7 Things I’ve Learned from Walt Disney World
by Samantha Schlemm
AllEars® Guest Columnist
Feature Article
This article appeared in the September 22, 2015 Issue #835 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)
Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.
A light rain latched onto the natural thermostat, turning the usual Orlando weather down to a coolness that had us wrapped in sweaters. The crowd spread like a liquid, filling every open space and leaving us with no choice but to move with its swelling tide. Lines for rides stretched to three-hour waits. Only 10 exhausting hours stood between us and midnight.
Despite all of this, I wouldn't have wanted to spend my New Year's Eve anywhere other than Disney World. After claiming my independence from my parents sometime around age 15, and spending the last 10 or so New Year's Eves in the company of my friends, I enjoyed ringing in 2015 with my family, and family friends, in a place we all love.
At age 25, I still love Disney World. For some people this may be difficult to understand. Disney World is supposed to be for kids, and while it's most magical when you're young, there's still some magic reserved for those of us who, in spite of our best attempts to follow Peter Pan, grew up.
Ironically, my family only visited Disney World twice when my brothers and I were actually kids. Most of my visits to Disney took place while I was on the cusp, or just over the hurdle, of adulthood. Almost 20 million adults visit Disney World each year without any kids. That's about one-third of the over 50 million annual visitors. So what keeps my parents, my brothers, me, and these other 20 million grown-ups coming back?
Here are seven things I learned, primarily in my teens, from visiting Disney World.
Strive for perfection
Perfection is unobtainable. However, Disney World goes above and beyond to strive for just that, the unobtainable. And while many of the things in the parks are fake or staged, it's hard to not become obsessed with finding hidden Mickeys, to be in awe of how Saratoga Springs Resort's lemonade yellow, mint green, and teacup blue buildings scream summer, or to smile at the towels wound into Mickey Mouse ears resting on comforters where the fox and the hound are hidden in the pattern.
Every last bit of decor was chosen for a reason. Every restaurant, ride, and hotel is a new world. You can be on safari one minute and zoom into the future in the next. This attention to detail is encouraging; it has motivated me to take steps toward achieving some perfection in my own life. No, I don't have more than 70,000 cast members to help me get on the same level as Disney, but I feel there's always room for improvement in my life, and Disney always reminds me of that.
But life isn't perfect, so go with the flow
I know I just told you to strive for perfection, but life isn't perfect, and (believe it or not) Disney World isn't either. This past New Year's trip, my family didn't get to do everything we planned. Epcot was beyond packed on New Year's Eve (which we were expecting), so instead of riding every ride, we wandered around and explored the shops. We discovered things like Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in Paris, where we had some amazing macarons, and then stumbled across a dance party in the America Gardens Theatre, where we had a hilarious time watching other people's silly moves and inventing a few of our own. These were things we never planned on doing, but that I'll remember over the 50th time we rode Test Track.
Disney has taught me to embrace new things. There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from, attractions are always changing, updating, sometimes things are under construction, sometimes you get somewhere too late and you're forced to switch gears. Life is in flux. Compromise doesn't mean failure, sometimes it means trying a different path than you originally planned, and if you're lucky you'll be pleasantly surprised by where you end up.
Which brings me to my next point…
Try new things
I studied abroad in London, traveled to Switzerland, France, Germany, drove across country and hiked down into the Grand Canyon, walked on a glacier in Alaska, and cycled along the entire coast of Sicily. I want to see the pyramids in Egypt, stand on the beaches of Croatia, and hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I can love Disney and still see the rest of the world; it hasn't stopped me from doing so thus far. If anything it's inspired me to believe that all of these places are accessible.
Yes, I'm old enough now to know that not all of my dreams will come true, but that's the daily mantra of adulthood. Stopping and allowing yourself to remember all of the possibilities presented to you as a child can put some of your dreams back in perspective, because some of them can actually come true. Let Disney reanimate your goals and recharge your wishes.
Imagination is still a beautiful thing
We teach kids the importance of using their imagination, and then we grow up and decide reality is king. Suspension of disbelief allows you to lose yourself and not question the magician's every trick. Yes, everything's an illusion. Yes, that's not really Winnie the Pooh. Yes, Space Mountain isn't actually a rocket ship.
These may not seem like important things to believe in, but it's the idea of opening up your imagination and sharpening your creative teeth. As adults we're expected to come up with creative solutions, but how are we supposed to do that without using our imaginations? You don't have to accept the existence of Yetis to enjoy Expedition Everest, but don't forget the power of your own brain.
Smile
Reservations screwed up? Someone won't move down in the row? Have no fear, a friendly cast member will sort everything out with a smile. With politeness as a policy, and just about everyone, cast members and visitors alike, sharing a sense of enjoyment and excitement, the parks' atmosphere oozes with niceness. It's difficult to be rude in Disney World, but with long commutes, cranky co-workers, and trying days it's quite easy to snap or lose your cool in the real world. It's OK, we don't all have to be polished and polite all the time. We should, however, take a few tips about being considerate to others from the Mouse and his friends, and attempt to apply them in our day-to-day lives.
Smiling is probably the easiest and best one to adopt. Not only will it cheer you up, but also the people around you (well, most of them anyway). Everyone appreciates a smile, and maybe you'll see a difference in the way crummy situations end up.
Be silly
Don't ever lose your silliness. Disney brings out the silly in people; that's what makes you feel like a kid again when you're there. It's not just about riding roller coasters or eating junk food — it's about opening yourself up to fun. And the best part is, you don't have to stop being silly once you go home.
My father's an electrical engineer who taught us that working hard is the only way to achieve anything you can be proud of; my mother's a teacher who taught us to never cut corners. They also taught us there are few things in life better than whipping a teacup in circles so fast tears spill down your face and laughter spirals back down your throat. It's even better when all of the other passengers are going at the regular "Disney" speed. My father blows bubbles into his chocolate milk, and my mother gets excited at the sight of Chip and Dale. They taught us to work hard, and play harder.
Life doesn't need to be so serious. Sure, there are serious situations, serious parts of your day, but take time to enjoy yourself. Always take time to laugh and be silly.
Family is everything
Disney World has been a tradition in my family. Back in the '70s when the park first opened, my father went there on one of his first family vacations. He talks about the lettered ticket books, the awe he felt along with his brother and sister, and the time my grandfather couldn't find their car in the parking lot.
We talk about how as a terrified toddler my brother fled from "It's Tough to Be a Bug," or how funny it was when my father and I were chosen to volunteer for the Studio Backlot Tour. We've visited the parks with family friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and each time it's different, special. While that's partly because Disney World works to make it that way, it's also because we're all together, enjoying each other's enjoyment. We make it special.
Maybe I enjoy being tortured by long lines and massive crowds. Or maybe there was something about these vacations in my teens and early 20s, something about realizing I'll never be "too cool" or "grown up" to outrace my brothers to rides, gobble up Dole Whips, and most importantly of all, believe in the unbelievable.
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RELATED LINKS
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Disney and Back Again: A Dad's Journey
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Samantha Schlemm grew up believing in the power of creativity, imagination, and magic, which means she believed in Disney (especially the Mouse). She became an adult who makes a living as a copywriter in New York City, but still reminisces about her 2-year-old self riding "it's a small world" 11 times with her grandfather. It was his favorite ride.
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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.
