Day 1226: Never Quite the Same

A huge part of the Disney experience when you're in the parks is who you experience them with, and let me tell you, once you see them with your best friends in tow, you can never go back.

I spent years trying to find a way for my friends to go with me to Disney, but up until 2014 and the band trip to Walt Disney World, it never happened. Then, suddenly, it worked, and within a couple days in June of 2014, I had them wanting to go back. It wasn't long after we returned before Frank decided to book another trip the following January, and soon after Shovell joined in as well, meaning that our trip in January of 2015, originally just planned for four of us, jumped to 6, and the extended family tradition was born.

That trip in January 2015 was definitely one of the best trips of my entire life. While I can go and explore so much of Walt Disney World on my own or with my family, there's something entirely different about going with your best friends, especially when they're seeing some of it for the first time. We didn't have a ton of time on the band trip, so I mostly took them to the most important attractions in each park, as well as those they might enjoy specifically, giving them a taste as of much of the resort as I possibly could. With the extended time in January 2015, I could bring them to resorts, we could plan our own Dapper Day, we could meet up with more characters, go mini-golfing, and eat at more restaurants.

Now, however, Disney doesn't seem quite the same without them.

Frank went again this last January, and is now actively at work trying to find the next chance for us all to go, although something tells me that won't be for a while. Meanwhile, I continue to head to the Most Magical Place on Earth and wonder why they're not with me. I mean, after experiencing something like that with your best friends, how do you go back? It's said that friends are the family you choose, so to go with my family and my friends really brought us all together in a way we haven't in quite some time. There was just something special about all being together daily around a big table for lunch or dinner, all of us squeezing into a picture somewhere, or waiting in line for Tower of Terror for the first time.

And maybe the fact that it's Disney has something to do with that. The Disney Parks are places to be with the ones you love, whether that means family or friends, and when you're in a place like that with them once, it's never the same again.

Have a magical day!

Day 1194: How Disney Will Change Your Life

If you don't believe that Disney has changed or will change your life in some way, you might want to reexamine your life. Not everyone has an opportunity like I've had, to literally grow up with Disney as constant a presence as any of my family members. In regards to friends, my relationship with Disney has lasted much much longer than even the best and strongest of my friendships, which are often additionally strengthened by a mutual love of Disney. 

The truth is, Disney changes us. Even me. Take the above pictures for instance. You've got one of me when I was about three, another from some age in the middle (ten maybe), one from high school, and another from college, but more than my appearance has changed over the years. Yes, Spaceship Earth has always been my favorite attraction and Epcot my favorite park, but there was definitely a period of time somewhere in there when I almost didn't care that I was at Disney World. A part of me grew bored of the parks even, but then I woke up and realized that I was being ridiculous and my life spiraled into the Disney blogging, video making mania it is today. Disney has taught me about friendships, leadership, adventure, and magic, but it teaches us all something different. 

For you, maybe the lessons are more focused on friendship or relationships, making and strengthening them. Perhaps Disney helps you be more self-confident, something I think a lot of us experience, or confident in general. Disney might help you get out of your comfort zone and to try new things. Honestly, it could just make you happier in general, because the magic that is Disney definitely has something for everyone. 

Although, on the side, I do know that a love of Disney will have you watching more movies and tv shows than you ever expected, and will eat up a good portion of your paycheck through purchases such as Disney Parks tickets, Disney food, or that entire set of tsum tsums you liked. Those changes happen to everyone, and really, it's best just to accept it now. 

How has Disney changed you? 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1186: Last Cup of T

Every good thing, apparently, must come to an end. I'm not entirely sure that a year ago I even knew what the Mad T Party was, but now, as I watch some of the videos from the final evening of wonderful music and Disney magic, I can't help but feel so connected to this show.

For those of you that might not know, the Mad T Party was a presentation of live music at Disney California Adventure inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and last night was the final performance before Mad T, once again, disappears from the park. It's gone before, and come back thanks to the wonderful fanbase that I've been so fortunate to be a part of, even if I've only really seen the show once (or twice, but not the entire thing). I hadn't anticipated how much I'd end up really enjoying every second of screaming at the top of my lungs and loosing all ability to hear after a four hours of sitting by the stage, but it's always been connected with my friend Laura, and it's definitely one of my favorite parts of my Disneyland trip last August. Even now, when one of the songs comes on the radio, I jam out a bit more than I do to any other song.

I know for a fact that the Mad T Party was a family, and in the months since I saw Mad T Party for myself I've seen time and time again the absolute hospitality and love that that family is made up of. It's refreshing to see - a group of people who are so supportive of these musicians and musicians that encourage and inspire the fans time and time again. Mad T Party was a very real positive in a far too often negative world, and that's just one of the reasons I know that this show will be so very missed by so many people, myself included.

If you need me, I'll just be here rewatching video from August that has more of my terrible singing in the background than the musicians themselves.

Have a magical day!