Disneyland - My happiest place on earth

I do not know when it began, I don’t know how it began, but I have developed an obsession with Disney Land.  Some people, like my dad thinks I have been every year…I have to keep reminding him that I only *talk* about it all the time and have not been fortunate to go often.  I have been to a Disney park 7 times in 42 years…

 I first went to Disney World back in 1971, shortly after it opened.  Of course back then, you could camp outside the park…which was just swamp land.  We went again a couple years later.  We were stationed in Georgia and then Florida back them, only had 3 of the 5 kids, and got military discounts…  My mother would dress us all in the same outfits and you got special kid cards (I have one in a scrap book).  Back then you bought ticket books, with A, B, C, D, and E tickets.  Rides like the carousel would be an A and Space Mountain would be an E – hence the phrase “e-ticket” meaning the best or great.  Every year we were moving or traveling – we often included a visit to some important site…dad wanted to visit every national park for example.    Often there was some amusement park along the way (with military discounts). I remember visiting Kings Dominion outside of Williamsburg Virginia and Busch Gardens.  In 1985 we went to Disney Land for a day.  The following year we spent a day there as we were moving from Texas to Hawai’i.  I did not go back until 2001…15 years later.

Yes, the tragedy of 9-11 is responsible for giving my family an opportunity to afford Disney Land.  American companies were tanking because initially the nation was paralyzed.  I knew we had to get back on that proverbial horse in order to show the bullies they did not win.  You see, because of my dad’s job (I’d tell you but then I would have to kill you) I grew up with a unique perspective on terrorism and life.  I was also already very aware of the conflicts in this world.  So, my husband and I talked about going somewhere…  I had a couple friends tell me I was crazy, why would you travel after what happened.  But then again, I always have been a bit crazy.  DL slashed their prices – they had just opened the California Adventure Park and were desperate for visitors.  The beauty, it was only an 8-hour drive from Reno.   So for an ungodly cheap price we spent a week at the Paradise Pier and we all had a blast.  It truly was the happiest place on earth and the joy was a part of our healing.   

It was 6 years before we could save enough money to go back.  It helped that we had a good year financially in 2007.  Plus the recession was starting to take hold.  Again Disney was offering some good deals and we were able to go during a “slow” week in mid-December.  This time we stayed at a “good neighbor hotel” across the street.  This trip was especially special because we were able to keep t a secret from William.  He stayed the night with his grandparents as a rouse.  We packed up the car (everything hidden in the trunk) and picked him up for breakfast.  Then we let him know we needed to go to Fry’s in Sacramento to get a special laptop battery for a friend (which was true).  If I had know the monster I would create I am not sure I would have taken that boy to Fry’s – the super store for geeks if you didn’t know – he is now in love and makes us stop EVERY time we go to California now.  But any way, we said it wasn’t at the first so we had to go to another…then another.  By this time we are on Hwy 5 but he was only 12 and not really paying attention.  We stopped for lunch and told him it was just a little further.  He fell asleep, which helped.  When he woke up we were on the north side of LA.  We said since it was getting late we would just find a hotel and go home tomorrow.  There were signs on the freeway for street and locations with names similar to places in Reno, which aided the deception.  It was only 8pm when we made it to the hotel, but he was half asleep.  The Disney Land sign catches his eyes.  Boy, he was awake in a nano-second.  He begged and pleaded to be allowed to visit the next day before we go home.  He promised to be good the rest of his life and would do anything I wanted (I knew it was too good too be true).  Then we told him we were staying a week…he wouldn’t believe me until I showed him the tickets.  We went that evening (it was open until midnight) and began our magical week.  We did spend one day at Legoland as William was in a Lego-robotics club at school (and got in free).  The trip was wonderful.  The best day was the last.  William’s favorite character is Stitch (if you’ve seen his room you’d understand…it looks like a hurricane smashed through)   and every day we tried to find out where Stitch was taking pictures.  Well we finally got a tip on where he was at every day.  We went and waited and waited…the girls with the other characters recognized William as the kid looking for Stitch every day that week.  Unfortunately on that day the character was at a private party and was not expected that day.  We were heart broken.  Then, someone (I don’t know which of the girls was responsible) got someone into the costume and came out to see my kid.  They took several pictures and made William’s day…then said hi to the other kids.  The cast members at Disney Land were simply divine.  I did not have a problem with any of them the whole trip.

We were extremely fortunate to go just two years after that.  This time I wanted to go for William’s actual birthday.  The poor kid has a December 30^th birthday and it can be hard to do anything the day before New Year ’s Eve.  Well, we found a great deal (paying the same price for a premium week that we had two year’s earlier for a slow week).  We stayed at the Ramada across the street – simple, clean, friendly (and a free breakfast).  As soon as we got in, we headed straight to the park (didn’t even unpack).  That night I discovered just how bad my arthritis had become…and only 3 months earlier I had a lung infection which resulted in permanent damage and asthma.  That night I was so sick.  So, my husband (in a rare act of defiance) insisted I rent a wheelchair and then got me one.  It was very hard for me to accept using the chair; I thought with a bit of work I could work without it.  Once, after complaining too much, my husband threatened to show me my x-rays and call my doctor if I didn’t shut up.  He was right – but I couldn’t admit it until the 3^rd day.  Well let me tell you how nice the cast members are at DL…they are amazing.  They made me feel special  and eventually I stopped stressing.  So here it is for the how world to hear RUSS WAS RIGHT.  I would never have had as much fun if I had been stubborn and hadn’t rented the chair.  (Since then we have purchased our own and now we even have a scooter the boys are refurbishing).  That trip was great in so many ways.  DL on your birthday is fabulous.  We had breakfast with Stitch and the whole day he was king.  They give him a button saying it’s his birthday, bring him a birthday brownie and sing.  All day the cast members (seeing the pin) wished him a happy birthday.  The next day was crazy – I had never seen Dl sell out, but it did on New Year’s Eve!  We had fun any way – and can now say we were there in NYE – but I don’t think I would ever do that again.  Now New Year’s Day was funny – with everyone at the Rose Parade few were at DL & it was great.   So another amazing visit to DL, and I am hooked.

Fast forward to 2011…I have been saving all year and it looks like I may have enough saved for a trip in 2012 – during one of the slowest months at DL during the year. So, fingers crossed…

Up next, some helpful tips on planning your own trip to DL.