Fairy Tales Do Come True

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever live the royal life of Prince William and Princess Kate, and, you know what, that’s lucky for you because, really, who wants to spend one's entire life perfecting the royal wave, appeasing the Queen of England, and being followed by the paparazzi? Instead, most of us will spend our lives living in relative obscurity amongst handfuls of family, friends, community, and coworkers. And, that’s totally okay because we’re highly capable of imagining, pretending, and creating our very own fairy tales.

Disney Royalty

One of the keys to living a fulfilled life is to enrich our everyday experiences with delight, excitement, and the element of surprise. No organization on Earth, at least that I know of, does a better job of creating magic and surprise than Disney. And, the wonderful thing about Disney is that they make you feel like a Prince or Princess no matter what age, race, or socio-economic pedigree you hold.

Look, there’s no doubt that our lives can seem routine, mundane, and down right unfair sometimes, especially, if we allow ourselves to get sucked into the vortex of the daily grind. Really, I know it’s not just me who wakes up on a Monday morning feeling like Cruella De Vil. Come on now…who doesn’t transform into a Disney villain every once in a while…any Captain Hooks, Jafars, or Ursulas out there…go on, raise your hand (or your hook)?

Figment

On a recent trip to Disney, I revisited one of my very favorite attractions called “Journey Into Imagination with Figment” at the Imagination! Pavilion in the Future World area of Epcot theme park. The ride begins with an invitation by Chairman Dr. Nigel Channing to attend an open house event at his prestigious Imagination Institute. Inside his fascinating sensory labs, Dr. Channing sets out to prove how the 5 senses—sound, sight, smell, touch and taste—capture and control the imagination. The playful purple dragon Figment has joined Dr. Channing’s tour, too, and through mischief and music, he sets out to prove that imagination works best when set free.

Both Dr. Channing and Figment are correct! When we combine our five senses with our imagination, we open ourselves up to savoring the present moment, and at the same time, we can see things in a whole new way, which allows us to project what our future could look like. Coincidentally, to prove how powerful our senses are to our experiences and memories, this was the only ride that my 5-year old remembered from a visit two years ago, especially where Figment transforms himself into a skunk in the Smell Lab and sprays the riders with a skunky scent!

To kick off the start of summer, get ready to breakout and be free, just like the kids in your neighborhood will be doing this summer. Use your imagination and your five senses to feel like an everyday Disney Prince or Princess. Reach into your inner Sorcerer Mickey, spark some early July 4th fireworks into your life, and as Disney would say, “Let the Memories Begin”…

Fantasmic! Mickey

Sight and Sound:  Go into nature, and have fun with the animals you encounter. Can you imagine them as Disney film and cartoon characters? The wildlife is already in 3D, which is all the rage in movies these days, but you can also pretend that they’re brightly colored with exaggerated cartoon-like features, and imagine what they might say to you or the fellow creatures around them. You’ll have yourself cracking up in no time. Within my own neighborhood and local parks I’ve encountered hundreds of birds ranging from blue birds to robins, blue herons to snowy egrets (think Snow White); deer, bunnies, butterflies and skunks (think Bambi); fish and turtles (think Finding Nemo), frogs and fireflies (think The Princess and the Frog); chipmunks, squirrels, and raccoons; ants, insects, beetles, and spiders (think A Bugs Life); fox, bear, bumblebees, hummingbirds (think Song of the South); dogs and cats (think Aristocrats), and the list goes on and on.

Once you’ve found yourself communing with the animals, don’t be surprised if you find yourself starting to hum this little ditty:

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Ev'rything is satisfactual
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day, yes sir!

Sing it to yourself, sing it to your kids, hum it on the way to work, and I dare you - sing it on the subway, sing it to your coworkers, and sing it in the grocery store. See what a smile you put on their face (some may be laughing at you, but most will be laughing and singing along with you!) But don’t blame me if you find yourself singing it all day long!

Touch: Feel the heat and get wet this summer! Run underneath the sprinklers, jump in the pools, swim in the lakes and the oceans, and visit the local waterparks and sprayparks. Can you imagine yourself rushing down Disney’s Splash Mountain, getting sprayed by the elephants’ trunks in the Jungle Cruise, and floating through the murky waters of the Pirates of the Carribbean?

Imagination by Disney

Smell: I suppose you could pretend that you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by visiting the smelly, poop-throwing monkeys at your local zoo. Or, let me suggest a much less malodorous idea, which would be to visit the air-conditioned Disney Store at your local mall, and test Disney’s new fragrance, Imagination. The packaging is strikingly beautiful and the scent is absolutely surprising. It’s meant to make you ponder what Never Land might smell like or an enchanted forest of sequoia trees, cool moss, and green leaves. I bought the candle without hesitation, and the very next day I went back to the store for the hand and body lotion. Yes, I smell like a forest, and I love it. Launching in July is the next fragrance – Magic, intended to epitomize the adventure of Disney and all that is Mickey Mouse. And, in the fall, Pixie Dust, a fragrance inspired by Tinker Bell, of course.

Taste: And when you arrive home from the mall, turn your own home into a Disney Castle by lighting your new Imagination candle, then whip up a batch of Shirley Temples (Disney’s staple nonalcoholic drink). Ingredients per drink: 6 liquid ounces lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage, 1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine syrup, and 1 maraschino cherry. Feel the sweet cocktail tickle your taste buds while it teases your childish heart. Are you getting that fairy tale feeling yet?

Now, sit out in your yard, look for your favorite furry, flying, or four-legged Disney friends - look closely at the fireflies, and you just may see Tinker Bell. Then, plop down on the sofa inside, and enjoy your favorite Disney movie (wearing Mickey Ears is optional). Feel the magic in the air, and savor these little moments in your life. Wish upon a star tonight, wake up tomorrow singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" and fly to your heart.

"Fairy Tales Do Come True" Video Playlist:
Fly to Your Heart (Selena Gomez from Tinker Bell, the movie)
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
One Little Spark (Journey into Imagination)