Like all good American kids I love the classics. Disney classics to be precise. I was raised on them. I know every word to “Someday my Prince will come” and “When you Wish upon a Star.” Who wants to be ‘Part of your World’? I do! ‘Can you paint with all the colors of the Wind’? Yes I can! Who had the Mickey Unrapped cassette tape and Mousercised? This gal !As much as I loved all things Disney and soaked up as much of Walt’s wisdom as I could, I had never been to Walt Disney World.
It was a childhood dream that had evaded me my whole life
When my then boyfriend, now husband asked me to join his family on their trip to see the Mouse, I lept at the chance. They had been several times over the decades and Disney was old news to them as a family. I played it cool as we gathered with thousands of others at the front gates before the opening ceremony.
“Isn't it crowded?” I feigned in an adult tone trying to appear more mature than the college sophomore I was.
I soared out of my skin when the music chimed up 10 minutes to the park hours.
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS. WELCOME TO THE MAGIC KINGDOM!”
I knew it was just a recording but I was so startled and caught off guard that a strange lump found its way to my throat. Then out of nowhere an old man in a sash welcomed us to the most magical place on Earth.
Mr. Christopher George Weaver is the Mayor of the Magic Kingdom and he invited all his friends, the citizens of Main Street USA to welcome us. Suddenly a troupe of Americana, turn of the century attire clad dancers were proclaiming, “Good Morning!” From Singin in the Rain.
I was bombarded with sound and dazzled by song. My feet moved without permission as I was compelled forward into the crowd. What was that? A whistle? The dancers heard it too as they started a rendition of “Casey Junior”. I could feel the surge of energy and anticipation knowing the just around the bend of Walt Disney’s Pride and Joy, his train Lilly Belle. And she was carrying something that would change my life. She was carrying Mickey Mouse.
The train arrived and Mickey and the family of the day stepped up to the balcony. I was swept up into the countdown. Overwhelmed by this feeling of pure joy. Three, two, one! There was an explosion. Confetti and Pixie dust flew everywhere and I sobbed. I had found my way to the middle of a group of young children who were delighted to see Mickey and his gang. I can only image how odd it must have been to stand next to a full grown woman while she wept over simple fireworks and songs but couldn’t help myself.
It is so difficult to describe what happened to me in that moment. I was elated. I was overwhelmed. But I think what hit me the most was a feeling of home. Its as I’d spent my entire life away at camp. As if I were a nomad. I had found my home finally. I felt a surge of completion that I had never known before. We walked thru the gates and I feasted my eyes on the castle for the first time and knew I belonged here. This whimsical wonderful place belonged to me.
We walked down Main Street with the crowd but I might as well have been alone. Nothing could hold me back as I rushed forward to soak up every part of my surroundings. Our group reached the middle of the hub where Mickey and Walt stood hand in hand. I said a small prayer and thanked them both for this beautiful gift.
Ascending the stairs to pass under Cinderella’s Palace and chanced to glance at the water. I watched the ducks paddle along. My future Father-in-law leaned forward and conspiratorially whispered, “They look real don’t they?”
“Hmmm?” I responded, not entirely sure I knew what he meant.
“The birds. They’re animatronics. They really do look real, though.”
My eyes were as big a saucers“Oh my God! They’re fake? They look so real!”
“Well, that’s Disney” was his sly explanation. And I believed him, every word until I saw one of the duck fly away. That’s the magic of Disney World because it could have been true. 
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