Get up and Go Time

During a trip to Winslow, Arizona we visited a friend of mine in his art studio. We were all sitting around talking about the project we were working on together, at the time, and in the middle of the conversation my friend said, "Can you tell my wife why I need to go to Disneyland? I've tried to explain to her why but she just doesn't get why a grown man has to go back there?!!"

 

I don't remember exactly what I said but after laughing out loud I simply said, "He has to go visit Disneyland because most people who grew up in Southern California connect Disneyland with their happy childhood memories! It's just a given!" I don't think I won her over or helped his cause but I know for that minute he and I were connected in a moment in time that neither my husband nor his wife could understand.

If you get past all the cynical, critical and nay sayers of Disneyland/Disney Corporation what you find is that people connect Disney with a feeling.  Happy or sad, good and bad everyone has their feeling about Disney and for me it’s about HAPPINESS.  I’ve got a story for every part of the park. Just ask me come on….

Hey Nancy, what about the people mover? Well I loved sitting on that ride because it went soooo slow and after a long day, my feet were thanking me. Additionally, I remember shouting down at people and saying that a friend of mine was on her period!! (Hey I never said I had class!)

What about the canoes?  Well the first time I ever went on them I was with my brothers Denny and David. That was actually the last time I ever went on them.  I was scared then and 30 years later I'm still scared.

What about the Tiki Room?  Did you know my mother always bought me a pineapple spear? No matter what, I knew I was going to get fresh pineapple (relatively speaking).

And the Pirates of Caribbean?  I don’t care what anyone says those people in that outside/inside restaurant are really animatronics.  They just look real because it’s dark inside that ride. 

Don't these people look fake??

But you didn’t say one thing about the Monorail!?! That’s because I was saving the best for last.  Does anyone remember Shawnte, Allison, Pop, Angel, Lisa or Todd?  They were the 70’s Mouseketeers and assured me with their groovy far out clothes that the Monorail was the ride of all rides … the ride that made me get up and go time!!  So when I stand in line for this ride in my head their music plays (even after all these years). Not to mention it doesn't matter if your dance group is keeping the same tempo as long as you have the same clothes, its ALL good!

 



 

 

So it's not surprising that my love of Disney was added to my list at #15.  As I write, Mark and I are planning our trip to the Happiest Place on Earth's sister "Magic Kingdom" in lovely Orlando, Florida.  Like any good tourist we already bought an unofficial guide to the place and made reservations.

 

We initially went through the the Disney website but niece who loves to plan trips even if she isn't going on them reminded me that she is a Disney cast member.  After debating hotel rooms we picked the Pop Century hotel located in the resort.  Close enough to the parks we want to go to and most importantly transportation. This hotel gets its own bus and doesn't share it with multiple hotels.  We imagine this will save us many tears as our little ones will have full days and we are definitely going to TRY and minimize the tantrums not just the kids but also their parents.

 

Not only are we going to visit Orlando we are also going to incorporate a little road trip.  Well its hardly a "little plan" as we plan to drive up to Atlanta, Georgia then to South Carolina, back down to Savannah, Georgia and finally back to where we started.  Since we have started making plans I have been asked whats in Georgia?  Why South Carolina?  Besides visiting a best friend in South Carolina, we are just going because there is so much to see and learn outside of where we live.

 

But the driving force is that I had always dreamed when I was 40 I would do a cross country trip with Matthew.  Mother and son hitting the road, seeing it together for the first time.  But then I turned 40 and the life I had pictured years ago had changed dramatically.  I have to admit I was blue and mourned the life I had lost.  But with a loving husband, practical mother and funny kids I was reminded that just because a dream can not be fulfilled as you imagined doesn't mean that it should be let go. 

 

So inch by inch, mile by mile  I will get part of the road trip I had dreamed and the cherry on top is a little mouse named Mickey.  And with any luck I'll find the right polyester jump suit to fit the occasion!