Travel

Disney Magic & The Concept of Paying It Forward

Cocktails in Teacups Disney Magic and Paying It Forward

A week ago today we arrived back home from what can only be described as the most magical trip of our life. Yes, there were times that were challenging as you can imagine when you travel alone with a toddler, but on the whole, there was not one moment that I wished away. I didn’t get to do everything I wanted to do due to doing things LM wanted to do instead, but by the end of the holiday I stopped caring what ride we went on or who we queued to meet because every single second was an amazing memory. I’m not sad it’s over, but I won’t lie, I wish I was one of those lucky Floridian’s who going to the Disney parks was part of the every day but that’s probably more because I got to experience what that life is like through the many friends we made.

I am going to go on to doing a daily diary, some tips for doing Walt Disney World with a toddler, places we ate and what I thought as well as our best bits. but today I want to share something that I’ve spent bottled up for the better half of this week, and I’m the worst at keeping my own secrets.

Have you ever heard of the concept “paying it forward”? I had, but only in passing. It was never something I had experienced first hand. Until now. For those of you unfamiliar with the phrase, paying it forward is essentially returning a good deed, but rather than returning it to the original person, you pass it on. That’s probably not a great way of describing it but it’s how I described it to my mum. ANYWAY, while we were out in Florida, as I said, we made a lot of new friends. I feel blessed with the amount of people that wanted to get to know LM and I, and for once I could be sure it was genuine as I could offer nothing in return, I was only there for 10 days and these people visit the parks on a weekly basis. On returning home I was contacted by one of the friends we met out there telling me how she wanted to repay a good deed that happened to her years ago by paying for flights back out to Florida for LM and I.

I’m starting a new paragraph here in case you need a minute (or 10 like I did). For me I’d always seen paying it forward like paying for a grocery shop for someone who’d forgot their card, or buying dinner or a newly engaged couple. It didn’t extend to flights from the UK to the US, but for LM and I, it did.

The thing is, I’m a single mother and although I work hard, I don’t really make much so one holiday to Florida alone was a dream come true. Since then I have lost two grandfather’s which have made sequential trips in the future a possibility, but never in a million years did I think I would be able to take my daughter back to Disney World twice in the space of 6 months. I love my daughter more than everything and I do try my hardest to give her everything she deserves. And although it’s mainly my influence, her love for Disney is deep rooted and true. The foundations of this gift was the fact that everyone who met LM while we were out there could see how much she loved it. She fitted in perfectly.

Although this is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to us and I have wanted to scream it from my roof all week, there are people out there who don’t see this as an amazing thing for us. They were bitter about our first trip and will be more so now (yay for the town I call home). Not only that, but I’m not telling my dad just yet and even then it took a few days to have the courage to tell my mum. While I was out there were friends who offered us places to stay if we went back on a budget so they know as I needed to sound out dates before booking but aside from that.. However today I just needed to share, I can’t believe it’s less than 5 months until we’ll be back in the most magical place on earth!

Cocktails in Teacups Disney Magic and Paying it Forward 2

Cocktails in Teacups Disney Magic and Paying it Forward 3

Cocktails in Teacups Disney Magic and Paying it Forward 4

“Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic.”

7 Comments

  • Josie

    Oh my goodness Amy, how exciting! What a wonderful thing for someone to do for you and LM. Looking forward to reading your daily diaries by the way 🙂 x

  • Amber

    I can honestly say I am the tiniest bit jealous (read that as extremely) especially since all the wonderful photos you and Bel have posted although I know my time will come and I will go to Disney World!

    But what an amazing thing for someone to do and hopefully somewhere in the future you can do something special for someone deserving too x

  • Christiane

    That is the most wonderful and generous thing I have ever heard! I am actually a bit surprised that someone will do that for another person but it also makes me so happy that there exists such a wonderful person in the world. This put a smile on my face.

  • jilly

    Wow that’s absolutely amazing! What kind friends you have!
    I’m a tiny bit jealous though hehe!
    I can’t believe your family or friends might be unhappy or bitter about something so fabulous! xx

  • Tilly

    I’m so happy for you and LM ~ nobody deserves being there more than you and her! It also is a bit selfish because it means I get to look at all your pictures again!

  • kariss

    Oh my god I am so happy for you! What a lovely thing for that person to do, it’s so nice seeing how well you and Olivia have fit in over there and have made life long friends!!

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