How My Disney Experience Has Changed
Even Disney lovers have to mature someday.
In the midst of a global pandemic, my sisters and I packed our bags and headed off to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I know what you’re thinking, and yup, this certainly wasn’t the brightest idea. The 10-day quarantine I’m experiencing at the moment is proof of that. But, having already rescheduled the trip twice, we decided to take the leap.
And by “leap,” I mean a horrifying plane ride during which barely any of the passengers followed the COVID rules. Super fun.
Just about any Disney fan out there can understand the pure, unadulterated joy that sets in when you complete the final security checkpoint and enter Magic Kingdom. It’s the buzz of excitement from first-timers and small children seeing their favorite character come to life. It’s the Little Mermaid soundtrack playing up and down the street. It’s the sunshine, the ambiance, the palm trees. It’s the smell of turkey legs being devoured on a crowded street corner. Just kidding — barf.
Whatever your favorite part may be (even if it is the turkey legs), Disney is definitely a happy place. However, it can be happier for some more than others.
Back in the day, a young Julia visited the parks in her Jasmine princess outfit, alongside sisters and cousins. She strutted down Main Street U.S.A. with her prized Disney autograph book in hand, hoping to get a signature from every princess possible. She steered clear of daunting drops and high-speed coasters, opting for the “It’s A Small World” boat cruise and “Peter Pan’s Flight” through the skies of London. If she had her way, she would’ve never left.
Today, my Disney experience looks a bit different. Instead of the autograph book, I carry my portable charger around all day. I left the Jasmine costume at home, filling my suitcase with high-waisted boyfriend jeans and comfy band tees. When my sisters and I enter Magic Kingdom at the start of a long day, my first thought isn’t about where I can find each princess. Nope, instead I’m trying to find the best spot to snap a photo for my Insta Story. I apologize for myself.
Now that the Hill girls are all over 18, we head straight for the tallest, most intimidating rollercoasters. We order hard ciders and filet mignons at the Beauty and the Beast “Be Our Guest” dinner. We hate on the ignorant families who can’t seem to keep their masks positioned correctly. We admire lots of cute babies. Despite all these wonderful things, Disney isn’t quite the same as a 21-year-old. And if you’ve read my other articles, you’d know that I’m not the biggest fan of change.
I truly miss the feeling of being in Disney as a carefree child. I wish my experience there never had to change, even in the slightest. When you’re worrying about wait times, how many more rides you need to hit before the park closes, or what dinner reservations to make, the experience can’t possibly be as blissful.
But, when you look at Disney with the innocence of a child, it really is the happiest place on earth. No planning stress, no walking fatigue (stroller, duh), no worries whatsoever. Hakuna Matata, as they say.
After this recent Disney trip, I‘ve found myself thinking that I don’t need to go back for a while. If it’s thrilling rides I seek, Six Flags is only a few hours drive. Disney+ serves my needs when I want to be reminded of my love for Disney movies. The next time I make the trek to Orlando, I’d like it to be with my future children. Hopefully my sisters will come along, with families of their own. My parents too, as first-time Disney grandparents.
Sad as it may be, I will never again be able to run around Disney as a toddler in my Jasmine outfit, an autograph book clutched in tiny hands. Since time travel will probably not become a thing, the second best option would have to be watching my own children experience a Disney vacation for the first time. That is the good news — I can take comfort in knowing that one day I’ll get to experience the magic of Disney through my own daughter’s eyes. That sounds pretty cool.
Don’t get me wrong, even when I was forced to wear a mask the whole time, I had a very fun vacation at the Disney parks. All the tiny details that they manage to incorporate at each attraction will never cease to amaze me. The “babyish” rides are still fun in a nostalgic way, the Mickey ice cream still tastes just as sweet, and you still get a flutter of excitement when you see your favorite character appear in a parade.
But, the truth of the matter is, there does come a time where Disney isn’t as magical as it once was. That doesn’t mean that the place itself has degraded. Quite the opposite, actually. It just means that the person walking down Main Street is a bit less starstruck with the passing years, and that’s okay.
You know what’s really magical? Saving some money. I plan to do just that and wait it out on my next Disney excursion. Until that day comes, it’ll be Disney+ marathons and shuffling movie soundtracks for me.
