Magical moments of Disney World still drawing in crowds

Riding on the packed bus discussing the events of the day, my friend of a great many years bellowed, "Why don't you ever write anything positive in your column?" 
My buddy is the exceptional single father of two splendid (really!) little girls, with whom I was invited to tour Disney World over Memorial Day. In his present status my friend is frequently short on sleep, and as such may be forgiven for not noticing that every column here presented is in defense of individual liberty, freedom and fun, and therefore inherently positive.
And despite his having invited a friend with a strident policy of personal childlessness, I being of an occasionally adventurous nature, thought exploring the Magic Kingdom and its allied provinces with the two princesses might provide some interesting observations. 
As one might expect, the theme parks of Orlando were seam-busting full over the holiday weekend. The Magic Kingdom seemed filled to capacity, and there were no shortage of helpful, perpetually smiling staff available to guide, cajole, assist and cordon where required.
It is well known that although Tallahassee was the only Confederate capitol not to fall to the invader, Florida did not officially exist in the mind of the nation until 1971 when the Mouse reared his gargantuan ears over the sleepy Orlando skyline. Since then Yankees and other foreigners have swarmed and transformed the middle of the peninsula, officially annexing it for New Jersey just before the Mariel Boatlift stirred up the soup once again.
The stirring continues, evidenced by tongues from peoples so varied that Epcot was almost a redundancy. The lines were long but full of ebullient, cheerful folks ready for the next bit of whimsy or thrill hiding around the corner. True, many of those waiting must have been foreign visitors here to take advantage of the weak dollar, but the bulk were a great many Americans spending a great many weak dollars. There were stuffed animals, soft-serve treats, jumbo sodas and enormous turkey legs aplenty, possibly explaining some of the stuffed, soft-serve, jumbo children, sleeping in enormous shaded strollers, being pushed through the crowds. Mark it down; pediatric diabetes is a growth industry. 
The shows and rides were sparkling gems of technology and imagination far surpassing anything I expected from my last visit a quarter-century ago. From high definition screens entwined with real actors, through a couple of teeth-splitting, belly-rupturing roller coasters, to the corny old robotic celebrities, it was just plain fun (it is especially fun mentioning to a six-year old that the upcoming roller coaster will be scarier than the last one, just to gauge the reaction, but then you have to bribe her with a present to coax her on). 
The entire park staff to a person was cheerful and genuinely happy to be there. I looked behind several bushes to see whether there were any aerosolized Prozac sprayers, but found none. It must have been in the water.
One night we were driven back to the hotel by a Haitian cabbie as cheerful and happy as anyone we had met, tourist or resident. Yes he was concerned about the high gas prices, but he was making do. He has been here for 14 years, and says that his family and friends back in Haiti think him quite wealthy. By his own reckoning he has not hit it big and gotten rich "yet." A uniquely American sentiment uttered at a ground zero of capitalism. 
"Aren't you worried about the rising consumer price index?" I asked one little princess back on the bus. She ignored the point and wondered what sort of animals we would see on the safari ride. I made the point to her sister that the GOP is on the verge of total collapse this fall. The younger sister yawned and fell back asleep, dreaming of the mermaid Ariel.
Apparently politics will not be disrupting anyone's summer.
 
Patrick Conrad is a physician in Niceville, Fla., and considers himself a libertarian secessionist. You can write him at wickedgrin@cox.net or through his Web site, www.doctorsforfreedom.com.