My daughter's heart was broken

[Disney_Mousketeers]

Hi! I rarely post, but read often and am a long time listener of the podcast.
Even though I haven't met any of you I feel like I not only know all of the podcast crew, but the regular posters here too. Creepy isn't it

I feel compelled to post this story. We were at a family gathering and I was explaining to my niece who will be joining us in two weeks at Disney World for the first time that there are really four parks not just one, ya da ya da ya da. You know, the usual stuff that first timers don't realize.

I went ahead and begin talking about how Walt had a vision of Disneyland that he could have a place to play with his girls that he could enjoy too and it turned out fabulous, but he couldn't expand so he bought the land in Florida to create Disneyworld. My daughter who has lived as a Disney fan since she was 2, was helping me explain everything. I continue with the story and then said sadly he didn't get to see the finished product because he died before it opened. My six year old daughter looked at me with horror in her eyes and said what? She then began to sob (and I'm talking sobs). You see we are HUGE Walt fans as I'm sure you all are. We watch bios and quote him all the time. She knows he is the man that brought Disney World and so many other great things to be , but I didn't realize we never explained that the videos we were watching were from a very long time ago. She was absolutely heartbroken that "her Walt" had passed away.

As I was comforting her, my sister looked at me like "Seriously, what is wrong with your kid?" I'm posting this because I knew you guys would understand. Thanks for listening.

 

[turkeymama]

Aww, I understand. Thankfully my daughter is very inquisitive and asks lots of questions. The first time she saw video of Walt, she started asking me loads of questions about him, one of which was whether or not he was still with us. I explained the story and she too expressed sadness over the fact that he passed before Walt Disney World opened. She was so impressed that his brother helped complete the dream.

Yes, we get it and understand. I don't think people realize that we see and appreciate Disney for what it is, instead of just a set of theme parks and a few Princess movies.

 

[chaoscent]

It's someone she feels like she knows, so of course she's upset. "What's wrong with your kid". She is sensitive and caring. I wish all kids were sensitive and caring. Here's sending her some pixie dust to help her feel better.

Also, I know how you feel about the boards. When something hapens in my life, I want to post here to let people I haven't met know . This can be a friendly, comforting place. Penny

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Aawwlll how sad. That was a "real" loss for her since she didnt realize he was gone. How sad. Give her extra hugs.

 

[corky441]

Reading your post brought tears to my eyes. Just hearing of your daughter's extreme sadness when she heard that Walt was deceased brought back a lot of memories for me

Walt Disney passed away on my birthday. I was 14 and even then, as a "cool" teenager, I was devastated by the loss. I grew up with Mickey ears on my head - I watched the first Mickey Mouse Club show and every Sunday Walt came into my house with the Wonderful World of Disney, etc

Hugs and pixie dust for your daughter
hoping she never loses the magic . . .

 

[PeterPan09]

This is the way I think about it-and have ever since Walt passed.

Walt Disney is NOT dead. He lives in the wonder of the person walking through the tunnel and seeing Main Street and the Castle for the very first time. He lives in the person who goes back to the parks again and again and finds joy and wonder every time. He lives in the actions of the CMs who do everything to make the guest experience wonderful. He lives in each imagineer who brings their time and talent to creating more wonderful stories and exciting attractions. He lives in each artist who brings a new character to life before our eyes and makes us fall in love with ink and paint. Walt Disney can never die, as long as there are people who believe in his vision and continue to carry it out.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I remember being shocked when I was little when I found out that Walt had died before I was even born. I had seen him introducing shows on the Wonderful World of Disney (or whatever it was called in the 70's) on Sunday evening. I saw him every week. How could he be gone?

I was disappointed all over again after reading "How to be Like Walt" because I realized how much more he could have accomplished if he had lived longer. People around him tried to continue on but they didn't have his vision.

 

[cruisinpenguin]

This is the way I think about it-and have ever since Walt passed.

Walt Disney is NOT dead. He lives in the wonder of the person walking through the tunnel and seeing Main Street and the Castle for the very first time. He lives in the person who goes back to the parks again and again and finds joy and wonder every time. He lives in the actions of the CMs who do everything to make the guest experience wonderful. He lives in each imagineer who brings their time and talent to creating more wonderful stories and exciting attractions. He lives in each artist who brings a new character to life before our eyes and makes us fall in love with ink and paint. Walt Disney can never die, as long as there are people who believe in his vision and continue to carry it out.

Nicely said!! and so true. We all live in Walt's eyes.

 

[kafitty]

awwwww. i get a little teary-eyed and sad about it sometimes too, and i'm 23! i mourn for what could have been, but i think this post is excellent...

This is the way I think about it-and have ever since Walt passed.

Walt Disney is NOT dead. He lives in the wonder of the person walking through the tunnel and seeing Main Street and the Castle for the very first time. He lives in the person who goes back to the parks again and again and finds joy and wonder every time. He lives in the actions of the CMs who do everything to make the guest experience wonderful. He lives in each imagineer who brings their time and talent to creating more wonderful stories and exciting attractions. He lives in each artist who brings a new character to life before our eyes and makes us fall in love with ink and paint. Walt Disney can never die, as long as there are people who believe in his vision and continue to carry it out.

 

[gr8leg8]

When your DD gets a little older you might consider a visit to the Disney family museum in San Francisco.

A supreme delight for any Walt fan.

but I must admit,
I walked thru the last room where Walt's death is covered.
I didn't want to start sobbing in public.

this is for your DD from me.

Have a magical trip

 

[DisneyKevin]

Walt Disney passed away on my birthday. I was 14 and even then, as a "cool" teenager, I was devastated by the loss.

I felt the same way when Lucille Ball died.

I had watched I Love Lucy (still do) all my life, as well as all of the incarnations of the Lucy show. Lucy was a part of my life.

They just did a Lucy marathon on one of the cable channels and we TiVoed hours of episodes that we have seen countless times.....and still sat there and laughed.

It's amazing how people we dont even know can touch our lives in such a meaningful way.

 

[ckdsnynt]

There are just some people that touch our lives so much we can't bear the thought of them not being here. So, for us, they never really leave us. For Disney fanatics, Walt Disney is one of those. When I am at DL or WDW, it never crosses my mind that he isn't alive because everywhere I look, I see him and his creative genius at work.

Now, I must say, every once in awhile, Disney enterprises does something that is so anti-Walt that the thought crosses my mind, "Walt would not like this! He is probably spinning in his grave!"