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| Classic Disney program I enjoyed as a child (photo credits: cbc.ca) |
The wonderful world of Disney has been a significant part of my life since childhood.
I first fell in love with Snow White, the very first Disney movie I ever saw—and watched over and over again. Since then, I became a big fan of anything and everything “Disney.”
From Dumbo and Pinocchio, to Peter Pan and Bambi… Aladdin and Cinderella… I always looked forward to my weekend Disney marathons.
As a young girl, I had my own Disney-inspired fantasy world. I imagined what it would be like to get lost in Wonderland like Alice, or to have a Fairy Godmother and attend a magical ball like Cinderella. At times, I dreamed of living in an enchanted castle like Belle.
And best of all, I dreamed of meeting Mickey Mouse.
Some of my all-time favorites were Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, and 101 Dalmatians. Before I even learned many nursery rhymes, I was already singing Disney songs.
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| The story of young Arthur before he became King in "The Sword in the Stone" (photo credits: fanpop.com) |
My grandmother knew how much I loved Disney. She promised to take me to Disneyland as a gift if I graduated from high school with honors.
It was a dream I carried in my heart as a child.
So I worked hard and strived to do well in school. When I finally achieved my goal, I knew that my childhood dream was finally within reach.
But it wasn't meant to be.
Our family business encountered major financial difficulties, and gradually, I began to lose the pampered and privileged life I had grown accustomed to. I had to learn to sacrifice some of life's comforts.
And that meant giving up even my childhood dream.
My fairy-tale life, it seemed, was coming to an end.
My grandmother never talked about Disneyland again after that. But I understood. As much as my parents and grandmother wanted to give me the best things in life, our family's survival and livelihood were far more important at that time.
And I was willing to let go of a dream if it meant having a better life for my family and a brighter future ahead.
Disneyland remained a dream.
But the magic of Disney—the magic I had carried in my heart since childhood—continued to live on. Even until this very day, Disney never fails to bring back the happy memories of my childhood.
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| Family trip to Hongkong Disneyland |
Then I became a mom.
And naturally, I shared my love for Disney with my son. I introduced him to the same magical fantasy that I enjoyed as a child. It became something that brought us closer together.
Of course, he eventually discovered his own favorites.
He loved Lightning McQueen, Buzz and Woody, Simba from The Lion King, and even Aladdin, to name a few.
Then, this year, something happened that I honestly never expected.
My childhood dream finally came true.
My husband, my son, and I were blessed with the opportunity to go to Disneyland as a family. Thank God for the people who made this possible!
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| It was my son's dream to meet Buzz Lightyear! |
The moment I stepped into Disneyland, it was as if I was young again. My heart was filled with pure joy and childlike wonder.
But this time, it wasn't just about me anymore.
I wasn't simply living out my own childhood dream. I was watching my son's very own dream come true.
And somehow, that made the experience even more magical.
It was truly a fairy-tale moment for me as a mom. Seeing my son's magical fantasy come to life felt like my own version of a “happily ever after.”
I will forever cherish those moments—seeing how happy he was, the wonder and excitement in his eyes, and that star-struck expression on his face as he watched all his favorite characters come to life.
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| meet and greet Mickey! |
One of the most memorable moments during our trip was when my son suddenly said, “Mommy, you know I love you.”
I knew that no words could fully express the joy and gratitude he was feeling at that moment. But as a child, perhaps he knew that love was enough to express the happiness in his heart.
Our family's Disneyland trip reminded me that promises can be fulfilled and dreams really do come true.
Sometimes, it just takes longer than we expect.
It doesn't matter how long we have to wait. Nothing is impossible for those who continue to hope… who have faith… and who believe.
We may sometimes find it difficult to believe in fairy tales these days. But in the midst of life's challenges, may we never, ever lose the “child” within us—for that is where dreams and magical possibilities exist.
My love for Disney symbolizes that child in me.
Life does not always turn out according to plan. Sometimes, the dreams we hold onto have to wait. Sometimes, we even have to let them go for a while.
But perhaps it is in seeing the world through the eyes of a child that we learn to appreciate its beauty even more.
Nothing compares to the joy of an unexpected blessing or the happiness of discovering that life, despite all its challenges, can still be full of wonderful surprises.
And sometimes, when you least expect it, your own childhood dream comes true—not just for you, but in a way that becomes even more meaningful when you get to share it with the people you love most.
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