Reasons Why I Love Walt Disney World…

It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to hear that I’m kind of a fan of Disney World.

The reasons are countless and I probably have new ones pop up just about every time somebody inquires as to why I enjoy it so much, and so with February upon us and love in the air and all of that jazz, I thought it might be fun to gather my thoughts here and jot down just a few of the reasons that happen to come to mind right now about what makes Walt Disney World such a special place for me!

Now note that these are most certainly subject to change, and I guess it kind of makes sense that they would as we all change and grow and discover new experiences around the parks, but at least for the time being, here are a few noteworthy things that seem to make the Most Magical Place on Earth stand out to me…

Escape
Disney World is one of the few places where it just seems second nature to completely leave behind the outside world and all of the crazy stressors that go along with it.  Even more so when we’re staying at a resort where I can leave my car keys on the table and simply rely on Disney transportation to cart me around for the entire vacation, just the atmosphere in general is so immersive and welcoming and overwhelming – they make it very easy to just let go and get lost in the magic while I’m there!

Exploration
From a nice, relaxing meal at a new restaurant to kicking it old school with some classic video games at DisneyQuest, half the fun even for seasoned veterans like myself is still in exploring the seemingly endless variety that Disney World has to offer.  Between random overlooked attractions and even just discrete details that we’ve simply never stopped to notice before, it always amazes me that after a solid 5 years of running around Walt Disney World it still feels like there’s so much left for me and my wife yet to explore.

Inspiration
Being a creative person myself, it’s hard not to walk around all of the parks and resorts and restaurants and Downtown Disney and just get blown away by the fact that all of this was inspired by the imagination of a single man who started off simply drawing cartoons in the 1920s.  And now to be surrounded by 4 theme parks with dozens of attractions each, over 20 resorts and nearly 100 places to eat, all with their own intricate themes that co-exist and interact with each other in precisely designed ways to create this seamless, magical experience across 47 square miles of land that millions of us flock to for rest, relaxation, and family fun year after year?!  In a single word – incredible.

Nostalgia
I’m a big proponent of reliving one’s childhood through his own toys – I’ve got countless LEGO sets received as an adult to support that idea! – and more often than not walking through the parks can very much incite some of those same wonderful memories from growing up for me.  Big ones for me are anything themed around Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid because those hit the theaters right during the prime of my childhood, but even the latest Pixar movies and plenty of the old classics do a swell job of stirring up the kid at heart.

Fun!
And of course, who goes to Disney without the notion of having fun?! For me there’s so much more to it when you dig down deep into the layers – there’s having fun spending time together and playing games with my wife, there’s the enjoyment of being a fly on the wall in line to meet characters and watching as a little girl meets Mickey Mouse for the very first time, and there’s even a certain joy to be found in thanking a particularly helpful cast member who makes very clear their pride in being a part of these magical experiences every day.  So many ways to have fun in and around Disney World, and you don’t have to pick just one…

So one thing I’d love to see happen as I continue to write these columns is to hear you folks chime in with your own thoughts once you’re done reading what I have to say.  Especially on this particular topic, knowing how Disney World has managed to touch so many people in so many different ways, what are your reasons for loving Walt Disney World???

Maybe it’s a favorite family vacation spot or a getaway for you and a close friend.

Maybe you spent a summer working the college program and can still somehow recite your entire tour from the Jungle Cruise in your sleep!

Or maybe Disney World for you is just such a happy place packed with so many great memories and even more opportunities to create new ones with future generations that you simply couldn’t imagine taking your family on vacation anywhere else…

Whatever your own reasons for cherishing your moments spent with the Mouse, please feel welcome to post a few words in the comments and let’s keep the love for Walt Disney World going strong right on through Valentine’s Day and beyond!