Disney has a special place in a lot of people’s heart. People grow up watching the movies, learning with Mickey, and taking vacations to the Most Magical Place on Earth, Walt Disney World. Whether it’s just a once in a lifetime trip you took at 13, or an ongoing vacation spot for you and your family, memories have been made. And with Disney Turning 50 on Friday, there are a lot of memories to share, mainly in picture form.
I haven’t been going to WDW a lot in my life compared to others. I went two times as a child, and I don’t remember to much from that. I got lost in the park because I was playing with the goofy hat that my parents had gotten me. There are flashes of sights and sounds that bring back memories. Main Street Electrical Parade always has a place in my heart, but it’s Spectromagic that I want to remember.
My next trip that I prominently remember is a band trip my freshman year of high school, around May 2001. It was my last big trip with my friends as I was going to move schools. The sorcerer’s hat at Hollywood Stuido was just being built, in fact it was still called MGM Studios then. I only made it to two of the four parks, but that wasn’t the important thing.
I spent a few days performing and running around those parks with friends. Riding Tower of Terror for the first time, sitting in the walk thru of Cinderella Castle with some of the guys and joking around, and the award ceremony in Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. This was a needed time for me, I grew my friendships in the most magical friendships in a time I needed them. The years have passed, and we aren’t nearly as close as we once were, but those memories still hold tight.
It was just over 10 years before I went on a trip again. Church friends had just come back from a fantastic trip, and they raved about the fun. My girlfriend had never been to Walt Disney World and was going to graduate from College, so what a better trip for her than a Disney trip?
I went on to plan a week trip after Christmas, and to propose. While crowds were crazy, watching Beth light up at every little magical sight was worth every second in the long lines. We did as much as we could, in the time we had. When it came time to propose, we ate dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table, on her first day in Magic Kingdom. I got on my knee in a crowded room of families, princesses, and Castmembers asked the best question I ever asked. I’ll post the full story later.
From then on we wanted to try and do one trip a year, whether a small trip or a week. Going during Halloween, to starting a running journey with runDisney, and then to Night of Joy, we’ve done a lot of events in Walt Disney World.
In 2014, we decided to take our honeymoon in what had become our favorite destination. We stayed at Contemporary, and ate at the best restaurants on property. Going all out on a week we wanted to remember forever. Nothing has topped our honeymoon for us. Waking up to the Magic Kingdom outside our window every morning, and watching fireworks from our balcony, nothing could be better.
As our lives went on, we added more trips to our journey. I ran and finished my first half marathon at Walt Disney World’s runDisney Darkside Half Marathon in 2016. We added three great friends to our travel adventures, opened lands and closed rides, took pictures for baby announcements, and spent 24 hours straight in Magic Kingdom. I joined an awesome Travel Agency that connected me with great people, and helped me do even more things that I never thought I would do.
Every last trip we have had we have made memories that we laugh, cry, and laugh till we cry about them. Walt Disney World has been a very important part of our lives over the last 10 years, accumulating 59 trips in that time. So it’s great that on our 60th trip to Walt Disney World, will be to celebrate the resort’s 50th anniversary, we are adding our son’s first trip to our memories.
We look forward to make so many more memories with Travis over his life, and Walt Disney World will be integral in those memories. Walt Disney World, thank you for everything you have added to our life and memories!!
Between Two Castles 