Now, please be warned... when it comes to Disney I turn into a 6 year old girl watching Little Mermaid for the first time. Proceed with caution....
There are few things that I love more than Disney. Those include my family, the gospel and I think that's about it. Nothing puts a smile on my face like walking through the gates at Disneyland or daydreaming about what it would be like to be a Disney Princess. I'm aware that this behavior is questionable for a 22 year old woman but I can't help it. I dream of living on New Orleans Square, right next to Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. I don't think I could ever talk Parker into it... or the Disney Company for that matter but a girl can dream.
Speaking of dreams, last night I had a most magnificent one. Parker and I went to Disneyland. It was just the two of us visiting. There were no lines. The dancers in the parades had us dance with them. We got to fly and crow with Peter Pan. To say it was magical, would be an understatement. Unfortunately, I woke up to cold Cedar City, which is cause for rejoicing most days but now I've got Disneyland under my skin. So I thought I would share some of my favorite Disneyland memories with you!
In 2008 I went with my high school orchestra. This is the first trip that I can remember well. We got a full day in the park. It was absolutely magical. You must understand that I've spent a large portion of my life convinced that I am Princess Ariel... at this time it didn't help that I was 16, had gingery hair and was wanting a little freedom. For the first time I got to see her. She was in the parade and she had her cute little grotto that has now been replaced with Pixie Hollow. My mom asked the Ariel we met how to become a Disney Princess. The girl stayed in character and said, "Well, I'm a princess because my dad is a king. Maybe you've heard of King Triton? Then Disney came and made a movie about me." Then she turned to me and asked, "Have they made a movie about you yet?" I said, "No, but it's in the works." And that was that. I remember being completely taken with the whole place. I felt like every direction I turned there was something wonderful to be found. One minute I was in the future and the next you could be completely taken with the past. To say I loved it would be an understatement.
If 2008 was the Ariel trip, 2010 was the Peter Pan trip. I was about to graduate from high school and life seemed new, scary and like it was moving way to fast. I became taken with Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up. I spent the trip with my mom and my brother... most high school kids would hate it but not me. I felt that there we could make time stop. Unlike the first orchestra trip, we got two days in the park instead of one and we got to do a masterclass with Backstage Disney. We were taken into a studio and we played the movie music and the Imagineers played our track against various Disney Films. We did part of Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King. The one I remember best is the Lion King. We did the scene where Simba finally takes his place as king after defeating Scar. The rain is falling and he climbs Pride Rock to roar. There is something about playing the movie music that brings it home in a different light. I remember having chills all over my body during Simba's ascent to the edge of Pride Rock. Like most of Disneyland, it was magical. After that the rest of the trip was amazing. I crowed at Peter Pan during the parade. I talked my mom into riding the teacups (a miracle) and Boone and I wept on Tower of Terror because we were so scared. I was there with my friends and family. It was wonderful. It also helped that during our performance award ceremony in the park, I got a solo award. Double win!
The next Disney trip was different. We went as a family with my cousins and my Grammy. We got to eat lunch at Ariel's Grotto and I matched Mickey on his steamboat. It was great to spend so much time with my family, especially as we were all getting older and spreading out (at least geographically speaking). This was the trip that I knew I would be "discovered". Someone was bound to look and me and think, "Ah! There she is! We've been needing a Cast Member just like her." I just knew that my parents would just have to leave me in California. Maybe if I stood on the curb and sang at the top of my lungs or was just perfectly helpful in one of the boutiques. I mean, they needed me... right? They really didn't. I was great at answering visitors questions when they were directed at me and I often had to explain that "I don't work here..." especially when we were in the shops by the Boardwalk in California Adventure. It turns out that if you want a job or if you have a dream, you should fill out the application.
Later in the week, Boone and I pretended to be pirates for a whole day. We only spoke pirate and we drove my mother insane but it was hilarious. We spend half of the day on the Pirate's Hide-away Island. We memorized every nook and cranny. It was awesome. I'm sure some of the little children we were surrounded by didn't appreciate having the "big kids" around. I promise we played nice though.
The next step I guess is to get Parker to go. He's only been once a
nd he doesn't remember it well. I think he will love it. His imagination isn't quite as ridiculous as mine but it will be fun to be 6 years old together. I can't wait to show him all of the things that make my heart soar. It seems to me that in Disneyland, anything you can dream can be. I guess the world is really like that, it's just easier to remember in the world of "yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy..."
Thanks for listening to my memories and putting up with my childlike fantasies.
Much love, from my home to yours
Sydney L
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