Other Memory Contests
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     Well, where should I start? All of my summer trips to Disneyland have been absolutely wonderful. But there's one that stands out in my mind. It was the summer of 1997. A month earlier, my friends asked me to take them on a guided tour of Disneyland. Naturally, I said "Yes." So, we set up a date in July to meet at the Floral Mickey. On that day, I arrived before everyone else to make sure they knew where to go. I told them we'd meet at 9:00 A.M. I was going to wait untill 9:30 for late people. They all arrived at the last possible second. Distraught, I was about to leave when I heard Iris, one of my friends, yelling, "Nate! We're here!" from the line to get in. So, once we got our bearings, we went off into Main Street. All the way up the Street, they were asking me questions. I felt really good about the whole tour. We then proceeded through each Land, riding all the Attractions. Tomorrowland wasn't done yet, so I had to explain all the things going on in Tomorrowland. By the time we got done with everything it was about 6:00 (The lines weren't bad).

     Dinner was the best part. We were right next to the Partners Sta- tue at the Hub. When all of a sudden they all grabbed me and covered my eyes. They took me all the way to New Orleans Sqare this way. When they uncovered my eyes, I was staring at the elevator that goes up to Club 33. I couldn't believe it! This was a Disneyland fan's dream! Apparently one of my friend's father works at a company that has a membership to the Club. We had a very nice dinner. After dinner, I was still in shock! Then, my friend then stood up, rose his drinking glass and said, "A toast to Nathan, the greatest Disneyland guide and historian in the world!" I felt really good. I was teary-eyed, too. After dinner, still in shock over what I had just seen and did, my friend said we had front row seats for Fantasmic! at the Disney Gallery balcony. Naturally, I said, "You're kidding! No!" He nodded his head and we proceded to the Gallery. Before the show, I answered questions about the Gallery and Fantasmic! It was so cool. I couldn't believe what my friend had done for me! He said it was a late birthday present, since he missed my birthday three weeks earlier. Everyone was in on it. It was a perfect night at Disneyland. I loved that day and I still have good memories of it. That was one of the best summers I had at Disneyland.

     It was my third time being at Disneyland. I havent been there in over six years so I was very excited. I really wanted to to see the new Indiana Jones Adventure that everyone was talking about. We were only going to stay there for only two days so I had to hurry to ride it. But what happend is that in the summer EVERYONE is at Disneyland and the wait for the IJA was 2 hours long, and my family wanted to go on other rides. So we walked past there all the time to see if it was shorter, duh, it wasnt I thought I was gonna cry, here I am waiting for a long time to go on this ride and now I cant, how unfair! But what happend is that we finally went on it during the Light Magic show and practically no one was on IJA. It is now my favorite ride.

     I remember when I was.....I think about 8 or 9 and it was about 10 pm. My parents wanted to leave because they were tired. I begged and pleaded for them not to leave, but they insisted that we had to go. Then finally I asked if we could at least go on one more ride. While in Tomorrowland, I saw the People Mover and thought it would be fun to go on it one more time because I always enjoyed it and my parents didn't mind it either. So we went on it, and I was enjoying the view of how Disneyland looked at night with all the lights when suddenly the ride stopped. They gave that little spiel about the ride having minor technical difficulties and such, so we sat there and waited. I believe we were on the part of the track that would go into the circle vision building if we had kept going. Of course I was loving it because it was fun being up there. My parents on the other hand were getting annoyed. We did, however, get to see the fireworks from there. Eventually after a short hour (short for me, long for them), Disneyland employees finally had to come up and get us out and walk us to the end of the track to get down. We finally left the park close to 11:30. Even though my parents were cranky the whole way home, I loved being able to stay that extra hour having a great view of Tomorrowland, a little of Fantasyland, and the fireworks all from the People Mover, and it was definitely worth it because I loved Disneyland and still do.

     Later, I was sad when they took the People Mover out because I have that memory on it, but I do enjoy the new Tomorrowland and Rocket Rods! Well, that's my story.

