You hear it long before you ever see it. You hear the music and you know you're coming closer. You see the booths advertising the tickets, you clutch yours tighter in your hand, proud of that piece of paper. You walk through the security bag checks, you're closer yet. You're just on the outskirts. You look down to your right and you see all the shops and restaurants to make you feel like you're in a real town but you haven't come for the downtown experience, you've come for what lies straight ahead. No need to get distracted by the bright colors on your left, that's for tomorrow's experience. The monorail that's overhead rolls right on by, the music crescendos. You leap into line. It's a bit long but that's okay, you'll wait for hours if you had to. Finally, your time comes, you stick your ticket into the slot and you're through!
The big Mickey Mouse head made of flowers in front of the Main Street Train Station makes you unconsciously break into the biggest grin. You can hear "When You Wish Upon a Star" playing. But you know, you're not quite there yet. Goofy may be off to the side posing for pictures already but that's not why you've come. You've come for more than just Goofy.
So you continue to walk under the sign that says "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy." Your heart beats faster because through that arch is Main Street USA! You've arrived in the land of Disney. You've been transported back to the world of yesterday like only Disney can. Old school candy shops, old school theatres, you can almost imagine Walt Disney wandering down the streets. You see Alice and The Mad Hatter off to the side. You're really tempted to stop and take a picture but they aren't what you've come for either and you must not be distracted.
So you continue on. You look to the right and wonder if Tomorrowland should be the first stop or maybe Frontierland. But you choose neither because right in front of you lies Sleepy Beauty's Castle and you know that through the bridge of the castle lies your true mission. So you wave to Walt Disney and Mickey as you pass. You look up at the castle and stare in wonder at it. It's more beautiful then you imagined. You'd love to get a single picture of you with the castle but find that there are too many other guests in your way. But it's okay because the castle really isn't what you've come for either.
You walk through the castle and you're in Fantasyland. Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, King Arthur's Carousel, Snow White's Scary Adventure, and the Teacups await you. But there's one more. The real reason you've come to Fantasyland. It's time to fly. You've been anticipating this moment since you entered the park. It's time to go to on Peter Pan's Flight. Some people head to Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. Those are completely legit rides. They'll get busy fast. Best to be in line first. Those wonderful rides? They are big, they are flashy, they are awesome. But after you're done, your hair has been messed up, you may be a little wet, and you've simply had a thrill. Yes, it's been Disney-fied so they're amazing but they are loud, flashy, and get the attention as you hear people screaming all over the park.
But sit in the pirate ship of Peter Pan's Flight and you get an experience that will take you through the rest of the day. It may be quieter than that of Splash Mountain, it's not as fast as Space Mountain, and it won't leave you breathless in the same way that Big Thunder will but you get a story. You fly over London, you join the Darling children as Peter takes them off to Neverland. You see what they must have seen and felt what they must have as they approached Neverland. You fight Captain Hook with Peter and as you return the children to their beds at the end of the ride; you've lived the story. You step off of the ride having thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. You look at the park with a sense of accomplishment and contentment. You conquered what you came for. You want to hop in line again but you realize that others are seeing that Peter Pan is where it's at. So you smile softly to yourself and with a bounce in your step, you begin to walk toward Big Thunder Mountain. You've gotten your quiet time, now it's time for the harder stuff. You take one more glance back to Peter and lift your hand in a wave. You know it's silly but you can't help it. Peter has prepared you for the rest of your day. It's a magical moment where dreams come true. He spoke quietly. He wasn't flashy but he was amazing. You didn't look for the thing with the quickest thrill but rather the endearing sense of peace and you found it. Amongst the busy, the chaotic, the screaming children, and the Disney music, you found what you were looking for. Sometimes you just have to search and sometimes you just have to take the time to listen where the voice is leading you.
"And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a still small voice" 1 Kings 19:11-12
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