Other Memory Contests
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     My story starts off with my 14th birthday. Myself and my two best friends went with my mother to Disneyland It's been my favorite place since I was young. My friends and I had prepared for the journey by wearing matching outfits. It was silly, but we didn't care. My friends' father had recieved a bunch of those glow sticks from his work. We brought a ton of them, all different kinds of colors and enough connector pieces for all. We started out the day in Tommorrowland and worked our way around. We got to New Orleans Square around 3o'clock and went into the haunted mansion. For some unknown reason, my friend started chewing on the end of one of the glow sticks. Just as we got off the elevator, the glow stick broke open! The stuff inside was non-toxic, so she was o.k., but the stuff was all over the inside of her mouth! It looked so weird. The people next to us thought it was hilarious. We put some of it on our sunglasses and our fingers. Then we got inside the "Doom Buggie" and prepared for our ride. Then the broken glow stick was bumped (by my elbow) and went all over the inside of the buggie! It looked like a million stars.

     At first we panicked and thought that the ride operators would make us leave. Then since they hadn't stopped the ride, we began to laugh. It really added to the atmosphere and we all agree that they should have added they glowing stars to the buggie. We've never forgotten about it since and still get a laugh out of it every time someone mentions it! Since then, I've been to Disneyland at least 20 times,usually for my birthday, but I never get tired fo it. I've grown up there. My aunt and uncle met there and now their son works there. It will always be a second home to me.

     I had gone to DL many times as a kid, my parents would take me every two years or so. So I developed a love for the place. Even as a kid, I would marvel at the "attraction", not necesarily the "ride". You could get thrills anywhere, but only the magic at DL. My wedding was scheduled for July of 1996. As an early honeymoon, I decided to take my wife to Disneyland in December of 1995. The crowds were awful (we actually waited 3 hours for Indy), but we didn't care. It took my wife about 3 rides on attractions before she truly understood what the "magic" was, but then she was as hooked as I am. People who live near simple amusement parks like Six Flags or Great America do not know how a theme park should be done. After a trip on Pirates, Indy, and Big Thunder, my wife understood and began to love DL. As our trip progressed we both developed an affinity for three areas of the Park- New Orleans Square, Main St at night, and the Big Thunder Trail (the path from Big Thunder Mountain to Fantasyland).

     The final night on our stay, we walked leisurely through Big Thunder Trail, flashing the little fiber-optic wands they sell. There were 4 showings of Fantasmic! that night, and the 4th show was deserted. We actually sat at the River Belle Terrace and had an unobstructed view of the show! It was great! After that, we strolled down Main St, which is simply amazing at night, I hope they quit disturbing it with parades at night. There is just nothing like experiencing DL with someone who is discovering "the Magic" for the first time!

     My first trip to Disneyland was on August 12,1959, with my dad when I was 15 years old. I remember vividly the visit to the Sleeping Beauty castle and also the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride as well as the trip through the Grand Canyon Diorama. The next trip to Disneyland was on July 27,1960, with my dad once again and a neighbor of the person my dad was working with on what would have been a domed baseball stadium in Dallas.Since the newspapers got wind of it before the contract was signed for a baseball team, the Dome was built in Houston!) but thats another story. I remember that trip for the Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatters ride and also the trip to the Sleeping Beauty castle once again. The Third trip was on July 30,1961, with my dad and also the same neighbors of my dads friend, plus this time Amanda Mc Broom, who later became an actress with guest appearances on Charlies Angels ,Cannon, and Hawaii 5-0 among others. This trip was featured by a visit to Adventureland and the Matterhorn as well as the Penny Arcade where we played various games and also went back to the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Many times afterwards I had hoped to return to Disneyland but living in Texas a trip is not always easy to make due to the distance. I still have wonderful memories and also films of Disneyland to treasure which have been transfered to videotape

     I have soooo many memories of DL, been there more times than I can count. My main memory of DL was when I was about 9 (this is a guesstimate!). My much older sisters were with me when we went into the Haunted Mansion. Don't remember if our parents went with or waited outside. The foyer freaked me out (remember I was nine and have always had a very vivid imagination). When it was time to get on the cars I wanted to sit in the middle that way nothing could get me as they would have to get one of my sisters first. Being mean big sisters they made me sit on the outside. The car stopped at the hallway and stayed there. It seemed like forever and that chandelier was swinging back and forth.

