Meet Sebastian. He is from Lima, Peru. He is also the first person from the Magic Kingdom that I ran into. We had just entered the park, and I saw his smiling face and all his camera gear and turned the camera on him. His smile got bigger. I went over to him, and we chatted. I thanked him for letting me take his photo. We talked about gear and his job as one of the many guest photographers at the park. On this particular day, it was 91 degrees, and although his station was Main Street, which was in full sun, he brought the joy of the Magic Kingdom front and center. His smile says it all. I loved talking to him for just a few minutes. He was the perfect person to greet me as I entered Mickey’s world. Not because we shared a love of photography but because he is an example of what life can be like if we smile and reach out to each other, even under trying circumstances. The fact that he was such a long way from home impressed me also. Lima, Peru, I have been there. He has taken a leap of faith and made himself a home here in the States, and he is thankful for the opportunity to work here at Disney. I left him to his work of making sure that all who wanted their photo taken in front of the Castle got it.
I’m not a ride person, although I love watching my family, especially the boys, now that they are both big enough to go on the rides, so Disney is still my favorite vacation spot every few years. While I wait, I do lots of people-watching and thinking. On this day, after talking to Sebastian and many other people, there were as many sitters as riders, and I was starting to make some connections. So I did some checking.
Disney World is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with an average of 20.86 million visitors each year and 57,000 daily guests at its Magic Kingdom alone. On a peak day during the holiday season, Disney World can see up to 155,000 people pass through its gates. Apr 15, 2023. That is the answer I got when I googled Disney. Interesting because we were there from the 12th through the 16th in that time frame. The other notable statistic was that the lines to get onto most rides were at least ninety minutes long if you did not have a fast pass, which must be purchased ahead of time. Fortunately, my daughter, who is a Disney expert, had those fast passes. So I’m sitting there, moving from bench to bench, finding some shade, chatting with the people when Jaxson wasn’t keeping me company because he doesn’t like the scary rides; I take a few snaps to pass the time. As the day moves on, the heat really digs its heels in. Africa hot.
Now here’s what I came up with. In four days of moving around the parks, riding the monorail, standing in line for everything, especially the most amazing Dole whip, hustling for chairs and umbrellas in the pool area, and getting space in the pool to swim, not once, in all that heat, in any of those four days did I ever hear anyone make an unkind remark, start an argument, go off the rail, try to cut a line and rush the crowd at the monorail stations. NOT ONCE.
Fifty-seven thousand people are many people to move around in a day. But there are rules, and it seems that Disney has found the Magic…not only on the park rides and keeping the lines moving but also in managing the day-to-day runnings of this huge business. They hire people from all over the world and from every ethnic background. All religions are welcome, and however, you identify is fine. In other words, no one is excluded, whether it’s to ride the rides or work at the park. When I first arrived, and for all these years, I thought the Magic Kingdom was just about everyone going on the rides and having a good time. But, the Magic was really not about that at all, although I wouldn’t tell my grandsons that. The magic is really in the philosophy of the company and how they execute the process. Happy people, every day, what a unique concept, and it really works. So this made me think about our world today. I came away from Disney thinking if a group of smart people can make fifty-seven thousand people happy every day if that many people can be in an enclosed area and have fun, smile and chat with each other, and have perfect manners for the most part, enjoy meals together, swim together and stand in very long lines together why can’t we do that in our own neighborhoods. Why can’t we learn from the magic that is already out there? Magic is everywhere. I know that is true. But that’s a story for another day. Not only were there no problems, but there were people helping people. I saw that also.
So here's the thing. I don’t have a perfect answer for this, but I believe after all that time with all those people and being somewhat sad to return to the day's news, I know that we can all get along no matter our differences in so many areas. We can be at peace with each other. Perhaps we don’t need so many people trying to be the boss; maybe we should be the boss of ourselves and put out there what we want to get back. I wish I had an answer. But think about this. And if you have to take a trip to Disney to figure it out, by all means, be my guest, and go. It really is a beautiful, clean, well-run machine. I’d love to spend a day there talking to the executives…wouldn’t that be interesting. And now you know why they call it The Happiest Place on Earth.
I’m home now and grateful for my time in the Kingdom. I might not have gone on the rides, but I sure did feel the magic. I think I’ll take a lesson from Sebastian; I’m just going to keep on smiling and chatting people up. There are always lessons to be learned from one another, and we are more alike than not. Everyone has value; everyone wants to find a little magic in their days. Go ahead, get out there, and find your Magic…it’s everywhere. Then share it with everyone you come across. All you have to do is reach out to each other.
Here’s my magic…the boys. How they have grown. But they are still so much fun. We are still making magic moments together. This time at the happiest place on earth.
“ “A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” — Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh)”
