because pg 1 4-25-24
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Recently, I had the opportunity to take the Behind the Scenes, Keys to the Kingdom Tour at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. As someone who has been enjoying the magic of Disney for many decades, this was a tour that was on my bucket list. The tour was wonderful. We accessed places and spaces that allowed for seamless expressions of Disney magic for visiting guests of all ages. However, because we all had to raise our hands and promise to never share all the magical-making secrets, I am going to honor my pledge. But what I am feeling compelled to share about my experience, is how the tour managed to make ME feel the magic of Disney World…even more.
My favorite part of the tour was hearing about the history of how, and more importantly, why, Mickey Mouse and Disney World were conceived. Of course, mostly everyone knows about the brothers, Walt and Roy Disney. Walt was the visionary and Roy made it happen. But perhaps not everyone knows that, for Roy, the loss of his brother Walt, only further inspired him to ensure that the magic of the Magic Kingdom be created in a way that would inspire happiness and joy for generations to come. Or at least that is how I interpreted the information our tour guide presented. And Roy did just that, passing away himself only a few short months after the opening of the Walt Disney World Park in October of 1971.
I was a little baby when the Magic Kingdom opened its magical gate and began welcoming guests. I didn’t experience the magic of Disney until I was an adolescent and a little too old to believe that Tinker Bell could really fly. But last week, as I stood, shoulder to shoulder amongst a large crowd on Main Street USA, watching the fireworks show over Cinderella’s Castle, I knew that a highly trained and competent performer playing Tinker Bell, would. Earlier in the day, I had learned all about this stunt during my tour. Despite knowing that it was going to happen, I found myself feeling excited as the tension built. And when Tinker Bell leapt across the sky, I will admit that my eyes teared up as I thought about how two brothers spent their lifetimes, literally, to create this moment for the joy of others. And then, the young boy just behind me began to yell excitedly to his parents “Mom! Dad! Look! Tinker Bell is flying! She’s flying! She’s really flying!” My watery eyes released the tears as I thought to myself “She really is.”
MAGIC! MAGIC!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
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