I fell in love with Disney World the moment my Mom bought me "The Walt Disney World Birnbaum’s Travel Guide for Kids" back in 1992 when I was 8 years old. Actually my love affair with Disney started long before that. I had this 11x14 framed photograph of Cinderella Castle that my Grandma probably picked up at a tag sale hanging up in my bedroom. In the photo all of the characters (even some of the elusive -only-show-up-for-special event- characters) were dressed up, smiling and waving at the camera. Whenever Grandma came over to babysit she would ask, "Stephanie, who is your favorite character?" I would ponder this question and scan all of the character faces. Should I choose Donald with his hands on his hips and grouchy looking face? How about Pluto with the silly tongue and long floppy ears? I have always been partial to Daisy and her pretty eye lashes. I could never forget beautiful Snow White with her dark hair and creamy complexion. The one thing I knew for sure was I did not like that mean looking Wolf with the Three Little Pigs. I would crinkle my nose and say, "I like them all except the Big Bad Wolf." How did he make it into that Disney picture anyway? At the time I had no idea that Walt Disney created a cartoon with said characters. After Grandma left I would stare at that magical picture longing to visit that happy world of Mickey Mouse and sunshine. I vividly recall my parents asking, "One day would you like to visit Cinderella Castle?" Yes, of course I would -what child doesn't want to visit the happiest place on earth?! "We will go" mom said,” as soon as your brother, John, is a little older." John was finally "a little older" when he turned 3 in April of 1993.
Oh the excitement of planning a Disney vacation! I could not wait for Saturday to take a trip to the travel agent with mom. I'd steal a few free Disney brochures and put them in my light purple Mickey and Minnie mouse bag when nobody was looking. It was decided by my parents that we would stay at the very exotic island paradise known as "Caribbean Beach." I'd flip to my resort section of my travel book and memorize the names of the island communities that made up the CB. There names had an exotic feel on my tongue...Barbados, Trinidad North and South, Aruba, Jamaica, and my favorite Martinique. I would dance around the house singing the Beach Boys, "Kokomo." I think I even made up a hula dance that poor John had to endure. Were their grass skirts and leis involved? Yup. Was there permanent damage done to John since I made him dress up like a hula child? Probably. I did not care and neither did he-we were going to Disney World!
I highlighted, dog eared and poured over every page of that Birnbaum’s book. I memorized the park maps and stayed up late making sample "itineraries" of everything that I wanted to see and do. When the pages in my book began to tear, I made my mom go to the video store to rent Disney World travel tapes.
John on the other hand was clueless. I would call him into my room to hold informational Disney meetings that I called "Walt Disney School staring the one and only fabulous Disney teacher -Ms. Stephanie M." Class was now in session. He obviously needed to hear all of my DW wisdom so I sat him in the front row next to my doll Tommy wearing my Goofy hat with the great ears and my stuffed animal Minnie with signature silky red dress with white polka dots. "John, name 3 of the 11 countries in EPCOT." John looked at me like I was speaking Russian. "John, name each land in the Magic Kingdom starting at the hub in front of the castle and work clockwise!" John replied, "Is Disney World in the sky? Is that why we have to take an airplane to get there?" Ugh. This was going to be harder than I thought. "Okay, let's start with something easier. “In Disney MGM Studios what is the name of the water tower with the big Mickey Mouse ears? John, are you paying attention? It's called the earful tower!" John looked up at me from his desk, "I'm bored let's go play Zorro in the backyard." I sighed, "Fine as long as I get to wear the cape."
After a few days of trying to get John to learn the cold hard facts I changed tactics. If I could not teach him all the great things I learned I would con him into liking everything that I liked about WDW so I wouldn't have to do any of the "baby things" that were geared for the preschool age. I used this reverse psychology tactic before with him and his love affair with Barney but I digress. In a soothing Motherly voice I said things like, "Oh Johnny, you know what you are going to loooove about Disney?" He looked up at me innocent and doe eyed, "What Teff? (He had a little lisp and could not pronounce the /s/ sound yet) "You are going to love this one attraction where all these adorable little dolls are dressed up and singing, "It’s a small world after all..." and you get to sit in a boat and go from room to room and each room has a different theme, are you excited like me?" John smiled with delight and clapped his hands in glee, “OH I can't wait Teff!"Yes, this was going to be a great vacation.
On the morning of our first trip, we woke up while the moon was still out. My Dad and Mom loaded the car with their luggage and my very own suitcase that I had packed 3 weeks ago. We drove the family Buick to the airport. Before getting in the car I did a double check to be sure I was not forgetting anything. Goofy hat on head? Check. Matching Mickey Mouse sweatshirt with John? Check? What about my carry on items? Did I have everything? Guide book and brochures? Check. Notebook and pen from Disney Store? Check. Walkman with Disney sing a long classics? Check. Mickey Mouse and friend’s activity book with magic pen? Check. I was obviously all ready to go. It was a cold Connecticut morning, I could not believe in a short few hours I would be basking in glow of the happiest place on earth!
