How Memories of a Family Trip Can Provide Comfort in Uncertain Times

We've only done the theme parks a few times, but the kids remember them, and so do I

Hello Friends!

Author's note: I've had the opportunity to take my family to Disneyland two different times. My kids were young for the first trip, and we had a wonderful day. In the hotel, after our visit, I took the time to write this brief account of our experience. I expect it aligns with how most people remember a day at the theme park. If it brings up some of those memories for you, then the story will have served its purpose. In these uncertain times, I find myself searching for moments of joy. I always find comfort in memories of happy times with my family—WR

The day

Grady took us in to get the tickets, but we didn't tell the kids until after our visit had ended. We asked Grady's family to join us, but they had work and school so they couldn't get away. Mom told Sienna and Avril in the car.

“We have a surprise for you,” Mom said. “Can you guess?”

“Are we getting a puppy?” Sienna asked.

“No,” Mom said with a laugh, “We’re going to Disneyland!”

The girls were delighted. I hadn’t promised them a trip to the parks because I didn’t know if we could swing it. But they’d been so good on the drive, I decided to put it on a credit card and worry later.

In the rearview, I saw Sienna wiping away tears. It was almost as good as a puppy, and we would end up getting a puppy a few years later.

We parked in the Minnie Mouse parking lot and took the tram into the park. I always like the tram the best because it's the beginning of the day and you have the whole day of fun before you. We went through the gates without much of a wait. It was an overcast day so we thought many of the locals would be fearful of rain. As a result, the lines were short.

We took some pictures in the entrance, and then turned left before the castle. Avril was hungry, it was about 10:30 AM, and we got some cheese bread. As we were walking to the Jungle Tour, Sienna got ahead of us, and when she noticed, she turned to come back, got her feet tangled up with some other person, and fell down. She got a band-aid on her arm, and one of the park attendants said there was a first aid place nearby, but Sienna bounced back and we carried on.

We did the Jungle Tour first. The girls liked it. The tour guide was telling the same jokes that they told when I first went on the tour when I was a young kid.

After that we tried to do the Indiana Jones ride, but Avril was too short. We did the Tarzan tree which used to be the Swiss Family Robinson tree. Then we continued on. About this time I started consulting the map because I was feeling a bit disoriented. We saw where Pirates was, but didn't go because the line seemed enormous.

We continued on and found the fast pass kiosk for Haunted Mansion. I got the tickets, and they were valid without a wait, so we hit the fast pass line and got right in. Essentially, if you can't get a fast pass ticket, it's not worth waiting in line for the ride since the fast pass people go ahead of you.

Avril didn't really like the Haunted Mansion, she thought it was too spooky. Partway in, she turned to me and said, “Te Quiero papa.” I gave her a hug and held her for the ride. At the end I told her that I was really scared and that I only made it through because of her bravery. “You didn't seem like you were scared,” she said.

“Well, I was.”

We left Haunted Mansion and another Disney employee approached us and said she liked the Machu Picchu shirt I was wearing since she'd been to Peru. Mom liked that.

Then we spent $42 on a fast food meal and sat with a view of the river as we ate. Some ducks were in the dining area and they came by, so Avril set out a line of French fries behind her chair. She was very industrious about it, putting out the fries in a line. The ducks didn't follow it all the way, but they ate most of the fries.

Then we went to the Winnie the Pooh ride, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean. I grabbed a Fast Pass for the Mountain Railroad roller coaster and it told us to come back in about an hour. So we went to Fantasyland and did Pinocchio. It started to rain a little bit so we got in line for the Carousel. Then we did Mr. Toad's ride. That ride is weird because Toad hits a train and you end up in hell at the end.

We skipped Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan because the lines were long. Those rides are kind of sad anyway because the technology is so lacking. They are the ones I remember from when I was little, but they're just getting out of date. I wonder if they were the first in the park and will be replaced soon. We started walking in the direction of Frontierland and went through the castle which has a Sleeping Beauty display that I believe was just recently re-opened. Avril pulled us into what looked like a door that had been left open by accident, but it was a nice little display.

