I was originally going to talk about my Thanksgiving menu in this post. No worries I still will let you know what the dinner menu looks like, however I was inspired to talk about something different this time around. I promise the menu will come next.
So, I have made a habit of just going right to mine and my friends PTR. I didnt even know I was doing this until Monday afternoon when I thought to see whats going on with the rest of the DIS World. As I was looking through Theme Park Attractions and Strategies I realized I hadnt been there in a LONG time. And even when I was there I would make a B line for the Christmas threads that I knew were being carried on. And I saw a post and it summed up the whole reason that I have been subconsciously avoiding most of the threads. The essential message of it was, Boo Disney where did the magic go. And I realized that this was a common thread and that a lot of people come back and just complain about EVERYTHING. I understand that Disney is not cheap, and that it is a huge undertaking (monetary and planning wise) however I started to wonder how these people went into their trip. What were their thoughts, feelings, and how did they feel? And I decided that they probably didnt feel very good going into their trip.
It simply comes down to this: What kind of magic do you create for yourself?
One person stated that they dont go out looking for magic, they just expect it to hit them smack dab in the face. Well, no offense, but if you dont look for it its not going to find you. I think magic is something that requires active participation. If you believe in it and you go in knowing you will find it then you will. Somewhat related to that is your attitude going into (and while experiencing) Disney. When it comes to big things like this (Disney, vacations, holidays, ect) I try to keep a realistic but very hopeful outlook on things. I figure that if I do as much planning as I can leading up to these big things and then just let go, once they arrive it will just
work! There is only so much you can do to make things perfect and at a certain point life will intervene. So I go into things with my eyes open, saying to myself Okay, I know what I want to do and Ill just kind of go with the flow and things will just happen. Im not knocking those who plan commando style, but I think it is important to leave room for magic to happen. Know where you want to go and what you want to do is fine (even what you want to do first, second, ect), but I think its dangerous thinking that you WILL be on Pirates at 11:22AM.
Anyway, what you must remember above all is that when it comes down to it, Disney is a theme park. All be it the supreme, but it is a theme park. But what I think what a lot of people lack is the ability to see past Disney in the theme park aspect. Look at it as the category its put it, theme park, and then realize how much more it is than that. Am I making sense? There is no other place in the world like Disney. They have taken an idea as simple as a theme park and turned it into so much more. Theyve turned it into this place the encompass love, optimism, dreams, and pure childlike delight for all ages. For me, Disney is the symbol of hope. There were times during this 9-month journey when I thought it was going to be impossible. There were times when I thought it wouldnt happen, there were times when I was near cancellation. But Greg would sit me down and remind me that this was not just a vacation, and certainly not just a vacation to a theme park. This was Disney, a place that brings happy tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
Im usually very wary of peoples reviews of things and places for these reasons exactly. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and its something that is unique to him or her. No one will ever feel and think exactly the same as the next person. I guess Im a little bit easier on things, and I am a Disney lover, so maybe Im a little defensive. I truly believe that magic is what you make of it and if you want magic you have to be involved and then magic will come to you.
So, here is how we plan on getting involved in the magic:
Mickey ears!
NOT running to attractions (I REFUSE to ever run to any attraction. There is no fire and I think you miss too much when you run right by it)
Having a general plan but no commandos
Photo Pass pictures (goofy and nice) in front of every major place in the World
Our Disney shirts
Getting on the ground to watch the parades with the kids
Character signatures and pictures
Taking the time to let it all soak in
Appreciating that were even lucky to be able to go on a trip like this
Ice cream for dinner, if we feel like it
Riding ALL the rides!!!
Talking to strangers, CM and guests
And finally, giving a little magic back. I got this idea from the boards and I just loved it. I made little cards to give to CM that were really helpful or just made an impact on us. Plus I have mini candy canes to give out with them. Ive heard that such a little thing is a big deal to the CM.
If you cant see the say Thank you for making our day so magical! The Arlets
Im a complete believer in the magic of Disney and what it does for and to people. Just thinking about it makes me beam. When we went to A Christmas Carol on Friday and I saw that castle come up in the beginning, I seriously started to cry. The idea and feelings behind Disney are so much more than just a theme park. Maybe its my personal experiences and my journey to Disney.
There was a thread awhile ago entitled What is Disney doing right in response to the negative thread started What is Disney doing wrong. I went back to find my response, but it says it all for me:
My answer to what Disney is doing right was MAGIC
To me Disney is Magic, even just thinking about it brings happy tears to my eyes. I can't bring myself to do Keys to the Kingdom because I can't bring myself to give up on the kid inside of me. You know, the little kid that lives inside all of us. Its the same little kid that still believes in Santa, the kid that knows that theyll grow up to be exactly what they want to be. Magic is a rare thing to come across these days, and everyone knows being a grown up is not so much fun sometimes. At Disney you get to suspend reality and just be in a happy place.
For me it marks magical memories in the past, and experiences that have not happened yet. I remember my first trip when I was 8. My family did not vacation when I was growing up and Disney in 1990 was the ONLY family trip we ever took. It was also one of my most prized memories of growing up. Ill never forget the first time I saw Tinker Bell fly. Even though I was old enough to know she really wasnt flying, in my mind, even now, I KNOW she was flying.
I think about the next trip I took, 16 years later, with my future husband. He proposed right before we left so we could celebrate the next chapter of our lives in Disney. Our first day there we walked into the MK and I just cried when I saw that castle. It was like going for the first time all over again. We traveled the world like we were children! We would get off a ride and run back onto the line to ride it over and over again. We wore our Mickey ears non-stop. We ate ice cream for dinner!!
Now were going to celebrate our first year of marriage in WDW in December. It was a tough first year, as I lost my job right after the wedding. But every time I would get down I would think of the plans DH and I made during our first trip. Standing on the bridge between France and the United Kingdom we made a pact to come back for our first anniversary. And because Christmas was an extra magical time, we would go in the beginning of December.
When I daydream, I think about taking our children to Disney. I think about the looks that they will have on their little faces when they see Mickey. Deep down I know its silly because we dont have children yet, but I know when we do we will take them to WDW because Disney is Magic. And then well be able to live the magic through their eyes, and I can only imagine how great that really is.
Everything that Disney does makes it magic. Believing in magic makes me feel like there is hope and promise.
!!!!!!!!!!
TWO WEEKS!!!
from me, and Madi too 
I can just imagine little Maid's face during Spectro!!! I'm smiling just thinking about it!! I'm so glad you like my little ditty about making the magic for yourself and just being happy that we're this fortunate. And I commend you on ditching the commando. Everyone say it with me: SAY NO TO COMMANDO!! Like I said, a plan is good, but it's nice to be laid back too!!
