When I was young, my mom used to shop at a department store called Boscov’s. They had a campaign called, “Did you Boscov today?” where shoppers were encouraged to go to the store on a daily basis and earn stamps towards a reward. I remember her telling us that she got the set of pots and pans she used to make us dinner every night by “Boscov-ing” in the early 80s.
I don’t “Boscov” on a daily basis, but I do “Disney.”
Did you Disney today?
Every day, there’s a little Disney going on in my life. OK, well, maybe there’s more than a little Disney… maybe there’s a LOT of Disney going on in my life. For the sake of my husband, I try and keep my Disney to a “reasonable level” in most rooms of our house, but in every room you can find something Disney going on. Our kitchen has a print from Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival in 2019, our living room has a shadowbox with our Leave a Legacy Tile, and our dining room has a framed lithograph from Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.
My “Disney-ing” goes beyond how I decorate in our house. I wear a little bit of Disney every day. Whether it’s Grogu socks, a vintage Mickey globe pendant, a Disney themed shirt – or all of those things (and more) at the same time – it’s hard to miss that I’m a Disney fan. I often get comments from people as I’m out and about noticing that I have a Minnie ear headband necklace or a rose gold Mickey charm on my smart watch and I tell them, “the more you look, the more you’ll see.”
Much of the media that I consume revolves around Disney. I love watching my favorite Disney YouTubers opening Disney hauls, doing challenges in the parks at Walt Disney World, or discussing the latest Disney news. I have a cadre of Disney podcasts I listen to weekly, and a few favorite audiobooks covering the history of the Disney company that I’ve listened to more than once.
Obviously, I’m a woman obsessed. But I don’t think it’s a bad thing! I like to think I use my “Disney powers” for good in the world. I love helping friends and family (and now others through my Travel Advisor business!) plan their Disney vacations. I know that a trip to any Disney destination can be a complex trip to plan – but more than that, it’s an investment made in family time that can be maximized if you know the ins and outs of the parks.
Living the Magic
I think my time spent in the parks helps me to bring positivity to the world. That may sound a bit over the top, but I’ll give you a simple example. It’s incredibly common on a Disney trip to get or give a compliment to a stranger. Someone in line behind you might comment on your backpack, or you may see someone with the most fabulous pair of ears on Main Street USA and tell them you love their ears. Positivity abounds, and not just from the cast members who greet you with a “hello, Princess” or send you off with a, “Have a Magical Day!”
On a night out with a friend a few months ago, we passed a couple who seemed to be on a date in the street. The pair were holding hands as they strolled along, and the woman wore a beautiful teal dress with pockets. “I love your dress!” I called to the woman as we walked by. She smiled brightly and told me thanks. As my friend and I walked on, she turned to me and said, “I can’t believe you just did that.” “Did what?” I asked, confused. “You just shouted a compliment to that stranger,” she said. I paused and said, “You know, it happens all the time at Disney… so I guess it just didn’t feel weird to me to do!”
And complimenting a stranger SHOULDN’T feel weird! I’m glad for the times that I spend in my Happy Place and the positive energy I get from it. There’s a lot going on in the world that’s not positive, so I’m glad I can channel that Disney feeling and return some to the world.
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