Disney….Making Dreams come True

Neuschwanstein 
Photo Credit: Danielle Gadsby

Hello, My Readers...

When I was little, like every little child, I loved

Disney Castle at Walt Disney World Orlando
Photo Credit: Google Free Images

Disney films (still do...ssshhhhh). My parents saved and saved to take my sister and I to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I was 7 and my sister was 9...this was back in 1998 - wow aged myself. Now, it was very expensive to fly then - still would be for a family of 4, so my parents chose for us to drive there. The distance from Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada to Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is approximately 2,000km. How do you keep the children occupied? How do you plan on eating, drinking and making stops for the bathroom? The answer is you can't plan on those things, you just have to take them as they come.

In the United States they have it planned out for drivers. There are many rest areas in each state, as well as many signs that tell you where you can get gas and restaurants. If there are no gas stations for many miles there are usually signs posted on the major state highways, like Last Stop for Gas for 55 miles.
To keep us engaged, we played car bingo, license plate watching - finding the different states license plates, I spy with my little eye, and other car games. I also wasted an entire roll of film (yes Film, my sister and I got Crayola Panoramic Cameras for Christmas that year) on photos of my stuffed Bunny. Oops, sorry mom for paying for 25 photos of Bunny when we got them developed.

Once we arrived at Disney, it was a wonderland. There is nothing else in the world like a Disney Theme Park. My favourite park is Epcot, because you can travel around the world in about a day. 

My Family Holding up the 1976 Sign in front of the Castle.
Photo Credit: Kathy Gadsby

25th Anniversary Castle
Photo Credit: Kathy Gadsby

Disney World Resort was celebrating their 25th year and we got to be a part of it. Attached is a photo of my family where my dad is holding up the 1976-year sign. Many people held up year signs from 1965 until 1998 when this celebration was happening. This was in Magic Kingdom in front of the Cinderella Castle that was transformed into a giant pink birthday cake, topped with faux icing, lollipops and gum drops. My parents were approached and asked if our family wanted to be a part of the celebration and could have pom poms and a sign in front of the castle while the celebration went on with Mickey, Minnie and many dancers. There was also celebratory cake served. 

As an adult now, I want to go back to enjoy the park more and see all of the new additions. When we went, they didn't even have Animal Kingdom like they do now. So, it would be great to go back and stay in one of their resorts on the property and do all of the parks again.

In 2017 I got to go to the Neuschwanstein Castle, in Füssen, Bavaria, Germany. This castle is one of the real castles that was the inspiration for Cinderella's Castle. As Disney World in Orlando, Florida is home to the Cinderella Castle, seeing the Neuschwanstein Castle brought back some of those childlike memories of being at Disney World. This Castle was built by King Ludwig II. It was never finished but they do show the parts of the Castle that are finished. King Ludwig II was killed at age 41. There are many speculations that he was murdered however, it was ruled suicide. His father King Ludwig I, "King Max" owned a bright yellow Castle Hohenschwangu. The Hohenschwangu castle is situated in the village while Neuschwanstein is up the mountain. 

Neuschwanstein from the Bridge
Photo Credit: Danielle Gadsby

My Sister and I with Goofy.
Photo Credit: Kathy Gadsby

If you are ever in Germany and have the chance to see the Castle, you should go! It is ginormous in size and the scenery is stunningly breathtaking. I also recommend going on the short hike around the castle to the bridge. There are some great photos that can be taken from there of the castle. While living in the Bayern Region of Germany, I visited this Castle twice, and I loved it both times. Once was with some classmates through the University, while the other time was more nostalgic as I was with my parents. My parents and I rented a car and drove to the Castle. We could see it from a distance peering through the trees, but once we took the horse and wagon ride to the top you could really see the extravagance of the architecture. 

Thanks for reading...