[daisyd]

Fanatic Who, me?

Do you know I once had to break OUT of Disneyland??? Or so I thought I was about 15 and with my friend Nichole. At the end of the night we waited and waited and waited for my mom to pick us up, but we didn't see her (of course, we were in the wrong place). So, we hiked alllllllll the way across the parking lot (that is now DCA) only to find the gates closed

So we started climbing the fence.

I get to the top and a CM shows up in his parking lot tram. "What are you girls doing?"

"Trying to leave, the gate is closed." He was cute.

"There is an exit over there." and he points at the CM exit that is also on Harbor Blvd, but next to the park.

[MissDisney]

Andrew and Joy... this is a great question! I think of my DL story all the time.

We never had enough money to go on a trip to DL, or WDW once it opened. And when we did go on trips, my parents wre more of the "educational and historical" kind of vacationers. ZZzzzzz....

But I watched Wonderful World of Disney every week, and I loved to watch Walt on that show! I saw all the Disney movies, and I took in every bit of news about anything Disney. I just KNEW I was going to love all things Disney, and making it part of my life became a mission!

So, in the mid-1980s, I was sent by my company to Anaheim to a trade show at the Convention Center, which is very near WDW. My room faced the park, and I saw fireworks on the first night!

And magically, mysteriously, I was given the afternoon off a couple of days later, unexpectedly! So I took a shuttle over to the park, all by myself, got a ticket and fell in love!

The park was completely deserted (though I didn't know it at the time!) and it was beautiful, incredible, magical! And the moment of truth came when I walked through the castle, and there was a DOOR... just a DOOR... with a sign on it that said "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" And so, like Alice, I went in and got in a car! The ride was hilarious and perfect! I was smiling from ear to ear!

I kept on wandering without a map, and I saw Space Mountain. I had never allowed myself to try a roller coaster, and so I did it!!! I got on with some little kids, and I loved it! So now, I could check two thing soff my To Do list... 1. Go to Disneyland, and also 2. Ride a rollercoaster.

I wandered around the rest of the day, eating delicious junk, riding every ride that I found. If I saw a line, I got in it. I think I tried everything they had to offer. I smelled every flowerbed, and looked at architecture, and marvelled at the incredible attention to every detail of every thing. I read signs and took pictures and waved at sticky, happy little kids. It's funny, but I don't remember finding PoC... I wonder if it was built yet, or if I wandered past in a fog?

Anyway... the important part here is that I had always known I would fall in love with Disney. And boy, did I ever. I think that afternoon was like a tonic, making up for a thousand childhood trips I dreamed about but never got to take. And it was also like a tiny taste of what I really needed to do... something like move into one of the parks and just LIVE there. That one DL afternoon is why I cannot get enough of Disney!

Someday...

[MissDisney]

Originally Posted by dznygrl

Thought #3:

as I sat there and gazed down at the castle, I was overwhelmed and started crying. I realized that I had been blessed, because I was living my dream. I was working at Disney, and I had a husband who was with me through everything. I don't think there are a whole lot of people who would have dropped everything they had to move to CA and be homeless, just so their wife could fulfill her childhood "dream"!

I was incredibly HAPPY at that moment. And suddenly I didn't care where we slept or what we ate! All it took was one look at the castle, and a whole new sense of purpose came back into my life.

Wow, wow, wow... I love this post!

[disney&byudad]

This is a wonderful thread, Andrew! I grew up in Anaheim and I actually remember watching the opening day ceremonies in July of 1955 (I was 7) with my parents. I have so many stories about and memories of Disneyland I'll just list a few.

Going for the first time with my parents about a month after the park opened. To a 7 year-old, ALL of the attractions were amazing and very magical. Davy Crockett was really huge back then and I talked my parents into buying me a coonskin cap!

Riding Mission to the Moon (later it was to Mars) and always trying to find our house there in Anaheim as the space ship lifted off (my dad never burst my bubble, though, and it took me a few times before I finally got it ).

Going with my friends for birthday parties and spending hours running around on Tom Sawyer's Island (we loved the suspension and barrel bridges).

Saving the "D" and "E" tickets for the next time we went and trashing the unused "A", "B" and "C" tickets.

Date Nite at Disneyland and doing the walk through tour of Sleeping Beauty's Castle (a cool make-out spot).

Working at the resort during Christmas and summer vacations while in college.

Playing in the Disneyland softball league and doing the canoe races in the summer (my CM DD and her CM fiance still do the canoe races!).

Dating a girl who worked at the Blue Bayou (mmmm, free Monte Cristo sandwiches!).

