By now you know me well enough to be certain that I never need a reason to visit Walt Disney World or sail on Disney Cruise Line or both!  I’ve heard though (sadly) that may not be the case for some people out there.  Some of my friends and acquaintences say, “I wish we could go to Disney World more often but my husband/wife/partner/mom/dad (insert applicable spoil-sport of your choice) doesn’t want to go.”  Personally, I think I’ve gotten pretty good at keeping the look of horror off my face at these moments and I usually just try to nod sympathetically and choke out some form of, “I understand” – which of course is a small white lie.  I don’t understand.  Not even a little.

This post is for those of you who need a nudge or know someone who does – let me help you get the Disney Vacation planning process off the ground with…

Five Good Reasons To Take a Disney Vacation:

1. Children Grow up So Fast!  He/She/They will only be this age once.  There is an abundance of magical moments awaiting children of all ages at Walt Disney World, but you must admit – the age window for that total buy-in of all that is magical and wondrous and REAL about Princesses, Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald and ALL the characters is limited.  Please, don’t pass up the opportunity to make those lasting happy memories!  We want future Disney fans, right?  This is the way to start that process off right!  Trust me – when you see the face of a child as they watch Tinker Bell fly from Cinderella Castle, see a ghost in their Doombuggy, receive a waive and a blown kiss from their favorite Disney Princess during the Festival of Fantasy Parade…it’ll all be worth it.

2. We Will Only Be US Right NOW!  Whether you’re newlyweds, the parents of teens, or empty nesters, this is a great reason to take a Disney vacation.  It’s hard to imagine how fast life goes by!  We took one Disney World vacation before we started a family and have traveled there many times on family vacations as our children grew up.  Finally, after 25 years, we get to go back as a couple…and it’s a good thing we’re taking advantage of this opportunity.  Our daughter is getting married next year and who knows?  We may be grandparents in the not too distant future!  Bringing on a completely new and different way to vacation Disney style!

3. So Much to Celebrate!  Any excuse will do!  Birthday, Christmas, Halloween, anniversary, honeymoon, graduation, good grades, family reunion, Super Bowl win – use what works for your particular situation.  There’s no better place to celebrate than on a Disney vacation.  There are a lot of ways to celebrate on a Disney vacation and those Disney Cast Members love to help make your celebration special.  For Raymond, this is his preferred choice for justifying a Disney trip and has managed to use this excuse to celebrate his own birthday at Walt Disney World at least three times that I can remember.

4. Research!  I numbers 1-3 don’t help push you (or your loved one) to choose a Disney vacation, us this excuse:  We need to get the lay of the land, know what it’s like, practice our touring plans, test the rides and attractions, sample the food before we come back with any/all of the following:  Children, grandchildren, parents, friends, extended family, cheerleaders, choir group, marching band – whatever!  Pick some excuse for research – that’s your story and you’re sticking to it!

5. Get In Shape!  If all else fails, run!  No, seriously.  If you’re not already a runner, get moving.  This year I’ve used reasons #2 and #3 then realized that I am already a runner so I quickly said HEY!  I must participate in a runDisney event!  Right now!  Before I get any older!!!  Before Raymond realized what was happening, we were booked for a February vacation.  Now, I will actually have to run the 5k, 10k, and half-marathon I’ve registered for, but still…a Disney vacation with a twist is still a Disney vacation.  Raymond likes doing things on his own, so while I’m running, he can have some alone time to enjoy Walt Disney World!  Plus, we get to eat in some excellent table service restaurants…I believe proper pre-race nutrition is critical!  Read about my personal road to runDisney here.

Hopefully, you are now fully armed with all the ammunition you need to convince your mom, dad, husband, wife, grandmother, brother, sister – whoever necessary – to take you on a Disney vacation!!!  Use it wisely, my friend.

What are YOUR favorite excuses, reasons, and justifications for planning a Disney vacation?