My Disneyland Story

Not sure what to post for my first blog, but Disney has been on my mind so here's this 

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If you follow me on Bluesky, you know I am an avid fan of Disneyland. Not the movies as much, though I do have my favorites. But I adore the parks.

As a kid, I went to private Catholic school. For 10 years actually, TK all through 8th grade. I sat next to the kids of doctors, lawyers, highly successful real estate agents, architechts.......Point being, they were wealthy. These people had vacation houses in addition to their huge homes in the rich part of town, these kids owned and experienced things I couldn't even conceive of. Because my parents were not wealthy. One worked for a school and the other for our state government. They sacrificed to send me to that school. Sacrificed money and time and for my mother, a life where she could stay home with her children.

I remember kids talking about Disneyland as early as 1st grade. I have this vague memory of the classroom right before summer break and the teacher asking our plans, and so many kids said Disneyland. I didn't know exactly what it was but I knew it was fun and there were rides. I don't remember if I ever asked my parents about it. As I got older I heard about it over and over again each year, gaining more information through classmates' stories and wishing harder and harder that we could go. But I saw my mom's reaction when I asked for $2 for free dress (no school uniform) or needed money for a field trip. I think I had the sense not to ask about Disneyland often, from what I remember.

But then when I was 9 we took a vacation. I don't remember where my parents told us we were going but they must have had quite a story to explain away a 7 hour drive. We must have arrived in the evening and spent a full night in the hotel, because my memories begin at breakfast in the dining room of an Embassy Suites in Anaheim, California (unbeknownst to me at the time, I just knew they had great scrambled eggs). At some point, my mom handed me a letter. I still have it somewhere, and remember what it said word for word: "[Mine and my sister's full names], you are hereby invited to share in 3 magical days in Disneyland!"

My mom has a photo of my face after I read the letter, and I treasure it. In that moment, I finally felt like part of the club.

The year was 2005, the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. It became a tradition to go every four years, which has led to us being able to experience the 50th and 60th anniversaries, as well as Disney 100, and we will just make the tail end of the 70th anniversary on this next trip.

To me Disneyland is more than just the parks. It's the letter my mom wrote, and the care taken to surprise us. It's the scavenger hunt that ended in a DVD video announcing our second trip. It's my mom giving my sister and I Altoid minis in line and calling them "happy pills" when we argued and making us laugh. It's the excitement to see what has changed since our last visit, while also finding immense comfort in the familiarity all around you.

As I have gotten older, it has become a place where I can really and truly let go of real life, and work stress, and friend drama, and just be a kid again. It's somewhere I can connect with my family with no time limits. No "time to go, gotta beat traffic" or "we better start packing it in, got work tomorrow." That's the absolute best part to me, because while I love having people over or going over to visit, it makes me sad when it has to end. 

I know a lot of people find Disney adults cringe, and I get it somewhat. I wouldn't cry at seeing the castle, I don't pin trade, and my sister handles our lightning lanes and everything so I'm not even a strategist. And I can acknowledge that it's become very consumerist and there are a lot of behaviors that are degrading the experience.

But I do think the Disney parks are a special place, and they do evoke a sort of special response, because there is really nowhere like it.

So, that's my Disney story, and why I have so much love for the parks. ♡