When I was younger I went every summer from Seattle to LA
(Redondo Beach) to visit my dad. Each summer we would go to the amusement park
du jour (Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Sea World, LA Zoo) and while all were
great Disneyland was by far the best. Once in the park and I got my fill of
Dumbo, Thunder Mountain, Rocket ships, etc. I would get a souvenir hat. The
first of course was Mickey ears, but through the years I would end up with
Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse and I am sure there has to be at least one
more that I am forgetting. Well to make things even worse for my sister (on top
of having to babysit me) I would wear the hat for the remainder of the trip. As
a teenager the only that could be more embarrassing was if there had been two
of us. So while I apologize today for the sins of yesterday, let me be clear I
would still wear the hats today! The Goofy one was particularly stylish because
it was trucker hat style with long ears and buck teeth. AWESOME. Whenever I
think of Disneyland I always reference it as a kid with my hat.
A few years ago my brother, sister, nieces, nephew and
parents all went to Disneyland and it was crazy fun and exhausting at the same
time. We rode the rides, ate the food and bought hats (including me, duh!) and
loved it all. However, the best time that I ever had was when my sister, aunt
and her friends (the latter two being Disney freaks…in a good way) went
together. We saw what we wanted to see, rode the rides we wanted to ride and
ate at Club 33 (which was a blast on its own) all without kids. While it is
lovely to take kids to Disneyland, you really transform into a kid when they
aren’t there. Being with two Disney freaks (in a good way) allowed us to experience
the park in a way I never had before. They know secrets and sneaks all over the
park. It was a blast. Everyone should try this as an adult (and yes I got a
hat. You should too.).
So why am I talking about Disneyland? Well I am currently on
my way to Anaheim and was feeling a little nostalgic. I also will be hitting up
Euro Disney mid October so I figured why not talk about the Happiest Place on
Earth today. Also I will be getting new hats at both places (Nemo, old school Mickey or maybe a Jack Sparrow hat?
Can’t decide). You should too.
| To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” |
My personal favorite of the hats was the Donald Duck hat that quacked when you squeezed the bill. You had a little dance that went along with it, and ended with the "quack, quack". I do remember Wendy calling me at the bank one day asking "Does she HAVE to wear that hat everywhere we go? Can't you make her stop?" :)
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