Monday, September 10, 2012

Instant Childhood!

I have so much to share from my trip last week and I am still processing so much of it... but a quick lesson on instantly connecting with your inner child...

Go to Disney World.

And hug characters from your childhood.

Even if you don't think it will impact you that much... it just might.

On our final day at Disney, my friend and I headed over to the Grand Floridian and had a character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare.  I knew it would be a breakfast with Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland.  And on the way there, Jennifer mentioned that she had just read on a Disney forum that other characters included Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.

Pooh Bear!!!  Tigger!!!

Memories from my childhood are sketchy at best most of the time.  One thing I remember was that I had Winnie the Pooh curtains in my bedroom when we lived with my grandparents.  It's a small connection to my happy place- my grandparents' home.

And apparently meeting people dressed up as Pooh and Tigger does magical things to a person.

I don't mean the part where you just pose next to your favorite character...



I mean the part where you get to hug your favorite character.

Because I started crying when I hugged Winnie the Pooh.  Not a weird ugly cry or anything.  But the kind of joyful happy cry where the tears just can't stop spilling down your cheeks.


And then I hugged Tigger.  And Tigger hugged back fiercely- like he knew what I was feeling.

The people inside these costumes have such an important and special job.


Instant happy childhood memories.  Take 1 part grown up, 1 part character and hug fiercely.

Photobucket

10 comments:

Erin said...

That's so sweet! :)

shannon said...

Loved to hug Pooh too!

Arlene said...

Makes me want to go to Disney World soon..

Dana said...

Suddenly missed my childhood years.

noexcuses said...

I know exactly what you mean! We took the kids to Disneyland just before we moved from CA to MO. After taking a pic of the kids with Mickey, my eyes started to well up. I had grown up here, and I was leaving. The individual inside of the character knew that I needed a hug!

Thanks for sharing your wonderful time with Pooh and Tigger!

Rebecca said...

Same thing happened to me. Happy tears filled my eyes. Such an amazing moment and I hope to do it again.

Jaime said...

I am so happy you got to have this 'experience' and not just the conference but all that is Disney. I tear up at that photo for you Liz! :)

Katherine said...

This makes me happy for you. I love those pictures!

My kids just run away screaming from any person in a character costume. I have a hard time believing that revisiting them as an adult will bring back any joyful memories.

Karen M. Peterson said...

I love this, Liz!

Too many adults would never do this because they'd feel silly. I think more of us need to follow your example and just enjoy the moment!

Garret said...

Crybaby. Baby, baby stick your head in gravy...

OK, J/K. Smooches.