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My First Trip to Disneyland


M.C. CooneyMouse

San Francisco, California

     This is about the first time I went to Disney land and my first time on the Pirates.
     My long love affair with Disneyland began that fifth year of my life. It was 1972, Nixon was in the White House, the Vietnam war was on everyone's television and I had just learned the complex and seemingly adult skill of tying my own shoes. My parents were so proud. Proud enough to pack me and my two year old sister in the car and drive the forty-five minutes to Anaheim, for my first trip to Disneyland. A trip that would bring me memories and impressions and keen interests to this day. I remember I fell asleep on what seemed like the longest drive in the car to date, till I heard my mother telling me to wake up. I opened my eyes and there was the Matterhorn rising above the park. I actually thought that was real snow up there, can you believe it? It got larger and larger till we got off the freeway and drove into the parking lot. I couldn't wait to see what wonder lay in store for a five year old boy. I was so excited, we were finally here! I almost jumped out of the car before it got parked! I got out and there it was. The most fun a kid could have besides eating paste and drawing with crayons. Would I see Mickey? I asked my Mom. Maybe him and lot's of other fun things she said.
     We went up to the ticket booth and waited while my dad got everything settled. As we walked in, I heard a sound that has brought music to my ears ever since. A loud whistle, the hiss of steam, and the clickety clack of wheels on steel rails. I looked up at the train station and saw it. It's metal boiler gleaming in the sun. My first steam engine! I couldn't wait to get on board so I grabbed my dad's hand and pulled and tugged till finally we stood there on the platform of the station. We waited and waited for the train to unload, till I could jump on and taste my first train ride! The conductor ushered us on a car. I could hardly sit still waiting for the train to move. Finally with a loud whistle, the ring of a bell and the first jerk of the engine on the cars, we were off. Clack, clack clickety clack! Sheer music.
     The first stop was New Orleans Square. Slowly the train pulled in, crawling to a stop. Looking out from the train station I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There was the Mark Twain gliding across the way on it's river. There was Tom Sawyer Island, the keel boat, I couldn't wait to experience it all. My dad said this was where we would get off and my mother gathered my sister and followed. You didn't have to light a fire under me. I shot off the train and onto the platform like a bull out of the chute and down the stairs at full gallop. Here were buildings I had never seen before. To the left stood a huge white house with a columned porch, that later that day would make me start crying afterwards and almost wet my pants in fright and to the right were buildings that would give me a love of architecture that is still a strong influence in my life now. I gazed up at all the balconies and the iron work. It was so pretty. There was a big tree too. I couldn't wait to climb it like I did the ones back at our house. I had never climbed a musical tree before.
     The first ride we went on was the Pirates of the Caribbean. My mother and sister waited patiently outside. My sister was a little too young to be going on a big persons ride my father told me. We got in line and shuffled forward till we entered through the front doors. I can still remember the low music as we stood in line and the smell of dampness that permeated through the boarding area. I saw moss hanging from the trees and fireflies for the first time. Pirate treasure lay across the moat from me. Oh how I wanted to play with it. Little realizing that is was an illusion. But what lay ahead after we got in the boat? What would I see? My dad and I stepped into the second row and waited for the others. The boat loaded and then that first push and the boat went forward, slipping into the water ever so quietly. Slow and easy. I looked up and saw the stars twinkling, and the moss hanging. Fireflies danced in the night air. We passed an old cabin, a man sat on the porch playing his banjo. I couldn't decide if he was real or not. I wondered how he got off the porch at the end of the day, and where he went after that.
