A magical twist on the traditional vacation
In mid-November, university students receive a weeklong break from classes to catch up on schoolwork and prepare for the upcoming exam period in December. But I’m going to let you in on a secret: no one studies. We escape to warm climates in an attempt to run away from the stresses of school. Most opt for a white sand beach in the Caribbean, sipping on a bright red strawberry daiquiri in the warm tropical air. However, I take a different approach to relaxation.
Each year, my mother and I escape from our adult responsibilities to the home of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Walt Disney World in Florida. Now it is important to note, when her and I do Disney, we do Disney. Sleeping in? Not happening. Strappy sandals? Think again. Breakfast? A muffin on the go will do. Although our trips are nothing less than memorable, there is one experience from our most recent get away in Nov. 2019.
One dewy morning after we secured our Mickey headbands, tied our sneakers up tight and put our sunglasses on, we began our day at the most magical park on the Walt Disney World property, the Magic Kingdom. Feet firmly planted on the cobblestone street that leads directly to Cinderella’s blue and white royal castle, I took one big sniff of the freshly baked treats from the Main Street bakery and thought to myself, “Today is going to be a good day.”
Fast-forward to countless rides later — and some very sore feet — my mother and I scoped out our viewing spot for the nighttime spectacular show titled Happily Ever After. Filled with a combination of animation, music and fireworks, it’s a must-see spectacle. The catch is, to claim the best spot, you have to be prepared to camp out for at least two hours before the show. Being the crazy Disney goers we are, we shuffled through the sea of families in matching shirts to claim the prime real estate.
Is sitting on the hard concrete ground for hours on end while trying to avoid being stepped on or having your fingers crushed by an abnormally large stroller the best Disney experience? No. Is watching spouses argue about Disney supposedly being the happiest place on earth as they push their crying child’s stroller around in a circle a fun way to pass the time? A tad bit. Nonetheless, as showtime approached, the open space steadily filled in with exhausted families just trying to make it to the end of the day. Unsure if my legs were still attached to my body because they were so numb, I stood up to make room for the later comers. Buzzing with excitement, the sea of heads topped with the silhouette of mickey ears seemed to go for miles.
With freshly popped popcorn wafting through the air, the lights surrounding the castle went dark followed by a deep sophisticated voice utter the words, “And they all lived happily ever after.” Children’s excited gasps filled the air as their parents redirected their attention to the lone sparkle illuminating up Cinderella’s castle followed by a single flare that arched over the castle tips. As a 20-year-old university student, there were not many opportunities to escape the daily stresses, yet in that exact moment, I felt as carefree as I did when I was a child.
The dark night sky was illuminated with bursts of colour as the fireworks’ shimmering trails cascaded down behind the steeple of the royal residences. Projections of Disney classics bring the castle to life to tell the stories we all know and love, set to the magnificent musical soundtrack that has been ingrained in our minds. Entranced by the montage of beloved Disney heroes playing in front of me and the glistening sky, nothing seemed to matter. I was not thinking about the 10-page paper I had to do or the stress of finding a co-op — I was living in the moment.
As what seemed to be the end approaching, I took a moment to glance beside me where a five-year-old little boy was standing with his parents. His eyes were wide open and glued to the spectacle unfolding above as his mouth hung open in astonishment, while his parents stood watching him with a look of pure love and happiness. Now, I don’t know what their day had been like, but one thing is for sure: in that one moment everything was perfect, and I could tell this would be a moment they remember for the rest of their lives.
My attention was redirected back to the explosive sound of numerous fireworks going off at once followed immediately after by silence. I thought to myself, “This must be the finale.” To my surprise, two flares arched over the castle, similar to the beginning. The music slowly started to gain momentum and peeked with the words, “You can fly, you can fly, you can fly!” to which Tinker Bell appeared at the top of the castle and zipped across the crowd that gasped out of disbelief. Within the blink of an eye, the surrounding sky became a painting of spiralling light glowing with every colour imaginable.
After the final note was heard, the last pop of fiery glitter had been seen in the sky and the lights flickered back on, the crowds rushed for the exit in an attempt to beat the traffic. I stayed glued in place just trying to process the beauty of what I just had the honour of witnessing. I left the park that night knowing this experience would stick with me.
Although my idea of a relaxing getaway from the world does not match others’ ideas, it is something I look forward to. Not only was I able to get lost in the magic of Disney when I was physically there, but now whenever things get stressful, I remember the words “And they all lived happily ever after” and the magic comes flying back to me.
