My love of Disney started early on in my life. In 1983, a year after my father's untimely death my mother, grandmother, aunt, and cousin took my sister and I to Disneyworld in Orlando Florida. Back then there was only one park … the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT was being constructed and we could see Spaceship Earth being built from our hotel near what is known now as the Disney Springs area. I only remember a few moments from that trip back then, but what I remember the most of the feeling you get when you stood at the end of main street looking down at that castle. It is a moment that still till this day gives me butterflies and brings tears to my eyes.
Our next trip to the most magical place on earth didn’t happen again until 2008. This time I was going with my family, my husband and our three kids. The dancing school my daughter attended was going to perform at Magic Kingdom and we were lucky enough to be able to make the trip. We flew down … 52 of us from the dance school students and families. All I knew is I couldn't wait for the next trip. Every other year the dance school was invited back and we put trips in 2010, 2012, and then 2016 under our belt.
Both of my older children had gotten engaged at Magic Kingdom. My stepson and his girlfriend in 2010; and my daughter and her boyfriend in 2016. What wonderful memories they have that they will always remember. Both events just made those trips more magical.
We unfortunately were not able to make the 2014 Disney trip after my mother-in-law passed away of lung cancer. She accompanied us on our trips in 2010 and 2012. We still believe she knew of her diagnosis in 2012; but she just wanted to visit her "happy place" one more time. We had a commemorative moment for her in 2016 in the Magic Kingdom near the wishing well.
Now we have grandchildren that are Disney-fanatics. RJ (6) and Hazel (4) just experienced their first trip with their parents in May of 2026 … a decade since their parents got engaged. And now this magical Mimi gets to digital scrapbook their photos of their trip for them. It might be a while … my 2010 book is the only one I have completed.
We tentatively have a trip planned (in our head right now; not financially) for next summer 2027. I'm so excited to not only visit Disney again just to have the opportunity to go on vacation again. This will be a true celebratory trip for me celebrating being cancer free and graduating from college with honors for my Bachelors. I am ready to celebrate more than anyone let me tell you !!!
I sit here every day watching live streaming from the parks and I am just being called here more and more. It is truly my happy place as well. I can't wait to get back and experience the magic once more.