     Then the skull appeared, "DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES!" it warned. I was starting to get a little scared here. What was this going to turn into? What was waiting for me? Then came that first hill, that first scream from the boat and the first splash of water on my face. I opened my eyes and looked around. Dark, dreary and the smell of must were my first impressions of being in what I thought was a real cave. Then came that second hill, the second scream from the boat and the second splash of water that made my think I had just wet my pants. Then we were floating, moving silently through the water. I looked up and saw big pointy rocks hanging from the ceiling, gray, hoping they would stay there and not fall into the boat. Then my father pointed and told me to look at what was coming into view.
     There, in a grotto stood a man, a skeleton really, driving his ship through a fierce storm. The thunder and lightning scaring me a bit.I remember it being so loud and the wind screaming in my ears. A skeleton laying a beach with a sword driven through him and a crab trying to pinch his nose. then a bar came into view, skeletons drinking, last call my father said. I didn't know what that was, but it made me laugh seeing a skeleton trying to drink and it ending up on the floor. I gasped as I saw a huge pile of gold, silver, jewels and treasure chests. It was bigger then my house, and like Daffy Duck in the cartoon, I wanted to be mine, mine, mine! An old dead pirate sat alone in his bed, staring at his treasure map for all eternity with his eyeglass, an old organ off to the side playing music he wouldn't hear anymore.
     FIRE! KABOOM! SPLASH! I ducked! I thought a cannonball would land smack on us and send us sinking into the water as we passed the fort and the ship. "Ye scurvy knaves" yelled the captain, a fierce looking man in red as he waved his sword over head. FIRE! KABOOM! Came the echo from the ship. Again, I ducked, thinking I was dodging flying ammunition.
     Where be the treasure?" they asked as he went up and down in the well. This looked like fun I thought. I wondered what it would be like to go up and down like that and play in the well. Too bad I couldn't get out of the boat to see. The pirates had invaded I guessed and this was what they did for fun little knowing this was what they did to get information out of you.
     Wow, she was a pretty lady in that red dress, I though to myself. I could see why she was so popular that all the men wanted her. Pretty red hair and that low cut gown. The fat one reminded me of my school teacher back at St. George's. I'd have to tell her I saw her when I got back. The skinny one looked like my other teacher. She wasn't married either. I thought maybe she'd be able to find a husband if she came down here and stood in line with these other women.
     My dad told me never to play with fire, and now I knew why. You could set a whole town on fire. Did they rebuild the whole thing everytime I wondered? Three men and a donkey sang as we rode past, I couldn't quite make out what they were singing, except it was yo ho yo ho something or other. Oh God I hoped that man on the bridge would stay where he was and not fall into the boat with us, and this man playing with the pigs in the mud was going to have to take a bath when he got home. The man with the woman's underwear was funny. He looked like Captain Kangaroo. Kathleen at school one day let me see her underpants under her skirt, that was cool. I didn't know what he was doing with them though, until a woman came out of a barrel and saw him and hid back inside. Playing hide and go seek I thought. I liked playing that at school. I also liked to chase the girls like these other men were doing. I was always after a kiss. Of course I didn't like it though when the girls chased me back.
     Burned out and smoldering ruins lay before our boat. I looked up and saw blackened timbers and a chair hanging up there. I hoped they would let these men out the jail later on. They didn't sound too happy that the doggy had the key in his mouth.
     BANG! BANG! BANG! I ducked again. This time I was trying to watch out for the pirates shooting all over the place. I saw the red barrels and asked my dad what was in them. He told me it was gunpowder and it made a loud bang. I wished that they wouldn't blow us up with them. But what was happening? The boat was being taken up a hill. I saw creepy eyes staring at me from the walls, I hope they don't reach out and try to grab me. Oh cool! Here was that treasure I saw when I came in. Oh I want it, I want it. But I couldn't get out of the boat and onto the sand to play with it. Then we had to get out, the ride was over. I wanted to go again, and again, but my dad said we could only go once. We walked out and there were my mother and my sister sitting on a bench and waiting for us to get back from our journey. I couldn't wait to tell her what I saw. I told her I wanted to be a pirate and have lot of treasure, she smiled and said someday maybe you will have lots of treasure. I found out later as I got older, memories are just one form of treasure and it's even more valuable then a pirates gold.

