MJ (age 2) admiring Princess Aurora

Disclaimer: I do not work for Disney and am not affiliated with the company in any way.  I write from a Disney fan’s perspective.  Visit disney.com for official information.

Why Disney?

by Sunny
I’m not going to lie to you. I’m 32 years old, and even if I didn’t have a 5-year-old, princess -obsessed daughter, I would still plan yearly trips to a Disney Park. I love it. I’ve always loved it. Since my first visit at the age of 11, I have had a passion for the Parks. And I’m not alone. I am in the company of millions of other Disney pilgrims who make the trek to California or Florida each year to experience the magic.
So what’s the big deal? For those who have never been, it’s hard to explain. Why do millions of visitors make it one of the most popular vacation destinations in the US each year? Here are five of my favorite reasons I am a repeat visitor of Disney World.

1. It’s Consistent – No matter what time of year, time of day, the weather, the season, or the crowds, Disney is always on its game. During my daughter’s first visit as a two year old, we were caught in a downpour that lasted the best part of the morning. Since the ponchos were too big for her, her Ariel costume was drenched; her sparkly sneakers soaked. We went on outdoor rides all the same, not letting the rain get us down. The cast members (all Disney employees are referred to as Cast Members) still wore the pleasant smiles on their faces, helping us on and off of the rides and wishing us a magical day. However it was when we went to visit the Princesses, that the Disney consistency really touched me. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Belle not only exclaimed at her beauty but never hesitated to engulf her in a hug and pull her onto their laps for a chat despite her wet costume and muddy shoes. And though the princesses were inside, there were a variety of cast members and characters, from Daisy Duck to Mary Poppins, all outside in the elements greeting guests. Because of Disney’s consistent goal of guest satisfaction, we have such fond memories of a day that many may have considered a wash.

2. Always Something Special To Do – Every season has unique events, decorations, and themes. We have visited during each season, but fall is our favorite time to visit. It’s not as crowded as it is during the holidays, not as hot as during the summer, and there is so much to do! Our favorite event is the annual Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. With booths set up representing countries from around the world, there is something for everyone to try. The booths serve snack-sized servings of that culture’s cuisine, making it affordable to try a variety of food. It’s a great way to introduce kids to new flavors without committing to a (usually) expensive sit-down restaurant at a place they may or may not enjoy. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party also takes place in the Magic Kingdom on select evenings during September and October. This includes trick-or-treating, rarely seen characters, and a special fireworks show and parade. The winter season brings Holidays Around the World at Epcot, a specially “frosted” version of Cinderella’s castle, and even “snow” on Main Street. Visit during the spring for the Epcot Flower and Garden show and during the summer for special Star Wars weekends!

3. Everyone Enjoys – It’s a given that children between the ages of 3-12 will jump for joy at the phrase, “We’re going to Disney World!” But what about toddlers? Teens? Young adults without kids? Yes – everyone will enjoy their Disney vacation if planned with the travelers in mind. Toddlers (and even pre-walkers) can experience many of the attractions since there are very few that have height restrictions. Many teens will enjoy the four-story virtual arcade in Downtown Disney or brave some of the wildest water slides around at the Disney Water Parks. My husband and I enjoyed four Disney vacations to ourselves before our daughter was born. One of our favorite memories is eating dinner at Monsieur Paul in the French Pavilion in Epcot. We made late reservations and by the time we finished our meal, the park was closed. Strolling hand-in-hand through Epcot’s World Showcase, we had the whole place to ourselves aside from a few Cast Members tidying up the Park for the next day. It is one of the most memorable and romantic evenings I have ever spent. Whenever my husband and I spot a senior couple walking alone through the park with their matching Mickey Ear hats, we always grin at each other and joke, “That’ll be us one day!”
4. It’s So Easy – Disney makes planning a trip fun and simple. There are lots of options, and while a newbie may be overwhelmed by the size of the place, the planning process is pretty straightforward. The website is easy to navigate, and the booking process walks you through each step: resort hotel, park tickets, dining plan, flights, and ground transportation. Once you are booked, download the app to continue your planning. By using the website or the app, you can reserve times for popular attractions (fastpass), make dining reservations, and even view park maps and current wait times for rides. Plus, by making fastpass selections at least 30 days before your trip, all of your information will be loaded on to a Magic Band that will arrive in the mail prior to your departure. The Magic Band bracelet acts as your room key, park admission ticket, fastpass, and dining reservations. Plus, you can even use it to charge purchases back to your credit card. A little preplanning goes a long way, and makes the actual trip much less stressful!
5. It’s Disney – Ok, here’s the last but obvious one. Disney won’t be the cheapest vacation you will ever take, but Disney is known for its superior quality. My husband was 26 the first time he visited Disney and wasn’t all that thrilled to be going. He had bought me a ticket for our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple, but he pretty much dismissed the idea of the trip as a nostalgic trip down memory lane for me to enjoy. The fact that I was dragging him out of bed at 5 am to make a three hour drive to a theme park, didn’t really entice him either. I can remember the turning point during the day when we were waiting in line for Space Mountain, and he remarked, “Disney knows what they’re doing. I’m hooked, because I can’t wait to see what happens next. They even get you in line. I’ve never looked forward to standing in line before, but here you know it’s going to be cool.” Similarly, a friend of mine took her son for the first time in third grade, and he marveled at the fact that, “EVERYTHING here is awesome. Not just some of it. ALL of it!” I couldn’t agree more.
What is YOUR favorite reason for visiting Disney? Post them in the comments section below, and look for an upcoming post about my Winter 2015 Disney visit!