I remember this one time I went to Disneyland for the first time EVER. I was not quite seven and I have no idea how my Mom and Dad could possibly pay for all six of us to go on such an expensive trip. It was important to them though because Dad was going to die that following October and I guess watching us enjoy Disneyland was right there at the top of his list of things to do before he left.
I remember racing from ride to ride. I remember wandering along the aisles of the Disney gift shops with my Mom, carefully choosing my souvenir (Dale) and posing for a now infamous photograph with my sisters and brothers and our cousins. I remember the picture clearly because I held Dale in front of my face to block the scalding sun as it took our parents forever to wind their ghetto cameras and snap the perfect photo. The picture is now hanging at GRAMPA’S house…poster size.
But what I remember most was the turmoil my pesky four year old brother caused when he went and fell off that damn Merry-Go-Round. Adults rushed to his aid, paramedics swarmed him, and a wheel chair was immediately brought to the scene. For crying out LOUD, I thought, it’s just a Merry-Go-Round!!
At the time it was purely a nuisance. An obstacle between me riding on Dumbo and me riding on the Tea Cups. He really ended up being just fine.
When we took the girls to Disneyland last week and it got dark on our last night and magic filled the air as it does every night, we stood in line to ride Dumbo one last time.
I pointed to the Merry-Go-Round and was all “Did I ever tell you my brother fell off that very Merry-Go-Round?” and Pat was all “No really?” and I was all “Yes, like right there in that very spot!”.
As I floated through space with my own little girl on the back of that little grey elephant I thought about how Disneyland has essentially stayed the same.
Sure there is growth…new roller coasters and an extended park…but the core of Disneyland is the same. The Merry-Go-Round, the tea cups, Dumbo, Small World, the castle…all of it is still there even after all these years.
I guess we’re kind of the same like that.
Kathy says
Love it and totally reminds me of the time when I was 9 years old in Disney World just about to get on the submarine 20,000 leagues under the sea ride when my parents names were announced over speaker to come to security. My older sister shop lifted at the gift shop…..we were kindly ask to leave the park!!
Nicole {at} Modern Style Mama says
The magic always seems to be the same. Well except for the small mishaps like your brother falling off the merry-go-round, Kathy’s sister shop lifting, or my memory of when I was 6 years old and a flying ant went in my ear while we were watching a show. Memories! :)
Cyn & Co. says
It’s nice to know that some things stay the same. I’m taking my own daughters there this September and I cannot wait. I’m hoping a 6yo and 3yo will be able to enjoy and remember the experience, and will hopefully not have a complete meltdown like their mommy did at their age, when her ice cream hit the ground even before it was paid for.
Memories indeed!!!
Jen says
I think that the fact that it stays the same is what makes it magical.
Ashley @little miss momma says
What a sweet post! And how awesome that your grandpa has a poster size picture of that special memory! Xoxo
Laurie Fessler says
My own mother has such an endearing story to tell people about how we went to Disney when I was a child about 5. I’m 55 now with grown children and her only reference to Disney and taking my sister and myself is the following: “Remember the time when we took you kids to Disney and Laurie (me) threw up after the helicopter ride?” I really should blog about that sometime. My mother, not so nurturing….and that’s only one story……btw, she still tells the story.
Crystal says
Everytime I see your Disney posts it makes me even more impatient to take my lil one next year!!!
Kisatrtle says
This was a great post that really got me thinking about the Time I went to Disney as a child and the time I took my children. Everything you said is soo very true