M.Louise MortonMouse

Burnaby, Britsh Columbia

     When I found out that we would be taking a trip to Disneyland in August 1999, I was overjoyed. I was so excited I couldn't sleep or do anything unless it had something to do with Disney. I had never been there before and for as long as I could remember I had wanted to go. So the day finally came and I stepped onto the plane that would take me to LA. I was shaking with excitement. We arrived at our Hotel a long 4 hours later. I was so excited because just minutes before I had gotten my first glimpse of Disneyland and I nearly began to bawl! In all my 16 years of living I had never been more happy. I unpacked my things as quickly as possible and said "LETS GET GOING!" We walked to Disneyland from The Radisson and When I saw the Maingates I lost it, my eyes filled with tears of happiness. And my heart was filled with a feeling of completeness (something I thought I would never feel again since my parents had separated). I entered the park and walked through Main ST. I looked around and tried to take everything at once. I remember my father saying to me "I have never seen you smile like this" Because my smile was so.. Happy! I was just completely happy, I thought I would burst with happiness.
     We went on Pirates of the Caribbean first (because it was my father's favorite ride). And I really thought it was cool! Then we went on the Haunted Mansion which was really worth the wait. And then we ate an early dinner at the Blue Bayou restaurant. I had the Cajun Chicken which I would recommend to everyone! We went back to the hotel for a bit so my brother could change his clothes because his shirt got ripped somehow. Then we went to go see Fantasy In The Sky. I ended up crying again! Because I honestly couldn't believe I was there! We didn't go and see Fantasmic that night because we were exhausted! The next morning we went for the early entry. We went on 9 rides in the first hour. It was so much fun! Some of the rides we went on were: Big Thunder Mountain, Snow White, Peter Pan, and The Tea cups. I had a lot of fun... Then we ate at the Tomorrowland Terrace. It was very good! Then we walked around and saw some character (which I got autographs of and pictures with. Then we went to go see Animazement - The Musical. I loved it! And I asked if I could go and see it again by myself and my dad said sure. So I went off and looked around for a bit before I went to go and see it again. I took tons of pictures and even caught myself singing along with the words. I was soo happy. I met up with my brother and father later at about 6. We ate dinner outside of disneyland but and I went back to the hotel. I was not well, so I went to sleep, while my brother and father went to see Fantasmic.
     The next day I went around by myself for most of the day. I talked to someone who gave me a sticker that said I was an Honary Citizen of Disneyland I hugged them for that. Then I told them of how Aladdin was my favorite character and The man said he could get me an autographed picture of him for me. Which I picked up from the Main ST City Hall. I was so happy! I went to go and see Animazement again and this time I wrote My favorite character a letter. I gave it to the Stage Director and she said she would give it to him which made me even happier. We went to see Fantasmic that night and I was so amazed by it. I literally stood there with my mouth hanging open! It was absolutely amazing! I loved it. The next day we didn't go to Disneyland but we went to Universal Studios. I liked it a bit but it couldn't compare to Disneyland. And I really didn't like any of the rides there.
     On the Thursday I went to the Early Entry myself. I had a lot of fun. I went on Big Thunder MOuntain twice and loved it! (I think that would have to be my favorite ride!). Then I at about 9 I went on the Matterhorn It was really cool! It was like a rollercoaster and it was fun! I never really enjoyed rollercoasters until I went to Disneyland because they always scared me. I met up with my brother and father at 2:30 because I went to go and see Animazement again. We went to go and see Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. Oh boy was that funny! I loved it. And then we went on Space Mountain. Now my brother loved it but I personally didn't like it too much. I have always had a kind of fear of rollercoasters and of the dark so I didn't like not being able to see where I was going. I didn't like it too much. It was still an experience I wouldn't have wanted to miss though. Then we went on the Rocket Rods. They were soooooooooo much fun. We waited for over an hour and a half to get on them because they broke down. And that was really worth it because it was so much fun. After that we went on the Jungle Cruise. We laughed and laughed and laughed at our driver. Ah it was so funny! Then we went on Indiana Jones. Now you can't not go on Indiana Jones because even just waiting in line is an experience. You walk through all these tavern type things and they are sooooo cool. They have like things for the movies in them. Then the ride is way cool. We went on it and it was really bumpy! haha. I closed my eyes during the fire part (because I am also very scared of fire). And that was that. Then We went and had some fun on the Columbia (one of the boats that does tours of the Rivers of America). That was really cool. Then we had some pennies made for my friends back home. Then we went to dinner and then we went to Fantasmic. And again I was in shock. The next day we went to Knott's Berry Farm which would have been okay if we weren't so tired. I really didn't want to be there and I didn't really enjoy myself. And my dad said that when he went here last time he came 20 years before that he didn't like it either. We went back to our hotel within three hours of arriving at Knott's Berry Farm. I went for a swim with my brother in the hotel pool for the rest of the afternoon. That was enjoyable and very relaxing. Then we went to a nice little restaurant Called Mama's (or something like that) It was right across from disneyland. I really recommend eating there!
     The next day was our final day at Disneyland and I had problems walking around without wanting to grab onto something and chain myself to it so I could stay. I sat for one hour at the rivers of America and cried. I knew I was leaving and wouldn't be back for many years and it was breaking my heart. Goofy came up and hugged me which made me feel better. But I still cried. Then I went on some rides and went to go see Animazement again. Then I sat by the Fantasyland theatre and wrote a letter to my grandmother. I got out all my feelings in it. Then I met up with my father and brother and we went on Splash Mountain. That was really fun except for the soaking wet clothing you got because of the big drops. Then we went on Star Tours about 5 times in a row. Then we went on the railroad and then ate dinner at The Blue Bayou again. We watched Fantasmic twice that night which I cried through and then went on our last ride. Pirates of the Caribbean. Then we bought our gifts for the family and souvenirs for us. I got a Mulan Music box thing which I treasure! The next morning we flew home and I cried the whole way. My dad tried to comfort me but it was impossible to make me feel better. All in All my trip to Disneyland was the happiest time of my life and always will be for nothing can compare to the feelings I feel when I entered Disneyland every morning. So I feel it is extremely appropriate to say the truthfully Disneyland IS and always will be The Happiest Place On Earth!

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