I’m #1!

It has taken me a lifetime to figure out some of the mysteries of life and it goes without saying that there is no substitute for experience.

As we get older we come across situations and experiences that may seem vaguely familiar and we sort of figure out how things usually play out.

The old New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra had a famous saying, “It’s déjà vu all over again!” and although we may smirk at his words, there is some truth to the fact that we really do encounter so many things in life that serve as life lessons and this education helps us later in life to figure things out.

So along this road of life as we learn these lessons we begin to understand more and more about the world around us and more importantly we begin to understand ourselves and what makes us tick.

It’s a long journey and when we first appear on the scene all we think about is “Me! Me! Me!” However, we learn all too soon that we are NOT the center of the universe”¦notice I said we learn ALL too soon and not we ALL learn too soon”¦there are some who still have not gotten past that point.

If you’re wondering, yes, I will tie this into a line of thought that deals with Disney”¦read on.

As we grow into a young child, pre-teen, teenager, and young adult we learn the ways of the world and to accept a number of things in life”¦some pleasant and some not so pleasant.

For instance, we learn from an early age that, although, play came before work, once we were of school age reality hit and we learned that actually it’s work BEFORE play.

Yes, life is tough.

Over the Thanksgiving Day Weekend I reflected on this and it lead me to some heavy thinking about life and the love I have for all things Disney.

Now I’m sure you, like me, have come across something like 43,724 blogs that start off saying “I keep going back to Walt Disney World because”¦” and then we hear all the same reasons over and over again.

You’ve heard them all”¦escape from reality”¦quality of entertainment”¦I love Mickey…great fireworks”¦love those parades”¦and so on”¦and so on.

When I think of all those reasons I tend to agree but I can also say”¦nonsense.

Sure you can make an argument for every one of those reasons but there is one primary reason why so many people list those reasons”¦at least there is for me”¦because frankly, I used to list those same reasons”¦but now I know why”¦and I’m about to share my revelation with you”¦but you must be patient.

Let me start by asking you a question: Have you ever really put any deep thought as to how life plays a part in this love for the home of talking mice and ducks?

Have you?

Let me ask another question. How many of you reading these words right now can honestly say that you are the #1 person in someone’s life? Be honest.

If you said yes then you are in a very select group. It’s hard to be #1. You can be #1a or #1b but being exclusively #1 requires so many stars to be aligned that honestly it is a rarity.

Sure, as babies we are #1, #2, and #3 to our mothers. To our dads, maybe”¦but I can tell you that I will be forever envious as to the relationship or bond that a mother has for her child. That relationship is certainly one in which the child is #1 in his or her mother’s eyes”¦.and vice versa.

Of course your number #1 status will not last too long…’cause when a younger sibling comes along you will get bumped to #2″¦and if twins or triplets follow you”¦well”¦let’s not even go there.

As we grow into teenagers we learn more about this evasive #1 status. As we begin to date and as relationships come and go that status sort of works like the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”¦one second you’re up”¦the next you’re down”¦oh I’m #1″¦oops”¦no more…some number but definitely not #1″¦wait I’m there again”¦.erh”¦no”¦gone.

So what am I getting at here? How does this connect with our love for Walt Disney World?

Think of the first time you have ever stepped onto Disney property”¦.it could be Disneyland”¦or Walt Disney World”¦.any Disney property.

Do you remember how you felt when you were first greeted? The smiles? Do you remember saying to yourself, “Wow, this is cool!”
Do you remember the number of times during your visit that this feeling came to you over and over again?

Let me put it in simple terms”¦do you remember how you were treated?

Well, even after visiting Disney parks for 35+ years I still get that same feeling. Sure it varies from time to time but I truly believe it’s what brings me and you back over and over again.

It’s a very unique and novel feeling to be treated like that and obviously the folks at Disney have caught onto what breeds success and it’s making their guests feel like they are not just their only guests but their favorite guests.

Think very carefully again. Are you #1 anywhere, with anyone? If you are then consider yourself to be very fortunate.

If not, then you can join me and the rest of Disneynation as we recall and love the fact that as far as the Walt Disney Company is concerned, we ARE #1.

I may not enjoy that status anywhere else, and have learned that over time, but when I step onto Disney property, I can smile and say, “I’m #1.”

And that my friends is the primary reason you and I keep going back!

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