing myself in your fantasy, I pretend I am rocketing through space, or a swashbuckling pirate. I imagine what it would be like to live during the golden ages of Hollywood or even traveling down the great rivers of the world. But more than that I see the excitement on my kid’s faces, the week where they fight not over toys but because they don't want to go home.

I have seen you grow from one park to two, three and now four. You have matured over the years since that time long ago where I had to have a booklet that only let me ride certain rides one time no matter if I wanted to stay in line or not.

You will continue to evolve and change and I will come to understand how the process works, but you won't change one thing. You will continue to put that smile on my face and you won't take away memories I have or have yet to make with you.

Thank you.

~Awww, this is beautiful, I really love this!!! Thank you!!!

 

[Sammie]

Well said,

 

[boBQuincy]

We have two trips planned this year and may plan another. This is after the 40+ we have taken since 1997, when I first showed DW the wonder that is Walt Disney World (and "wonder" was one way she described it). All our trips have been fun and I expect the next two and all after that will be fun as well, after all it *is* WDW and there is nothing like it in the world.

One of the complaints I read is that there are hardly any attractions at Epcot. That is incorrect and makes me think that some people are looking for the wrong thing. There may be only a few big rides at Epcot but there are a large number of attractions. It is not all about rides, Epcot is our favorite park for the world's fair type of atmosphere the park has.

We don't have children but took our "borrowed" granddaughters (3 and 6, friend's children) to Epcot, wondering if there was enough there for little ones. Their favorite attraction of the four parks was Spaceship Earth and they can't wait to go back! Neither can we!

 

[Texas Barbie]

Love this thread! Thank you for being so positive about a place we all love!

 

[ginamarie716]

You will continue to evolve and change and I will come to understand how the process works, but you won't change one thing. You will continue to put that smile on my face and you won't take away memories I have or have yet to make with you.

Well said! Brought a tear to my eye.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

I am an avid fan, I dream my days away of walking down Main Street and immersing myself in your fantasy, I pretend I am rocketing through space, or a swashbuckling pirate. I imagine what it would be like to live during the golden ages of Hollywood or even traveling down the great rivers of the world. But more than that I see the excitement on my kid’s faces, the week where they fight not over toys but because they don't want to go home. I have seen you grow from one park to two, three and now four. You have matured over the years since that time long ago where I had to have a booklet that only let me ride certain rides one time no matter if I wanted to stay in line or not. You will continue to evolve and change and I will come to understand how the process works, but you won't change one thing. You will continue to put that smile on my face and you won't take away memories I have or have yet to make with you. Thank you.

This is how we feel.

Thank you for your post.

Disney World is our magical place and we will continue to return over and over, year after year.

.

 

[Mousemommy1]

There was no hijacking! THIS is what it is all about! We make the most of the trips we have, does everything work out the way we planned? NO! But that doesn't change that the reason we all go and frequent these boards, and talk about it, and dream about it... It is the only place I have ever been in this entire world that when I walk or drive through those gates everything else melts away, no line or process will ever change that for me.

Two years ago our shy little girl met her heros for the very first time, she ran up to Princess Aurora without looking back at me or her mother for approval, took her hand, and had the time of her life. My wife and I both cried over this, cheesy and silly but I can't tell you how hot it was, how long the lines were, how crowded it was, or anything else about that day...

Thank you OP! Great Post!

For us, yes, we love the rides and all, but its all about family time. And if you ask my kids what their favorite part of any trip was, I am willing to bet it will have nothing to do with a ride or how many times we got to ride it.

Our youngest is super shy as well, and one of our best Disney memories that we still talk about to this day is when we were in a store at DHS making a purchase, and the CM was giving us Disney trivia questions....well, he asked what the Bear's name is in Brave and we all drew a blank...but then we heard a little voice from down below say "Mordu"....we were shocked!!! The CM had to bend over the register to see who said that....but our little shy girl spoke up and answered! I remember making a huge deal out of that and the CM gave her a sticker and she was sooooo proud! Still our favorite memory.

 

[Harlon]

Great post. Thank you. I mean, what's cooler than the first day of your vacation, getting to MK and the first time you turn that corner and see the castle?? And the last on your way home. Two contrasting emotions that can only be felt at WDW.