     My Husband and I were on our Honeymoon. We were riding the Matterhorn and it broke down. Normally we would be upset but just as we broke down the Main Street Electrical Parade started. We were able to watch the whole thing from up above sitting in our car on the Matterhorn while the employees tried to decide how to get us down. Once the parade had finished that was when they decided to come and get us and have us walk down the Matterhorn. It was great! We got to watch the parade from our private viewing area and then hike down the Matterhorn. That is one of our favorite memories.

     My favorite summer night memory at Disneyland? Last year’s Light Magic premiere. I remember sitting on the ground near other eager annual pass holders, waiting for the show to begin. It felt like everyone there was a big family - we played trivia games and talked about our favorite Disney attractions. But it was when those beautiful, pixie-dust coated floats rolled out and that enchanting music started that I felt true Disney magic. I just love Disneyland after dark!

     This happened on my thirty first birthday. It was my children's first visit to Disneyland. They had, of course become very indoctrinated into the Disney culture and were very excited. The day was fun and I had been delighted by the wonder and awe that these four little people had displayed throughout their visit. My sister and her daughter were with me and my four children. That evening my sister suggested that we watch the Main Street Electrical Parade. I had always thought of it as kind of a chintzy thing, but I was sure my children would love it. We landed curbside seats and the parade began. My sister explained that it was the last season the parade was going to run. The music began and the floats appeared. My children were enthralled. They were completely held captive. Their eyes sparkled and thier faces beamed wit delight. I watched the parade and my children. The parade broke down for about ten minutes with Smead and his row boat in front of us. My daughter captured his attention by blowing him a kiss and he spent almost the entire time putting on a show for her. My children were absolutely delighted. The parade resumed and eventually ended. Then the magic happened. I was transported back to the opening season the MSEP. I could very vividly remember sitting curbside with my parents and seeing the parade. All of a sudden I was no longer burdened with all the shortcomings of adulthood. Every bit of magic that my children held in their beings at that moment, I also held. Throught the souls of my children, I was able to expereince what Walt Disney had intended his park to do. I am sad that the MSEP no longer runs, but I'll be forever greatful for that brief moment.

     Everytime I have been to Disneyland in the summer I was with my Grandparents. My favorite memory is from the first trip they ever took us on. It couldn't have been that late because my cousin and I were only 7 at the time but it was dark. We had just gone on the Jungle Cruise one last time before leaving the park. I can remember my Grandma winking at my Granddad the whole time we on the cruise. When we got off my Granddad told us that he could here some little girls calling our names. My Grandparents took us all over Adventureland to find those little voices. Finally we ended up in the open-air market across form the Jungle Cruise. They had a shelf from floor to ceiling full of dolls that looked like they were from It's a Small World. Well it was up to us to find the one that was calling our name. I still have that doll 20 years later. My Grandparents always knew how to build on the magic that is already present at Disneyland.

     This July was my son's 3rd trip to Disneyland. He's going to turn four in September, and become a big brother so this was a very special trip for both him and myself. We decided to do three full days at Disneyland so he could see and ride everything he wanted to. Being with him this trip was like magic. Everything came to life in his eyes, the castle and Agrabah miniatures on the Storybook Canal, he thought was really where Aladdin and Cinderella lived.

     He got to see every show, Fantasmic twice, and even got to see Tinkerbell, close up, before the fireworks. We didn't rush from ride to ride, he took his time in line to see the sights. While watching the water fountain in Tomorrowland he got his stroller pushed by Buzz Lightyear, he saw Mickey everyday that he was there and Jasmine told him that he was cute and kissed him on the cheek. The whole trip I felt like I was living one of those mushy Disneyworld commercials because he was so entranced and he wanted to share all of his feelings with me. My favortie rides, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Peter Pan all became his favorites and we ran together from Snow White to Pinocchio to Mr Toad's Wild Ride. Not once did he have a tantrum or an argument. The trip was one long cuddle, in front of the river watching Fantasmic, like we were sprinkled with Pixie Dust he says. When we got home and his first night to bed he told me thank you and he can't wait to take his new baby brother (or sister) to Disneyland.