Celebrating 15 Magical Years
In 2023, my husband and I celebrated 15 wonderful years of marriage, and it was nothing short of fabulous. The occasion coincided with a special invitation to Florida to celebrate my cousin’s 50th wedding anniversary. I was honored to be asked to create a commemorative video for them. Since my family lives just outside the Disney bubble, I was thrilled about the trip and the chance to blend family celebrations with a little Disney magic.
As my husband and I planned our visit, we realized it would be a short trip with much of my time spent with family. So, we decided to do something different—travel separately and mix solo adventures with quality time together.
I flew down a day before my husband and stayed at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. My flight landed at 8 a.m., and I hit the ground running at Animal Kingdom. I soaked in the magic by watching The Lion King show and riding all my favorite attractions. From there, I made my way to Magic Kingdom for some much-needed “me time.” I indulged in every moment, riding The Haunted Mansion three times, enjoying snacks at my own pace, and reveling in the freedom to do whatever I wanted. That night, I ended my perfect solo day with the fireworks—a magical “kiss goodnight” from the parks, even though my real kiss had to wait until my husband arrived the next day.
When my husband joined me the following morning, we dove into Epcot and Hollywood Studios together. It was a slower, more intentional day, filled with laughter, good food, and all the attractions we both love. Without the usual distractions of everyday life or the hustle of managing kids, we simply enjoyed each other’s company. It was a rare and treasured opportunity to reconnect, and it reminded us how important it is to create moments like this as a couple.
A Day for Him, a Day for Family
On our third day, my husband had his solo Disney day while I spent time with my family. Before heading to Polk County for the anniversary celebration, I decided to take advantage of Disney transportation for some quiet, reflective time. I people-watched the morning bustle, rode the Skyliner with my husband to Hollywood Studios, then hopped on a boat to another resort. From there, I took a bus to Magic Kingdom’s entrance and rode the monorail to the Contemporary.
As I soaked in the views, I thought about my cousin, who had been a chef at California Grill. It was a beautiful reminder of the family ties that brought me to Florida. Just as I was preparing to leave, I received a text from my husband that melted my heart:
“A Cast Member just looked at my ‘Celebrating 15 Ears’ button and asked where my partner was. I told him that the secret to 15 successful years is knowing when to do things together and when to take time for yourself. Today, I’m in the park solo while she’s with her family. She had her solo day already, and we had a day together yesterday. It’s perfect!”
He was absolutely right. This trip was one of the best experiences of my life.
In just a few days, I got to enjoy Disney in three completely different ways. I had a day entirely to myself, where I could savor every moment and make every decision just for me. I had an incredible day with my husband, full of fun, laughter, and quality time together. And finally, I had a heartfelt day with family, celebrating love and milestones.
