Favorite Memory At Disneyland?

[gurugriff100]

First Time On The Matterhorn

[mousecrazy]

Watching my son for the first time get on Peter Pan hopping to the music with his Peter Pan hat and Captain hook sword in hand. He was 3.... Best moment ever!

[Caligirl1921]

My aunt took my sister and i often when we were little and the BEST trip was the time we watched the MSEP when i was only about 6 but i still remember it like it was yesterday i still have the old VHS :)

[ShrunkenNed]

OK, so many memories, hard to choose just one. I did, however lift this entry from my blog as I found it quite fitting:

When I was younger, Disneyland was a favorite vacation destination for me. I can’t remember too much about those trips, I was a little too young. I do know that one of my family’s favorite photographs come from me being pushed in a stroller by Dale the chipmunk, screaming my little cute Mickey ears off. There are many other pictures of me at the park, but no real memories come of those.

The few things I do remember are little in the grand scheme of things. I remember my mom and dad making me and my sister lay down for a nap on a bench while my mom had iced tea and my dad had a vanilla milkshake, of which I got to have a sip of. A little thing, right? But here I am, 30 years old, and nothing tastes better to me than a vanilla milkshake from the happiest place on earth. (On a side note, on my last trip there in 2006, the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor no longer sold shakes. I almost cried.)

I remember waking up on the floor of the hotel room, being told I had just rolled off in the middle of the night. (Just rolled off? I was sharing a bed with my older sister at the time, and I still suspect foul play.)

I remember riding my first roller coaster, The Matterhorn, with my dad. And it scared the living daylights out of me. He tried to get me to go on Space Mountain with him. He said I’d like it because it had cool pictures of the solar system as we were walking out. He almost had me sold on it as I was a pretty big astronomy buff, until I asked one more important question. "Does it have seat belts?" I asked him. No, he told me, just safety bars. "Then I’m not riding. Not until they have seat belts." I have since softened my stance on rides without seat belts, though I still won’t get into a car without one.

Perhaps the memory that stayed with me most, however, is that we went as a family. My parents divorced soon after our last family trip to Disneyland, and I wouldn’t get to go again for quite a few years. Nonetheless, when I think of my family being happy together, I think of our trips to Disneyland. I still think of family every time I go there. And I think Uncle Walt would be happy.

[Piglet]

^^That is such a touching story =) It is so hard when families are separated by divorce and those pre-divorce memories become even more valuable. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[sarahonpointe94]

ShrunkenNed, that was beautiful! =D
So many memories from Disneyland fill my mind as I write this, but its hard to decide on my favorite one.
The most recent one that comes to mind would be last Thursday, when I went to DLR with my two friends, their mom, our friend Avissa, and their French foreign exchange student, Gabrielle. We had reservations at Club 33, and one of my favorite memories was sitting around our table at the club, talking and laughing and swapping funny stories about past trips to Disneyland. The reason this one stands out so much is because Avissa is going off to college in the fall, and the four of us have been friends for years, and seeing her leave will be sad, but I know we will all treasure these and many other funny memories , as well as memories of Gabrielle when she goes back to France in a month. =D

I love the memories I have of Disneyland from the past, and look forward to making many more as I grow up. When I think of Disneyland, I think of friends, family, fun. Of going back to your childhood and forgetting about the stresses of life outside the Park grounds. Frankly, Disneyland represents freedom to me.
---Sarah =D

[Wisher]

Originally Posted by ShrunkenNed

Perhaps the memory that stayed with me most, however, is that we went as a family. My parents divorced soon after our last family trip to Disneyland, and I wouldn’t get to go again for quite a few years. Nonetheless, when I think of my family being happy together, I think of our trips to Disneyland. I still think of family every time I go there. And I think Uncle Walt would be happy.

Oh, Ned. I don't even know what to say. Thank you for sharing.

[Palm Desert Babe]

My favorite memory was singing in the Candlelight Choir. it was so amazing to perform in Disneyland since it is one of my all-time goals to be a performer there. lol I can't wait to do it again and again and again......hopefully :)

[Sesshomaru-sama]

Not trying to be a bad person, but I already made a thread a long time ago that's like this.

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

[Disneyfan#1]

Here's another great memory I have of disneyland, which I just found
YouTube - It's a Small World Holiday

[jawknee]

Originally Posted by Palm Desert Babe

My favorite memory was singing in the Candlelight Choir. it was so amazing to perform in Disneyland since it is one of my all-time goals to be a performer there. lol I can't wait to do it again and again and again......hopefully :)

This reminded me of two other great moments:

Marching in a parade with my marching band during that Magic Music Days seasonal thing they do in the Spring. It. Was. Incredible.

Our concert band got to play the actual sheet music for some Disney movies and attractions. The best one was the "flowers" scene during Fantasmic. Oh my, oh my.

[chelsealela]

Originally Posted by mousecrazy

Watching my son for the first time get on Peter Pan hopping to the music with his Peter Pan hat and Captain hook sword in hand. He was 3.... Best moment ever!

This is sooo sweet!
Another example why when I have kids someday, I'm taking them to Disneyland.
I wanna raise them with Disney as my parents did for me. :]

[Wisher]

^ Every child should be raised with Disney, don't you think? It really can make a difference in kids' lives. I've seen changes in kids because of Disneyland. Big, beautiful changes.

[BlueFairy]

I know I definitely would be completely different as a person if Disneyland and really Disney anything hadn't been such a big part of my life when I was little (and it still is). I've learned so much about the importance of holding on to your dreams and not letting anyone tell you otherwise. And the importance of imagination. I definitely agree with Sarah, Disneyland represents freedom to me. Because all of the memories I have there, and are memories of feeling free. Free to dream, free to be a kid, free to just be myself. It's also taught me how vital friends and family are to us, because after all, part of the magic of Disneyland is enjoying it with the people we love. Sorry, I tend to ramble :P.

As for favorite memories, a few come to mind. Definitely seeing MSEP for the first time. I will never forget when the Blue Fairy blew me a kiss, and I felt like the most special 4 year old in the world. Although I don't think I new just how special it was when it happened, eating at Club 33 was pretty awesome too. Actually, one trip with my three friends comes to mind, when we went to Disneyland the day school got out. It was one of the most fun trips I've ever had.

[chelsealela]

Yes, Wisher, I agree. I do think it can make a huge difference. It gives kids something to believe in.

My first time really meeting Mickey Mouse was at age 5 (I had before when I was much younger than 5 but I don't remember that of course). I remember bits and pieces of it to this day. It was in Mickeys house on August 17, 1995. (Yes, the date is in my mind). My mom tells me I ran up to him, into Mickey's waiting open arms and he held me for the longest time. I remember walking out of his house with the greatest joy and happiness. It was the first time going to Disneyland as a complete family since my brother was just born. I want so badly to go back to that time. I miss that warm feeling I had.

I still have the picture of little me and Mickey holding me. It sits on one of my very top shelfs in my room.