This week we visited an extention of “The Happiest Place on Earth”.
Downtown Disney. The shopping mega-opolos in the heart of the Florida Disney World Extravaganza. A place “Where Dreams Come True”… until you get the credit card bill.
We dropped my Brother In Law off at Orlando Airport and decided to take the kids to Downtown Disney for a Little Bit of Happiness.
We’ve trained our kids to be content with Looking at Happiness, rather than actually Buying it.
It all began when they were very small, and we’d visit the Thai equivalent of Walmart in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Upon entering the store, I’d visit the Toy Department, where they selected a toy to play with while I shopped. Just before going to the check out, we’d return the toy to it’s shelf. The kids got a new toy and a little bit of happiness every time we got groceries, and it didn’t cost me a Baht*!!
So, back to The Happiest Place on Earth.
I love Downtown Disney, because it has the Disney Feel without The Cost. You can even get free chocolate samples from Ghirardelli, build your own LEGO race car, then race it (then give it back), and play with Mickey Ears, then put them back!
I’m such a Cheap Skate! But, at least I have Happy Kids!
The first thing I notice whenever I visit The Happiest Place on Earth is how unhappy everyone is.
We arrived ready for some fun. It was raining – of course, this is Florida! We were wet. And we all had that giddy, happy, ‘lets have some fun’ look on our faces. If you’ve never been to Disney, then you have no idea what I’m talking about.
As we walked down the Magical streets, I smiled at complete strangers. They snarled in return. A couple gave me that “Oh my Goodness, there’s a Weirdo smiling at Me! Where are the Cops?” Look.
Even some of the ‘Cast Members’ weren’t feeling the Happiness – tutting and rolling eyes at My “I’m in Love with Life, Move Aside so I can Experience It” Preschoolers. Tsk. Tsk. Mr Disney would not be pleased.
Children whined and screamed because they decided they wanted to be Merida from Brave instead of Tinkerbell. Or maybe they wanted the Blue Frosty instead of the Pink one. Or both? What ever it was, it was the wrong thing and they wanted Something Different. They were not happy. And their parents were not happy.
I felt quite sorry for them. I mean, they came all this way to Buy A Little Happiness and Make Dreams Come True for their kids. But all they had was Complaining. Angst. Frustration. Bitterness. And a Debt to Pay Off into Eternity.
Meanwhile, we ambled along in a Bubble of Delight. Miss Five and Master Three would barely contain their excitement as we approached The “T-Rex Cafe”. A model of a T-Rex Fossil greeted us as we entered the mystical caverns to “Eat! Shop! Explore! Discover!” You just can’t go wrong with a Dino themed restaurant. My Little Paleontologists did not want to leave.
I will admit that after a while my Perfect Children began to develop an Attitude. Miss Five wanted this! Master Three demanded that!
Um No! This is a Happy Place. We are not going to allow the “Me! Me! Me!’s”, or the “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme’s” to ruin our day.
Right at that moment we stumbled upon: The Downtown Disney Dance Party!!! Mr “I’m Willing to Make a Huge Fool of Myself – Hey It’s a Paying Gig!” DJ was jumping up and down on stage. The best part of his job was getting everyone to participate. All the kids. Then all the adults.
Yay! Everyone finally found their Happy Place! It was a great way to finish off the day, because a) because everyone Remembered Why They Were There; and b) all the kids were completely exhausted by the time the Party was over, meaning they’d be Asleep & Quiet before they got Home.
And I have some Awesome Video of Darling Husband in the Dance Off Finals!!
Oh yes, I found my Happy Place!!! 😉
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