Coffee Break with Liz and Kate » Headline » Guest Rant – The Magic of Disneyland
by Ryane McKinnon
Guest Rant – The Magic of Disneyland
by Ryane McKinnon
Disneyland is my favorite place in the world. I go at least once every year, and then spend the rest of the year counting down the days until I can go back again. Whenever I hear of anyone else planning a trip, especially if they have never been to Disneyland before, I get nearly as excited as I would if I were going myself. I love to offer advice on what shows to see, what attractions to visit, and how to reduce time spent waiting in lines. After they come back, I revel in their stories.
Recently, a family I am acquainted with went to Disneyland for the first time. I was thrilled to hear about their upcoming trip, and imagined how excited they would be and how much fun they would inevitably have. However, when they got back I was shocked to hear their account of The Happiest Place on Earth. They said, “Oh, it’s just like any other theme park. I can’t believe we drove all that way and spent all that money for nothing.” Are we talking about the same place? Disneyland is like any other theme park? That’s like saying Christmas is just like any other day.
I wouldn’t even put Disneyland in the same category as any other theme park. Most theme parks are just a cluster of thrill rides with sticky seats and annoyed workers smelling of smoke and sweat. But not Disneyland. Being at Disneyland is like experiencing childhood again, but only the very best parts of it. Everyone is smiling and laughing, cheery music is everywhere, and the air smells like cinnamon and popcorn. It seems possible that, at any moment, a cartoon bluebird might perch on your shoulder and whistle a merry tune. There is a delightful magic in Disneyland 
that doesn’t exist anywhere else I’ve ever been. I especially adore the intricacy of the different themed lands. The texture of the ground, the costumes of the employees, the architecture of the buildings, even the style of the garbage cans changes from land to land. Though Tomorrowland is very different from Fantasyland, which is drastically different from Frontierland, each produces that wonderful, joyful feeling. So how can any family in their right mind regret a trip to this magical place?
It may sound like I’m going overboard, or taking this too personally. But I really can’t understand how some people just… miss it. Disneyland is about the little things; the magic is in the details. Like the statue of Walt Disney holding Mickey’s hand, framed by the arch of Sleeping Beauty’s glittering castle. Or watching a woman clad in a white apron pull taffy on the quaint, almost European feeling, Main Street U.S.A. Or the jazz band in New Orleans Square throwing beads into the dancing and clapping crowd. That is the magic of Disneyland.
Ryane McKinnon is an English Education Major at SUU
AND
a Disneyland lover
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Filed under: Headline · Tags: attitude, coffee break, Disneyland, vacations
4 Responses to "Guest Rant – The Magic of Disneyland
by Ryane McKinnon"
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Okay, so we just spent the last three days at Disneyland with my mom, my brother and his family (girls, ages 7 & 11) and my family (2, 11 & 13 year old boys and one 5 year old princess). We had an absolutely magical time sharing this wonderful time together. It was especially challenging balancing the desires of all the children (adult children included) but it was wonderful. We had just seen a fireworks show for 4th of July, but nobody does a fireworks show like Disney. Besides wanting to see all the princesses (which she did, thanks to Grandma reserving a breakfast with all the princesses), all she wanted to see was the fireworks show behind the castle. I’m not sure I could go back every year, but the time we spent allowed me to enjoy constant time with my family and build wonderful memories. We’ll be back, probably in three years when the new Little Mermaid, Wonderful World of Color and Cars Land opens up at CA Adventure.
I just wanted you to know, Ryane, that I actually teared up reading that. It made me wish I was at Disneyland at this very moment and every moment of my life. I love Disneyland more than any other place in the Universe. I cannot wait to go in November. Hopefully I’ll make it to November without any severe D-Land withdrawals.
I just returned from Disneyland, my first time. It wasn’t what i thought it would be but i was awesome!
I loved every thing about it. Along with our stay in California we visited other theme parks. Universal studio’s, the wild animal park, and sea world. But none of these parks were as special as Disneyland. Every night at Disneyland we would leave right before the fire works. We decided we would go watch them on the 4th oh July, knowing they would be special and awesome. On the 4th we got up walked to Disneyland and waited in lines for the rides we really wanted to ride. Around 5 that night we returned to our hotel for dinner. After dinner, the two girls i was staying with decided they didn’t want to return to Disneyland. They were too worn out, and didn’t want to walk a mile to see the best 4th of July fireworks they would ever see. So while we sat in our hotel room watching TV, we could here all the fireworks going off around us.
Going to Disneyland with someone who had been once a year for there whole life, is not someone i would recommend going to Disneyland with. To her it was just another theme park. It wasn’t special anymore.
Caitlin, I guess it just depends who the person is… I go to Disneyland every year and sometimes twice a year. And to me it has NEVER lost it’s magic. And you totally missed out on the fireworks. It’s the best fireworks show you will EVER see. It’s amazing. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.