Dating a girl who danced in the Horseshoe Revue.

Going to the park for the first time with my future wife when she visited me over the Christmas holidays.

Taking our kids on Christmas Eve day back in the early 80's when the park was always deserted (unfortunately, this is now a thing of the past) and letting them run themselves ragged. This always made it easy on Santa, since the kids were usually sound asleep by 7:00 p.m.

Convincing my 5 year old son that Big Thunder Mountain wasn't that fast, then having him not talk to me for about a week afterward .

Our first house was near the corner of Ball Rd and Anaheim Blvd (about a mile from the park). For the first three summers of my youngest DD's life, she came tearing out of her bedroom every night at 9:30 when the fireworks started. She just couldn't get used to the noise!

Having two of my DD's work at the resort (including the youngest one) and getting in free .

Going to the castmember preview at DCA just before it opened to the public and getting soaked on Grizzly River Rapids. Also falling totally in love with Soarin' Over California.

Downtown Disney and all it has to offer.

The Storyteller's Cafe and Napa Rose restaurants at the Grand Californian.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea that we are a true Disney family with deep ties and much love of this place. I hope you and Joy can start building your own wonderful memories when you guys come out next week!

[daisyd]

What an awesome post d&bdad!

[Peppertink]

Originally Posted by disney&byudad

This is a wonderful thread, Andrew! I grew up in Anaheim and I actually remember watching the opening day ceremonies in July of 1955 (I was 7) with my parents. I have so many stories about and memories of Disneyland I'll just list a few.

Going for the first time with my parents about a month after the park opened. To a 7 year-old, ALL of the attractions were amazing and very magical. Davy Crockett was really huge back then and I talked my parents into buying me a coonskin cap!

Riding Mission to the Moon (later it was to Mars) and always trying to find our house there in Anaheim as the space ship lifted off (my dad never burst my bubble, though, and it took me a few times before I finally got it ).

Going with my friends for birthday parties and spending hours running around on Tom Sawyer's Island (we loved the suspension and barrel bridges).

Saving the "D" and "E" tickets for the next time we went and trashing the unused "A", "B" and "C" tickets.

Date Nite at Disneyland and doing the walk through tour of Sleeping Beauty's Castle (a cool make-out spot).

Working at the resort during Christmas and summer vacations while in college.

Playing in the Disneyland softball league and doing the canoe races in the summer (my CM DD and her CM fiance still do the canoe races!).

Dating a girl who worked at the Blue Bayou (mmmm, free Monte Cristo sandwiches!).

Dating a girl who danced in the Horseshoe Revue.

Going to the park for the first time with my future wife when she visited me over the Christmas holidays.

Taking our kids on Christmas Eve day back in the early 80's when the park was always deserted (unfortunately, this is now a thing of the past) and letting them run themselves ragged. This always made it easy on Santa, since the kids were usually sound asleep by 7:00 p.m.

Convincing my 5 year old son that Big Thunder Mountain wasn't that fast, then having him not talk to me for about a week afterward .

Our first house was near the corner of Ball Rd and Anaheim Blvd (about a mile from the park). For the first three summers of my youngest DD's life, she came tearing out of her bedroom every night at 9:30 when the fireworks started. She just couldn't get used to the noise!

Having two of my DD's work at the resort (including the youngest one) and getting in free .

Going to the castmember preview at DCA just before it opened to the public and getting soaked on Grizzly River Rapids. Also falling totally in love with Soarin' Over California.

Downtown Disney and all it has to offer.

The Storyteller's Cafe and Napa Rose restaurants at the Grand Californian.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea that we are a true Disney family with deep ties and much love of this place. I hope you and Joy can start building your own wonderful memories when you guys come out next week!

You dated a girl at The Blue Bayou? My aunt worked at the Blue Bayou! What years did you work there again?

[dznygrl]

I LOVE these posts. I am just in love with this thread!

[ingamba]

Miss Dis and BYU dad, thank you so much for your awesome posts.

Kim, I'm glad you like the thread. I'm so glad people took the time to reflect back at what Disneyland means to them. I hope this thread has a long life and people keep adding to it.

It's about time Disneyland gets some love here on MB.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by ingamba

It's about time Disneyland gets some love here on MB.

Here, here!

[disney&byudad]

Originally Posted by Peppertink

You dated a girl at The Blue Bayou? My aunt worked at the Blue Bayou! What years did you work there again?

