I grew up poor in Orlando. Like young Cosette singing about her “castle on a cloud,” Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, seemed just as remote. It was so close, and yet so far.

In the late seventies the cost of entry to the Magic Kingdom (the only park at Walt Disney World at the time) was $6 for adults and $4 for children. Then, once you were in, you purchased ticket books for about $18.50 to use for rides. I remember my parents taking us to the Magic Kingdom, but not being able to ride any of the rides. And that was fine with me! I was there! And, being there was enough for me. I think that’s why all of the emotional memories I have are associated with locations around the park, and not the attractions. When I am having a hard day, sometimes I will find myself in the passage between Fantasyland and Liberty Square. Not on a ride. Just walking from one land to another. And feeling bliss. I think that not being able to ride the rides also made me focus more on the environment and the Imagineers’ awesome attention to detail. I interiorized the colors used, the choice of flora and fauna, the life-like Swiss Family Robinson Tree, and the amazing mosaics inside the Castle passage.
It was immaculately clean. Music played seamlessly in the air to weave the experience together. For a little while, I could forget about being poor.

I also remember that the Cast Members were nice to me! I knew that being poor, people were not nice to you, and the smiles and welcoming of every single Cast Member made me think that I was human – that I mattered.

For awhile, both my grandfather and my father worked as Cast Members at the Walt Disney World Resort. My grandfather drove a bus – part of the amazing transportation system around the 42-47 square miles of Disney property. Ever since then, riding a Disney bus is never just “riding a Disney bus.” When I step onto a Disney bus now, no matter what time of day it is or how crowded it might be, the ride itself is magical, as if the bus driver might be my grandfather, and I might catch him looking in the rearview mirror to give a smile and wink. My dad worked security. He was a not a guard. He worked the night shift in central security. He wore a blue cardigan. Sometimes, he would take me to work with him. He would take me into the boss’s office to sit on the couch and watch a TV that was behind a picture. We didn’t have a television, so this was magical on several levels for me.
I have always wanted to work for the Walt Disney Company. It was always a dream of mine. But, like most dreams when you are poor, it quickly fades. In my head, the people who worked for Disney were all Magical People. And, if you didn’t want a minimum wage job, then you had to be smart and educated – and know what you wanted to do. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I did know that I wanted to be a teacher. (And, I am a teacher today. This will be by 26th year as a teacher, and I have to say, I love it.) But, what use would a teacher be to the Disney Company? My world view, and self-knowledge,  was a little skewed. Even today, I have a successful teaching career, but I still dream about working at – and for – the Walt Disney World Resort. I don’t want to be a “ride- operator.” I want to be one of the people that comes up with ways of “plussing” the parks to make them better. Or, be one of the Cast Members walking around doing quality control, making sure that things look and work the way that they are supposed to. I think about it a lot as I walk around the parks or resorts.

Walt Disney world was (and is) magical and elusive.
It was were my best friend from childhood would go to be ourselves, run around and have fun. There were days that our parents would drop us off in the morning and pick us up at night after the part closed.
It was where I got engaged.
It was where we honeymooned.
It was where I went to process (and avoid processing) after my father died.

It’s 42-47 square miles; 4 themed parks, 2 water parks, 2 miniature golf courses, an amazing PGA course, a huge themed shopping district (Disney Springs), and well over 30 resorts. And, to me, every inch of it is magical.

So, Walt Disney World is one of the things that makes me happy. I think that I will write a separate post (or series of posts) about what makes Walt Disney World so special, not just for me, but for millions of people around the world.