I know a lot of people that don’t ‘get ‘ Disneyland.
They don’t enjoy it, they think it’s too commercial, they think it’s just too… Disney.
For them, they don’t see the Disney magic, the fine layer of pixie dust that changes even the sunlight the minute you walk under the arches and onto Main Street.
“You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” Walt Disney
The fine layer of pixie dust is invisible to those who close their eyes to it, but all it takes is a little clapping to bring it back to life.
Yesterday I went to Disneyland with my son and his little friend who’s turning three, and his mother, a good friend of mine.
Along for the day was her castmember friend, who had fun juggling burdens of a toddler- from the strollers to the boys to the tickles and giggles.
The day was full of good moments, fun rides, and little moments like this, when Wonder Boy met Minnie for the first time and could not take his eyes off of her. Minnie drew a heart in the air and blew a kiss after my son thanked her and waved goodbye. A small, loving moment in time where the pixie dust flies in flurries and my heart grows a little bigger.
He has such an eye for the girls.
But all of these moments, this happy day was not the definition of Disney magic, although it had a definite sparkle to it.
Seated a few people down from us at the parade was a young man with Down’s Syndrome, who our off-duty castmember ‘tour guide’ knew quite well. He comes to the park often as a reward, and our friend mentioned he was kind of a favorite among the castmembers.
While I watched over the McNugget-digesting twosome he went over with my friend and talked for a while, signing back and forth with a young man who had lived years beyond prediction, happiness beaming from his face upon seeing an old friend and making a new one.
When the Soundsational Parade started, colored lights beaming down on my son’s face and we sat to enjoy the parade, his first Disneyland parade and I took pictures of his upturned face in awe, watching him wave at Mickey, Goofy, Ariel and Mary Poppins.
But to our left was where the real Disney magic was happening, the light shining just a little bit brighter and more colorful, twinkling with magic dust.
Characters blew kisses, beaming down from their floats. Dancers winked and waved and mischievous monkeys scampered over crouching to eye level.
So many, signing ‘I love you’ as they swept past the boy with the glowing face and nasal cannula, each breath sending a swirl of pixie dust around him.
As they left Main Street he did too, following the ropes that mark the end of the parade and the surge of tired guests heading home.
I felt so blessed to watch the real magic of Disneyland yesterday.
Disney magic is not just fun rides, delicious churros and a stuffed animal to snuggle on the way home. Watching the day through a child’s eyes, bringing you back to that space in time as Walt Disney hoped his work did.
Neither is it the escapism of Disneyland, of walking through the gates and seeing the light shine a little more softly and the lights twinkle a little brighter, the outside world for the day the fantasy.
The Disney magic is a gift.
It is an action.
It is a blessing.
It was witnessing them show warm affection for a special young man, seeing and hearing that he is as near and dear to some of them as family.
It was applauding them with my heartbeat, making the magic a little stronger.
I hope that everyone has the chance to witness that Disney magic someday.
Want to know why I love Disneyland? It is my alternate reality.
This is beautiful. I think that’s why I love going to the parks so much. Because I see that all around me. I crowd watch and love seeing the kids expressions. Last time I watched the jedi academy and it was magic. I just love every second of it. I can’t wait to have my own kid to share that magic with. I’m not sure how I’ll keep from crying (I do tend to cry during the parade/fireworks).
Please don’t laugh, but I still haven’t been to Disneyland (after having lived here in SoCal for 14 years). I feel like there are so many great places around here it’s hard to see them all – but I suppose I should really take the kids one of these days. : )
I want to love Disney so much, I just simply can’t afford to.
I’m a Disney MOM, we go to Disney between 5-6 time a year and i enjoy it as much as the first day.
They’re having the SoCal deal right now! I love having a pass because I can go back whenever and I don’t have pressure to do everything every trip. If you preak it down, you can get a lot for the money, long as you pack lunches!
I wish we could go to disney world. We have season passes to disneyland but we can’t make the trip to florida.
I’ve been once. I’m going to save up to go again when my son and any future children are old enough to ride all the rides
I’ve only been to Disneyland once. As a teenager in South Jersey, I worked at Six Flags’ Great Adventure. I was held up at knifepoint during Christian Family weekend, relegated to the far end of the park with the buzzing ride that infiltrated my dreams and worst of all, made to wear polyester.
I avoided theme parks for the longest time. Guilted into it, we finally made the trip to Disneyland. It was okay. No pixie dust for me, but no knives either.
Thanks for the post.
I wore a Tomorrowland costume once. Not very good material there either.
We try to make it there once a week…
I totally ‘get’ Disney!
It sounds like you had a GREAT time!!!!
I love Disneyland! We would visit the park a few times a year when I was growing up. I still remember the ride tickets!
We love Disneyland!! I even have a blog about it!! I feel very blessed to be able to go as often as we do.
Every time I see the sparkle in my children’s eyes, I know how important our time making memories at the park is. We own annual passes b/c we absolutely cannot get enough of Disneyland and each time is special.
I saw the disney magic when I took my mom to orlando and during the firework show by the madahorn, she had tears in her eyes.. she was all emotional. very cute.
I still feel like a kid every time I go to Disneyland. I love sharing it with my children.
This is a beautifully written piece, my friend. Like you, that was the best moment for me and I truly loved seeing the “real magic” of Disney as the cast members treated that young man like he was the star. My heart was truly touched by meeting him and I’m so glad that we got to spend that day together celebrating my little man’s birthday with people like you and your son who “get” Disney just as much as we do.