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**Magic Lamp** · 10-19-2009, 02:23 AM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

I really can't put it in words but to me Disneyland is what it is, the land of dreams and the imagination. Once you walk past those turnstiles you officially left this reality and whatever you want to do you can because nobody will look at you and wants to have you institutionalized because they will most likely join you.

I'm not happy about what DL has slowly turned into and why they even bother including anything on the Disney Channel (that's a whole other problem...), but I'm sure there still are people of any age that can forget about who or what they are in the "real world" and just go with the flow in any of the Disney parks.

In other words, if it weren't for Disneyland, humanity would be in a much darker, more twisted place than we could imagine.

**Bob Weaver** · 10-19-2009, 08:01 AM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

For me, because it was a completely different world than the suburban life that we normally lived (and we lived in the city of Orange, less than 10 miles from Disneyland). Frontierland especially captivated me. Instead of houses and schools I was in a world of rivers, waterfalls, geysers, trees, bears, cactus, rocks, mountain lions, forts, Indians, caves, glowing colored water. And back then it wasn't as crowded and visiting there was almost all joy and fun with very little drudgery. Also it was exciting to go there because it was a famous place, virtually everyone knew about it from the endless publicity on TV about it, so going there after seeing and hearing so much about it was sort of like going to the Emerald City for real after watching The Wizard of Oz. There was this dreamlike wonderland that everybody heard about and you were actually arriving there! There was definitely an element of glamour because it was a famous place. I even thought cast members in costumes for the rides were glamorous people. And the experience of being there was totally different from any other tourist attraction or amusement park. It was a combination of a world's fair, amusement park, national park and Hollywood all mixed together. The twinkling white lights in the olive trees at the hub made it feel like Christmas at any time of the year. The Haunted Mansion made it feel like Halloween all year. The fireworks made it feel like the 4th of July all year. It was all the great holidays all year round. Going there was a family event, not just a way to spend a day. The whole family went as a group. As kids we hated to leave the park, even though we were totally exhausted, because it meant leaving a place which was better than the rest of the world and returning to the ordinary suburban life. Baby boomers like us formed a strong emotional bond to the place.

**Joshnyah** · 10-19-2009, 08:53 AM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

Great Pics and Memories, thanks for sharing. My first two trips to Disneyland are my fondest Memories, once as a young lad, and again with my Sister and Then at the time Brother in law for the opening of Indiana Jones which I believe was 95, What a trip for me, I convinced the the to let me ride there in the back of there truck and they actually let me, I remember falling asleep here on the I10 in the warm darkness, falling asleep only to wake up to the cool mist in the air, it was then that I fell in love with Southern California. I started returning regulary to the park when I turned 18 around 1998 and been hooked ever since.

**splash114** · 10-19-2009, 11:02 AM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

Whenever I get cose to the property the excitement swells. I'm totally antsy while I'm on the tram. And when I have my passport wanded and I'm though the entry gates...just bliss. There are no work stresses. My family is with me at our favorite place. There are no life stresses. We have lots to do and lots to see, but there are no worries. We'll do it all and see it all. It's like magic. I know of no other word that can describe it. When I'm at Disneyland all it well with the world. My 12 year old son says it best..."I wish the whole world could feel like this."

**wvnative** · 10-19-2009, 12:08 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

I don't know that there's really any one reason. It's all the little things added up together. My favorite part though is probably that it's never an issue. The kid almost always wants to go and there's no argueing. We can go, have a great time, get away from life, work, and school for a few days and come home feeling refreshed and ready to face it all again. I guess it sort of puts the joy back in the world for me. lol

**calakutha** · 10-19-2009, 12:12 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

Originally posted by wvnative View Post

I don't know that there's really any one reason. It's all the little things added up together. My favorite part though is probably that it's never an issue. The kid almost always wants to go and there's no argueing. We can go, have a great time, get away from life, work, and school for a few days and come home feeling refreshed and ready to face it all again. I guess it sort of puts the joy back in the world for me. lol

I'm gonna have to agree with you on this. It really is a lot of different things current and past, memories that you bring with you and those that you are reminded of only when you're there and you can embrace them, once again. It's a reminder that magic (real or prepackaged) does exist somewhere, you just have to look for it.

