Disney Parks and the Love of God

Deep down, every person wants to feel that he or she is special in some way. To feel special is to feel loved, and a strong desire for love is at the core of all our beings. As Christians we believe that God has an incomprehensible amount of love for each of us, but sometimes it is difficult to see just how this love is manifested. I personally have seen something immensely comparable to this love in the personable way the costumed characters at the Disney parks treat guests. Some may consider all that is within the Disney parks to be sentimental hogwash, but I see a deeper meaning to it all.

I am blessed to have grown up in a wonderful family that includes three younger sisters and one younger brother. This family of mine has taken several trips to Walt Disney World in Florida, and some of my happiest living memories were made there with them. Having three younger sisters always meant one dreaded thing whenever we visited Disney—breakfast with the princesses at Epcot. My countenance at these breakfasts evolved from disgusted to gracefully indifferent as I matured over the years, but no matter how I chose to appear on the outside, inwardly there was always a part of me that enjoyed interacting with the princesses. They seemed to know instantly how to make each person feel special or at least laugh. For example, one time when Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) came by our table, she noticed that all of the females in the family were wearing pink shirts, and so she commented that the fairy Flora must have flown by our table and dyed everyone’s outfits pink. She then turned to my dad and I, who were not wearing pink, and said, “You two must have been slaying the dragon when this happened.” I was in fourth grade at the time, and I remember feeling excited and special for a moment at the thought that I had been called a dragon slayer, even if it was a comment entirely rooted in fantasy. What was perhaps most memorable about Princess Aurora’s interaction with us was that it was so clearly unscripted. She immediately noticed that the females in the family were wearing pink while the males were not, and so she organically made it a part of her conversation with us. This is exactly what God’s love for us is like: unscripted and personal.

It’s always amazing how alive a mute, costumed character can seem, especially at the Disney parks. Why do people of all ages line up for sometimes hours at a time just so that they can hug and take a picture with someone dressed up as Mickey or Minnie Mouse? I suppose many young kids believe that they are actually meeting Walt Disney’s famed creations in the flesh, but there are probably just as many kids who know that they are only costumed people and remain enchanted. What can explain this magical phenomenon? The answer is simple: the characters take their time with each individual. While the crowds of people that line up to meet these characters would likely overwhelm a majority of people, the people under the masks and their assistant cast members not only take it in stride, but also remain remarkably warm, patient, and kind. When it is a person’s turn to step forward and meet a character, he or she has likely waited a long time in line, so the people at Disney want to make sure that a prime, unforgettable experience is had. The character meet-and-greets are efficient and yet do not seem rushed, which is truly magical in and of itself. Just as the Disney characters take their time with each individual, so also does God take His time with each of us, wanting us to savor every moment in His presence. The sad thing is that we often do not savor every moment in God’s presence; in fact, we sometimes rush Him. If we would not desire to rush an encounter with Mickey Mouse, we should desire even less to rush an encounter with God.

While the Disney theme parks and gratuitous sappiness often seem to go hand-in-hand, there is more than meets the eye for those who are willing to drop an admittedly large sum of money and enter through the turnstiles. Not only magic, but also love, patience, and kindness await; it’s hard to say this about any other places in the world. Let us remember that God’s attitude towards each of us is just as warm and welcoming as that of every good Disney character in the parks, and let us also remember that we ought to act warm and welcoming to all our fellow human beings, even if we do not dress up as cartoon characters for a living. With our efforts, perhaps more of the world can be as happy as the happiest place on Earth.