Disney for Life

I have no doubt that my love for Disneyland and Disney products comes from my childhood. Like many American children, I grew up with Disney from a young age. If it wasn't a plush Disney character or plastic toy, it was watching a classic Disney animated features or live action films.

Then there was Disneyland...

A magical place that during our summer vacation from school, my family and I would pack our things, load our station wagon or Chevy Blazer and head to Southern California for a few days. Back then, it felt like a week just to get there. I remember sitting in the backseat, trying to entertain myself. I would play with my toys, driving my Hot Wheels along the arm rests and window ledges, or fighting with my G.I. Joe's on the head rests. We always packed our Igloo cooler with Sunny-Delight and Pepsi. We brought snacks for the car and for the motel room, usually Better Cheddar's and Chicken in a Biscuit. and other various snack items.

We usually left very early in the morning and I would be asleep about 15 miles into our journey. I remember one time, my mom woke me up to show me a $100 bill because she didn't think I'd ever seen one. I was not happy about being woken up, and when I asked her why she did it, she responded "because you've never seen one and this trip is expensive so you might not see one again after this.". I think back on this and laugh now, my mom was being sweet and she was also probably bored sitting in the car and just wanted to share something with me. I guess it worked because it is a memory that I remember fondly now.

Many of my friends and family know that I love the film "National Lampoon's Vacation" which Chevy Chase take his lovable family to Wally World only to find that it's closed. I got my affinity for the film from my parents and keeping in the spirit of that film, I recall just about every time we'd get close to Disneyland and/or see the sign along the I-5 freeway, one of us would say that we were close to Wally World.

There was a time when I think we went to Disneyland at least once a year for close to a decade in a row when I was a child. Most of the time it was during my summer break from school. We would often book a motel room across the street from Disneyland. In fact, I recall staying at the Castle Inn a few times, and somewhere is a picture of me as a small boy next to one of the lion statues who still reside out front.

Back then, we would open and close the park. Being there at rope drop wasn't a question of if we were, but how close to the front could we get? We would also stay until park closed, many times after the official park closing time, wandering through the Main Street shops after midnight.

There was only one park when I was growing up but it was enough. Disneyland felt huge and even though we had rode everything at least once before, it always felt new and exciting. Many attractions have come and gone since I was young. The parking lot where we used to park our car is now Disney California Adventure park and the monorail no longer goes all the way to the Disneyland hotel. Through all the changes that have happened and continue to happen, Disneyland has remained a place of fond memories and still gives us the feeling of excitement that we felt as children.

Regardless of why I enjoy Disney so much is rather irrelevant to me at this point. I do not see Disneyland leaving my life any time soon and I am just fine with that.