Why Kids Today Desperately Need Disney World

Let’s face it, folks: social media has our kids growing up faster than ever. Today’s ten-year-olds have skincare routines and know how to make a mean charcuterie board—skills that I barely have now! In a world of TikTok tutorials and Instagram filters, it’s a challenge to keep kids in that magical, innocent phase of life for very long. That’s why I think there’s one place every kid needs to experience before they’re old enough to start stressing about “aesthetic” photos: Disney World.

Allow me to take you back to a simpler time when I was a wide-eyed little girl visiting Disney World for the first time. Picture this: there’s me, tiny Tami, walking through those enchanted gates, just waiting to see the characters from my favorite movies come to life. And then there she was—Minnie Mouse in her adorable dress and high heels! To my young eyes, she was the epitome of glamour and sophistication, an absolute fashion icon in polka dots. This was no cartoon anymore; she was real, right in front of me, and she had the best shoes I’d ever seen.

Then, there was the Walt Disney Castle. It was as if someone had plucked a dreamy palace straight out of a fairytale and dropped it right in the middle of Florida. To my childhood mind, that castle was the definition of glamour and magic. Every time I looked at it, I imagined myself as a princess living in a world where sparkles, friendly mice, and fairy godmothers were everyday occurrences. Disney World made me feel like anything was possible, which was huge because life had a way of trying to snatch that feeling of wonder away.

As I grew a little older, my love shifted to Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She wasn’t your typical princess—she was smart, curious, and didn’t let anyone tell her who to be or what to like. She loved books, she was a little sassy, and she didn’t care that Gaston thought she was strange for being different. Watching her walk around the park (yes, I still thought she was real) made me feel like it was okay to be who I was, even if that meant I was a bit of a bookworm.

Disney gave me a childhood when life tried everything in its power to take it away. It kept me anchored in a world of magic and innocence, even as I started to learn that the world wasn’t all castles and princesses. But as an adult, I worry that today’s kids don’t get the same chance to just be kids. With every trend, every “like,” and every video, they’re constantly aware of how they look, how they’re perceived, and what they’re supposed to be interested in. The pressure to be “grown up” has never been higher.

And can we talk about roller coasters for a second? Even now, I’m still terrified of those stomach-turning monstrosities. You think I was riding Space Mountain or the Tower of Terror as a kid? No way! I actually tried once and I remember very vividly freaking out and running off before the ride took off. If there was a fast-moving ride with drops and sharp turns, you could bet I’d be off to the side, waiting for my family to get off the ride... at the exit gate, watching people’s scream in apparent glee as entertainment. But Disney World isn’t just about thrills. It’s about giving kids a safe space to dream, imagine, and be silly without judgment.

For kids today, Disney World can be a lifeline back to innocence, a place where they don’t need to pose, preen, or post. They can just be. Here, every child can feel like a princess, a pirate, or a brave adventurer. They can look up at the towering Disney Castle and feel the awe and glamour of a fairytale world, one where no one is worrying about likes, followers, or views. And in the end, that’s the kind of magic kids today need more than ever—a chance to be captivated by a world where reality fades and dreams take center stage.

So yes, take them to Disney World. Let them meet Minnie in her cute dress and heels, let them marvel at the castle, and maybe even let them meet Belle. Because if there’s one place left where kids can experience true wonder, it’s Disney. And who knows, maybe they’ll even understand why I’m still dodging roller coasters to this day!