     I was absolutely convinced that the ghost that was carrying that chandelier was going to get me. It was getting closer and closer and that car would not move! Finally it moved! (Just in time!) All of that and then that hitchhiker wants to go with me! Now I need to save up and take my daughters so that ghost can try to get them! :)

     I grew up in Louisiana so WDW is where I learned to appreciate the difference between a typical park and a Disney park. (the fact that Peter Pan's Flight and the HM Doom Buggies never stopped moving for us to get on or off is what did it). So, 15 years passed and I was on my way to Los Angeles for the first time. Now, I had read many many texts outlining the difference between the Florida property and Anaheim so DL was very familiar to me way before that spring day in '94 when I finally reached Harbor Blvd. I knew the story of the anonymous sculptor who donated the figures in the Snow White Grotto. However, I didn't know there were water spouting fish and "music". So the show starts and I'm leaning back against the well and listening when that "echo" comes up from behind me. I almost ran. You can't find that kind of special extra anywhere. Not even in Florida's Magic Kingdom. DL conveys this incredible "charm" that stays with us long after we're outside of the berm. Amusement and theme parks come and go but it is doubtful that we'll ever see anything remotely equal to Disneyland.

     My favorite memory of Disneyland is not one memory but a combination of all my trips there. I have been to Disneyland about 18 times since I was five years old. Every experience I have had there has b[een] different, but they have all been good. Something special happens once you walk through the gates of the Magic Kingdom, pausing past the floral Mickey head, opening the park map for the first time, a smile comes to your face for no reason, the kids start listening and behaving. For me just thinking about this gives me the "Disney Chills". The Disney Chills are what I call the feeling I get when I see a new movie is being released, old pictures of the Disneyland Mickey head balloons, when I watch my son's Main Street Electrical Light Parade tape with him, and every time I hear the Rember the Magic song. I know that song is for Walt Disney World, but I feel it fits better to Disneyland, at least for me. There is something so special about Disneyland, the first of the Disney theme parks, that it has spark[ed] contests like this all over the place.

     To me the best memory of Disneyland is all the smiles, smells, tastes, and feelings you get whenever you get a "Disney Chill".

     The car is loaded, the bags are packed, the tank is full, and the kids are asleep. As we make our way down the highway I always tend to wonder, "Are they going to Disneyland? Are they?", as the cars past by. School summer vacation and a trip to Disneyland always seemed to go together. During the drive I close my eyes and try to sleep, but it never happens. My mind is filled with my own Disneyland memories, followed by the more recent memories of my children. Will they remember each trip as I do? Well they get excited when the see the exit for Harbor? Will they be bringing their own children for the same trip and experience the same feelings? If you have ever been to Disneyland you have some sort of idea of what I mean, the feeling that you get walking past the ticket booths. But the excitement usually starts in the car. As you pull up and see the giant Disneyland sign your patience wears thinner and thinner, you want to be in the park and now. You park your car somewhere between the Alice and dopey sections in the parking lot grab the stroller and a change of clothes for everyone as you head to the main gates. At the main gates while you're standing in line the lectures begin, don't take off, stay with us, no soveiners until on the way out. Closer and closer you're at the window, flashback to the times of E Ticket rides as you pay for your ticket, through the turnstyles and there it is, the floral Mickey you had so many pictures taken in front of. You look down see the light in your childrens eyes and like a movie switch to Disneyland trips past. Your first time on the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Mickey Mouse pancakes, and Tinkerbell flying over your head. The first time you ever saw the Main Street Electircal Parade, and being there in 1976 for the Bicentinennl celebration. Being there on fourth of July when it was packed to the gills, and watching the fireworks from the Disneyland Hotel. Riding the Autopia cars with your Mom ! and now riding them with your son. You look down at those beautiful, innocent eyes again, and know they feel what you feel, see what you see, and love what you love...Disneyland.

