Emotions Run High at Disney Parks and Disney Social Media Moms Celebration “On-The-Road”

He did it.

Amusement!

The man with the Jedi robes, mouse ears and duck bill said one of the most profound statements I had ever heard given at a conference.  Emotions make memories.  Disney Parks tap into these emotions, and that is what creates the magical memories that we love and cherish best.  Think “it’s a small world,” and the instant and deep connections you experience the very first time you embarked on the “happiest cruise on earth.”

(Sorry to keep resurrecting this one, but it really does sum up the roots of my own magical memories.) A bit of Goofy awe, right before our first cruise on “it’s a small world” in 1964!!

We all have proof that Disney memories DO last a lifetime; and now, thanks to Professor Gary Buchanan we know why.

Giddy with excitement in 1972; Baloo AND my first Mickey Mouse (almost inflated) balloon.

Our deep and poignant experiences are seared in our hearts first, and then our minds.  Science shows that our most vivid memories have deep emotional events attached; physiologically, neuro-chemicals are released during these episodes, which leads to deeper encoding and clear recall.  All in living color!!

Seeing the Disney Parks, though magical firsts, through your child’s eyes is pure joy!!

Perhaps this explains why we feel as though our hearts will burst when our children start “encoding” their own Disney Parks memories…

And in turn, why are the images and feelings gathered from Disney Social Media Moms Celebration “On-The-Road” so brilliant?  After all, these are simply half day events held once a year.  Why are these memories so enduring?!  I would argue that it is the very same depth of emotions that call us back time and time again.

To help prove Professor Buchanan’s hypothesis, I thought I would utilize what I learned from another “teacher,” Victoria Lim; Managing Editor of Walt Disney World Public Relations and stellar presenter at the 2014 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration “On-The-Road” in Philadelphia.  Victoria showed us several invaluable tools to create more exciting visual and mobile content.  (And boy, do I need help with my multimedia, multiplatform storytelling!)  I downloaded the free iPad app Videolicious as she was speaking, and immediately imagined the possibilities…  I couldn’t help but think there was no better way to re-create “Emotions and Disney Social Media Moms Celebration ‘On-The-Road’ Memories” than with a DIStherapy video production!

A special thanks to Maria Bailey (@MomTalkRadio), Gary Buchanan (@Gary_Jerry) and Jenn Fickley-Baker (@DisneyParksJenn), for instilling these emotions, applauding our Disney Side, and conceiving these magical memories.

*Credit to Deb Silhan of Focused on the Magic for sharing some of her beautiful photos with me!