10 Reasons Why This Kentucky Family Spends Every Vacation They Can at Disney World

When I tell people that we vacation at Disney World and have since my twin boys were 10 months old, the first question people usually ask me is, “Are you okay?” But the second question I get asked is, “What do you love so much about it?” Well, “I think so,” for the first question, and, “Everything,” for the second.

But saying I love everything about Disney World is kind of like me saying I love all my kids equally. It’s true, of course, but it's not a satisfying answer. (Love you guys, equally)!

It’s the WHY that matters. Why go to the most crowded theme park in the world when I could go almost anywhere else? Why not go to the beach or a cabin far away from society? Why do I want to go non-stop from sun up to sun down instead of sleeping in and resting on my vacation?

Trust me, I get it, and yes, I've asked myself these questions. But the truth is, while it may seem wild to actively plan and prepare routine Disney World trips, it's a rush and I enjoy every minute of it, so let me give you ten reasons why this Kentucky family goes to Disney World for vacation.

10 – IMMERSION

Do you ever go to the movies to escape for a couple of hours? Or maybe you start reading a book and get lost in its pages. It's nice, right? To just escape for a bit and feel like you're somewhere else. Disney World is like that but on a much larger scale. One of the things that always impresses me is that once you’re there, the outside world seems far away. It's like being swept away into a different universe, where you get to experience what it's like to live in the land of Star Wars or meet up with some Pixar friends from your childhood. Being able to literally walk up to a Millennium Falcon or go on a safari through the African savanna on the same day is just something you can't do anywhere else.

9 – CHARACTER MEETUPS

Seriously, you can go to Disney World and see just about any Disney/Pixar/Star Wars character your heart desires and actually hang out with them. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Darth Vader, Buzz Lightyear, and plenty more. How cool is that to be able to have a conversation with Captain Jack Sparrow or sit down for breakfast and have Goofy serve you Mickey-shaped waffles? Around almost every turn is a chance to see a beloved character walking around, which is enough to make an adult feel like a kid again.

READ MORE: 50+ Tips & Tricks I Learned on My First Trip to Disney World

8 – THEMED EVENTS

Themed events and Disney World are a perfect match. I’m partial to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, where we can dress up as some of our favorite characters and walk the park while trick-or-treating and taking in the spooky atmosphere. But they also have a wonderful Christmas-themed event, and EPCOT is known for its annual Food & Wine Festival throughout the year.

7 – RIDES FOR EVERYONE

I’m not a roller coaster fan. I’d love to be, but my stomach says I can’t. Thankfully, Disney has something for everyone, including me, and families can enjoy all of these different experiences together so no one feels left out! Attractions that take you around the world to the Great Wall of China or through a haunted house or into the world of Avatar’s Pandora. While the rides themselves are cool, it's equally fun that almost all the rides tell some sort of story. It's just not a riding experience, but a storytelling one as well. Sometimes I'll go through a queue with my family just so I can take in the storytelling aesthetics before hopping out of line while my wife and kids enjoy the more intense rides. Yeah, I'm the dad that holds the bags while his family does awesome stuff.

6 – TOP-NOTCH CUSTOMER SERVICE

When you’re at Disney, they have a way of making you feel like you’re the most important guest. I've always been impressed that I can ask them any question and they'll either tell me the answer or find the answer for me. It's never, "I don't know." It's, "Let me find that out for you." It's always a very personable experience. If it's your birthday or anniversary, they will go out of their way to make sure it's a special day. If you need assistance with something that may be uncommon, they'll figure out the details for you to make the process smooth. This happened to me when my luggage got left behind in their storage bay. I literally landed in Nashville without my bags. Sure enough, they were at Disney, and despite the uncertainty of it all, they took care of it for us (side note: while Disney is top-notch for customer service, you probably shouldn't assume that they'll literally take your bags to the airport for you. Yeah, that was my bad).

5 – THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Disney World isn't just for people who enjoy going to theme parks. While that may be what they're known for, there is so much more they offer for all kinds of types. You can lay by the pool, play a few rounds of golf, or go shopping. There is a nightlife scene, musical entertainment, and an overwhelming amount of food choices. Basically, if you're a Disney fan but not super into the idea of large crowds or ride queues, you can still find enjoyment throughout the Resort.

4 – THROUGH THE EYES OF CHILDREN

Vacations are so much more fun when you can really see it from the perspective of other family members, especially when it's from your kids. Taking children to Disney World and watching them become enthralled by the sheer magnitude and scope of the environment is a lot of fun. And a funny thing happens when we adults start to see this expensive vacation through our kid's eyes: we start to embody that childlike enthusiasm as well. We start to let loose a little bit more and have some more fun.

3 – ATTENTION TO DETAIL

There is a level of detail at the Disney parks that is hard to match. Everything down to the distance between trash cans is significant. No splash of paint is without purpose. From a creative standpoint, this is always something I admire about the Resort. We see a lot of the big ideas at work, but it's the small things that are super fun to take in and experience. If you are ever at the parks, try slowing down a bit and see if you can find some neat details that otherwise might go unnoticed, like storytelling devices throughout the ride queues meant to enhance the experience or hidden Mickey silhouettes scattered throughout the parks, even embedded on the ground.

2 – ADULTS GET TO BE KIDS

When you head to one of the four major Disney World parks, you eventually round a corner and see a major symbol that's representative of each area. For Magic Kingdom, it’s Cinderella’s Castle. For Epcot, it's the massive EPCOT ball. And when you see these beautiful pieces of architecture, it's hard not to be a bit overwhelmed by the magnitude of all. After all the hard work of getting to Disney World, which includes saving a lot of money, preparing, planning, and traveling, you can finally allow yourself to be swept away. Adults seem to reconnect with their childlike enthusiasm, which gravitates to everyone else in the family as well, and it becomes this kind of cyclical pattern of happiness and fun.

1 – WE ALL WANT TO GO

It's pretty rare that our family can universally agree on something. Someone wants burgers and another wants pizza for supper. This one wants to go watch a movie and this one wants to go to the park. I want to stay in and they want to go out. Around and around we go. But our family, we all love Disney World. If I ask if anyone wants to go, it's a unanimous yes.

I think the point of all of this is not necessarily that everyone should go to Disney World for their vacation. That's just what our family loves to do and it has worked for us and we're cool with that. But every family is different. The most important takeaway is that families should find something that they enjoy and keep doing it together to build stronger relationships and create memories that can last a lifetime. Whatever that may look like for you and your family, I hope that you find a tremendous amount of joy in that and take every chance you can to build on those important foundations.