Best Places I've Ever Been: Disney Memories

Well, since this is my 100th post on this great forum, it's only fitting for me to post this as a milestone post. I've told this story countless times but I'm always glad and willing to share it with new people. Anyway, this memory goes back to 2009, the year of my HS class trip and my first visit to WDW in 7-8 years. So anyway, it goes something like this:

I was in Epcot that day and there was one character that I really wanted to meet that day and that was Belle. My eyes lit up when I saw the meet and greet area. But the first time I tried to get in the line, I was told by the greeter that the line was full and would have to come back. Second time around, same thing. I was getting frustrated and worried at the same time thinking well, all sorts of things. Fears that I would miss out meeting Belle. Stress of trying to figure how to plan around the next available meet and greet time. The third time, however, was the charm, I finally got a spot in line by showing up early.

The anxiety begin to grow. I was definitely the only male in line and I would be lying if I said I wasn't uncomfortable. I was so nervous beyond belief that words can't describe it. Now this was the time where Belle and Beast in France met together but for some reason, the Beast hadn't showed up and while some people waited to the side until the Beast showed up, I went forward to meet Belle.

She greeted me with a friendly "Bonjour" and then asked me if I had any adventures so far and I responded, "Yes". I gave her my autograph book and then told her she was my all-time favorite Disney heroine. She thanked me and called me prince. Believe me, I was so bashful when I heard that! She then asked my favorite part of the movie and I told her my favorite part with Be Our Guest. Finally, we took a picture and after it was all said and done, I think my heart melted afterwards.

That, my friends, is my best memory for me personally.

One of my favorite moments was walking around World Showcase by myself, during one of the rare times that I split up from my mom and brother. I saw some face painting going on (don't recall in which area), but I was admiring the designs on display. A CM asked if I wanted my face painted, so I went for it! I got a branch of cherry blossoms with lots of glitter. I was totally excited to be in a place where a 27 yr old grown woman could get her face painted and wear sequined mouse ears and not be thought strange. The realization that WDW was a place for anyone to let out their inner child... It was great!

Also, hanging out to the end of EMH at Hollywood Studios with my brother and riding ToT about a half a dozen times in 45 minutes! We would get off and run back into the nearly empty line and then scream with excitement when the doors would glide open at the top and we could see all the lights of Disney. It was definitely a magic feeling!

That was wonderful!Thank you for sharing!

All of these stories are wonderful! Eddie what a great memory ...so touching, it really did bring me to tears.
Last summer was the first time my kids and husband had ever been. So there are many moments I remember, like when we were standing behind the castle while the afternoon show was going on. We could see all the characters when they were "backstage". We were the only ones standing on the rail watching and as the characters would exit , they would look our way and smile and wave! Prince Charming blew my daughter a kiss...so cool! Now that we are home we play a random game I call "Remember when". We can be just be sitting around and someone will say "remember when......" and they will talk about something that happened when we were at Disney. Then we start laughing and talking about the trip again.I may even get a random text doing a "Remember when..."since my kids are both away in college. They have always been Disney fans, but now they all know what a magical place it really is.

WOW this is such a hard question!! SO many great moments to choose from...I'm going to do one per trip:

1989--my two childhood trips--riding Horizons. It was the first time that I ever remember my dad asking my opinion about something and actually listening to my answer.

New Year's Eve 2003--on our honeymoon--about 4 hours after learning that the park was at capacity and vowing to tough it out until midnight, we naively wandered into this cute little restaurant that you might have heard of called Cinderella's Royal Table and asked if there was a table for 2 available. If you frequent any Disney sites at all, you know that this is one of the most coveted reservations on property and if you don't book at the 180-day mark, you can usually forget trying to eat here. Well, we walked right up and were escorted to a table within 10 minutes. We didn't know until much later just how lucky we really were!

2010--Dancing with Donald Duck in Mexico. This was my first character interaction and the first time I realized that the characters aren't just for kids!!

April 2012--Dinner at Garden Grill at EPCOT. Benn is a twin and as kids, he and his twin were always "chip" and "dale", so these two awesome characters spending several minutes with us and the amazing food in the super fantastic revolving restaurant...well it was just a fantastic evening for us!

August 2012--This was a wonderful, quick little trip with friends during tropical storm whatever. We got caught in a downpour in Hollywood Studios while we were trying to find dinner and hilarity ensued. We got disoriented in the rain and then mixed up Studio Catering Co. (which was closed for the day) with ABC Commissary and by the time we actually reached our destination, we were all practically drowned and laughing hysterically.

June 2013--I was in town for a conference and one of my co-workers is a Russian immigrant and at 62-years-old, she had never been to Walt Disney World, so of course, we seized the opportunity. Taking her on it's a Small World was one of my all-time favorite Disney memories. The look on her face during the entire ride was one of sheer awe and amazement and I will never ride that ride again without thinking of her.

December 2013--We did so many wonderful new things on this trip, but I think that seeing Celebrate the Magic and Wishes from directly in front of the castle for the first time ever.

