My Favorite Disney Memory by DeAnna

Welcome to our special “Disney Memories Week and Giveaway”! This week, while I’m on vacation, we are celebrating Disney’s year long “Let the Memories Begin” theme: each day, one of our great writers will share a favorite Disney memory….and will provide you with a chance to win a $50 Disney gift card. From now until Sunday July 10, you will have up to 2 chances to enter each day by commenting on the blog post and/or our Facebook page.  The more days/times you comment, the more chances you have to win. (But please, to be fair to everyone: only ONE blog entry and ONE Facebook entry per person per day…)

Please note: ONE winner will be selected from all who enter by midnight ET, on Sunday, July 10. Good luck….and Let the Memories Begin!

It started out like any other southern, balmy, September morning in Florida.  I had vacationed at Walt Disney World many times, both as a child and as an adult, and had many great experiences.  It has always been my favorite place on Earth, but this particular day, it would become even more special, this day would change the rest of my life.My traveling party was a little larger than normal, but it was full of my favorite people…..my wonderful parents, my best friend/cousin and her husband, my precious son, and my awesome fiance’.  My Mom came out of her room into ours to snap pictures of everyone before we even left the resort.  This day was to be preserved forever.

As we boarded the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, I had butterflies in my stomach that felt more like rabid, crazy bats.  I was always excited as Cinderella’s Castle came into view, but again, this time, it was much different.  Walking up Main Street, heading into the main gardens in front of the Castle, it seemed as though I was floating.  The music became louder and louder, and as we approached, we could see that all of the princes and princesses were dancing together on the main stage of the Castle.  My Mom turned to me and said, “this is perfect”;  My Dad said, “Are you ready?”  My reply, “I am”.  I took my fiance’s hand, and my Dad began to speak, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sight of God, and allllll these witnesses to join DeAnna and Mike together in holy matrimony…..”  Yes, this day, I would marry MY prince, my true love.  We finished our vows, exchanged our rings, and as we took our first kiss as husband and wife, the song rang out from the Castle….”So this is love….”  My Mom was right, this WAS perfect.

As my family stayed to finish watching the Kingdom royalty singing and dancing on stage, my new husband and I headed off to change into something a little more “vacation friendly”.  We stopped off at The Chapeau hat shop on the way back to purchase our Groom Mickey and Bride Minnie ears.  The Cast Member gave us the total $21.00, plus some change, then asked us when we were married.  Our reply, “JUST NOW!”  She said, “NO WAY!”, handed my husband back ALL of his money, then stated “The ears are on the house, Congratulations!”

Later that morning, we were stopped and serenaded by the FantasyLand Woodwind Society.  They played “When You Wish Upon A Star” in our honor, and then proclaimed us ‘Honorary Citizens of the Magic Kingdom’.  If anyone doubts that, well, we still have the buttons (and the video) to prove it.

Throughout the next two weeks of our trip, we were given free pastries, free pictures, and at almost every ride, we, along with  the rest of our party, were allowed to ride everything twice, without ever having to step off and get back in line!  Disney always does it right, and this time was no different.  They made it a day we’ll never forget – they definitely made it my favorite memory EVER!

P.S. I love you still, my Prince Michael………

Question 1 (answer below in the comment section): What is your most romantic memory at Disney World…or the one you hope to have some day?

Question 2 (answer on our Facebook page): What’s the name of the hat shop where our Groom Mickey and Bride Minnie ears were purchased?

Want help planning your Disney vacation? Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make it all simple…and save you time and money too!

DeAnna, along with her husband and teen-age son, lives in Wiggins, Mississippi, and has a passion for all things Disney. She is always eager to share the knowledge she has gained from her many trips to Walt Disney World, and has helped numerous people in their vacation planning to realize it’s not an unattainable dream. Her must-dos on every trip are Pirates of the Caribbean, Rockin’ Roller Coaster & a stolen moment of quiet with her “Boyz” (as she affectionately calls them) having a pastry from Boulangerie in Epcot World Showcase’s France. Disney is so much a part of her life, that she & her husband were married in front of Cinderella’s Castle, and she says it doesn’t get any more magical than that………