What is your most blissful/epic experience at Disneyland?

[Escape2Disney]

I have so many blissful memories of DLR! Here is the one that really sticks out for me:

When my daughters were 9 and 6, we'd had a particularly difficult year. It was the first time the doctors weren't sure if I'd live to see another year. I was a couple of months past my second major surgery of the year, and I decided the girls needed a fun distraction from all of the gloom and doom. After a 6 hour drive, we got to Disneyland right as the afternoon parade started. The girls raced to the top of the stairs at the train station, and pressed up against the railing to watch the floats go by. By the time I got to the top of the stairs, I could see the two of them giggling and pointing at the different characters as they went by.

Then it happened - My oldest daughter (who rarely smiled that year), turned to look at me. Her face was so relaxed and her smile so big, I couldn't help but cry. All reality slipped away, and they were just being KIDS. They were excited and happy. They weren't worried about a thing. It was then that I decided to take them back as often as I could (which turned out to be every year to 18 months).

I remember mentally thanking Walt for making it all possible. (Ugg, I'm crying now just thinking about it!)

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I have so many blissful memories of DLR! Here is the one that really sticks out for me: When my daughters were 9 and 6, we'd had a particularly difficult year. It was the first time the doctors weren't sure if I'd live to see another year. I was a couple of months past my second major surgery of the year, and I decided the girls needed a fun distraction from all of the gloom and doom. After a 6 hour drive, we got to Disneyland right as the afternoon parade started. The girls raced to the top of the stairs at the train station, and pressed up against the railing to watch the floats go by. By the time I got to the top of the stairs, I could see the two of them giggling and pointing at the different characters as they went by. Then it happened - My oldest daughter (who rarely smiled that year), turned to look at me. Her face was so relaxed and her smile so big, I couldn't help but cry. All reality slipped away, and they were just being KIDS. They were excited and happy. They weren't worried about a thing. It was then that I decided to take them back as often as I could (which turned out to be every year to 18 months). I remember mentally thanking Walt for making it all possible. (Ugg, I'm crying now just thinking about it!)

You brought me to tears. That is a beautiful story <3

 

[tinkermomma]

I have so many blissful memories of DLR! Here is the one that really sticks out for me:

When my daughters were 9 and 6, we'd had a particularly difficult year. It was the first time the doctors weren't sure if I'd live to see another year. I was a couple of months past my second major surgery of the year, and I decided the girls needed a fun distraction from all of the gloom and doom. After a 6 hour drive, we got to Disneyland right as the afternoon parade started. The girls raced to the top of the stairs at the train station, and pressed up against the railing to watch the floats go by. By the time I got to the top of the stairs, I could see the two of them giggling and pointing at the different characters as they went by.

Then it happened - My oldest daughter (who rarely smiled that year), turned to look at me. Her face was so relaxed and her smile so big, I couldn't help but cry. All reality slipped away, and they were just being KIDS. They were excited and happy. They weren't worried about a thing. It was then that I decided to take them back as often as I could (which turned out to be every year to 18 months).

I remember mentally thanking Walt for making it all possible. (Ugg, I'm crying now just thinking about it!)

This also brought me to tears, what a beautiful memory.

 

[lalasmama]

I can't name just one specific "most epic" moment, but I have a Top 5 list

(1) My mom loved Disney almost as much as me. We went to DL when I was 7 years old. One of the few things I remembered from that trip was the Main Street Electrical Parade. We couldn't manage to get back to DL until I was 16. I was sad that the last run of the MSEP was slated to start the night after we were there. My auntie had a friend in-the-know at DL, and had told her the parade was starting early. I was waxing poetic to my mom about how this trip would be perfect, if only the MSEP were starting a night early. They then told me it was happening earlier than announced

(2) Walking through the gates at DL the first time with my DD. It had taken a lot for us to get there and it was a place my mom (who had passed a few years before) loved... DD insists we must ride IASW each trip to spend time thinking about Gammy.

(3) Walking through the Grizzly River Run area on my honeymoon, there was a man playing a stringed instrument of some sort--can't remember the name of it at all. At any rate, DH and I were there on our honeymoon, holding hands (and DH is soooo not a hand-holder!) walking by this guy, and the musician starts playing "Here Comes The Bride." The world just felt so right!

(4) This last winter, my BFF and I went to DL on a Mommy Weekend. BFF got married and had babies very young, and had never had time for being a young adult without responsibilities. Now a SAHM with 4 kids, there wasn't extra money for luxuries like a mommy weekend. Yet, somehow, her husband saved the money up for her to go. It was amazing to see her so excited to get to go do something she had always dreamed about.

