Disneyland over the years has been a place where I always had a great time, with family and friends. When I was really little we would go to visit family who had moved from Pennsylvania to California and now lived in Anaheim and Orange. My first time, I fortunately don’t remember. I was a baby in a white footed sleeper, and became really hysterically upset toward evening. When mom went to change me she realized that I had sunburned, even through the fabric of the sleeper and by that night I had several large blisters. They had thought I was protected by the sleeper and always kept my face in shade, the perambulator had a hood that they could angle to shade my head.
My next time, I was in love with Snow White and Tinkerbell and fascinated by the way the black light in the various rides made my families clothing glow. I remember leaning over the edge of the pirate ship in The Peter Pan ride to see London glittering far below and REALLY believing it. I got a thin plastic wand made of glow in the dark stuff and topped with a star. I remember being Tinkerbelle and trying to cover everyone with Pixie dust.
My Dad’s Sisters Rachel and Dorothy, both their husbands and children, and my Grandpa Emerson were the main reason for the trip of course, and Disneyland was much smaller and required A or C or E tickets depending on the level of ride you wanted on. We also got in beach time, Sea World or Marine Land, maybe Knott’s Berry Farm or a boat ride to Santa Catalina Island.
Then when Greg and I were married and living in Ashland, OR I flew back to Wyoming for my brother Brett’s High School graduation, and then drove to So Cal with my family. Greg flew down to meet us and we took him to Disneyland for his first time. Mom and Lance went along, but Dad stayed behind playing poker and Tripoly with his Dad and Siblings. Greg was the biggest child in Disneyland. He was in his element. Lance was delighted except when we went in Star Tours. Nothing could convince him that it wasn’t real and he was furious. I can still hear him, “Greg, you in big trouble! We could have died. DEAD as in ”D” ”E” “D” Dead. Do you hear me? We crashed.” And he pointed at his foot and tapped his toe several times so Greg would know he was serious.
Years later, after my Dad’s death we went back, with friends we had met in Crescent City, but who now lived in our old home town of Ashland. Our boys were 4&5 and their kids were basically the same ages and the 4 of them got along great so we did it again when the boys were 9 and 10 and then took mom and Lance for Mom’s birthday. We also met up with the oldest sister, who had raised my dad and went to a Dodger’s / Angel’s game for the 3rd of July and then did Disneyland on the 4th of July. Dumb day to be there. Fun but way too many people and looooooong lines.
Greg and I went back with his high school music kids, and Austin went a different time with his high school band.
Then when Daisy was in kindergarten we flew down for Christmas and went to Legoland, Universal Studios and Disneyland including the princess breakfast. I was definitely older that time. Sometimes I had to just stop and watch the people going by and sit out part of the adventure, sometimes I still felt like the first time I’d ever experienced the magic. My real life is good, and the real Disney corporation is big business with all that means, but in my heart, I am so thankful for the wonderful world of Disney, the movies, the characters, the dreams, and the park.
I am happy for the Disney of the past that I grew up on, and that I was able to go to both Disneyland and Disney World to see my favorite exhibit of the World's Fair when it was held in NYC- It's A Small World (the one in Anaheim is the actual one from NY). I still know most of the words (and embarrassed my nieces in CA by singing it all the way through the ride as I snapped a million pictures!). So this is a great shot and memory for me as well!
@olivetreeann I sing through it too, and even though the carousel of progress is no longer there, I sing it’s theme song in Tomorrowland anyway. I just heard Small world got its first person in a wheelchair, doll.
