In my lifetime, I have been to such places as Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New York City, London, and Paris.  However, the top destination for me will always be the “Happiest Place on Earth.”  That’s right; I’m talking about Walt Disney World!  While I do enjoy the beach getaways every now and then, Disney is really the only vacation for my family.  You could say we are just a tad bit obsessed. Personally, this past vacation was my tenth trip, but some members of my family have been over 15 times! As you can probably infer, when the Tattersalls go to Disney, they go hard. This time was no exception.

From matching tanks to character breakfasts, from speed-walking to our favorite rides at the park’s opening, to dancing through EPCOT’s World Showcase at the end of “Illuminations” at night, it was as if this was our first time in Disney World. But, it wasn’t our first rodeo and we certainly were able to fit in our favorite rides (each one multiple times, too) and hit some of the best restaurants in the parks. We even stayed in the Magic Kingdom for almost 16 hours straight! I personally was second in line for Space Mountain when the ride opened that morning (Yet I had to let everyone ahead of me as I waited for my slowpoke family members to catch up with me). And while we were in the parks for just about four days, we definitely made the most of those four days to make this one of the most memorable Disney vacations.

One of the reasons I love Disney is that for the days you are there, you honestly have no other worries in the world besides what FastPass you should get next or what’s the easiest way to get from MGM Studios to anyplace the monorail stops just so you can hear, “Please stand clear of the doors… Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas.”

Another reason is that no matter how old you are, you always feel like a kid again when you’re in Disney.  Ask anyone who has been and they will tell you that once you walk down Main Street USA and lay eyes on Cinderella’s Castle with the statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in front of it, you are instantly transported back to your childhood sitting on your couch watching Disney movies with your sisters.  Or when you are in line for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, you still get just the slightest bit of nervousness each time you see one of the “super stretch” limos speeding off to the Aerosmith Concert. Or when you’re watching Wishes at the end of the night and hear Jiminy Cricket’s voice singing “When You Wish Upon A Star”, you definitely tear up (as my family and I did) just thinking about a memory from your past.

And then just as quickly as the trip goes, you are thrust back into reality with dreams of returning to Disney World in the very near future, which is the stage I am in right now.  With hilarious new memories and remembering the old one, I look forward to the next time my family and I return to the “Happiest Place of Earth.” But until we do, I don’t mind starting to get ready to return to (in my opinion) the Second Happiest Place on Earth in a few weeks: UD!

~Hannah Tattersall