I forgot to add in my last post - the DLR holiday ad not only does a great job at capturing the sense of wonder and awe that kids experience, but it reminds me of one of my adult friends.
I think that the DLR holiday season can affect even the most grumpy and hardened people, as well as amaze and inspire even the most seasoned DLR visitors. In 2007, my friend came to hang out with my other friends and me at DLR, on a Saturday in December. Now, this friend had been with us to DLR during previous holiday seasons and various summer trips, but it was back in the '90s, before DLR really, really, really started to make a huge deal of Christmas. She was never really enamored of
Disneyland like I was/am - she just thought it was a fun place to hang out now and then. When she joined us on this particular Saturday, she was going to go home after we had lunch. For some reason or other, we talked her into staying so we could have a dessert-only meal at Carnation Cafe. But she swore she would leave after dessert.
We were entering DL at night after having spent the last several hours in DTD and DCA. All the lights were aglow and shimmering all around us, and you could see the Winter Castle shining in the distance - glowing incandescently throughout the park, really. We approached the giant Main Street tree and just stood there for a moment, soaking it all in.
This friend - who had never particularly cared one way or the other about DLR at Christmastime - seemed a bit speechless. Or maybe awestruck is a better word. Suddenly, she was transformed into a child. She said, in a trance-like voice, eyes widened, "You guys...look! It's soooo....beautiful! Everything is so beautiful...." Aha! A DLR holiday convert!
We proceeded to Carnation Cafe for our sundaes, coffee and pie. The holiday parade was taking place while we ate, but we only caught glimpses of it through the people crowded to watch. My friend was preparing to leave.
But, as we exited Carnation, bellies full of treats, it began to snow on Main Street. The most serendipitous timing, I'd say.
We giggled like little girls and brushed the white foam off our clothes. My friend said, "Oh! It's snowing..." (And then we realized that the snow looked a bit like detergent bubbles.)
We decided to introduce this friend to the wonders of IASWH - one last ride before she went home - and we waited in a 45-minute line to do that. But my friend was entranced, and she was able to catch a whiff of the peppermint as you sail through the candy factory in the ride.
So...as a result of this trip, in which my friend had become so impressed and enchanted with DLR at Christmas time, she ended up buying AP's for her husband and herself, and the following year she was dragging her reluctant husband on IASWH.
She was anxious to share with him the beauty of the season at DLR.
Yep...I'd say Disneyland at Christmastime can make a kid out of all of us, and we all find ourselves standing there and staring like the kids in the commercial, in awe and wonder at the magic before us!
So it's a little deceptive!)
yes these were for sale!