(5) 2 years ago, we surprised DD with a trip to DL. Her little friend was at the party when we announced the trip, and was not pleased in the least. Little friend's mom started saving for a trip that very night... Two years later, we had met a handful of times while DH took our DDs so we could get reservations made, take virtual tours so she would feel confident about the trip, and talk through her anxieties. This was a woman who was told she couldn't take her child on a weekend trip without a man, let alone a whole vacation to DL! She told her DD the night before they left, and we happened to run into them the morning of their first day at DL, while we were all at the same hotel. LOVED seeing the little friend's face so excited to get on with their day, and loved seeing her mama suddenly so sure of herself, and that she could be all the parent her DD needed!

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

Probably the first time we stayed at the DLH (and the only time we stayed there as a family). Some of my extended family was there as well. I think i was about 12 and my brother was probably 10. We got in on a weekday afternoon. Family was wiped from traveling but my brother and I were, of course, ready to go NOW. We had tickets for that day so my folks deposited my brother and I on the monorail gave us $20, and let us loose.

The biggest thing I remember is Space Mountain being walk-on...we rode 8 times in a row with no wait. I just remember thinking over and over "I can't believe we are really here, and we can do whatever we want" Great times.

 

[cmpeter]

The first time we took DS to Disneyland he was about 5 and his grandma had just given him a Matchbox car. He took it with him and at the Goofy meet-n-greet, Goofy got down on the ground and played cars with DS. Sitting on the ground they raced the car back and forth to each other.

One of the first times I took dd and she brought an autograph book. She was about four. Besides the regular character autographs, she would go up the the family in line behind us, the little girl standing next to her, the cast member sweeping the sidewalk...really anyone that smiled at her and ask for their autograph.

Dh and I went for our anniversary one year...mid week trip in May. We stayed until the very last minute and walked out of the park when it was practically deserted. It almost felt like we were breaking some rules and were where we shouldn't be. I kept waiting for someone to walk up and ask us what we were doing there.

 

[pixiewings71]

1. Walking under this gets me every time!

2. One day just the wife and I were the only riders on an elevator in TOT (something happened behind us and they had temporarily stopped sending riders up). As the doors opened at the top of the ride fireworks were going off in DL at that exact moment. It was pretty cool just the two of us getting the best seat in the house for the show for a split second.

3. I was meeting up with the wife and kids walking by myself. As I 'cruised' down the street in Carsland, the neon started lighting up with the music playing. It was very subtle how DLR does it, but still almost gives you the goosebumps. They just know how to make the magic.

4. As we watched Fantasmic! My then 3yr DS from on top of my shoulders loudly applauded at the conclusion of Mickey defeating Malificent and shouted, "Thanks for saving me Mickey!!!" Seeing him so excited was pretty awesome.

5. Trying to catch the 'snow' on our tongues after the firework show during the Christmas season. That smell!

There is no experience like DLR to remove yourself from the everyday grind of life and escape to a better world. Even for only a day.

OMG me too...that's the most magical moment for me, walking under that sign, holding hands with my girls as we walk through together. We do that just about every trip, we've missed doing it a time or two but that's our first day tradition.

Taking DD18 to eat at Club 33 ON her 16th birthday, it was a Sunday Brunch so I got to drink a glass of champagne and we had Mickey and Pluto stop by and make a big deal out of her birthday button. She had no idea, I was able to surprise her with this visit and she could hardly believe it, she cried, I almost cried, we had a really good moment and after we ate and left she said "Mom, you will never be able to outdo this birthday gift so don't even try" LOL I'm looking forward to taking DD14 on a special Mother/Daughter weekend trip for her 16th, probably not to DL but somewhere special.

Catching the end of the fireworks during the last big drop into the Briar Patch on Splash...OMG that was the coolest!!!! Up until then when we hit that drop I would clench my eyes shut as tight as I could, that time I just couldn't do it and now I don't have to close my eyes as I drop down this huge drop that absolutely terrifies me. LOL

The girls being asked to play Musical Chairs by Alice herself. We had no idea they even did that but we were randomly up at Coke Corner at the right time, we were all sitting a table for 4 enjoying the moment when Alice and the Mad Hatter came up, the girls asked if they could go see them and we said yes (they were probably 7 and 10 that trip) so they ran over to them, then they spoke with Alice, turned around and pointed at us, Alice nodded and they ran over to us as fast as they could and both said "MOMOMOMOM can we play with Alice, she asked us herself, ALICE wants to play Musical Chairs with us!!!" Of course we said yes and they had the best time.

