My friend asks me today..why is it you always choose Disney?

[AnnMorin]

Here is my answer.. although most cruise lines have nice enough rooms if you are willing to pay for them, good destinations, food etc. I choose Disney for the Magic.
What I mean is for seven days I can be in another dimention. Where seeing a duck and a mouse dancing makes me want to cry (with happiness) Where the bad and evil things in life seem to not permiate. Where I don't have to think about fallen sports heros (not many heros left in the world) or crazy terrorists or how my son can't enjoy the freedoms I did as a child. For seven days I can be insulated,pampered and free. Free to feel like a kid again, free from the harshness in the world. I tried my best to explain it to her but I think she just does not get it. That feeling you get when you hear the ships horn play when you wish upon a star, it is like you are transformed back in time to a world that was innocent and you can feel naive and blissfull.
So my friends why do you choose Disney? What should I have told her?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Ann, of course, you already just spoke so eloquently...

And, what also comes to my mind, is just look at Barb's thread about Christopher, and the thread about Nathan (Nate).... Disney magic ( and the magic and pixiedust of Disney lovers ) is just sometimes beyond words...

Something that one would almost have to see for themselves to appreciate!

What else could compare!!!

 

[BethC1952]

Ann, you said it better than I ever could have! We choose Disney for that feeling of "life as it should be", so that for our brief vacation time we can leave "life as it really is" behind.

Beth

 

[videoman]

Just reading your reply almost made me cry...as that is the exact reason I love WDW and we are now branching out to DCL. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone could get that "magical feeling"...if they did, no one would ever have the need to ask the question again! God Bless!

 

[videoman]

PS....(I'm videoman's wife)...I know he'll read my reply about the "cry" and be happy I clarified that! lol

 

[luv2tvl]

Ann, you also made me tear up a bit! Disney isn't a destination so much as a feeling in so many ways it's hard to describe and also hard to make other people understand.

I'm going to print out what you wrote and stick it on my desk at work. I am a travel agent and now when people give me the usual Disney arguments on why they shouldn't travel with Disney, I can say, "LOOK, this is why you should take a Disney cruise instead of Carnival!"
Sometimes it's so hard to explain to other people what Disney really does for us in so many ways!! I can't think of another cruise line that would upgrade a wonderful deserving family and make the dreams of their 6 year old come true to have a balcony.
ONLY DISNEY with it's amazing miracles and pixie dust!

 

[AnnMorin]

She kept saying"but you keep going back year after year WHY?!"
I tried saying there was a comforting feeling/familiarity about it, like returning home, but that really is not the krux of it. It really is like going back to "the Andy Griffith era". DH sees such horrible things at his job, the hate and evilness people can do, it is so truely magical to just sit back and watch goodness instead. For a week he does not have to think about a criminal comming back against our family because he sent them to jail. He does not have to worry about our son on the internet after issuing warrents for pediofiles that hunt there. I can watch my son laugh and have not a care in the world. I can, for a week, not worry about whether I should call DSS on a preschool parent or not. I'm sure on carnival or RCCL you can enjoy yourself but I just can't imagine being transported back in time to a feeling the world is a safe and magical place. We actually debated going on another line next year and I just don't see how, although I would like to see other ports, a week of magic is hard to beat.

 

[luv2tvl]

The one nice thing about experiencing other cruise lines is although they are great most of the time, they make you realize just how lucky you were to have been on a Disney cruise.
It's a completely different feeling that you are unable to describe.

 

[figment52]

Originally posted by BethC1952
We choose Disney for that feeling of "life as it should be", so that for our brief vacation time we can leave "life as it really is" behind.

Beth

Disney isn't a destination so much as a feeling ! Quote luv2tvl



WOW - thats sums it up better than I ever could have.

I can't help but think of Walt and his plan to create something that families could enjoy TOGETHER. There just isn't enough of that anymore.

 

[howardk613]

Well said Ann !!!!
All of that and seeing our kids (or grandchildren) light up when a Disney character interacts with them is why we choose Disney.

 

[SeaSpray]

This will be our first Disney cruise, (DH and my second cruise, but the first with our DSs), and DH and I both agreed that ONLY on a Disney cruise would we feel comfortable allowing our DSs (ages 16 and 13 at cruise time next summer) roam around on the ship all by themselves. Of course we all need to be cautious and aware of our surroundings at all times... But we wouldn't even consider letting the boys go off to their different programs alone on any other cruise line (not saying anything would happen, but we have a lot more confidence in the Disney Cruise Line). It's sad to think that my DSs don't/can't walk around town like I did and experience relative freedom at the same ages they are now, so I know it will be a big deal to them when they realize for a whole week they can pretty much come and go as they please (within limits, we want them to eat dinner with us every night, see some of the shows with us, etc.)