I started during Christmas vacation in December of 1967 and worked through the summer of 1969. BTW, her name was Jan Murphy and she was (in the vernacular of the day) a stone fox. If you tell me this was your aunt, I guarantee I'll fall right out of my chair.

[Peppertink]

Originally Posted by disney&byudad

I started during Christmas vacation in December of 1967 and worked through the summer of 1969. BTW, her name was Jan Murphy and she was (in the vernacular of the day) a stone fox. If you tell me this was your aunt, I guarantee I'll fall right out of my chair.

Well actually...haha Nope...that's not her...my aunt worked there beginning 1969 until 1972. Glad you don't have to fall out of your chair, that might hurt

[Cynsayshi]

Kim - I loved your posts! And your baby is adorable! Enjoy every minute - they go so fast!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I've been working extra hours so I can leave early on Friday, and when I get home, I take over with our almost-5-month old and don't often have time to sit at the computer.

One of my best memories is now one of my newest memories. Since I moved away from California (first to Arizona, and now here in Texas), and especially since my parents moved away from the house I grew up in 2 years ago, I've been homesick occasionally, but I thought I had it pretty much under control. That is, until we took our then 2-year old son for his first trip to Disneyland in September, 2005. We had gotten 1-day park hopper tickets through my company, because I wanted to see Soarin' since all my friends were raving about it and Muppets 3-D because DS had loved all the 3-D movies at WDW so much, but we wanted to spend the rest of the day in Disneyland itself.

We went into DCA, and DH, who is afraid of heights, waited with our son while I went through in the Singles line at Soarin' and pretty much just walked on. We loaded up and the film started. I was enthralled with the photography and the scenery chosen, as well as the sensation of flight. I walked off the ride, started walking towards my husband and my son, and burst into tears. I cried for at least 10 minutes, so badly that DH, who was on the phone with a friend, hung up and wanted to know if I'd been hurt.
I looked at him and said, "No, I'm just so homesick! I want to come home to California!"
I still get teary-eyed just thinking about it (like now!). Although I doubt we'd ever be able to afford to live there, California will always be home to me, and Soarin' depicts the best of that.

I just have to keep telling myself - 2 more days to WDW...

[twist1980]

Originally Posted by Cynsayshi

I still get teary-eyed just thinking about it (like now!). Although I doubt we'd ever be able to afford to live there, California will always be home to me, and Soarin' depicts the best of that.

I just have to keep telling myself - 2 more days to WDW...

I must say that all of your memories have been amazing, but I can so relate to how you feel about California and DLR. Although I've spent my life in Washington State, I spent a part of every summer in Huntington Beach and we always visited DLR!

DLR is my home and it defines what Disney is to me! Disneyland has always been my life! Yet, now that I have met Andrew I'm so excited that we have one difference (that he grew up with WDW and myself with DLR)! We are lucky enough to have the chance to show each other "where we are from." I can't wait to show him DLR as I'm sure he can't wait to show me WDW! f

[Pixie]

Disneyland to me is VERY important. We could only afford to go on a vacation every other year and since i was 5 it's been to disneyland. The first time i went down was with my grandma and my papa, my aunt my cousin my brother and my mom. My dad and oldest brother stayed home. I barely remember but i have AWESOME pictures and it's great. That was the first time i flew. The next few trips were in our motor home. Those were some of the best and worst trips. I hated being in that motor home but driving into LA and seeing the signs for disney i remember jumping up and down and those were always the longest times. I loved it. The hotel we used to stay at is now DCA but the monorail would come there and take us over. We would always ask for the front and got it many times. We have pretty much out grown our motor home but i've been lucky enough to go the last 3 years in a row and most likely this summer also.

I think this last summer was the best because i went with my 9yr. old cousin. It was sooooo amazing to see everything through his eyes. OF course this wasn't his first trip but he still is at that age that everything is magical.

Disneyland means a lot to me. Its somewhere i can go and forget about everything. It has always meant the most to me that my parents didn't go to the places they really wanted to go so me and my brother could get the joy of going to disneyland!! I love it!!!

[twist1980]

Originally Posted by MissDisney

And magically, mysteriously, I was given the afternoon off a couple of days later, unexpectedly! So I took a shuttle over to the park, all by myself, got a ticket and fell in love!

AnThat one DL afternoon is why I cannot get enough of Disney!

That is just beautiful! I love hearing how people fall in love with Disney! I'm so happy that while you may have missed out on it early on, you still found Disneyland and were able to take it all in!

I know WDW has so much to offer, but it can never compare to the original...after all Walt planned all of DLR from start to finish! And that is why I can't wait to show my Disneyland to my Andrew next week!