It All Started with a Mouse

I was around 2 or 3 when I first went to Walt Disney World. It was right at the beginning of the age when kids can remember the magic of Disney, and I remember it vividly. My mom twirled me and danced with me to music all the way down Main Street U.S.A. and up to the beautiful castle, and my dad grabbed my hand and stood with me in line to meet my absolute favorite–THE Disney character of all time–Minnie Mouse.

Let’s get this straight: I was a tom-boy when it came to TV shows, but when it came to my favorite character, there is just something about those bright red and white polka dots, that cute bow, the popping bright yellow heels and the kind smile Minnie always had. Consistently in movies and books, Minnie Mouse was the epitome of femininity and fashion.

Naturally, when it came time to meet her, I shyly walked up to her, shaking with excitement, and put on a big smile for the camera. It also makes sense that on my first Disney trip, I bought my first Minnie Mouse doll, who became my best childhood “friend” and a requirement for all road trips, bedtime stories, and crying sessions.

Everyone Disney-lover has their character and the memory of their first trip to a Disney Park. In one trip, the magic became real and stuck with me for a lifetime of Disney love. And for me, it all started with the kind, fabulous, and fun Minnie Mouse.

Published by