Why Disney?

I'm a huge fan of Walt Disney, his movies, his parks, his legacy.  My first trip to Disneyland was when I was about 6 yrs old.  I don't remember much from that trip, but I think my sub-conscience was forever changed.  I remember going to the Saturday matinees and seeing Disney movies.  I had Disney record albums of the movies that had the songs and story on them.  (man I wish I still had those!!)  I got to go one more time as a child when I was about 10yrs old.  This just further set the Disney way into my life and my dreams.

I've always loved Mickey Mouse.....I remember seeing the original Mouseketeers and also remember the remake that produced a number of popular singers (Christina Aguilera, Britney Speers, & Justin Timberlake to name a few).  I remember watching the Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday night.  My favorites were the cartoons, but I also remember the nature shows & falling in love with polar bears.

I got married in 1984 and soon after we went to Wyoming to work for the summer.  We took the long way home to Oregon so I could take my husband to Disneyland for a day.  He had never been.  I remember the park being almost empty.  It was in October and at that time, Disneyland didn't decorate up for Halloween.  The only line we had to wait in was Space Mountain.  I look back now & wish we would have taken pictures.  I have 2 or 3 but that's it.

We had 3 sons and Disney was always in their lives.  We had bedding, clothes, movies & music.  The only thing I hadn't been able to do was take them to Disneyland.  We came close when McDonald's was running one of their promos and a Disneyland trip was the big prize.  We won free park tickets but we just didn't have the money to get there.

In 2005, Disneyland' 50th Anniversary.....we finally got the chance to take our boys to Disneyland.  At this point, we had added another boy to our family.  We were doing foster care and this sweet 4 yr old was soon to be an official member of our family.  So our family & 4 sons (ages at time of trip: 20, 18, 16, 4)  went over the 4th of July time.  The park was extra magical with all the Golden 50's & ride vehicles, the picture mosaics, special parade & fireworks.  It was a wonderful trip full of great memories.

That trip made huge Disney fans of my boys and we were always looking to our next trip.  Our family continued to grow as we added 3 girls, so planning and affording trips take a little budgeting....but we've been able to return 3 more times as a family.

Our home has a Mickey kitchen and master bedroom, a princess bedroom, a Tinkerbell bedroom & a Cars bedroom.  Our bookcase has Disney books, magazines, Vacation DVD's, Disney CD's, Disney VCR tapes, DVD's & Blu-Rays.  Our closets and drawers are full of Disney shirts and sweatshirts & jackets.  The kids toy boxes have Disney themed toys through out.

So Why Disney??  We love Disney because of the feeling it gives us.  Its a magical place for families, couples & even going solo.  There's something there for everyone...you just have to give yourself the ok to act like a child again.  The movies and the music bring a smile even on a bad day.  Seeing a Mickey t-shirt also makes me smile.  The 4 yr old twins love the Disney Channel....it's educational but fun for all of us.

Walt wanted to build a place where families could go & do things together, instead of the kids playing and the parents sitting on a bench watching.  He succeeded when he built Disneyland.  It was different from anything out there in 1955.  It still stands alone in its theming & totally taking you to a new place when you come through the gates. Walt was inspirational and even with him gone, his presence is still felt through the company's employees who still believe in Walt's vision.

Disney means dreams can come true~~~I believe, do you??