Hi Neighbor!
A few weeks ago, I took an unexpected, whirlwind, adults-only trip to Disney World. It was just three days. We visited Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
I know Disney isn’t for everyone, but boy oh boy is it for me. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, but my love for it has only grown as I get older. I haven’t yet taken my daughter (soon!), but I’ve enjoyed two trips there with my son, and watching the magic unfold through his eyes was invaluable.
This trip was unique (and AMAZING) because I got to really absorb and savor every moment for myself, since I didn’t need to keep any small humans alive or happy. We had gorgeous, very un-Florida-esque weather and the lines were practically non-existent. We rode, and rode, and rode. We rope dropped and stayed until park closing and milked every second of our time there. Truly, it was magical.
While watching and observing the other people there without the distraction of my kiddos, I did find something rather disheartening. Phones. Air pods. It seemed that every which way I turned, the grown-ups were face down in a device. Multi-generational families were in line, barely speaking or interacting. Newlyweds donning their groom and bride ears were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, scrolling away. Parents stood over strollers with their air pods in, squinting into their screens.
Don’t get me wrong – there were endless smiles and shoulder rides and laughter. However, the sheer number of screen-starers I observed left me pondering and more than a bit bummed out. I know that technology is SUCH a part of our culture, and I know that ALL of us are probably guilty of too much mindless screen time, myself included. I also know that much of Disney’s experience requires access to the Disney app (reservations, Genie+ selections, mobile ordering, etc). To me, though, the issue seemed compounded in a place that is dedicated to building memories with the people that we love. It just seemed to me that the moments for conversation, for playfulness, for bonding and togetherness were slipping away for so many. Plus, every little corner of Disney World is designed to delight and inspire magic – we totally miss those delights when we’re busy looking at our devices (and we pay a LOT of money for those Disney details!).
I returned from “the happiest place on earth” with renewed inspiration to limit my mindless (and even mindful!) time on my phone. It’s so easy to slip into the rabbit hole, and I want to SEE the magic in my life, not just stand in the middle of it, scrolling away. I want to be intentionally present – wish me luck!
Delighting in the details,
Kim
Kim:
I agree with you. I have done Disney with my now adult children (one worked there for some months as part of the college program just before the pandemic) and this fact jumped out at me too. In one small line of defense, I know there were often times when we were all busy checking for wait times, fast passes, planning strategy, etc. BUT, that being said, once the phone is open and in
View moreKim:
I agree with you. I have done Disney with my now adult children (one worked there for some months as part of the college program just before the pandemic) and this fact jumped out at me too. In one small line of defense, I know there were often times when we were all busy checking for wait times, fast passes, planning strategy, etc. BUT, that being said, once the phone is open and in your hand – it is seemingly impossible to put it away without “just checking” all of those other things, email, social media, etc.
The funny thing is tho – in spite of that – I found myself actually cherishing those lines. There we all were with no where to go except slowly moving forward. It is very rare that I get that kind of time continual facetime with my “kids” anymore and I became very aware of how happy I was just to be in the same place with them. And we took advantage of some “hey, did you see this on Instagram???” moments to have “bigger” conversations.
View lessGreat point! I certainly agree that some of the scrolling can kick off some talking points and discussions. I guess we can call that the silver lining!
I was really loving the lines too (even though ours were VERY short). Instead of having phones in hand like we’re both guilty of at home, they were tucked away in his pocket and my fanny pack, and we were watching, talking and reveling in the
View moreGreat point! I certainly agree that some of the scrolling can kick off some talking points and discussions. I guess we can call that the silver lining!
I was really loving the lines too (even though ours were VERY short). Instead of having phones in hand like we’re both guilty of at home, they were tucked away in his pocket and my fanny pack, and we were watching, talking and reveling in the Disney experience. I loved it!
View lessJurassic Park 3 had an interesting quote…”There are two kinds of boys in this world, those who want to be astronomers and those who want to be astronauts.”
Sounds like you’d rather be an astronaut. Enjoy.
Jurassic Park 3 had an interesting quote…”There are two kinds of boys in this world, those who want to be astronomers and those who want to be astronauts.”
Sounds like you’d rather be an astronaut. Enjoy.
View lessThat IS a great quote. To the moon I go! 🙂
That IS a great quote. To the moon I go! 🙂
View less