We won 2 prizes in the Year of Million Dreams (part 2), 1 was front row seating at Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, we had a table covered with a cloth, we had someone take our order and then bring us our food and the girls had a little up close and personal attention from the band. lol It was great!! And my youngest found the Hidden Mickey in the vent grate there, she was thrilled. We also won the Tink pins, they each got a set and they carefully considered who to share their extra pins with, they both found someone doing something nice and shared, that was so much fun.

I'm sure there are so many more but those are a few that stand out.

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

One of our favorite DL experiences was also during the Year of a Million Dreams. When my DDtwins were infants, my DH waited in Fantasyland with them while I took our older DD on a few rides. While he sat there, stuck with the stroller, a CM came up to him and began a conversation. She ultimately offered to help him take both infants on their first Dumbo ride - letting him in the exit, by-passing the line, and carrying one of the girls. When I returned, my DH was gushing about the experience and just how magical this moment had been for him.

Fast forward 7 years... Last month while we were at Cal Adventure, my husband wandered into a shop. The CM in the shop looked familiar and when he asked her if she ever worked in Fantacyland, she excited said "Yes! Dumbo! The twin babies!" It turns out that the day years before was the day before the official opening of the Year of a Million Dreams and was that CM's first dream fulfilled. She remembered my DH for being the first event for her, but also for his amazement and appreciation for a CM recognizing how to turn a tough situation into something magical.

Meeting this CM the first time gave us a family story that helped define our love of Disney magic. Meeting her the second time not only gave me chills, but also made me realize how magical these moments can be for both guest and CMs.

 

[Snow Queen]

There are quite a few for me, but the one I'd like to say happened on my most recent trip last month. Our plan was to be there Sunday-Tuesday, take a day off, then go for Thursday and Friday and then Saturday find something to do and then go home the next day. We were going to go to Magic Mornings on Thursday, however the hotel didn't give us our wake up call and so we missed it. When we went in, we asked a cast member in City Hall when the next Magic Mornings was. He told us DCA was tomorrow (Friday) and that the next DL one was on Saturday...then he gave us all free one day park hoppers so we could have our pick of which we wanted to go to.

 

[igomezhnl]

There are quite a few for me, but the one I'd like to say happened on my most recent trip last month. Our plan was to be there Sunday-Tuesday, take a day off, then go for Thursday and Friday and then Saturday find something to do and then go home the next day. We were going to go to Magic Mornings on Thursday, however the hotel didn't give us our wake up call and so we missed it. When we went in, we asked a cast member in City Hall when the next Magic Mornings was. He told us DCA was tomorrow (Friday) and that the next DL one was on Saturday...then he gave us all free one day park hoppers so we could have our pick of which we wanted to go to.

Wow great service

 

[Snow Queen]

Wow great service

Yeah, definitely the best time I've had with customer service.

 

[DizMe]

My husband and I are 67 years old.
I still remember going to DL when we were 13 years old and kissing in the dark on Peter Pan.
Needless to say, PP is still special to me.

I absolutely love this!!!

 

[LoveDisneyMom]

Ok, I LOVE this thread, although Im sitting here with tears streaming down my face!

We went to Disneyland for the first time as a family two years ago with our son who was just about three. My son waited in line to see Dale, who after hugging him, started dancing with him which was precious, but then he proceeded to grab my son's hand where he led him to City Hall to get him an Honorary Citizen button and an picture of himself and Chip. Then he took my son over to see Chip, and they both autographed the picture and posed for a picture with my son. Then he grabbed my son's hand and proceeded to skip all over Main Street with him. My son was in absolute heaven. He really started to open up and started talking to Dale like they were best buddies. I have a feeling no experience will ever top that one!

Here is the video!



Sorry, this one is sideways!

 

[larina]

Christmas Eve 2013. We did the holiday tour and there we were, sitting in our premium seats (chairs!) for the holiday parade with the collectors mugs the gave us with hot chocolate. As the parade went by I looked around at my group and just felt this sense of peace and happiness that was almost overwhelming. I was sharing my happiest place, mixed with my happiest holiday, with my parents and my children (ages 5 - 20) and a couple of my oldest daughter's closest friends. It was almost surreal.

I highly recommend that if you ever get the chance to do the holiday tour, do it! It's great.

 

[crystal1313]

Ok, I LOVE this thread, although Im sitting here with tears streaming down my face!

We went to Disneyland for the first time as a family two years ago with our son who was just about three. My son waited in line to see Dale, who after hugging him, started dancing with him which was precious, but then he proceeded to grab my son's hand where he led him to City Hall to get him an Honorary Citizen button and an picture of himself and Chip. Then he took my son over to see Chip, and they both autographed the picture and posed for a picture with my son. Then he grabbed my son's hand and proceeded to skip all over Main Street with him. My son was in absolute heaven. He really started to open up and started talking to Dale like they were best buddies. I have a feeling no experience will ever top that one!

