Finding Humanity at Disney World

As I write this I’m coming down from an exhilarating Spring Break with my 12-year-old daughter at the Happiest Place on Earth. Sure, Disney World is one of the more expensive Spring Break options and I did try to sell her on something less expensive, like a cruise, a trip to the Grand Canyon and a number of other options. At the end of the day, Disney World was her choice (third time in two years), and, knowing the “spend Spring Break with Dad” days are numbered, off we went.

I will freely admit that we went into this trip at a time when division, anger and judgment seem to be the order of the day in America. We have, collectively, stopped feeling good about a country where we enjoy unprecedented freedoms, have the strongest economy in the history of economies and have more expendable income than any people have ever had … ever. High school kids can make $25 an hour at a gas station or fast food joint, for crying out loud, what’s with the growing epidemic of depression and drug abuse?? What, exactly, do 45% of Americans think is so bad about this country that we should put it back in the hands of a psychotic, pathological narcissist with dictatorial aspirations who already spent four years running a sexist kleptocracy and making us the laughing stock of the rest of world?

Needless to say, I had a lot on my mind as I made the 16-hour drive to Disney World.

It’s expensive, there’s is a lot of naked commercialism to look past and every time you turn around they’re asking you for another $50. Yes. Those things are all true. They’re the primary reasons why I tried to sell my daughter on a deluxe trip to San Antonio, including a penthouse hotel on the River Walk, amazing food in El Mercado, rides at Fiesta Texas and on the San Antonio River, and quality time with her favorite cousin (a high school senior in Alamo Heights) – all of which would have cost a fraction of what it cost for four days at the House of Mouse. No dice.

As she has done so many times in her childhood, however, my daughter made me forget the hair-pulling logistics and the exorbitant cost and just immerse myself in the magic of the moment. It was magical, indeed!

On the first day at the resort hotel I saw exactly one person wearing a political t-shirt. It was ironic, too, because this morbidly obese man who needed assistance to walk and had a breathing tube up his nose was wearing a t-shirt representing the Presidential candidate who wants to cut pretty much everything that man appeared to need to survive. Thankfully, it was all blue skies and sunshine from there!

At Disney World it’s not about politics or division. We are all there because we share a love of the world(s) of Disney, brought together by something at a time when we don’t seem to be united about anything! It’s extremely common for people to compliment each other on their shirts, hats and stuffed animals, we use time in line to share our love of Muppets, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney classics or even just the joy of kids with complete strangers and harsh words are remarkably scarce. It was especially easy for us this trip because the Houston Astros were in Spring Training nearby and we kept encountering fellow Astros enthusiasts!

On one Skyliner trip we were sitting with a family from Chattanooga, Tennessee. I mentioned that they were lucky because in Tennessee they can buy my favorite soda – Sun Drop – at any grocery store or gas station. The father in the group grinned broadly and told me Sun Drop is his absolute favorite drink! As we disembarked after a 15-minute ride I told him to have a Sun Drop for me and he said he would tell them to get it shipped to Dallas, as it used to be. It was great! It passed the time and we were all smiling as we walked away.

In a 45-minute line for Winnie the Pooh’s ride, my daughter delighted in sharing insider facts about the ride with the smaller girls in line ahead of us. Meanwhile, I had a fun conversation with the parents, who had questions about the best way to navigate aspects of the park. Again, we passed the line fairly quickly and had a great time!

While making our way through the line for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway I noticed that the two high school girls in front of us were wearing Pirates of the Caribbean backpack purses. Naturally, I broke out my Jack Sparrow impression for the duration of the line. One of them seemed to think they were a social media influencer and began recording me and telling her viewers that she met Johnny Depp in line. I don’t know if she’s an influencer or not, but if you happen to be watching a video of a guy doing Jack Sparrow in line for the Runaway Railway ride, maybe she was. Either way, we were all laughing and the line seemed very short.

Of course, the absolute best for us is Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. My daughter dressed as Rey Skywalker and thrilled while interacting with Chewbacca, Rey, the First Order troops, Kylo Ren and even just the cast members working in the area. Everyone loves talking about Star Wars in Galaxy’s Edge or they wouldn’t be there, so it makes for a great, immersive experience.

Yes, Disney World is crazy expensive and it’s easy to get bogged down in that. Getting to Florida can be a pain in the ass, the politics of Florida might make it so that you don’t want to spend your tax dollars there and on and on. I’m telling you, though, that for someone who had all of those concerns and more going into the trip I now sit here on the other side of it feeling incredibly refreshed and grateful for the trip. More importantly, the trip reminded me that we really do all have more in common than we seem to comprehend. Most people are friendly, most people are worried about their kids or grandkids, most people want to rewind some of the damage done by adult life and get back to what really matters, and at the end of the day age, skin color, religious differences and even language barriers are fairly easily overcome in the right context.

That’s the kind of Spring Break I needed!

-B