I have always been a princess. I grew up watching Disney movies, and they became a huge part of my life, and the reason for my big imagination and hopeless romanticism. That’s why when I got to go to the most magical place on earth, once with David and once with Scott, I felt like the luckiest princess in the world. My Disney fairytales were coming true. 

The trip I took with David was an interesting one to say the least. It was a trip that was planned before Grant and I decided to get divorced. So the trip was with Ellie, David, Grant, myself, and his soon to be wife. We decided a month before the trip that we were going to get a divorce. However, we still went through with the trip and had a great time. For the most part the divorce was amicable and we could still tolerate each other.

We had rented a condo in a gated community outside of Disney. It wasn’t the greatest, but it was good for the price we were paying. Besides, we weren’t going to be at the house often. We had a jam back schedule planned for this trip. Grant was also a Disney fanatic and had dinners and everything planned down to a tee. So we flew into Orlando Florida and a few hours later we were already in the parks. Epcot to be specific. He had made us reservations at Epcot’s Tepen Edo Hibachi Restaurant. It was amazing. We may have gotten pretty tipsy on the first night. 

This trip was different for me. Going with Grant was fun, but always a speed race. He wanted to get to everything as fast as he could. And the last time I went I almost ended up with heat stroke because we were non stop and I wasn’t drinking enough water. This time he was off with his girlfriend, and I got to take it nice and slow enjoying the parks with David and Ellie. I got to show them the things that were important to me. I have been going to Disney every 2-3 years since I was five years old. It was so nice taking in all the sites, and actually being able to relax ( well as much as you can relax) on a Disney vacation. 

In the Magic Kingdom we enjoyed all of the popular rides, like Splash Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and of course my favorites Pirates of the Caribbean. Also new this year was the little mermaid ride. They had build Prince Eric’s Castle and you got to go under the sea and visit Ariel! Ariel has been and always will be my favorite Disney character. I am a mermaid at heart. We spent a lot of time eating ice cream and getting Dole Whip from Adventureland. This became one of David’s favorite frozen drinks.

David and I had a lot of fun trying on all the funny and silly Disney hats around the parks. I tried on hats all around the world showcase in Epcot, and had fun trying on all the character hats!  I think the funniest experience was getting the new Minnie ears that glowed different colors and had a special wand that could change the colors. Not only did they change your ears but they could change the color of anyone’s ears who had one! David chanced behind people changing their ear colors and would completely change all of the displays. I think he may have had a little to much fun! What was also unique about these particular ears is that they would change colors to the music during fireworks and light shows! They were a lot of fun!

Another one of my favorite memories was going to a Medieval Times Dinner show. This was not a part of Disney but is so much fun to watch! It is a show of kings and queens, and knights and wizards. You get to watch live jousting and immerse yourself in a different era! I highly recommend checking this out if you are ever in Kissimmee Florida.

Speaking of wizards. We had our wands choose us as Olivanders in Diagon Alley at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Studios Resort. I was so excited for this because it was the first time that I was able to ride the Hogwarts Express. The last time I had been the other side of the Wizarding World had not been built. Getting to experience this with Ellie and David was chillingly amazing. We had lunch at the Three Broomstick and had Butterbeer! All of my favorite things about the Harry Potter World I got to live! We got to go to all of the shops! They even had Knockturn Alley and a Deatheaters store! It was seriously amazing! 

We got to learn spells like Alohamora, and wingardium leviosa around the wizarding world. There are spots where you can cast a spell and make things happen. It made you feel like you were living a dream! 

However, I couldn’t go to Universal and not going to Jurassic Park. I have a crazy love for dinosaurs and I love getting my picture taken with the T-Rex. 

This trip was so magical, and I cherish everything about it.

Part 2: 

A Family Trip and a Big Surprise.

In April of 2019, before the world went crazy because of the Covid-19 Pandemic I got to go to Disney one more time worry free. What started off as just a family trip turned into so much more. I had a big surprise in store!

This trip I had invited Scott to come along for. It was amazing. We went with my mom, step dad, aunt,  both my brothers and my sister in-law, and my niece and nephew. It was a busy trip but an amazing one.

My family does not do Disney small. For Christmas the year before we all got matching Disney apparel. We all got matching hats so people knew that we were together. We like those corny types of things. 

It was magical showing Scott all the spots I had shown David and Ellie. However, at the beginning of the week, I planned a special dinner just for the two of us at the Biergarten in the World Showcase in Epcot. I wanted to have at least one romantic alone night with Scott while we were there. 

I had been here once before and it was an amazing buffet of German Cuisine. I also knew that they were going to have an audience participation dinner show, in which Scott had no clue. While we were sitting there, they had asked the crowd if anyone would like to join them to help them with the next segment of the show. I raised my hand, and they came over to us. Little did Scott know that I had pre arranged with the restaurant to choose us for this portion of the show.

They brought us up to their dance floor and pulled out a table with a bunch of bells. Scott looked very intimidated. It was pretty funny. He then went on to tell us that he would be teaching us how to play Edelweiss on the cow bells. It was hysterical and so much fun.

He then asked us what brought us here, and then handed me the mic. At this point I said “ I have been with Scott for 2.5 years now, I met him when he showed up to my halloween party dressed up as the Dread Pirate Roberts. When I first laid eyes on him I knew that I had found a home for my heart. And now here we are in the most magical place on earth and I can’t think of a better place to ask this. Scott, will you marry me?”  And after looking terrified being up in front of a lot of people, he said “yes.”  

The room erupted in cheering and clapping, and we ended up getting many many drinks bought for us. Again we did not leave the world showcase sober. The ring is beautiful. Scott and I bonded over The Lord of the Rings. So I had a silver ring made with elvish written around the outside, and what it meant on the inside. What was inscribed was “One ring to show our love, one ring to bind us, one ring to seal our love, and to forever entwine us.”

 I had given my family a heads up that I was going to be doing this and they had decorated our bedroom in rose petals and had wine and mead ready for us! It was seriously one of the best experiences of my life. 

We enjoyed the rest of the week in Disney just deep in love and having the most magical time. Here are some pictures from our trip!