Here is the video!



Sorry, this one is sideways!

Wow! Things like this is why I LOVE DL so much! What an incredible experience for your little guy. I just love his reaction when he gets the photo. Dale was so wonderful with him. What an awesome experience!!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Christmas Eve 2013. We did the holiday tour and there we were, sitting in our premium seats (chairs!) for the holiday parade with the collectors mugs the gave us with hot chocolate. As the parade went by I looked around at my group and just felt this sense of peace and happiness that was almost overwhelming. I was sharing my happiest place, mixed with my happiest holiday, with my parents and my children (ages 5 - 20) and a couple of my oldest daughter's closest friends. It was almost surreal. I highly recommend that if you ever get the chance to do the holiday tour, do it! It's great.

Agreed! There is something magical, and to use your word, surreal about it. The twinkling lights, the atmosphere, being there with my family (my parents & my children). It sums up the holiday season in that moment.

 

[runvta]

My epic experience took place a couple of years ago on Tower of Terror...one of my favorite rides! It was late in the evening and our elevator was full. As the ride ended the doors opened and the CM stuck his head in the door and asked, in his creepy voice, "would you like to go again?" We all just looked at each other for a silent second, wondering if he was serious, and then everyone screamed "YES!". And away we went, for a second time. To this day I still have no idea how our elevator got so lucky. It was awesome!

 

[sgtdisney]

What a nice thread, so many beautiful memories. I have a number of great memories from various trips over the years, but my favorite one was the first time I took my kids to Disneyland in 2006 for Disneyland's 50th.

My daughter was 4 at the time and my son 9. My daughter was (is) a BIG Cinderella fan. On that day she was dressed up with a Cinderella shirt and pony tail holders the whole 9 yards. She had been wanting to find Cinderella. We were walking through the park towards the left of the Castle, and who was heading our way, Cinderella herself. There was no one else around, not sure where she was heading.

My daughters eyes just lit up and started to talk to Cinderella. It was truly just like a scene I've seen played out on in a TV commercial. There was no one around, except us, and Cinderella and her accompanying handler. She crouched down to my daughter's level, and talked so sweetly her. Talking to her about her outfit, and who was her favorite princess. (I think she knew already.. ) Things little girls want to talk about. My daughter was just beaming and had a conversation like they were old friends. She even asked where Prince Charming was and of course Cinderella had an answer. Then she even engaged my son into the meeting and complimented him on being such a handsome prince, etc. She let us take pictures of her with both kids, and take our time. I will never forget that. I kept looking to see if we were in some commercial, it was just that perfect, no one around with the castle in the background. Then they bid their farewells and Cinderella was off. My daughter doesn't remember a lot of that trip because she was 4, but she does remember her chance meeting with Cinderella. It was pure Disney Magic for us that afternoon.

 

[lisachrystine]

Love this thread! It's so fun to see so many different cool stories. Like many of you, I could probably come up with a book full of moments, but here are the first three that popped into my head...

1. On our last trip, we hadn't really planned for how late to be in the parks, it was just "until the kids couldn't do any more" (which turned out to be 1 am!) It was getting late and we headed to fantasyland for a few last rides and it was absolutely amazing - all lit up and so few people. We were about to get off Casey Jr, when they said they were doing one more ride (for the one last family in line) and did we want to go again? So, we closed down Fantasyland. Watching the kids (8,6, and 5) run out through the castle (because they could because there were no other people around) and the pure joy on their faces was incredible. I just stood back for a moment and tried to commit it to memory because it was about as perfect as a moment in time could be.

2. Nothing quite like standing on the balcony of Club 33 at dusk.

3. Back when you could still get a "shopping pass" a friend and I decided on the spur of the moment to drive up from San Diego just to spend an hour in DL. We only went on Main Street. We bought ice cream and sat on the curb and watched and listened. There was something about knowing that you only have an hour and rides are not even a option that makes you feel like you have to absorb as much magic as you can.

 

[nikerbokers]

I'm sure mine will come during this next trip as it will be my daughters first trip (she's already a Disney freak- love it!).

BUT my best memories are being there with my Dad and brother. My Dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons almost 7 1/2 years ago and he is definitely not the man he was even 3 years ago. Growing up, my parents divorced and so my brother and I would fly to see him every other weekend. Quite a few times we did Disneyland (this was early-mid 90's) and while I don't remember many specific moments, I remember the feeling- childhood bliss. I remember my Dad as the man he was for 63 years before the disease. I just wish he was well enough to give that to my daughter too but I know she will be so excited to tell Grandpa all about it when we get back.