     Well there are a couple of story's. The first time I went I was six years old. I had just moved out to Ca. from New York. The only thing I really remember thinking is this is really neat. The good stories don't start until after I was married. My wife Patti and I went to Disneyland for part of our honeymoon. Even though I had been there several times before, I was so full of emotion I spent basically the whole time in the park crying. A few years later our first son Vincent came along. The first time he was there was when he was four month's old. I remember Pluto let him chew on his nose. And Mickey stopped a bunch of Japenese student's just so we could sneak in for one picture with him. As Vincent grew up I saw the park in a whole different light. You know, through the eyes of a child. The next best time was when Vincent's brother Dominic was born. We went to the park just Vincent and I because Vincent couldn't wait to tell Mickey about his brother. Well we went to Toontown and went to Mickey's house. Now Vincent was only 2 at this time so he couldn't talk real well, so as I was trying to help him tell Mickey about his new brother, I guess the let down of the past few day's hit me. I started crying and could not tell Mickey what we were trying to say. Well Mickey just put his arm's around me, gave me a big hug and I felt alot better. Dominic's first time was the same as Vicent's. There have been so many happy times since that we have had as a family. The boy's are now 6 & 4 and know where we are before we get off the freeway. Thank you for allowing me to share my stories. I hope you enjoy them.

     When I was about five years old, my parents took m[e] on the shrinking ride where Star Tours is today [Adventure through Inner Space]. Well, when I saw the big shrinking machine while you waited in line, I guessed it really freaked me out and I thought we were really going to be the size of molecules. My dad convincingly said that nothing was going to happen to me and that we all would be fine, so I went on the ride with them. Whatever my dad said only worked for that moment because halfway through the ride I started screaming and crying. I still remember the feeling that I was really shrinking. Well they stopped the ride and my parents had to take me through one of those emergency exits.

     Lived in Calif. 10 yrs--went under 20 times. Cannot remeber how many. Some good memories include going on a day that was rainy, some of the attractions were closed and still had a terrific time. Went back from La. in 1984--could have seen you there. Best time for going on the rides that usually had long lines. Because of the olympics thought it would be crowded. Closed the place out, stopped at a Dennys on the way home. The three kids and I were asleep in the booths waiting for our food. Someone that came in soon after us asked my husband if we had been there long. Not true, just extremely tired. Went two years ago, and I again Disneyed my kids out. Love the place. Some of our memories include '84 trip going on Space Mountain for the 3rd time and our daughter saying "I thought I was going to die" --She's laughing about it now while I'm typing this. Now she is 18 must have been 5yrs [old] then. Going on the People Mover, the old GE threater [sic] in the round, some of the singers and groups (David Hasselhoff and others) GTE nights once a year at Disney, Tom Sawyer Island was perfect to rest while the boys ran all over. They never seemed to get tired. They're 20 and 24 now. Never went to some of the rest; wanted to but never seemed to have the time. I always liked the Swiss Family Treehouse. Two years ago we were there, and the 12 yr old was talking the other day about driving the cars and how much fun she had.

     The first time I ever talked to anyone who had been to Disneyland was my grandparents in their living room after they had returned from visiting my aunt, uncle and whatever children they had at that time. Cannot remember how old I was. 8 or 9? Did they have E tickets at that time? I don't know, but when I first went to Disneyland they did. It wasn't until I had a bunch of A tickets that I used them up. Up and down Main street on different vehicles. After that I went more often on those--found out how much fun they were. The monirail [sic] wasn't as much fun until I found out about stopping at the hotel and going to the top at the resaurant?? Just knew we sat looking over everything at night and having a drink. That was 23 yrs ago. Disneyland has alot of memories. Does anyone else like the Storybook ride as much as I do? Love the little buildings. Also love the Peter Pan ride. Never really cared for Its a Small World. Have gone on it alot. It's a favorite ride for everyone else. The song is easy not to get right, but fun singing it anyways. Husband and two girls are on their way to Calif. now and plan on going to Disneyland. Wish I were going. Have fun. I envy you being able to use the pass to go in frequently.