The magic came to Florida on Friday, October 1, 1971. I was six years old and had only heard stories of what a wonderland the Magic Kingdom was on television. As a small child, I dreamed of what it would be like to go to Disneyland, of course, because when I was able to, I watched Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (later called The Wonderful World of Disney) on Sunday nights. I can particularly remember lying on the floor of my grandparents’ home staring up intently at their color TV (we only had black and white at home) and hearing Walt describe this or that aspect of his park. He could weave a word picture like no one else, and seeing those magical images in color just fueled my imagination. I also had many of the Disney Little Golden Books, like Cinderella and Snow White (actually a pop-up version of that one), Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck with Huey, Dewey and Louie, and more.
Back then I was too young to appreciate the history that was being made on this momentous day or the enormous impact it would have on me later. But, in my imagination Walt Disney World was a magical place with which nothing in the world could compare. 
I had cousins who went pretty soon after Walt Disney World opened, and they brought me a disjointed Pluto puppet which I still have to this day.
As a high school student and member of the Senior Beta Club, we attended the first ever National Beta Club Convention in Orlando in the Spring of 1981, which was held at the then Sheraton Twin Towers. We were actually there to support our state Beta Club president who ran for National Beta Club president and won… but, I digress. We had one day to spend at the Magic Kingdom, and on that day I got to see for the first time what I had dreamed of as a child. And, it was so far beyond my dreams that I could hardly believe it. I loved it all, but the biggest and most impactful to me was Tomorrowland. I had always loved futuristic things and thoughts of space travel, and to me Tomorrowland brought all those things to life. So, the magic was actually there for 10 years before I actually got to see it in person.
Fast forward five years to 1986… I was a college student and in love. On Thursday, February 27th my love “popped the question,” and we were engaged. Three days later we set off for Walt Disney World with his family on our first trip there together. We had a World Passport for 3 days, the first of which we spent at Magic Kingdom. Of course, being newly engaged it was like I was seeing everything again for the first time. We held hands and walked through the park blissfully enjoying every attraction, character meeting, meal, snack, etc. Then we made our way to the nearly brand new EPCOT Center. There are no words to adequately describe what being in this new and supremely imaginative playground for grownups was like. If you experienced it, then you know. If you didn’t, then you’ll just have to use — umm — your imagination. The innovative attractions immersed you into a world of future possibilities (Future World) and present realities (World Showcase).
