The Disney Itch- Top 5 Reasons I LOVE Disney World

I remember looking at people's pictures on Facebook and thinking.. 
Are they at Disney AGAIN?!? They must be rich! They must have easy jobs with lots of vacation time!
I was wrong (kind of) on both accounts. Disney can be expensive, but if you plan ahead and use some savings tips, it's not impossible. And as for the vacation part? My husband works his tail off as a family practice doctor, working close to 60 hours a week if you factor in all the time he spends documenting, responding to emails, etc. He doesn't get much uninterrupted vacation time, we choose to take vacations like this to make sure we prioritize reconnecting as a family. Tonight I was taking advantage of a Shutterfly promo and was flipping through pictures from our last Disney trip, now I have Disney on the brain and one month + three days until our SURPRISE trip. I've heard a lot of people make excuses about why they won't go, it's expensive (not going to argue that one, but saving helps), my kids aren't old enough, I don't like rides, etc. so I thought I'd share the top five reasons I LOVE Disney World. 

5. The Food

Y'all, I like love food, a lot. The best meal I have ever had in my entire life was at the California Grill, which is located at the top of the Contemporary Hotel. In addition to the great food, you can also view the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom from the outside viewing area or from some tables! I recommend timing your reservation around the fireworks, we had a late dinner (Date night! Thanks, Grandma!) so we had our starters, went outside to enjoy the fireworks, and they brought us our dinner as soon as we came back inside-- it was so heavenly! The only bad part was we were so stuffed we couldn't manage to order dessert! It's a little pricey, but a steal if you are on the Disney Dining Plan! While this is by far my favorite, I also love lots of things I've tried in the parks, my favorite being the Dole Whip Float, refreshing on a hot day! I also love that in Epcot, there are packaged snacks native to each country, this is awesome for my four year-old who cannot have Red Dye, because it's been banned in most of those countries, so she can snack to her hearts content! Her favorite is the Hi-Chew, a taffy-like candy.

4. The Time

Even if you are someone who has a demanding job, I think it's easier to put away your phone and be really present when you are at a place like Disney. Yes, they have Wi-Fi in the parks (although spotty in Animal Kingdom), but for some reason there's just something about the place that makes me far less anxious about all those annoying red bubbles on my iPhone. I feel like I do a better job being really present there, something I struggle with daily at home. And I am not sure why people say kids don't remember Disney if you take them when they are small, because my oldest daughter went for the first time right after she turned 3, she is almost 5 now, and we still hear her talk about the first trip we made. Our youngest daughter just turned two and talks about it as well. They've had a ball and may not remember every detail when they are adults, but if all they remember is that we took the time to take them, I'm good with that. 

3. The Learning Opportunities 
Yes, I take my kids out of (pre)school for vacations. While I love the program they are in and know that they are learning tons there, I'm also a big believer in experiential education. Disney has loads of opportunities for this, especially at Epcot. While Soarin' across California is fun, it also shows the expansive and varying landscape. See? On our last trip my girls learned about papyrus, gardening, the history of technology, a slew of animals, different cultures, to name a few! In this picture, my oldest conquered her fear (that she gets honestly from her parents) and pet a snake. She still tells everyone about it and was so proud of herself. While many think of Disney sheerly as entertainment, there is so much to learn and explore on your vacation as well, don't miss out on that side of Disney! 

2. Saying "yes." 

On vacation, it's also easier for me to say "yes." I'm not saying my kids run wild at Disney, but I do let them make choices more freely than I do at home. 
You want to ride the carousel again? Okay. 
A cupcake for breakfast? Sure. 
Staying up a bit later? Alright. 
While planning is required to maximize your time at Disney, there are also plenty of times to go with the flow. Stop and watch that street performance, jump in line to meet that character you stumble upon, join in on a dance party in the rain, Why not? You are on vacation. I think these are some of the best memories we've had on vacation- the times we've said yes. Do they make mommy a bit uneasy because she's a control freak, sometimes.. but they are totally worth it. 

1. It's Just Plain Magical
You can't find it anywhere else. You can't duplicate it, no matter how hard you try. From the way every cast member appears genuinely happy, to the characters interactions, to wonder on every corner... it's just plain magic. The feeling I get when I enter the resort, it's that same warm fuzzy feeling I get when I'm snuggled up under a warm blanket, drinking hot chocolate, watching my girls play on Christmas Day. Sigh...

Call me crazy, that's okay, but there's nothing like a Disney trip and I can't wait to go back! I also can't wait for you to go, so you can be hooked, too!

Side note: Our kids have had meltdowns, we had one bad dining experience (which Disney quickly stepped up and fixed), we've been there in rain, we've been there in the heat (which is pretty much always), we've been there in crowds. Were those things fun? Nope. I kind of equate it to giving birth, the trauma/drama tends to melt away as time goes on. See you soon, Disney.