How fitting that I am writing about one of the most anticipated returns after our world had fallen apart……Happily Ever After. With the measured reopening of Disney, we have seen so many things return and we have waited patiently for so many activities and attractions, but I must admit, standing in the hub the other night seeing Happily Ever After for the first time in nearly 16 months, was the most “normalcy” that I have ever felt since March of 2020.
Before the announcement of the return of Happily Ever After and Epcot Forever, it was no question that I had to be there! Not only to experience it for myself but to share with all of you, the joy and normalcy of this amazing occasion. So, we made a whirlwind 48ish hour trip down just for the opening night viewing and it was worth every raindrop and every yawn!
I have to say that it has been literal years since I have stood in the hub and waited in the pouring rain for fireworks. While I enjoy them often, I guess I had gotten in the habit of not really soaking them in as the magical moment that they are. I won’t be making that mistake ever again. I was thankful to stand in the hub with hundreds of other diehards in the sopping rain waiting for the music to fill the air and fireworks to light the sky! Shoulder to shoulder, when the lights dimmed and focus went to Cinderella Castle…..hundreds of superfans began reciting the introduction, singing, crying, and cheering. In the most magical of 18 minutes, all the care melted away from the world, and everything was back to normal.
I know it may seem dramatic, and a bit of overkill, but if these past many months should have taught us, there is only shame in NOT seizing the moment. If nothing else, I have the pandemic to thank for being able to appreciate the magical things ever more than I have in the past and to enjoy every single moment of happiness and magic! And what better way to keep that in mind than living……Happily Ever After!
Thoughts from @theprincessndtheblog
Our less than 48-hour trip was a success. I have been #TeamWishes forever… but, seeing the first HEA since COVID was something special. Although I am SO thankful to have had a somewhat normal park experience (no masks, fireworks, etc), I’m very sad that the low crowd count days are behind us. The number of people in Magic Kingdom for the fireworks was absolutely insane. It felt like the middle of Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Even with that amount of people, you were still given your own secluded space. One good thing that COVID has given us a theme park goers is personal space. People are not as apt to be on top of one another in mass gatherings such as HEA. Overall, I was very happy to see the show with my friends. It will always be a special Disney memory to me. I will miss Happily Ever After (as it leaves later this year) but I’m excited to see what Disney has in store to replace it! Go see it before it’s gone for good, you won’t regret it!
