By Kaylee Johnson
Campus News
Recently, I took a bus from Port Canaveral to Epcot to experience the immersive, Instagram worthy beauty of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. As a self proclaimed Disney connoisseur, I researched how to make the most of the four short hours I was allotted by the cruise ship, and created a strict schedule that I planned on following closely. But then it started downpouring; the kind of rain that tears umbrellas apart. Disappointment was smeared across the faces of hundreds of cruisers. At this point, my straightened hair was frizzy from the humid Florida rain, and my plans were wrecked, but I was still determined to see the picturesque topiaries I had been dreaming about for months.
When I arrived at Epcot, I remembered the reason why I keep coming back to Disney parks; the magical feeling it produces. The very sight of Spaceship Earth and the ornate topiaries lifted my mood. Disney parks are immensely nostalgic for me and so many other people, because they encourage guests to reminisce on old memories from our early days in the parks, and create new ones. As a terrible pessimist, it has been hard for me to see the sweetness in sour situations, but my day in Epcot taught me how to dance in the rain. I savored every vibrant colored blossom, graceful butterfly, and yes, even the violent raindrops that nourished the hungry beds of alluring flowers. They made my experience, and the photos much more memorable and interesting. And I was too high on Disney euphoria to care about my messy hair or dripping makeup. The pouring rain prevented me from taking as many pictures as I had wanted, but looking back on the day, I am glad my phone was tucked away. It is so easy to get absorbed in tourist photo mode when I travel, because all of the scenery is gorgeous, and I often think that I can capture the moment with my smartphone. But I have found that the real way to capture a emotions of a moment is to remain present.
Embrace somber gray skies, vicious thunderstorms, and unforgiving winds, don’t let them cripple your trip. Sometimes plans are meant to be thrown out, even if you put a lot of time into them. The best trips are built on spontaneity, not schedules and expectations. Unfortunately the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival ended May 28th, but don’t worry – it’s annual! And there will be plenty of other magical openings, attractions, and shows in the other parks this year, so stay tuned to campus-news.org for more Disney Parks updates!
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