Ah the magic of Disney. I’m always so surprised at how many
folks I speak with that think Disney and all of its fantastic glory is just for
kids. As a “Disney Baby” and a former Walt Disney World employee, I am here to
tell you that Disney is not just for children.
Sure there is a lot of fantasy and whimsy, but there is a
lot of meaning and purpose as well. Lets start with Peter Pan…
Image from Etsy
The story of Peter Pan may just look like it’s about a silly
boy who refuses to grow up flying around with a feisty jealousy prone fairy
battling an eccentric pirate and his crew, but if you take a closer look you’ll
find there is much more to the story. I
think Dennis Bonilla explains it best here
but I will do my best to explain my theory. Let us first consider Neverland, a
place where children go after leaving their parents with a flying boy to laugh
and play without ever having to be responsible for anything. The only danger
they may encounter is whimsical and they always triumph over an challenge.
Sounds like a pretty awesome place right? Perhaps like Heaven, maybe? Now, let
us consider the flying boy who comes only to the children to help them fly away
into the night sky. Like an angel perhaps? You decide for yourself.
Image from Oh
My Disney
Now Cinderella’s hidden meaning shouldn’t seem so hidden
right? The kindest girl you’ll ever meet is treated incredibly poorly by her
family and not allowed in happiness. Then one day, her friends (portrayed by
birds, mice, and other animals) realize they could help her have a special
night of fun and help her achieve this. Of course, due to all of her good karma
that’s been building up for years, she meets the man of her dreams and lives
happily ever after when she wasn’t even looking for love. Now, some people see
this as a girl being rescued by her prince who magically makes everything
better. I see a girl being supported and loved by her friends like Gus seen
above.
Image from TheMetaPicture.com
Up! There are so many lessons in this movie I’m not sure I
can remember them all! Carl and Ellie teach us that life throws some curveballs
every now and again, that losing someone you love is hard, and that ultimately
spending time with people you love and cherish is the great adventure anyone
can ever have in life. Russell reminds us that kids really just need to be
loved and nurtured. His fondest memories with his father were the “boring”
ones, which should remind parents that it’s not about stuff, its about time.
Image from MoviePosterDB.com
Are you crying yet? I first saw this movie as a child and
balled my eyes out. I didn’t realize at the time that I was learning that
friends could come in all shapes and sizes, from many different places,
cultures, and backgrounds. This movie teaches us not to be prejudice and to
follow our heart even when others are trying to pull us in a different
direction. I must stop writing about this now because I’m starting to tear up.
Clearly, this post covers just the tip of the iceberg when
it comes to Disney life lessons. I will leave you with one of my most tried and
true methods for handling a tough situation…
Image from Pinterest
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