It was almost 10 o'clock at night, and, yet, the temperature was still near ninety degrees. A crowd had formed in the central hub on Main Street, U.S.A., and I could feel the excitement as everyone anxiously awaited the beginning of Wishes!, the fireworks show that lights the night sky above the Magic Kingdom. So far, my tenth trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida had been full of rides, pictures, food, and of course, Disney. However, it was the last night of my trip, and I was not looking forward to the long drive home. We had chosen to camp at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground & Resort, which meant that we had to haul our travel trailer there. I had never been a fan of the drive home, but I felt it was worth it if it meant I was able to go to Disney World.
â–º QUARTER FINALIST 2012 TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
So, I sat on the pavement in front of the Crystal Palace restaurant, and soaked up my last few hours in “The Happiest Place on Earth.” As I was sitting on the pavement, hot, tired, and cranky about leaving, I heard a loud voice and some cheering to my right. So, I turned to see what was going on. When I turned, I saw a cast member waving his arms about and shouting happily about something. Then I realized that he was motioning for everyone to begin singing to a few guests who were spending their birthdays at the Magic Kingdom.
I began to sing with everyone around me, smiling and clapping when the song was over. The cast member continued to see what other events guests were celebrating while at Disney. They included graduations and anniversaries, among others. Then, while we were sitting there on the hot pavement, the announcement was made that the fireworks show would soon commence, and I got ready, as I knew the lights would soon dim to make it easier to see the fireworks.
As the show was about to begin, I observed the cast member call a birthday girl up to where he was standing. He asked her if she wanted to help him start off the fireworks show. He told her she could be the “conductor” of the show, if she wanted. She shrugged. And then, the lights went dim, and the music began. As the fireworks began shooting out from behind the castle, the cast member and the little girl moved their arms in the directions that they were going, both smiling as they did. It was obvious that the cast member had seen the show a thousand times, as he had it memorized completely, yet, he still seemed to enjoy it as if it was his first. He could have just stood there, watched the fireworks, and made sure nobody disobeyed park rules, but he didn’t. Instead, he completely encompassed the magic that has come to be characteristic of the Walt Disney Company.
As I clapped for the little “conductor” when she and the cast member wrapped up their “show” (they didn’t do this for the entire fireworks show), I knew that I wanted to be a part of that. I want to have a career where I get to make children’s lives better every day. However I choose to do it, I want to work in a place where I can spread a little bit of “magic,” and make someone’s life a little bit better every day. There is nothing better (to me) than seeing a child smile, and knowing you helped to make it happen.
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I had the chance to experience Denmark during the Christmas season, and it’s something I’ll always hold close to my heart. Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen felt like stepping into a storybook. The way the entire park was dressed in soft, glowing lights, handmade decorations, and the comforting scent of mulled wine in the air made every moment feel special.
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