Yes, I am addicted to Disney

Hi. My name is Jennifer and I'm addicted to Disney.

There- I said it. I mean, we all know it's true, but now I've admitted it out loud.

So what exactly does being addicted to Disney mean? It's simple, Disney is my drug. I have to have it. Seeing the Castle as you walk down Main Street. Walking in and seeing SpaceShip Earth.

Driving under the arch. These are all like hits of a drug to me. They make me smile. They make me happy.

If I go too long between Disney trips, I almost start to twitch. I get cranky. I need my happy place. I need my Disney. I need my drug.

If there is a Disney show on TV, even if it's 10 years old, I feel compelled to watch it. I don't care that I've seen it 25 times and recite almost every line- I will watch it again. And I will point out everything that has changed in that time. Because that's what Disney addicts do.

Now my Disney addiction isn't just because I like to see the various sites at Disney. There are so many strong memories tied to everything at Disney. Hours spent at La Cava del Tequila... Rock 'N Roller Coaster... Soarin'... Flying Fish... Each one of these is an awesome experience by itself, but add in cherished memories with friends and family, and they become even more special.

I've spent hours in this wonderful place with friends

My dad and Matthew at Tusker House breakfast

I no longer go to Disney just to experience the rides and attractions. I go to experience Disney itself and everything that means to me. This is how I know I am addicted to Disney.

(and no... I don't want help quitting my addiction!)

'Ohana means family

The Disney movie Lilo & Stitch popularized the staying "'Ohana means family." Many of my Disney friends, and myself, use this saying when we are talking about some of our dearest and closest friends. We use it to mean that our friends our like our family. But for me, that's not quite right.

There is another saying "You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family." Think about it- you have that family member (or members) that you really don't like, but you just kinda tolerate. To me, 'Ohana is something so much more than family.

'Ohana doesn't include all photo crashers in the picture though :)

For me, I have a wonderful group of 'Ohana friends. Who are they? Some of them are:

• the ones that I ate at Biergarten with- the food was mediocre, but it was hands down the best meal of my life.

Yep- my 'Ohana friends are inappropriate... LOVE THEM!

• the ones you see on Main St. and start yelling and going crazy with happiness.

• the one I think of every time I go over a particular bump on Space Mountain and remember him commenting when the lap bar met his groin in a rude way.
• my #peas- my two friends who are always there for me. And know when they need to give my space.

Yes, I know I just used this pic, but there are no words for how IMPORTANT these two are to me!

• the ones that I want to call first when something good happens.
• 
• the ones that I tell first when something bad happens.

This picture and the one above are completely interchangeable :)

• the ones that tell you to stop being a drama queen and just get over yourself.

• the ones that are in all of your pictures with you.

There are just some of my 'Ohana friends- it's not all of them.

'Ohana is those friends who touch your soul. They are the friends that are in so many of your memories- both good and bad because they are there for you no matter what. They are the ones that I think of when I cry happy and sad tears. They are the friends who take a part of you with them when they leave.

I am so thankful for all of my 'Ohana friends. I am not complete without ALL of them. I need them in my life.

And this post is dedicated to my 'Ohana friend who has very recently come back into my life- I didn't realize how much emptier my life was without them in it.

Disney- not a vacation destination

No, I didn't mis-type something in the title of this post. To me, Disney is not a vacation destination. It is so much more than that.

Yes, I go to Disney on vacation, but it recently occurred to me WHY I always want to go to Disney. It's not because I enjoy the rides and the attractions- although I do enjoy them! It because Disney has such wonderful memories of friends and family.

I love my #peas!!!!

It bring me a sense of happiness and peace. And I will admit, there is a bit of escapism there. Being in the Disney bubble makes all the other problems and stresses of life seem so far away.

Problems? What problems?

Simply put, Disney is the happy place for my soul.

I don't go to Disney for a vacation- I go for a total recharge. To spend time in my happy place and gather more memories to get me through until the next time I can visit.

I know some of you reading this don't understand this. You think that Disney World is simply a place to go every couple of years for vacation. That's OK with me- it keeps the crowds down for all the other times I want to go :)