Is Walt Disney World Heaven? 
I type those words with a smile on my face. If you’ve never been, or it’s been a long while, that question may seem totally ridiculous! Before the trip I took with my family last year I would have most likely wrinkled my forehead and “herumphed” inwardly were the question posed to me. As a professing Christian, believer in the inerrant Word of God, and one whose heart is set on eternity I say the answer is obviously, no.
But.
Walt Disney World is where many of my most precious dreams have come true and I believe Walt Disney the man was able to capture a tiny sliver and give us a small glimpse of Heaven with his imagined creation. I’ll never forget a moment on our trip when I was waiting to meet back up with my family. I was standing behind Cinderella’s castle close enough to lean on the wall. I looked up and felt a stirring in my heart and soul. Tears came into my eyes and I said to myself, “This is what’s awaiting us in eternity.” At first I was totally taken aback and almost wondered at my sanity. But then I was reminded that Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3. He IS preparing a place for us where we will dwell in the kingdom of His presence for “infinity and beyond”. A place where every tribe and tongue will come together to worship, praise and give Him glory. A kingdom of peace, eternal hope, light, victory and where all the sad things of earth have become untrue. I believe this is the atmosphere Disney was trying to create with his world of fantasy. When the day was done and we’d returned to our comfortable condo my husband asked me, “Did you sense the spiritual undertones today?” My response? ”Yes!! I thought I was crazy!!!” 
But it’s true. There are spiritual undertones and reflections of God’s kingdom in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Being surrounded by crowds of people, young and old, of all nationalities and backgrounds, all craning their necks in hopes to see a mere person wearing a costume of a mouse in a tuxedo. They want a glimpse of the king. :) (Rev. 7:9) Getting settled in our seats to watch the parades and shows hours before showtime just so we can get a close-up look at the greatness. All the singing and celebrating; it’s worship (Rev. 5:13). When your only care is making sure you see and do all that is on your wish list. Getting up with the sun to squeeze in as many smiles, laughs and hugs as the day can hold. To quote Peter Pan, “Think of all the joy you’ll find when you leave the world behind and bid your cares goodbye.” That’s what happens when you walk into the Mouse’s world. It’s very much like C.S. Lewis with his Chronicles of Narnia series and J.R. Tolken’s Lord of the Rings. Those stories are intertwined with themes from the spiritual realm as well. If you take a look at many of Disney’s early movies you’ll see and hear echoes of his own faith as he incorporates biblical lessons and themes in his story telling. Themes such as resurrection, good winning the victory over evil with weapons of faith and righteousness, characters being swallowed by a whale, inward battles with temptation and refusals to listen to the still small voice inside and more.
We all were made for worship. Many aspects of God’s creation bid my heart to worship Him. The same thing happens for me at the Magic Kingdom. I am drawn to praise Him for His goodness, His greatness, His Majesty, His creativeness, His glory and for just being God. I think that is a good thing.
Disney is definitely greater than reality but Heaven is greater than Disney.
For one thing, the reality of the world of Disney is all a show. It’s pretend. A facade. The bricks that make up Cinderella’s castle are faux. Heaven is for real, and not because a little boy has written a book and made a movie about his journey there and back but because the very breath of God says it’s so. There are times when the lights of Main Street USA are turned off and the cast members all go home to their own realities….just like ours. Lives that are marred by brokenness, illness, sadness and hardships. John 1:5 talks about God’s light, an eternal light that shines in the darkness and isn’t overcome. There’s not even a shadow, no darkness where evil can hide, Job 34:22. Jesus is the king in Heaven. Not a man dressed as a mouse but God, dressed as a man (John 1:14) Have you priced tickets to enter the Magic Kingdom lately?? Yikes! God himself paid my ticket fee to His kingdom with the life of His one and only son (John 3:16), and for that I am thankful.
So, is Disney World Heaven?
No.
But it excites my soul for the kingdom to come. 
*You can read more about Walt Disney and his faith HERE.
