If you’d told my 20-something self that my 40-something self would feel more confident wearing Minnie ears than high heels, I’d have laughed. Back then, confidence meant control with perfect hair, perfect lipstick, a blazer, a fabulous career ahead and pretending I wasn’t completely exhausted. Now? Confidence looks a lot like walking through Epcot with a coffee in one hand, my hair doing whatever it wants, and absolutely no concern for whether anyone thinks I’m “too old” for Mickey-shaped pretzels. and dancing in the snow on Main Street.

The Moment That Sparked It

On our last Disney trip, a Cast Member called me “princess.”
Not the little-kid kind of princess moment. The kind where you suddenly remember that you still are one, even if your crown is more dry shampoo than sparkle these days. I giggled a little but something in me softened. For years, I’d quietly believed my shine had dulled. I’d left a long career in media, raised four kids, and was told somewhere along the way that I wasn’t “young and cute enough” anymore. That stings… until you realize how ridiculous it is.

Because walking down Main Street U.S.A. at sunset, surrounded by music and popcorn and the smell of possibility, I remembered: Disney has never been about age. It’s about magic, and magic doesn’t expire.

Lessons from the Magic Kingdom

Belle taught me that curiosity is beautiful. She wanted more than her “provincial life,” and honestly, so did I. Reinvention after 40 isn’t reckless, it’s courageous.

Elsa reminded me that the good kind of power doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from letting go (cue the song in your head, I know and sorry, not sorry).

Rapunzel proved that sometimes you need to leave your tower, whether it’s a job, a comfort zone, or an idea of who you used to be, and chase the lanterns, even if your knees snap, crackle and pop when you run.

And Minnie Mouse? She’s been unapologetically fabulous for almost a century. If she can rock polka dots and bows forever, I can definitely wear sequined ears to breakfast.

And, of course, Daisy Duck? She’s the definition of confidence with attitude. She knows her worth, never tones it down, and somehow makes sass look classy. I want to channel that kind of energy, bold, loyal, and a little glittery, every single day.

Rediscovering My Spark

Something about Disney makes you brave in small, beautiful ways. You dance in line. You wear color again. You smile for photos without worrying about the angle. Maybe it’s the soundtrack or the sunshine or the sugar rush, but more than anything, it’s the reminder that joy looks good on you.

I started noticing that the more I leaned into what made me happy, the more confident I felt. Not because I looked younger, but because I felt alive. That’s the kind of glow you can’t buy in a skincare aisle.

The Happily Ever After (for Now)

Disney didn’t make me confident. It reminded me I already was. It just took a castle, a Joffrey’s iced coffee, and a few talking mice to bring her back out.

So here’s to every woman who’s ever thought her “best years” were behind her: they’re not. They’re waiting right where the fireworks begin, at the intersection of nostalgia, bravery, and believing in yourself again. And maybe, just maybe, a little pixie dust.

Because confidence after 40 isn’t about reclaiming your youth. It’s about realizing your story is still worth telling.

And I, for one, plan to tell mine with a coffee in hand and mouse ears on my head.

As always, Stay Magical, Disney Friends!