What Is It That We Never Outgrow?

[SanFranciscan]

Last week my husband and I were returning home on the streetcar. My husband started talking to two women sitting near us and mentioned that we've gone to their home of Orange County, California, to visit Disneyland a couple of times that we saved up to do so. To my shock one of those women said that they don't like Disneyland. Who doesn't like Disneyland or Disney World, whichever they have greater access to?

Obviously my husband and I have lots of company among adults in our love for Disney theme parks since there is this entire category set aside here for Disney for adults. What is it about Disney that we never outgrow?

 

[BlueBay]

I like to escape the real world for a week. And no matter what crap I'm going through back home, it doesn't matter during the time I'm in Disney. That will never get old to me.

 

[acm563]

I will never outgrow the "magic"....once I go thru those gates my everyday stress slides right off my shoulders. Disney allows me to be a kid again.... and that is what I will never outgrow....

 

[Kimmielee]

Like Angy... walking through the gates... seeing the Castle for the first time in however many months/years... takes me right back to 1975 when I made my first trip to WDW. I'm not a boss - work doesn't matter - watching my son light up with the anticipation of riding his favorite rides, seeing his favorite characters and busting at the seams to explore the parks once again... THAT is what I will never outgrow!

 

[jadedjojo]

At my last job, I worked with some pretty grumpy people. After a few of them found out I was an annual passholder, I got to hear all about why people didn't like Disney. (And I'd like to note that I find Floridians that don't like WDW selfish. There are many of you that would give anything to have Mickey in your backyard, so I wish I could ship off the Floridians that don't like Disney so those of you that do could take their spot!)

One woman told me she didn't like Disney because it was busy. She said she went to Disney once in the 80s during the summer, and had a terrible time because of the crowds, but she recently went to Universal and liked it better because it wasn't as busy.

Some of the people I've talked to think it is childish to go to Disney without kids. I've been told I'm immature for liking Disney as an adult, which always angers me. I try to surround myself with positive and fun people, and I have no need for people that insult me or don't know how to have fun. I may really BE childish, but that is for other reasons, not because I enjoy Disney.

There was a woman on one of my Disney cruises that asked in the most arrogant tone, "Why would ANYONE go on a Disney cruise without kids?" Granted she was sloshed at the time and could barely keep her head off of the dinner table, but I still found her incredibly rude.

My first trip to Disney was when I was three years old. We stayed a week at the Contemporary, and my first memories (in general) involve that trip. I grew up reading Disney books with my play-along cassette player, in my Mickey tent which my mom would set up in the backyard on sunny afternoons. Winnie the Pooh, Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers, and DuckTales were my cartoon staples. I went countless times to Disney through my childhood, and it left such an indelible impression on me that I've carried with me through the years. I actually feel sorry for those who don't enjoy Disney or think it's for kids only. They are the ones missing out, and MAN are they missing out. But hey... it only means less of a wait for Space Mountain for us .


"That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget. They don’t remember what it’s like to be twelve years old."
-Walt Disney

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't think I'll ever tire of watching the gorgeous fireworks with the castle backdrop, or walking around the World Showcase with DH!

Now, that we have AKV as part of DVC, I anticipate every savannah view stay I hope to book!!!!

Bobbi

 

[MyMuse]

It's probably *because* it is in their backyard. It is sort of taken for granted or sort of "evil-ized" (ie: "too many people around here! ).

One of my best friends is in Orlando for years and have never gone to WDW!

Along that theme, I'm a New Jerseyian and I can't stand Springsteen or Bon Jovi. This surprises an abnormal amount of people. I don't go into NYC for Thanksgiving or New Year's Eve b/c there's a million tourists who are having a grand time and it belongs to them for the holidays. I can go anytime.

Since 9/11, I definitely go in more and appreciate that I have one of the greatest cities in the world in my backyard. And, it helps that transportation got a lot better. I haven't visited Lady Liberty since the mid-90s (and it's been closed for awhile after 9/11), so that is next on my list.

 

[Bill Brown]

Like prior posts in this thread, visiting DLR and WDW are escapes from the everyday and a return to reliving childhood good times that never were. I usually visit when the Christmas decorations are up because I truly feel an innocent childhood rebirth for the time I'm there. I forget the reality that when I first visited DL as a 6-year-old, WDW didn't exist, and DL holiday decorations were barely noticeable.

 

[NTDreams]

If only you knew how many of my friends thought that we silly and not being mature because we had our honeymoon at Disney. Most of our friends went to Aruba or Hawaii but that's not us. If I'm spending that much money I wanted to do things, not just sit on a beach for a week or drink all day. Sure there's hiking and all that but nothing beats walking down Main Street

 

[Parryforth]

I've been to WDW well over a hundred times. Since about 1972 when I would go with my parents and brother. They'd hang with us in the morning and sometimes the afternoon, then release my brother and I to hit the monorail and spend the evening in the park ourselves. We were pre-teens, but never considered that we weren't safe. We'd hit the rides until they kicked everyone out around 1 am.

Although I now spend more time at MGM, Epcot and Animal Kingdom than MK, I try to always catch a ride on Space Mountain and the Teacups! Giggling like a kid. I miss living in Florida and using my 4 season salute pass to head over for dinner and fireworks or whatever my mood dictated. I'll admit, to this day, I have no desire to go in the summer, but love the fall through spring.

