Every new Disney trip shows me a different version of my sons. I still enjoy it, but grieve how quickly childhood went.
Our family trips to Disney parks have changed. My sons are now teenagers, and they enjoy it for different reasons. It highlights the passing of time.
Every time the author takes her sons to Disney World, she witnesses a different version of them. Courtesy of Kristina Wright The journey began when the boys were just 3 and 5 years old. Over time, their experiences at Disney have evolved. While their excitement remains, the reasons behind their visits have shifted. The first time they arrived, the boys woke up before dawn, eager to see Mickey Mouse, Cinderella Castle, and plan their first rides.
Their enthusiasm was contagious, and they were just as excited as the author and her husband to explore the Magic Kingdom. Two years later, everything seemed unchanged. Disney was still full of magic that only little kids could create. They cheered their sons on as they rode the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and spotted familiar characters.
Although they never made it to the fireworks, they were content to return for more adventures. By the time they returned for their next trip, six years had passed. The boys no longer shared the same enthusiasm, and the Disney experience they imagined had become a distant memory. By the time they visited again in December, the gap between their youthful selves and their present selves was even more evident.
Now 14 and 16, they breezed past character meet-and-greets and skipped the matching T-shirts and Mickey ears. Instead, their first stop was the Galaxy's Edge at Hollywood Studios. While they still enjoyed Disney, their motivations had changed. They were now excited to tackle thrilling rides like Rock 'n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, TRON, and Space Mountain.
The fairy tales that once captivated them had taken a backseat to adrenaline-pumping experiences. Yet, every trip still revealed glimpses of the young boys they once were. They still laughed at the corny jokes on Jungle Cruise and eagerly rode Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT, ready to do it again. The author can still coax them to pose with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at the Crystal Palace.
Every family trip to Disney has highlighted the rapid pace of childhood. For years, the author mourned the missed 2020 trip, fearing they had lost their last chance to experience the parks with their little boys. However, she realized that her grief was not for a canceled vacation, but for a version of motherhood that had already begun to slip away.
The Disney magic was not just about kiddie rides or character breakfasts; it was about watching her children discover something new, whether it was meeting Mickey Mouse or conquering their fear of the dark to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. Each visit provided her with a different version of Disney and, in turn, a different version of her sons.
She is uncertain when they will return as a family again. Perhaps they will have time for one more trip before they both go off to college. Regardless of when it happens, Disney will undoubtedly look different each time. These visits serve as snapshots of their current state, offering another chance to discover something new together.
And somehow, no matter how old they grow, there will always be room for one more Mickey bar and one more ride on It's a Small World.
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