My family just got back from a magical winter vacation to Walt Disney World. Having just visited for a work trip a month prior, I had a clear head and some really awesome expectations.
But, like every Disney vacation, there are moments that send you rocketing off into the planning Tomorrowland where itineraries go to die. In this case, it all began on Main Street USA with a Christmas cookie.
We planned this trip to take our boys to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Taking in all the sights and joys of Christmastime at the Magic Kingdom was our top priority, and all I wanted was a picture in front of the castle at nighttime, a spectacular view of the show and parade, AND front row seating for the moment it snowed on Main Street. Was that really too much to ask?
Every planner in her right mind knows that there are some sacrifices that have to be made to make something like this happen. Usually, it’s a good two hours of time sitting on the curb to guard your parade spot like a starving mamma bear trying to keep her cubs alive.
And, we were essentially one hour too late.
By the time we rolled up to Main Street, we had to settle for second row (third if you count the giant, empty City Mini stroller in front of us) and a big, old blind spot of the castle. Still, we settled in, ordered our dinner via the mobile app from Casey’s Corner, and tried to control our rowdy boys while they blew bubbles with their Mickey wands in the faces of innocent (ok maybe not-so-innocent) bystanders.
After a good hour, we watched others squeeze through rope lines and make way into standing-room-only spaces minutes before the parade. Not only were a number of guests not-so-jolly, they could possibly have been mistaken for Scrooge (before his ghostly revelations).
And so, I ask you, who do you think enjoyed the Christmas celebration more? My family after standing on a curb for an hour instead of rocking the Magic Kingdom sights, or the people who casually walked up and caught a glimpse of Santa and his eight dancing reindeer?
And, as a mom with young kids, I KNEW this. I knew that the key to our magic moments aren’t in fretting over what we saw and how we saw it. It was more about capturing magic in our moments. I don’t have any plans to skip parades anytime soon; however, this trip made me realize that the best parades are caught on side streets with my kiddos atop my husband’s shoulders. My boys don’t know what they are missing or that the best views of the castle comes from the front row. Because my favorite view is the look on their faces.
And so, for Christmas this year, I didn’t get my picture in front of the castle. I didn’t get my front row spot for the parade. And standing at 5’3″, I didn’t have a chance in Fantasyland to see more than the spirals of Cinderella’s castle.
I simply woke up the next day and tried again. We managed to get a few wonderful photos with Santa at Hollywood Studios. We watched a street show from behind the performers. And, we dodged Green Army Men as they marched through the crowds of guest in Toy Story Land. Disney gives you showtimes and parade routes, but it has a way of making sure that you don’t miss out if your timing is off. So go ahead and let you conscience be your guide. Don’t fret when you aren’t front row. That just means that you got to ride Space Mountain one more time than the other guests.
Disney Planning with Katie 