When The World Needs Magic

Thanks for this post, we all do need a magical place to help us work through our fears, anxieties, and sadnesses. I find my Disney magic at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, sitting in the beautiful lobby late at night or sitting on the balcony of my room. I'm always surprised by, and thankful for, the sense of peace I feel when I walk into the AKL.

Well done, Kristen. We all need a reminder that there is still magic in the world after a week like this! Thank you!

Thank you for your words Kristen... And yes, we still need magic to carry on ...

Thank you for writing anyways! I love the magic! My happiest place is to sit in the new Fantasyland and watch the fireworks. It is truly a magical place that I can't wait to get back to! Then there's always It's a Small World, the first ride I ever rode at WDW.

Thanks for such a nice article. I've thought about Orlando a lot this week. You all have had more than your share of rough times. But I know you'll pull through. Maybe it's the Disney Magic, but things will look up. I have so many happy places at WDW. My top one is Old Key West. It's like coming home. It's peaceful and brings back endless memories of our times at Disney. ❤️❤️

Thanks for this heartfelt comment. My magical place is, interestingly enough, Main Street, sitting next to the bronze statue of Goofy. It's the first thing I do upon arrival to the Magic Kingdom and I am once again my ten year-old self! Happy memories!

Thanks for the reflection. This puts exactly how I feel about WDW. I like the quiet of the Beach Club Villa pool late at night. Also a hammock on the Caribbean Beach waterside.

Well written.
For years my favorite place is the bike/jogging trail between Ft. Wilderness & Wilderness Lodge. Quiet place where you may spot some deer. I remember when the trail was longer before the Lodge was built.

Reading all the negative and dishearting and devestating news from Disney this week of course made my family and I so defensive of Disney.
Disneyworld is our "happy place". Disney is our escape from all the pressures and sadness we have in our lives. Our favorite place is the Grand Floridian. Just getting off the bus when we arrive and hearing the cast members say to us"Welcome Home", brings tears to my eyes. Turning the corner at the Magic Kingdom to look down Main Street USA, and the first look at the castle, well my daughters and I start crying with tears of joy, just to realize we made it back again! With all the sadness and disappointment in this world Disney is a utopia of "happy" for families that come together here. Disney makes a child so happy that she will bring her children there when she has a family. Disney makes me forget my two girls are growing up way to fast and they both have severe health issues and for the short time we are there we can forget maybe someday they won't be so sick. It's a memory that lasts a lifetime., it's a memory you carry in your heart on sad days and lonely days until you return again! The Grand Floridian is a magical place all in its self. From the arrival, the lobby, the smell, the wonderful cast members, the happy lady in Sandy Cove who will have a conversation with you like a member of your family that you only see once a year., the cast members at Sugarloaf that remember you from day to day and offer you a special drink that you have asked for in previous days. It's the band at night in the lobby, while walking to the monorail, it's the look on a child's face running to tell her grandmother she danced with Prince Charming!
It's a utopia of no matter what troubles there are outside that Grand place you are safe , you are hiding if only a few short days from all the stress of everyday life.
That's what Disney is to my family and I. So yes I have defended Disney this week, only to sound selfish, Disney has brought me magical lifetime memories and it truly is our "happy place".

Your article truly captures the spirit of Walt Disney and the world he created. It is an ugly world out there and WDW is one of the places to escape it and find the magic. For me, just getting on Disney property lets me forget the world around me for even just a little while. But the magic, I see that that in all the faces of the children as the watch, ride or play in awe at their Disney Heros and Princess'. If only we could take all that to the outside world....

Great article Kristen! My happy place is strolling along the Boardwalk or any place in the World Showcase. I find both very relaxing.

My magical place has always been in front of Cinderella's castle next to Walt and Mickey. Walt is my hero. His wisdom and perseverance have always been an inspiration. When my husband was discharged from the army for his injuries we came to live here in Florida to be near Disney and it was my dream to work there and play there. We bought annual passes and we began taking our two young girls to play in the parks. Whenever life was getting tough, which was often as my husband healed and worked through his anger at losing his army career, we took in the magic and could forget everything else and just have fun as a family. Eventually I did get to work for this wonderful company until I got diagnosed with RA and it became too difficult to work. My heart broke to have to leave but the magic will always live on. Walt gave the world something so precious. It continues to live on generation after generation. It all started with a mouse was what he told the world, but more correct it all started with imagination and courage.

I was on The Disney Dream when we found out my Dad had been murdered. I spent another day with the ship at Castaway Cay before we could disembark and return home. Even through the tragedy I still find the Dream is one of my happy places. We cruise almost every year and Castaway Cay one of those places I go in my head when I am overwhelmed by the sadness in the world. It was there for me when my Dad died and it continues to bring me happiness and magic. You are so right... The world needs magic. Great article.

Thank you so much everyone for your kind words of love an encouragement.

Bonnie - you totally made me cry, I can not think of a higher compliment to be made to me that evoking the spirit of Uncle Walt.

Great job Kristen!!! Thanks so much for sharing with us! I don't have one specific spot, I love just driving under that "Welcome" sign and being there within the bubble. But... walking into the MK will never cease to be magical!

There's something special about taking a soak in a large tub (bigger than I have at home) with a bath bomb.