This is a surprise for my sons and I can't wait to tell them :}

 

[WDWLVR]

Ann,

I think you did a great job of explaining it. Disney named the ships correctly because they are full of Magic and Wonder.

 

[skoi]

We haven't cruised yet-- it's coming up but not fast enough! But we have been going to WDW a lot. Our neighbors think we're nuts, wasting our money, taking the kids too young-- (both our kids were three when we took them the first time), but they don't get it. It's everything everyone previous had said. It's another world, somewhere reality doesn't intrude. With possible deployment hanging over our family-- which could completely change our way of life-- we need the relief. A week of not having to worry about the what ifs we're facing as a world and a family is a great relief to me, and allows me to recharge and be able to come home and do what I have to do.

Julie

 

[beaniema323]

Ann-
You did a great job summing up the way that my family feels about Disney too. We just got back from our first Disney cruise, and I was talking about how late my daughters were out (dd14 and dd10). Some of the people at work were amazed that we had allowed them that kind of freedom. I told them that I felt that they were safer on the Magic then they were in school! We all had a truly "Magical" week.

 

[Moosysmom]

I was asked that question when I cruised in March or even planned another trip to Disney, I'm single no kids (just a furry one) and went with 3 friends on the cruise. My answer then was and remains--To "Remember the Magic", and to take me back to the carefree times of Childhood. Just to escape adulthood and responsibilities and be young again.

 

[two-foxes]

We get asked the same question all the time...."how could you do Disney for a honeymoon? or Don't you ever want to go anywhere else?" We have no kids (not yet, at least) and people don't get why two "thirty somethings" choose Disney.

I grew up with Disney...I have a favorite picture of me at age 2 with my Mickey T shirt, my Mickey pin and my Mickey cake, of course! Now move ahead 27 years to my wedding day, with my M&M cake topper, my M&M snowglobe, my Mickey garters and cake cutters. It is something you never grow out of. (Thank god my DH loves Disney, too...although it wasn't really "discovered" until after we met!)

It is IMPOSSIBLE to describe the feeling of running (yes at the age of "nearly" 30) up to the castle, and never wanting to leave! Or watching Illuminations wondering if we will ever acheive the unity that it hopes for (sounds cheesy, but I have cried each time I've seen the show, especially post 9/11). Or when I am having a bad day at work (AnnMorin, my DH and I are both in law enforcement/corrections, so we know!), I go to my email and play soothing "when you wish upon a star" tune of the Ships horn. Then I say "only one year, one month and 18 days!!!" (although I am getting a bit of a fix at DLR later this month!

It sound terrible, but I have quit trying to explain it. Those who ask are not very happy people (really, they are not!) so I figure they won't get it anyway! At least when we have kids, people may not ask as much, or at least we'll use the little buggers as our excuse to spoil ourselves !

 

[Francisca64]

I explained it to someone once that you step aboard and into an atrium of inlayed woods, polished metal and plush seating. You look above and see a renowned chandelier and statues of bronze. You may see a person playing at a grand piano and you are taken back to the time when cruising was sheer elegance, ladies wore white gloves and hats, men in tuxes...no glaring Vegas styling, no noisy, smoky casinos...luxury, romance is all around you. And then you notice a character offering his hand and realize that you get to dance with Goofy in your shorts and sandles and you are on a Disney ship. You are in the midst of the sheer Disney genius of being able to bring two worlds together, very harmoniously.

 

[mytmouse]

The reality of the matter is that we ALL want to be a child at heart. DISNEY makes this all possible. When I take my children to DL, I am always amazed to see the magical transformance on their faces when they see the characters. Then, I realize, the MAGICAL hold that Disney has had upon my life. I am 50, and DL still has the same magic it did when I was a child. I am SOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to our Halloween cruise, as well as visiting WDW in the future.

Gerald

 

[Starz723]

People ask me why do I go to WDW every year, dont you get bored. Bored! I say. Heavens NO. How can I get bored of being happy, and feeling the magic. Seeing the smile on my sons face (and mine for that matter). Experiencing new things every time.

I choose Disney cause its like a big family. I trust Disney. They aim to please as best they can and with a smile.

People who love all things Disney light up when they talk about it. I should be a spokesperson for Disney, cause I love telling people that havent been there all the great things to do, wonderful restaurants to eat in and my fabulous experiences.

One thing though, how do you really explain WDW ( Or anything Disney) to someone that hasnt been there or felt what we feel. I havent been on a cruise yet, and I chose Disney to experience my first sailing. Why would I change something I know works for me and gives me great happiness.

We are like a fellowship and I feel it everytime Im around fellow lovers of Disney. We share the joy.

Like the old saying goes "If it works, Dont fix it.!"

 

[lsmac]

Ann,
If they have to ask...they'll never understand...no matter HOW you explain it!

Only people that have experienced the "magic" and "wonder" of DCL can understand.

Lisa