Joy To A Toddler

A checklist of Disney activities that bring joy to a toddler: 

• Pushing the button to go downstairs or upstairs in the elevator.
• Playing with other children at the “Under the Sea” playground.
• Looking at the most giant Christmas trees you’ve ever seen in your whole life
• Wondering why some trees have angels on the top and others have stars 
• Visiting the big castle in person, which you often see on TV
• Riding in a boat and seeing monkeys, elephants, alligators, and rhinoceros
• Meeting Piglet, Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger too and giving them a big hug 
• Seeing your parents and grandparents clap and smile along with you
• Getting the biggest balloon in the world with Mickey Mouse inside
• Seeing a parade with Peter Pan, Tinkerbelle, a Dragon with fire, and Mickey & Minnie
• Getting your picture taken a thousand times and saying “cheese”
• Meeting a talking penguin taller than you
• Riding in a Jeep on a Safari and seeing zebra, giraffes, hippopotamus and flamingos
• After seeing an actual hippo, deciding you don’t really want one for Christmas
• Watching it rain and thunder inside a restaurant (just pretend!)
• Picking out the prettiest horse on the Carousel and riding it with Mommy & Daddy
• Riding on Dumbo and a Magic Carpet and flying high
• Watching the most incredible fireworks and jumping up and down with excitement with your sister
• Getting to hug “Safari” Mickey, and Minnie and give them a big hug, too
• Meeting some pirates…..Aarrr!
• Ride the monorail (a fast train) for the first time.  
• Meet Lilo, Stitch, Pluto, and Mickey in his Hawaiian shirt.  Hugs all around.  And great waffles, too.
• See the biggest Gingerbread house ever.  There were real people inside!  
• Hold a glass slipper on a pillow, just like in Cinderella
• Take lots of pictures and pretend you are inside a Christmas card
• Have “snow” fall all around you next to the Christmas tree
• Dress up like Elsa and Anna and meet the Real Elsa & Anna
• Meet five princesses, including Snow White and Ariel, all while eating lunch
• Getting your own special ice cream 
• Meet Figment and Joy 
• Pretend you are inside a shark’s mouth from Little Mermaid.  It’s okay, though, because “fish are friends, not food.”
• Make water dance with your hands. Walk through the water and not get wet. Meet Te Fiti.  She’s so pretty!
• Make fish faces with your parents and grandparents
• Get a Woody doll to take home to meet your Jessie doll
• Pretending you are a toy in a restaurant and freeze when Andy is coming
• Sing along with the Frozen songs with a theatre full of other people.  See Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf, and have it snow again! So happy. 
• Get a big hug from Mommy, Daddy, Grandma & Grandpa
• Enjoying the changing colors on Spaceship Earth at Epcot 
• Deciding if you want to share your Lighted Slinky Dog Toy with your sister or trade for the Buzz Lightyear
• Go on the Skyliner 4 times and decide you like that way better than riding the bus.  
• Eat your weight in french fries. 

Our son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters (nearly four and three) went to Disney World for five days this past week.  We visited one park each day and Disney Springs. It is so much fun (and a bit exhausting), but still, I wanted to capture in words some of the magical moments experienced through the eyes of our granddaughters. To them, it isn’t just about the rides or the food as it can be for us adults; it is about the sights, sounds, and many new experiences.  

Joy can come from seeing Mickey Mouse painted on the outside of the bus or bubbles blowing through the air from another child’s Little Mermaid wand. 

For my granddaughters, excitement lurks around every corner.  What will they see next? 

We can’t help but be enthusiastic when they are delightfully squealing and hopping up and down at the magnificent fireworks display, even if all we can think of is a good night’s sleep. So happy we didn’t miss it.  We can sleep when we get home. 

I wish everyone could experience Disney (and Christmas and many other things!)  through the eyes of a child.  They remind us of all the little experiences in life that can bring us joy.  

As I’m writing this, we have arrived back home.  I wouldn’t have missed this Disney vacation for anything.  It was worth every step and sore muscle. 

My post is short this week but very long on memories. And magic. Disney family fun magic.

With Christmas upon us, I’ll leave you with a quote from Dr. Suess’ The Grinch:

“It came without ribbons; it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.” “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” — The Grinch 

I promised myself that I would post every week, and as tired as I am, I’m keeping my word. 

That makes me smile. 

I’ll write a bit more next week. 

Please remember the “little things” that bring so much joy!   Nothing is more precious than seeing a child’s look of wonder.

I hope you have a magical week ahead. 

Keep reading!

Keep smiling!

xx