Long live childhood. I had a skydiving t-shirt that said something to the effect of: I may grow older, but I hope I never grow up!

Cheers to Walt Disney's vision

 

[JenniBarra]

I had a skydiving t-shirt that said something to the effect of: I may grow older, but I hope I never grow up!

I hear ya! When I am at WDW or DLR, my inner kid resurfaces. My husband and other family members say that there's something about how my face just lights up.

I have to admit I do sometimes wonder about those people who claim such active dislike for Disney parks.

BTW, there's a book called Rejuvenile by Christopher Noxon and it has an entire chapter dedicated to Walt Disney, the parks, and adult fans.

 

[jadedjojo]

I hear ya! When I am at WDW or DLR, my inner kid resurfaces. My husband and other family members say that there's something about how my face just lights up.

I have to admit I do sometimes wonder about those people who claim such active dislike for Disney parks.

BTW, there's a book called Rejuvenile by Christopher Noxon and it has an entire chapter dedicated to Walt Disney, the parks, and adult fans.

Thanks for the info on the book! I'm going to definitely check it out. The next time someone calls me immature, I will tell them they are very wrong- I am a rejuvenile!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I think that for some of us, Disney is treasured part of our childhoods. Sometimes it was a safe place. The Disney movies often represented our hopes and dreams as the girls dreamed of becoming princesses and the boys dreamed of adventure battling pirates or fighting fire breathing dragons.

As we grow older and face the real trials of life, we need a break once in a while. The parks provide that. We can feel young again and remember the thrill of seeing our favorite stories become larger than life. We get a thrill out of seeing a mouse, meeting the princess, or being harassed by two chipmunks.

Disney reconnects us with our dreams. At times, the difficulties of life make it feel like those dreams are dead. But Disney helps remind us that dreams do come true. If you're good and kind, noble and valiant, you will triumph. Good will always triumph over evil, and Disney helps remind us of that.

 

[suzycute]

I'm a psychologist and every day I listen to people's problems (and on the whole, I enjoy my job). Going to WDW helps me re-energise, relax, have fun and build up my my battery stores for the year ahead. Thank goodness for Walt and the happiest place on earth!

 

[dreamingdisney]

I think that for some of us, Disney is treasured part of our childhoods. Sometimes it was a safe place. The Disney movies often represented our hopes and dreams as the girls dreamed of becoming princesses and the boys dreamed of adventure battling pirates or fighting fire breathing dragons.

As we grow older and face the real trials of life, we need a break once in a while. The parks provide that. We can feel young again and remember the thrill of seeing our favorite stories become larger than life. We get a thrill out of seeing a mouse, meeting the princess, or being harassed by two chipmunks.

Disney reconnects us with our dreams. At times, the difficulties of life make it feel like those dreams are dead. But Disney helps remind us that dreams do come true. If you're good and kind, noble and valiant, you will triumph. Good will always triumph over evil, and Disney helps remind us of that.

Well said!!

 

[DansBride2009]

I have to admit, when I lived and worked at Disney World, during the summer I avoided Disney like the plague. I worked at Contemporary Resort, so I didn't have to go to the park.

There were so many days the parks were full to capacity they wouldn't let anyone in; so we'd use that time to go to the beach and whatnot.

However, I adore Disney all the same. I went as much as I could when I lived there, I'm getting married there, my honeymoon is there, etc. I can't understand people not enjoying it just for pleasure's sake.

They probably think that Disney will always be in their back yard, and once they move they'll miss it terribly.

 

[Bunless]

I actually outgrew my dislike for Disney.
I hated going with family/school groups as a kid to WDW.
DH and I went once to DL about eight years ago and then I was hooked.
I like the calmness (even during busy seasons, to me it's chill--but then we don't have kids), how clean it is, how it's an immersion experience, and the food. Mmmmm...corn dogs.

 

[DorothyPoppins]

DH and I don't have kids, but we love to go to WDW. People make fun of us, but they just lack imagination. Their loss.
I actually think it is a very romantic place to visit. It's a fairytale land-you can't get much more romantic than that!

 

[scooby9932]

In a time where everyone is hooked up digitally, stress is through the roof, and our schedules are so demanding, Disney World gives us an opportunity to step out of the chaos of life & return to a time when life was simpler, people were friendlier to each other, and families & friends spent quality time bonding over shared experiences. Walking down Main St. USA & hearing the sounds of a time gone by, along with the sounds of wonder as people first glimpse the castle, ah...that's a feeling I'll never outgrow!

For me, my love for Disney World grows exponentially with the demands of my regular life. The more demanding, stressful, scary, etc. my life gets, the more I crave that Disney magic...that indescribable something that grabs you by the heartstrings, brings "good" tears to your eyes, inserts wonder in everything you see, and makes you believe in fairy tales.

When people ask how I can love Disney as much as I do, I just tell them that the child in me never died & to keep it that way, I make sure to nurture her with magic, love, giddiness, silliness, fun, and make believe. Disney World (and movies, etc.) are a perfect prescription for keeping the kid in me alive & well.

Besides, it's a lot more fun than Botox!

 

[8 Ears]

DH and I just had this conversation a few nights ago.

He said, "It is because he can go there and act like a kid without looking foolish".