**kaylas** · 10-19-2009, 07:12 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

Everytime is just added memories. I love the warm feeling. Does Christmas time make it more magical?

**Bob Weaver** · 10-19-2009, 08:05 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

It's beautiful at Christmas with all the decorations but I don't think it necessarily makes it more magical. I saw the candlelight procession in 1978 and that was really nice, but the rest of the park is basically the same thing as always. I think the most beautiful the park gets is in March and April with a profusion of flowers. On the first sunny day after a rainstorm in March has cleared out, Disneyland sparkles like at no other time.

**kaylas** · 10-19-2009, 08:53 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

sounds like a great time to go, less crowded I bet

**kaylas** · 10-20-2009, 04:42 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

Does anybody have great stories about a time they were at Disneylsnd?

**ASC** · 10-20-2009, 09:03 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

For me it's little land to call my own plus it......is.......AWESOME!!!!!

**Ortizmo2000** · 10-20-2009, 09:11 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

Originally posted by kaylas View Post

Does anybody have great stories about a time they were at Disneylsnd?

Back in March I got to take my high school crush to Disneyland about 20 years after daydreaming of what the day would be like.

The finest time I've ever had there, without a doubt. We're still together and have been going almost every weekend since.

**kaylas** · 10-21-2009, 09:04 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

aww that's the sweetest thing. congrats. I love the feeling and the music.

**micahglitters** · 10-22-2009, 03:33 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

disneyland was always the place where i could be the child in my family, not my parents. it was also the place where my mom would get really magical, "i dont know when the next time we'll be here will be so i saved money and we can do whatever you want!"

but it think the turning point was when i was 18 and visiting the park with a friend. it was getting late and we hopped onto the monorail. there was a family of four (mom, dad, and two boys) and both boys looked about ready to fall asleep and were both wearing peter pan hats and carrying swords. i listened in just in time to realize that they were sharing what wishes they had made earlier in the park. and the dad said (sooooo gently), "you know what i wished for? i wished that every day could be as perfect as this one has been."

oh my god, it still makes me cry every time i think about it. it was so sweet and so genuine and that cant happen anywhere else. that's my wish too. i think that's all of our wish.

<3

**kaylas** · 10-22-2009, 06:26 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

With the economy the way it is I just want to live in that one day at the park forever. No worries about money or problems at home. I can only wish apon a star

**jsdmn2** · 10-22-2009, 09:40 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

micahglitters, omigoodness, that is going to make me cry too..... That's probably the sweetest thing I've heard!

I love DL because I get to be a kid. Growing up, I didn't get to be a kid too much because my family struggled financially. Also, my son is 8 and still believes in the princesses and gets sooooo shy around them when they show him attention. So cute! He'll be too old soon and this stuff will be "uncool" so I savor every moment in DL with my family.

**sunrider** · 10-22-2009, 09:49 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

for me its the ability to leave my adult self behind forget my problems for 3-4 days i love it for that i thak god for it, i can be a pirate, go inside a HM, and even hear fish talk (if i feel inclined) its the ultimate escape from what ever problems you have,and when you come back to reality..you feel refreshed and can tackle what everl ife throws at you with renwed youthful charm..every year or so i need to go to get that recharge...

**cakvalasc** · 10-22-2009, 10:09 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

Disneyland means so much to me because a new life started for me on the first day I was in the park.

**micahglitters** · 10-22-2009, 10:10 PM

Re: Why does Disneyland mean so much to you?

i looove these kinds of threads. i love that micechat is a place where we can all sort of revel in the magic. it seems as though for most of us the magic is kind of healing, even if just for a day.

thank you kaylas for posting this!!!

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