Our lives are chaotic. They are filled with rules, limitations, and conditions; some are imposed on us by the world, and others are self-imposed from a lack of confidence or support. Whatever part of life you are facing, sometimes it is easier to let your thoughts drift away to a better place, one without complications or commitments, free from whatever pain you are experiencing at home.
As a coping mechanism, we try to think about the things that make us happy, the places that bring us joy. You may even go as far as flicking on the Disneyland 60th anniversary playlist while driving the car to spark the feeling of something different. You drive down into the underground parking garage with a grocery list burnt into your memory, only to be transported unexpectedly into another world. As the daylight from outside starts to fade away and you creep further into the dark twists and turns of this underground structure, a set of rounded headlights jerk around the corner, staring you down before speeding past toward the exit. At that moment, for just a split second, you are transported back to your old favorite ride, Indiana Jones Adventure.
It might not be much, but it can be enough to make you long for another Disney vacation. It’s that allure of a responsibility-free holiday where you can enjoy child-like innocence, danger-free thrills, and that coveted sense of total abandon. Sure, you are not actually free from responsibility; in fact, a Disney Parks vacation can ultimately take a lot more work and planning than your average get-up-and-go trip. Though, once you arrive, there seems to be this unspoken agreement that we can all just let go and be released from what busies our minds.
Back in that grocery store about to do the shopping, you might stand in the cereal aisle comparing the nutritional content of two different breakfast options, committed to finding the one with the right balance for your family. On the other hand, once walking through those gates of Disney, something feels different, and we are carried along by this sense of exception, making it easier to declare ‘churros for all!’ instead of trying to find a decent salad or sandwich.
A few aisles down, you might be comparing the half-price specials of basic hair care products; after all, fifty cents here and there can add up to make quite a difference. Though once we arrive at Disney, it seems much more justified to throw our hard-earned money around a little more recklessly. You might say yes to that commemorative cup that won’t ever be used again or splurge on those matching family spirit jerseys that you know won’t be seen outside of this particular park trip.
That is not to say these things are not worth the investment, it all plays a part in our enjoyment however there is a freedom that we feel in Disney to give in to all the things we work so hard to control at home. Part of the charm of returning to Disney is the irresponsibility we allow ourselves to feel. We take all our well-manicured, grown-up behaviors and put them in a box in the corner while giving ourselves a pass to be free.
After the groceries are collected and you’ve dragged them from the back of your car to the kitchen bench, you might yell at your children to get their homework done before dinner is ready, or start the vacuuming. You may need to make the beds or get ready for work tomorrow; you get the idea. Cooking, cleaning, school, work; none of these things exist in Disney. It’s a place where you leave everything in your real world behind.
Once those chores are done at home, you might watch the news, become devastated by world events, or be saddened by political indecency and bureaucracy; you might open unwanted mail and find a bill or two that has not yet been paid. You know, the fun stuff.
Even these things don’t exist in the presence of Disney. With the help of a credit card charged MagicBand, we permit ourselves to tap our feelings away. Popcorn here, Turkey legs there; tap, tap, tap. Even the expense of the trip won’t catch up with you until well after you leave; preserving that feeling of the Disney Bubble being a sanctuary from life.
Late nights, character dining reservations, pool time, snacks on-the-go, fast passes, fireworks, it’s a whole new world compared to home life that might be filled with the controversial family dynamics, medical issues, or just survival in general.
It’s easy to make that jump back into a place that represents everything you love with a twist of being relaxed and carefree. Many people manage to complain about the stress of Disney planning, but in truth, once you arrive, it is all right there for you. The only complications are the attitudes we bring with us.
Will all of that irresponsibility catch up with you later on? Some will, the bills will be there for you at home after you finish the grocery shopping one day. But the rest? The memories and that family bonding that has been cemented into your life’s story? Those are yours to keep forever. They come back with you and keep you warm when facing those dark times of home – stress, tragedy, hardship, loss – these are often the ties that bring us closer as a family unit, ready to face what comes with just a little more strength and determination.
Enjoy that lack of accountability while you can. It is a perfectly reasonable attraction of a Disney vacation and one that has the potential to give you the mental and emotional break you need in order to survive this life.
