Walt Disney World: Getting The Magic Back

---

One time in every Disney fan's life, one must contemplate, "Have I lost the Magic"? Is Walt Disney World not holding that special place in my heart that it once held? If this question has been floating around your mind, then you know exactly what I am talking about. However, what can you do to get the magic back? How do you recapture the magic of your past so you can create new memories? The solution is not easy; but like others, I was in this situation, and I invite you to join me on a journey to bring Disney magic back into my life...

First, let's start at the beginning, or a least my beginning...Imagine, if you will, Boca Raton, FL - 1977, a 2-year old boy in a department store, seeing a Mickey Mouse plush toy and speaking his first word, "Mickey" and pointing at the doll. This boy then continues to have Disney surround his life, watching the Mickey Mouse Club every day, visiting Disney World at least once every year. Creating self guides on the computer at 11 years old, so he has a game plan for his every move at WDW, and, of course, let's not forget all those sleepless nights anticipating the trips.

Then like every boy, who is not Peter Pan, I grew up giving in to peer pressure and renounced the mouse, but secretly I yearned for the Mouse, remembering the many Disney moments created during my childhood. During college I tried to bring the magic back by just going to the parks, but it never felt the same.

Now fast forward to October 1999 (aka - "the summer of love to "all you former PodPeople out there*). I am taking my first trip back to the magic in probably four years, and it is with my lovely girlfriend at the time, Linda (who I am now proud to call my wife). With each trip during the first few months, the magic slowly creeps back into my psyche, with the crescendo happening on Millennium New Years Eve when Linda and I became engaged. Disney magic was back in my blood!

Now, Walt Disney World is the embodiment of all things good in my life, my happy childhood, my great family, and nothing could make it better...except dedicating more of my life to the mouse and sharing it with others...Then in 2002 Magical Mountain was born, and I started the slip into the "dark side" (even though I would have no clue for 2-3 years to come)

Before Magical Mountain, I was the normal Disney guest. Yes I frequented the parks a lot, could walk around without a map, but I wasn't truly and deeply invested in the magic. Well that changed immediately, like every project I take on, I went full speed and took no prisoners, I slept, ate, and breathed Disney every day of my life and tried to make Magical Mountain and all my other Disney projects the best they could be.

However, through this process I lost sight of some of the magic. I no longer did Disney for my enjoyment. Every trip to the magic had me on a time schedule with meetings, trying to obtain information, taking that perfect camera shot for the website, etc.

This scenario continued on for a few years before I finally realized in 2007....what am I doing this for? I couldn't find very many positives in the parks. Sure I loved getting away and riding attractions, but I don't really "get it" anymore. The magic was utterly and truly gone or at least hiding real deep inside of me.

At this point I had two options, accept that the magic was gone from my life and move on, or straighten up fast and get those happy feelings back in my live. I choose the latter, and I would like to share with you the steps that I went through so perhaps if you ever lose the magic you can find it.

1. The first step in bringing the magic back might sound simple, but is actually the most important. Accept you have lost it. If you are constantly complaining about Disney instead of enjoying it, if close ones in your life think you have changed your Disney attitude, etc. then you probably have. Believe me your other Disney friends will tell you. However, until you realized yourself that you have lost the magic and accepted it, you cannot move on;
2. The next step in this process probably will sound insane to most people….Give up Disney entirely. That is right… stop thinking about Disney or reading about it or being involved with it for a while (time will vary according to the person);
3. Slowly start reintroducing Disney in your life. Choose only things that will make you happy and get your Disney fix. Take time out to appreciate the little things. For example listen to a theme park sound while driving the car, visit your favorite website or podcast and briefly hear what is going on with Disney. However, know when to say when. Only do this for small parts of your life and concentrate on other things that you enjoy doing. If you go to Walt Disney World often, take a break and put off the trip for a couple of months, then slowly build the excitement of going again. Now comes the most important step…reentering the world known as Disney. Your day to come back to Disney World has arrived. This is going to be your first trip back to the parks, you are ready to have the magic re-enter your body, but loosing that magic again is still there. So take it easy and take baby steps for a while at first.
4. First thing to realize is that you are not special. Even if you have more information about the parks, know all the tips and tricks that a first time visitor doesn't know they have an advantage over your childlike wonderment. Your goal is to try to get a little of that back, and the first step in that is leave your watch back at your resort and forget time exists. At this point you might be saying. Wait Nathan what about knowing what time it is for your Fastpass…Well good point…Forget about the Fastpass it doesn't exist. Fastpasses are wonderful and help you experience Disney quicker than ever, but it will also not allow you to take in all the magic and wonder around you (and yes if you are wondering that means dining reservations are excluded too)
5. Take time to smell the Roses! Sit and look at the atmosphere around you. Bet you will notice things that you never saw before.
6. Let's face it, it is human nature. You probably will still see something that gets you upset at Walt Disney World. But be prepared to ask yourself, "Would I really be getting upset about this same thing before I lost the magic? Or would I be in such wonderment of the resort and overlook it?"

All in all steps like these help to get the enjoyment back of Disney and the magic back in my life again. These steps might not work for everyone, but I think with a little faith, trust, and pixie dust, anyone can bring the magic back into their life again.

Have you lost the magic at one time or another? How did you gain it back? Post your thoughts in the Magical Mountain Disney forums – Regaining the Magic.

* "Summer of love" was a constant used reference by Nathan Rose on the award winning MouseTunes Disney Podcast.

Home - Disney News - Disney Travel - Disney Forums - Disney Shopping - Shandy - Contact Us
Disney World Tickets - Disney Vacation Homes - Disney World Packages