You know it's hard to choose one memory, or write down more than one. Every time I was at Disney there was a memory to it. I wish I could be like a lot of you and have a specific moment to remember, I envy that in a way. But I envy myself and my memories as well.

My father started out at Walt Disney World. He worked there for about 8-9 years before being offered to work at Disneyland Paris where he worked from before park opening to March 2004 (when he passed). He started out as a Waiter and finished as an Assistant Director of Restaurants of both parks and hotels. He loved working for Disney, and in doing so, I grew up with Disney. I knew nothing else. I was born in 1986, and we moved to Paris in 1992. I was young, so I don't remember much of my time at Walt Disney World though I have vague memories here and there of some Epcot tunes. I do remember of my first CD when I was like 3 called "Minnie and Me".

Most of my memories are from DLP. I remember as a child walking around the Park with my younger brother, sometimes alone and not having a worry in the world. This was back in the 90s. My Dad would say come by my restaurant later for a treat, and we did. We would often get free burgers and fries.
Or how about the day that DLP included a wheelchair accessible boat at Its a Small World? My Mom was able to ride with us (she's been disabled since I was 6). That feeling was grand.
Or at 12, my first roller coaster upside ride ever at Space Mountain? Mind you, I was afraid of Big Thunder Mountain at this time, but my best friend was like "aww come on!" And ever since, I love coasters.
Or the times, as a teen, I would go with my girlfriends on a Sunday to play (thank you Daddy, and Disney, for the maingate entries) and scream and sing on the rides and queue lines (we were obnoxious, I'll admit it).
Or my very first job at 19 as a Guest Services Attendant? I worked with the Guest Flow team (they wore red shirts and black pants, with an "i" on their shirts... don't know if they still do).
Or sleeping in the Hotels, and especially at the Sequoia Lodge. And sometimes, without staying there, my Dad would sneak us into the pool area as it was the only one that had a slide. Even the Ranch Davy Crockett we would go to as well and sneak in.
Working for DLP doesn't offer you a luxurious life. But it has perks. And one of them is I know I can go back to Disney and breathe it all in. And one day, I hope to have children and share with them the memories I had and make new ones.

Since leaving France in 2006, I have been to WDW a lot more often and made memories there as well. From working there to playing there. And one thing that has become a tradition for me: riding Spaceship Earth no matter what happens. EPCOT is like a third home to me, DLP being a second. Without Epcot, my parents would have never met and I wouldn't be here today. So Epcot holds a lot of importance to me.
But most of all, the most important memory to me is being able to take my Mother on more than one ride and enjoy the accessibility of the parks with her.

And actually I'd like to add one particular fond memory I have from Disney's Typhoon Lagoon: I have a fear of sharks. My goal in life is to go cage diving one day to see Great Whites. But I am scared out of my wits. My first step into facing that fear was to swim in the Shark Reef of Typhoon. I remember the CM, this girl, who didn't judge or told me to go right away because other people were waiting to swim. No... She explained to me that they were fed, she told each Lifeguards name (though I don't remember them), she told to just breathe and enjoy the scenery. That these animals will not harm me. Even though there were a lot of people wanting to swim, she told me they can pass me, that I can go in whenever I felt like it. She was very kind, very thoughtful. I wish I remembered her name. But I did go in. I swam across rather quickly and didn't enjoy it. But with the adrenaline rush subsiding, I went back. She was surprised to see me there. But she applauded me and told me how proud of me she was. And I went in again, and this time, I took my time. And enjoyed it! It has become a must do for me when I am at the Water Parks. I love the Shark Reef. And it's all thanks to her.

But I must finish with this word: Disney was everything in my life. It still is. And the most important thing for me: it is my way to stay connected to my Father. It is the only way I know that my father still lives in and with me. When I am at Disney, every moment is a memory. It impacts me as an Adult so much more because of his passing. And when I walk through those gates, I feel him, I feel Walt Disney, I feel magic, and hope. And those feelings are the memories I carry with me everyday.

And I think this post is too long for reads. Oh well!

Your post was beautiful, Melli! Thank you so much for sharing those memories!

That was a really wonderful post Melli and thanks for putting those words and thoughts on the site.

Fireworks at Epcot on 1998 trip. We had a great spot back by the bridge at Italy. Could feel the concussions of the charges as they exploded. Wind was at our backs so the sky stayed clear. It was Fireworks x100 - full sensory experience. And there were chocolate truffles. It was awesome.

All of these posts are amazing, making me cry with happiness and joy.
My favorite Memory is all of them, every Disney trip with my parents is amazing and fun.
But my most favorite memory has to be Disney World 2013 for my birthday it will always be in my memories and probably on my phone the 300 pictures I took. I love my parents and all they did for that trip.

Wow...So many even tho we have only had 56 days in total inside the magic bubble..The one that sticks out in my mind was on our last night on our third trip, we were walking down Main Street after " Wishes " heading back to the bus depot, I was holding my DS hand as the crowds were getting heavy and he was holding his other hand onto his mummy.He just looked up and said to us " Thanks Mum & Dad, that was the best holiday ever." Did we cry..?...Of course we did...

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Well.... I JUST cried!!!