Holistic Disney

This blog post is the beginning of a series that looks at Walt Disney World from a holistic perspective and how WDW affects guests holistically.  But before we can even begin, we have to ask, what does "holistic" mean?  It's a term that is becoming more and more popular and you can hear it in many places, TV newscasts, magazine articles, advertisements, physicians offices, etc.  Holistic simply means looking at something or someone as a whole, rather than just as individual parts or pieces.  It involves consideration of a "whole system."  Many times we hear it referenced in medicine as treating the body and the mind.  The term also describes the use of a variety of methods to fix a single problem or issue.

For this series, we are going to expand the view of holism in Disney to include body, mind and spirit.  How does Walt Disney World have a positive affect on the body?  What does Disney do to encourage the use of the mind?  And what affect does time at Walt Disney World have on a person's spirit?  We are also going to examine what you can do at Disney to enhance your experience in a holistic fashion.

If you have any thoughts or ideas you would like to share on this topic, or memories of certain experiences that fit this discussion, please feel free to leave those in the comments or email them to me directly at mydisneytherapy@gmail.com . Next post we will begin with the body!

You've Got a Friend in Me...Support Groups for Disney Addiction

So you’ve acknowledged that you “suffer” from Disney addiction, and you’ve begun understanding your diagnosis by pouring over the many Disney websites and downloading some amazing Disney podcasts.  What now? 

Now it’s time to discuss treatment.  Obviously, the best form of treatment would be to head to Disney and just stay there.  You know, move into the Cinderella Castle Suite and live in the Magic Kingdom.  But since that’s not going to happen anytime soon (trust me, if it were possible, I would be blogging from inside right now!), the next best thing is planning a trip to Disney.  Again, for most of us, there are some limitations here as to how often we can head to our favorite place on earth.  So what do we do in the meantime?  What helps us get through from one Disney vacation to the next?

Well, the planning is part of it, but who do you have to share your planning with?  Who can you talk to openly and honestly about your Disney addiction without fear of judgement?  Do you have good friends or family who are also Disney addicts that you can share this with?  Many of us don’t have that in our close personal circle of friends and family.  I’m working on converting my husband but even he has his limits as to how much Disney he can stand to discuss with me.  So my “Disney family” has come in the form of online forums aka online “support groups.” 

Many of your favorite Disney websites have discussion forums available to join and talk Disney anytime with fellow Disney addicts.  Be sure to look for forums when you are checking out Disney websites you enjoy.  I would advise that you read through several posts before joining, just to get a feel for the group.  Not all groups are a good fit for each individual, even if they are Disney.  Some groups (and I’m not naming any names) tend to be less supportive and more informative, or directive, or judgmental.  No matter who you are, you should be able to find a forum that feels comfortable, safe, and supportive of you and your level of Disney addiction.  It’s an amazing way to make new Disney friends.  And a great way to fill those between trip times with Disney magic every day!

And as a side note…if you’re wondering which forums are part of my Disney family, I am proud to be a part of the Be Our Guest Podcast forums, the Disney Driven Life family, and the Tour Guide Mike forums.  I’m lurking around a few others, just to see what’s going on and see if they would be a good addition for me.    What forums aka support groups are you a part of?  Leave me some suggestions in the comments section.  And don’t forget to look for Disney folks on twitter.  They are all awesome!