My Disney Soul: A Personal Journey Through Magic and Meaning

In the quiet moments between the hustle of daily life, I often find myself contemplating what Disney truly means to me (since I live in the shadow of the castle in Orlando). Not just as entertainment, but as a force that has shaped my worldview, my relationships, and even my career choices. This connection runs deeper than merchandise or annual vacations, it's woven into the fabric of who I am.

The Distant Fan's Devotion

Being Australian means loving Disney from afar. There's no quick weekend trip to Magic Kingdom, no spontaneous visit when a new attraction opens. Each Disney experience requires planning, saving, and that grueling 15-hour flight that tests the patience of even the most devoted fan. But perhaps this distance makes the connection more precious, more intentional.

I reject the notion that proximity to the parks makes one fan "bigger" than another. Whether you've memorized one film or can recite the Haunted Mansion script verbatim (much to my wife's chagrin when I preempt each line with my "silly voice"), Disney's magic touches us all uniquely but equally.

Genesis of a Lifelong Passion

My Disney story began in 1984, my first international journey, my parents still together, none of my three siblings yet born. I remember the anticipation building during that seemingly endless flight to LAX, followed by the hour drive to the Disneyland Hotel. We had finally arrived at Walt's original kingdom.

That week became my Disney baptism. I can still feel myself wedged between my parents on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, wide-eyed as we careened through the mansion and woods, terrified yet exhilarated by those little demons and our journey to "hell." Perhaps it says something profound about me that even as a child, I was drawn to experiences that simultaneously frightened and fascinated me. Mr Toad's Wild Ride is still, to this day, one of my favorite attractions at any Disney park.

The Attractions That Shaped Me

Space Mountain at Disneyland stands as my all-time favorite attraction. As a technology and space enthusiast, I'm naturally drawn to visions of tomorrow. This explains my deep affection for EPCOT, not just as a park, but as a concept that continues to inspire me. In fact, it inspired me so much that this year, I have a documentary being lauched at Destination D23, Disney's east coast fan event. The topic. Epcot and Walt Disney as a futurist. But I digress...

Walt's original vision for an Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow remains, for me, a blueprint for what humanity could achieve.

My top five attractions reveal the eclectic nature of my Disney passion: Space Mountain at Disneyland leads the list, followed by Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Then I cross the country to EPCOT for Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Rewind and Living with the Land, before traveling internationally to Tokyo DisneySea for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Being a Jules Verne devotee (with "20,000 Leagues" as my favorite book), this attraction captures the adventure and wonder that drew me to Verne's writing.

This seemingly random collection demonstrates the parks' brilliance. They offer countless ways to experience joy, each pathway unique to the individual yet universally magical.

The Films That Found My Heart

As my Disney education expanded through film, two movies claimed special territory in my heart. Peter Pan captured me with its celebration of childlike wonder and adventure. I recognized myself in both Peter's refusal to grow up and Wendy's yearning for discovery. Watching it, I became a true Lost Boy, soaring through Neverland and battling Captain Hook.

The other film, often overlooked in the Disney canon, was Robin Hood. Like Peter Pan, Robin embodied adventure and justice. But this film also introduced me to characters that have stayed with me: the charming rooster narrator, those bumbling vulture henchmen, and the thumb-sucking Prince John. This film taught me that courage could be found in standing up for others.

Another film that doesn't get enough love, but graces the cover of my phone and inspired me to fall in love with a good mystery is The Great Mouse Detective. That film scared me (at least the peg leg bat did). It astounded me, and it made me want to solve mysteries and help those who need it.

Disney as Lifes Compass

Even as adulthood approached with its demanding questions about career and purpose, Disney remained my Second Star to the Right. I dreamed of being an Imagineer, but my drawing skills wouldn't cooperate. Instead, I chose to become a Producer, creating films and television that might touch others the way Disney had touched me. The storytelling principles I learned from Disney have guided my creative endeavors throughout my professional life.

Connection in a Disconnected World

We live in an era designed for detachment from people, places, things. For me, Disney serves as a powerful counterforce to this isolation. It's that moment when a bird chirps and I wonder if it's speaking to me, or the little cricket-like voice of conscience that guides my decisions.

Disney has become the common language of my family. My wife and I share these experiences with our children, building bonds that transcend our individual preferences. I may favor Tiana while my youngest daughter champions Elsa, but we all sing Moana's songs together. We race through the parks pretending Maleficent is on our heels, creating memories that bind us together through shared joy.

Beyond Entertainment: A Life Philosophy

Disney, for me, transcends entertainment. It's about integrating its values into daily existence, the optimism, kindness, and courage portrayed in its stories. It's about applying the principles of exceptional guest service I've observed from cast members. It's about instilling these values in my children and finding ways to spread that particular Disney joy to everyone I encounter.

When I visit the parks now (which I do almost daily since moving to Orlando), sometimes without the kids, I often sit on benches just watching, observing, absorbing. I imagine Walt sitting beside me, discussing Disney's past, present, and future. My wife doesn't understand my particular attachment to Disneyland (a love / hate relationship now); But it is where "Walt walked". Those words encapsulate everything. The humbling experience of following a visionary's footsteps, appreciating the details both visible and hidden, feeling closer to the source of this magic that has so profoundly shaped my life. For me it's like walking through certain malls. Some I walked through with my grandfather and some he never got the chance to see, and like Walt, he too was a visionary.

The Full Circle

Disney encompasses far more than films and theme parks. It's the collections we build, the memories we treasure, the relationships we forge with fellow fans, and newcomers alike, and that ineffable sense of belonging that emerges when we share our passion.

So what is Disney to me? It's the cirlce of life. It moves us all. Passed through generations, cultivating values of hope, kindness, and love. It's what brings special meaning to ordinary days. It's what makes me happy. It's what makes me, me.

In a world that often feels chaotic and cold, Disney remains my reminder that dreams can come true, that imagination has power, and that there's magic in believing. It's not just entertainment, it's a framework for living a more meaningful, connected, and joyful life.

Our family & friends together, spending one of lifes greatest joys at Walt Disney World