By Jessica Sutton
I remember being five years old, clutching my autograph book and gliding as if I was walking on air around Disney’s grounds, feeling like I had just stepped straight into a storybook and became a part of its magic.
Then, again, around age ten, I can still recall that unmistakable pixie-dust feeling as I gazed upon Cinderella Castle at dusk while the park’s timeless melodies danced through my ears.
It’s no surprise that my younger self fell head over heels in love with Walt Disney World Resort and dreamed of one day taking my children to the place I truly believed was “The Most Magical Place On Earth.”
Fast forward a decade and a half, and there I was — living out that dream. I returned to Walt Disney World, this time as a mother, with my three-year-old daughter and six-month-old son. The parks were still as magical as I remembered, but now, the experience has become even more meaningful than before.
There were many special moments shared between my kids and me on that trip — but one stood out the most and felt like a magical full-circle moment.
We were standing behind rows of families gathered in front of Cinderella Castle for one last sparkle of hurrah. As the Happily Ever After fireworks lit up the night sky, I turned to see my daughter’s face completely illuminated — eyes wide with wonder, pure awe written across her face.
That was it. The moment. The click.
The magic was real again — not just for her, but for me, too.
That night marked the beginning of a new kind of Disney love — one rooted not just in my childhood experience but in watching the tiny humans I love most become enchanted by the very wonder that once captivated me. And in the most innocent, wide-eyed way, I get to relive it all. I get to experience Disney again — but this time, through their eyes.
Because in the end, Disney’s true magic isn’t just in the castles or fireworks. It’s in the shared moments, the passing down of dreams, and the joy of seeing the world anew through the ones we cherish the most in our hearts. And that, to me, is the most enchanting story of all.
A New Memory Maker | Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away
Main Street U.S.A. will shine brighter than ever when the all-new nighttime parade, “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away,” makes its debut on July 20, at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World Resort!
Through the power of the Blue Fairy’s magic, guests will watch dreams and wishes come true throughout this star-kissed parade. As the lights dance from float to float, guests will see favorite classic and contemporary characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Pixar films — some for the very first time in a Disney Live Entertainment nighttime parade.
At the heart of the parade is a new original theme that blends a majestic musical score with classic melodies from beloved Disney animated films. Guests can look forward to seeing beloved Disney characters throughout the parade in shining, shimmering splendor, all culminating in the parade’s finale. A whimsical train, inspired by the iconic Main Street Electrical Parade float, emerges to take dreamers of all ages on a ride through the stars.
Swirling ribbons of starlight reveal Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck leading a procession of Disney moments that includes Snow White and Dopey in a twinkling minecar, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider floating toward a gleaming lantern on their boat, and Aladdin and Jasmine taking a magic carpet ride.
Closing out the celebration are the original dreamers, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, draped in sparkling new looks. Together, the duo sends us off, reminding us to believe in the power of wishing upon a star.
Courtesy: Walt Disney World
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