a dizzying , beautifully overwhelming feeling .
To this day , that was my favorite nighttime show experience . Not because it was perfect , but because it was magical .
Fast forward to January of 2021 . With instructions to meet back at the castle , I headed off to Storybook Treats to try the Peter Pan Float . I sat down at a nearby table , waiting for my family to meet me . There was no Happily Ever After show to light up the skyline — these were different times .
And then , the magic of Disney struck again .
As I sat at a table near Storybook Treats , the blueviolet hues of the castle , mixed with the bulbs on the spinning Carrousel , created that all-too-familiar spell .
My daughter emerged from a pathway to the side of the castle . For a moment , I saw the shimmering blue gown of that trip from so long ago . But my seven-year-old had been transformed into an almost-seventeen-year-old .
What magic gave me all of these memories ? The effervescent Kingdom was connected to many of my favorite moments .
As we end , the closing words from Jiminy Cricket echo in my mind .
“ Thanks , folks , for making this little gathering of ours so extra magical . From our family and friends , goodnight , and may all your wishes come true . So long .”
May we let the magic continue to wash over us and those we love , time and time again .
BY BRIAN MCCUMSEY
PHOTO BY CLIFF WANG