My whole life, people have associated me with Disney.
When I was growing up, my family would take annual vacations to Disney. The memories that I have there will forever change me as a person. The moments when I was dressed up as Snow White with a big bun and tiara placed on my head is an experience that I think about often.
However, nothing takes over my heart more than the moments I shared with my family. One of the rides that my family always went on was called “Grizzly River Run.” It was a water ride that would toss and turn the passengers until they got soaked. The amount of laughter and smiles on that ride still makes me smile today.
Every time that my family and I would take a trip to Disney, we would make reservations at a restaurant called the “Plaza Inn.” It was a buffet-style restaurant that served fettuccine alfredo, burgers, and a beef and mashed potato dinner.
While I wasn’t at the Disney parks, I would watch Disney movies such as “Cars,” “Star Wars,” “Dumbo,” “Cinderella,” and “Teen Beach Movie.” However, “Cars” was always my go-to movie to watch. The times I spent watching with my family while eating popcorn together are something I will never forget. Each one of these memories has stayed in my heart as I grew up.
As my college journey is coming to a close in just a few months, I realize how much Disney has impacted this time in my life. There was time throughout each year that I remember leaning on Disney for support. The day that I moved into my freshman year dorm and I had to leave my mother for the first time, I watched “Toy Story 3” to understand that saying goodbye to family to move into college is a part of life but they will always be there for you.
Sophomore and junior year I watched “Cars” every few weeks to make Saint Xavier University (SXU) feel like home when I felt lonely or missed my family.
Throughout the hard times in college, Disney has been there for me. As I rewatch “Cars”, I think about how lonely Lightning McQueen felt at the beginning of the movie, and how when he found his
“chosen” family, he became his true self. The same goes for “Teen Beach Movie” and how Brady and Mac found their true selves while living through their favorite movie. “Dumbo” is also a character who, no matter what anyone has told him, turns his “weaknesses” into his strengths.
I often find myself rewatching multiple Disney movies when I have had a hard day in class or have a big test coming up. Each Disney movie that I grew up on has taught me that I am going to be okay when life gets tough.
Being a Disney adult isn’t just an important aspect in my life but to a lot of others. Many adults feel as if the characters, parks, and stories offer a comfortable escape from adulthood back to when we were children.
As I go forward in life, I will be eternally grateful for Disney, itse movies that my family watched multiple times, because they knew how much the characters meant to me, and the unforgettable times that the Disney parks brought me as a kid. I can confidently say how lucky I am that I am a Disney adult.