For the past three years I have opted out of my family's traditional Cape Cod vacation where the primary objective is to listen to the waves roll in, find the best lobster dinner and convince my father to stop into another little antique or craft shop. Instead, I decided to put these vacations on hold and grasp on to every college opportunity. Like studying and working abroad, interning and traveling to see what else this Great Country has to offer.

So, when it was announced that Notre Dame was playing in the Gator Bowl, my parents took this opportunity to get me on a family vacation. They booked the tickets for the game and as an added bonus included some time at Disney World.

I cannot say that I was all too eager to spend too much time in a theme park, even a world-renowned one where one's dreams come true. But once I arrived and spent some time at the resort, I realized that this park is not just a theme park, but also a representation of the ideals American society holds true.

Walt Disney had the goal of creating a place where parents and children can have fun together. And of course, spend some money. (Most people do, which isn't hard because every attraction exits into a gift shop.)

Where else do people flock to and pay to be advertised to every hour of the day? Which other park has a huge innovations complex that introduces major corporation's products of the future? Amazingly, Disney does all this, while leaving most with a warm fuzzy feeling.

There is no place like Disney World. Euro Disney does not even compete. A young British couple reported this sentiment to my mother and I in Epcot as we shared a table at the Japanese Restaurant.

Americans do things big with a large smile on their face and people love it. (This is probably why the Disney Corporation seems to own everything).

Disney's dream was formed from an idea and some swamp land no one wanted in Central Florida. Now it has become one of the greatest business endeavors of our time. This is the ultimate in American ingenuity. One that is representing the ultimate American dream and can be seen in symbols like the Statue of Liberty.

Even though I have been able to see other parts of the world nothing compares with the United States from its commercialized attractions to its quiet Cape Cod dunes. But I suppose there is no place like home whether you're attracted to the Zippity Do Da of Disney or to the rolling waves of the Cape.

I think this summer I might be able to at least spend a week on the beach.

• America's playground