I am starting this new series about what we can learn from Disney Princesses but before I get to that I want to talk about why I love Disney. There is a term out there called a “Disney Adult” and it is not always used in a favorable manner. I however, think it is a great term for me as I am a grown-up fan of Disney. I should really also mention that my husband is also a Disney adult – so this is not just a woman specific thing. We enjoy Disney together.
Personally, I have held onto my love of Disney from my childhood. I would NEVER miss the Wonderful World of Disney that played on Sunday nights when I was growing up! I fully embrace Disney Art throughout my house and if you have ever been on a zoom call with me, you will also see my office which is full of Disney memorabilia. Why is my love of Disney different from anyone who loves a sports team and follows them, buys their merchandise and spends their time watching their games?
I view Disney as my escape…I love to ride the rides and escape into that non-reality of my everyday life. There are some great comments in a recent article that was in the LA times and is called “In Defense of Disney Adults”. One of the best comments is from Drea Letamendi who is a Psychologist and Mental Health Strategist at UCLA. She says that “Everybody can benefit from play. A lot of therapists will agree that adults need play on a consistent basis. More and more, adults are not necessarily discouraged, but not encouraged, to introduce play into their everyday lives. We have a lot of responsibilities — our finances, our relationships and our work relationships. We have very few cues in our lives to participate in play. The Disney parks, without question, give us nonstop cues. Why is play important? Play relieves stress.”
I consider my time at Disney as an escape, as a time to be a kid again, as a time to live in Fantasyland for a few days! What do you do to give yourself a break?
Over the next 14 weeks, I will talk about the “lessons” we can learn from Disney Princesses. It might seem odd that I would talk about Disney Princesses but there are things we can learn (especially as women) so get ready!
