It doesn’t matter what religion or what beliefs you have; the holiday season brings out the Christmas spirit in most of us. It’s a philosophy Walt Disney embodied and instilled in his family, friends, and employees, not just during the holiday season but every single day of the year.
Most of us can attest to the fact that no matter what you’re feeling on the inside and no matter what bad news is going on outside, once you enter the hallowed gates of Walt Disney World, there is an uplifting spirit that overcomes you and remains with you until the day you have to leave. When you’re at Walt Disney World, every day is Christmas.
It’s great to see all the holiday decorations throughout property like the gingerbread house in the Grand Floridian or the Osborne Lights in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and nothing says Christmas like Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, but do we feel any less special when those things aren’t displayed at Disney World? The answer is no, we do not. Whether you visit Disney at Christmas time, spring time, or any other time, there is always something special going on to help make you feel the Christmas spirit.
The moment we step foot on Disney property, we can sense a difference from anything seen or experienced anywhere else. It started with Walt Disney’s philosophy to reinvest as much as he could back into the business. That philosophy is carried on today, and it’s one of the reasons why every day is Christmas time at Walt Disney World.
We get to experience rides and attractions in near perfect conditions. We don’t get to see the work that goes into keeping them that way. Each cast member plays an important roll in making our visits to Walt Disney World a magical time that we’ll never forget. It doesn’t matter if the cast member is a street sweeper or a show performer, their roles while vastly different are equally important. The good cheer and spirit we feel at Disney World come from the hard work and dedication of the cast members who go above and beyond to make each and every one of us feel like we just met Santa Claus coming down the chimney on Christmas Eve.
I know when I’m on Disney property, not only are my spirits lifted beyond expectations. I can feel the spirits in the air and it doesn’t matter if I’m walking down Main Street, riding Soarin’, or just taking a break and sitting on a park bench because no matter where I am on property I can feel the presence of Walt Disney himself. He is there smiling down at all of us because he knows, just like Santa Claus, our wishes are being granted everyday we’re in the parks.
If there was just one thing I could wish for this Christmas, it would be for everyone keep hold of the holiday spirit in their daily lives. Here within the Disney community, we all try to do that, and if the rest of the world would follow the Disney way, then maybe the world would be a better place. Life is too short to go through it looking at the glass half empty. Don’t wait for the holidays to come around to get into the spirit of them. Be grateful for what you have and what you can give, not just during the holiday season, but every day throughout the year.
I wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47). Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.
Stuart is the DDL resident Geek Dad and claims New York as his birthplace. Currently, though, he resides in New Jersey and is a husband and father of two as well as a huge Disney World, Springsteen, Yankee, and NY Ranger fan. He wakes up and goes to sleep thinking about Disney World. He listens to Disney podcasts to and from work and at night before sleep. He drives his family nuts talking about Disney and is always planning their next Disney World trip. In addition, he is known to always volunteer to help extended family and friends plan their next trip. Stuart’s personal blog is disneygeekdad.blogspot.com. He can also be found on twitter by following @disneygeekdad.