By that time, we were ready to do the train roller coaster. We got in line quick and I was a little concerned that Avril would be nervous, so I held her close. I was also worried she'd go flying out of the cart, so I held her tight. But she was laughing and screaming with the biggest smile. Sienna loved that ride too, and screamed the whole way, as did Mom. We finished and everyone was really excited.

So we went over to get tickets for the Matterhorn, but the fast pass ticket wasn't valid for an hour and a half, so we went into Futureland (getting some ice cream on the way). We walked through the Star Wars display, but didn't find much to do. There was a neat theater show where kids were dressed up like Jedi and got to do a Jedi Training that culminated in a mock fight with Darth Vader. They trotted Vader out and made him fight like a 6 year old with a plastic lightsaber. I thought it looked pretty intimidating, but the kids seemed to have fun.

The girls wanted a ride, so we tried to go do Space Mountain, but without a fast pass ticket, the line seemed like it wasn't moving, so we jumped out and decided to go ride the Monorail. That let us sit and not do much for a half hour and I got an idea as to where It's a Small World was and also Pixie Hollow. We watched Darth Vader battle some 6 year olds for a few minutes, then headed over to the Matterhorn roller coaster.

I was a little concerned because the Matterhorn is a single seater, so we were worried about Avril, but she was tall enough for the ride, and the attendant put her seat belt on for her. Mom sat directly behind Avril per the direction of the attendant, but I'm not sure she could have done anything if something had gone wrong. Everything was fine of course, except Avril was a little nervous about the fake Yeti that appeared on the first turn. She didn't like that one as much as the railroad coaster.

I ran over to get fast pass tickets for Buzz Lightyear, and left the girls to eat popcorn. The tickets were valid immediately, so I came back and got the family and we did Buzz Lightyear. I got the fast pass tickets for Star Tours. Then we decided to get some food, and Mom wanted a turkey leg like she had the first time we went to Disney in 2009. I sat down with Sienna and Avril as Mom got the food, and who should arrive but Beauty and the Beast. They were doing story time, so the girls ran over to listen while I waited at the table for Mom. I told Sienna to stay where I could see her, and she kept looking back at me to make sure I could see her. She's very responsible. Avril came to sit with me.

When Mom came back, I went over and got some pictures of Sienna with Beauty and the Beast. Then we went over and ate. After the turkey leg, we went on It's a Small World which is actually much better at Disneyland than Disneyworld. We were getting pretty tired, so the pace of It's a Small World was a nice change. That's a good ride for the near end of your Disney trip since it's so positive and cute. The girls were excited when they saw the part of the ride that represented Peru.

We headed back towards Star Tours and made a brief stop at Pixie Hollow. The girls were a little disappointed because there weren't any fairies, but it was a nice little set up. It's just a little grove with big blades of grass and giant mushrooms so you feel fairy sized. There was a fountain with shooting water at the entrance, so the girls had fun playing with that. They noticed coins in the water so we explained you can throw a coin and make a wish. So the girls asked for coins and Mom gave them some pennies. It was fun seeing Avril grab the penny, close her eyes and make her wish with absolute sincerity and force of will. Then she threw the penny into the water. She said she couldn't tell us the wish because then it wouldn't come true, but I think she wanted to tell us.

Then we took the fast pass to Star Tours. I didn't like that one as much because it's a moving box looking at a viewscreen and it makes you kind of motion sick. Leaving Star Tours you go through a Star Wars gift shop and the kids spent about fifteen minutes attempting to assemble their own light sabers at the kiosk there. We finally pulled them away and started heading out. It was about 6:30 PM and everyone was getting tired.

We snapped a few more family pics and then went out the front and shared a group hug. Everyone was happy and tired, and the girls were very good to each other all day long, it was just a delightful day. We went back to our car and reminisced about the trip on the drive to the Motel 6 in Escondido. The girls were so happy, and so were Mom and I.

Good memories.

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