Having debuted in the cartoon, “Steamboat Willie” in 1928, Mickey Mouse will turn 86 tomorrow (November 18th).  How that one cartoon character has affected each of our lives is fascinating testament to the iconic, visionary, Walt Disney.  If you ever ask who I’d like to meet dead or alive, Walt Disney is pretty high on my list.  Walt Disney World in Orlando was one massive dream that he sadly didn’t see completed. Long before a Little Mermaid, a Lion King and a myriad of Princesses with the most recent being Frozen, Disney World was about a mouse – Mortimer Mouse, now known as Mickey Mouse.  The kingdom was built for him and he continues to entertain while ceding the spotlight to a whole new group of characters for the new generations.

For me, looking back at my Mickey Mouse memories includes Sunday nights with my family watching “The Wonderful World of Disney”, afternoons watching reruns of the original Mickey Mouse club and new episodes of the New Mickey Mouse Club as well as the year 1983.  It wasn’t the memories of my Care Bear or Cabbage Patch Doll (both highly sought after toys I’ll have you know) in 1983, it wasn’t trying to figure out how to “moonwalk” like Michael Jackson (which I still can’t do) or that the landscape of fast food was forever changed with the introduction of the Chicken McNugget.  It wasn’t my first concert (Rick Springfield at Valley Forge Music Fair) without my parents (they dropped us off and went to dinner back when you could do things like that with kids).  All of these were pretty good memories.  But, the highlight in 1983 was the family trip to Disney World in Orlando.  We were off to see Mickey Mouse and experience all the Disney fun.  It meant that I would be flying for the first time.

Upon boarding the Eastern Airlines plane (then the “Official Airline of Walt Disney World”), I remember being in awe of it all – the window seat, the food, the friendly service.  As it was our first flight, we were given our “wings” (little plastic wings to wear).  We were flying, it felt special, I felt special.  Arriving on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, I tried to take it all in – taking photos with my little 110 film camera with the square light bulbs. It really was the happiest place for a kid – balloons for sale, mouse ears, cookies and lollipops (all things to make kids happy).  It was the only time my family would vacation together as my dad was actually afraid to fly (I’m not sure how he got through the Disney flights as he didn’t drink). Meeting Mickey Mouse was a highlight (I was taller than he was), eating lots of ice cream, sitting on the curb for the parade and riding the rides was everything and more.  We came home with mouse ears, Mickey Mouse t-shirts, stuffed animals and lots of photos.

Over the years, I’ve returned to Disney World  many times with the same sense of wonder that I had as a kid back in 1983.  Visiting so many times with friends, family and solo during conferences, I almost feel like an expert (my friends often have me help plan their visits).  The park(s) are no longer just for kids, there are entertainment options for everyone to enjoy.  On one visit, I did a five hour behind the scenes tour (The Keys to the Kingdom – adults only) learning more about Walt Disney and visiting the underground corridors (utilidors) accessed via secret doors.  We visited the parade floats hidden in the back of the park and learned so much of the inner workings of the park (who knew trash would be very cool?).

Now when I visit, I always include the Jungle Cruise (my favorite as a kid), which makes me smile as I know as we near the waterfall we will veer quickly to avoid getting wet but that doesn’t take away from the fun.  I’ve been on safari in Africa and Botswana and yet still get excited to take my runaway cruise through the jungle (note that I was a bit upset that the Hippos in Africa aren’t quite as cute and friendly as the Disney dancing hippos in Fantasia). I’ve been to Germany and seen Neuschwanstein Castle in person and yet Cinderella’s Castle still impresses me all lit up at night.  I get to be a little kid again (although with a credit card which is so much more fun to add in some luxury) with each new visit. Singing along with the Muppets, watching the parades, playing the Toy Story game and enjoying food and fireworks at Epcot are all fun in the bubble that is the Disney experience.

Now more than thirty years later, I look back at 1983 photos (laughing at the styles of course – flashdance shirts and swatch watches) with fond memories. The Disney trip didn’t quite spark my need to travel the world that my first solo London trip did or foreshadow the solo traveler that Paris would make me, but it was my first (and only) family trip that wasn’t Ocean City, NJ or the Pocono Mountains.  The fact that my dad got on a plane for us kids to meet Mickey Mouse and experience Disney World means so much more now than I realized back then.  So while the Frozen Princesses tell me to “Let It Go”, I think I’d rather not and will continue to cherish my Mickey Mouse memories complete with my mouse ears – M-I-C (see you real soon), K-E-Y (why? because we like you) M-O-U-S-E.

What are your best Memories of Mickey Mouse and/or Disney World?