Re-Education @ Magic Kingdom

[lucincia]

Last month I was in Orlando for a week-long expo. My wife joined me half way through. Couple of our friends joined us nearing the end. We planned to do a day of Orlando theme park after the expo and then head down to Key West for a few days of vices.

Now, our friends are totally anti-Disney. One of them work at a daycare so I can see how Disney overdose can occur. They frown upon anything Disney. That is okay. Everyone can make their own choices!

So, on the day of Orlando theme park, my wife and I planned to go to Magic Kingdom. Our friends originally wanted to go to Universal Studios. But, that morning they asked us if they can tag along with us to MK. We were baffled. We repeatedly asked "Are you sure?" knowing how much they dislike the multinational conglomerate known as Disney. They insisted.

So, off we went to MK.

With no plan (since it's just a day trip - our main focus is Key West) we skipped around the park, hitting all the major rides and picking up Fast Passes along the way.

Then the storm hit.

We were standing in line for Splash Mountain when the rain started. We figured it will pass us soon. No it didn't. Instead, it rained harder and the wind picked up. We finally gave up our positions in line and ran into the nearby gift shop, but not before we were all drenched to the bones. We ended up buying new t-shirts, sweatshirts, towels, and even underwear, socks, and shoes.

Thanks to mother nature, Disney made several hundred dollars of purchases from us.

The rest of the day was uneventful and we did more rides and ate at Tony's.

Now fast forward to night time. We're on our way to another ride when we passed by a perfect spot by the Liberty Square just as the night time parade was starting. We had a perfect view from a small wooden bridge. We were not planning to see the parade but ended up standing there for the duration of the event. None of our friends wanted to leave.

Right after that, we walked by Haunted Mansion and saw the wait time was only 5 minutes. We got in line and did that ride the second time. Our friends enjoyed it the first time around.

After we got out of there, we figure we'll hit Space Mountain again. We were not planning to see the fireworks (just like we were not planning to see the parade). But as we walked by the Cinderella Carousel, the sky suddenly lit up above us. I looked at my watch. 10 PM. We stood there, looked up, as the fireworks exploded directly overhead.

For next 10 minutes, we stood there.

At the end, my wife and I looked over at our friends. There they were, standing there dressed head to toe in Disney outfits (due to the morning downpour) looking up at the fireworks. I heard them say to each other "Wow, this is really cool."

We harassed them for the rest of the trip, telling them that they have crossed over to the dark side.

The re-education has been a success.

 

[DanaHesson]

Excellent Excellent!!

I converted my parents too....

I prodded them into going with my husband and I last year for their second time (my dad claimed not to care anything about going after their one trip in 1996) to celebrate my birthday with me.

My dad LOVED the food, he LOVED the fireworks, he had a BLAST watching everyone little children having a good time, he was very impressed at the astounding disney detail of everything.

In short, I think they might come with us again this year!

 

[dzneelvr]

I don't think it's so much an aversion to WDW itself, just some people not liking the Disney brand head to toe or always the topic of conversation. For example, in our neck of the woods, some folks have Green Bay Packer green and gold on everything inside and outside, plus several outfits, plus a license, plus their car color....you get the picture. I LOVE WDW but you won't find us tricked out with Disney stuff 24/7.
My hubby was the same way as your friends before our first trip. What he soon realized was that WDW is an experience that Disney provides and as a family, we get to make it our own in many unique ways. We wouldn't trade our WDW trips for anything. They've brought our family closer together and given us some powerful traditions that I know my DS and DD will bring into their future families.
(and as far as green and gold--I'm a blue and orange myself )

 

[Krispe]

I LOVE IT! They found the magic! I love when others finally get to experience the magic! Congrats!

 

[agnes!]

In a funny way, this reminds me of the Borgs on Star Trek when they say "Resistance is futile" LOL.

agnes!