I always wondered where my love for Disney Parks came from and I can't find one specific answer... I remember as a young child - probably around 7-9 years old - hearing about Disney and knowing it was an impossible dream. We lived in Brazil and lived a happy but simple life. It's funny because when you know it's "impossible" even at a young age, it's okay to just dream about it and I was not bothered that I couldn't go. I remember at the time thinking how lucky could someone be to be able to go to Disney. I didn't know anyone who had been, just remember watching a kids program where they talked about it on TV.
Fastforward a bit, when I was about 13 we had the opportunity to go on pilgrimage to the Baha'i World Centre, in Haifa, Israel. My parents had applied years earlier hoping that by time we got the invitation (it used to take 4-5 years as there was a long wait list for Baha'is to go on pilgrimage) we would have saved enough for the trip. So since we had a lot of family in the US and Canada we decided it was a great opportunity to visit everyone after. My parents had started a new business just a couple years prior to this so we were finally able to save enough for an international trip! The impossible dream was finally happening!! My aunt and uncle and cousins who also lived in Brazil were joining us on this trip. So the 8 of us packed and took off in late December 1988!
Our first stop was the Holy Land and then we went to the US and Canada. We were visiting our relatives who lived in Northern California first. My sister, my cousin and I were secretly hoping they would take us to Disneyland... When they told us we were making a side trip there we were extremely excited!
We had relatives in Beverly Hills so we all stayed at their house. I remember it being a very fun trip as we were about 17 people in total. Most of us slept in their huge living room!
The day finally came for our first visit to Disneyland. Up until a few years ago I could have told you exactly in which order we visited the rides and attractions. Now my memory is not so great anymore as I've been to Disney so many times that things get a bit confusing!
I remember though, driving and seeing the sign for the first time, then trying to find parking and what it seemed like a long tram ride to the gates.
Although I was already a teen and not so interested in the "little kid" stuff anymore it was still very magical to see the castle, the characters and how wonderful everything looked. I remember our first ride being the Haunted Mansion. We had a great time.
The best thing was one of my cousins tricking everyone: telling them we were going to ride The People Mover but instead lining up for Space Mountain. Only a couple of us knew. My parents, my aunts,uncles, everyone got in and only realized it was a roller-coaster once we got going. My mom was sitting next to me and was squeezing my hand so hard that sometimes I was screaming in pain, not in fear! hahaha. I loved the ride, and loved the fact that the "older generation" had no idea what they were getting into.
I remember going to Small World and thinking it was "boring" - but now it's one of my favorites. Splash Mountain was closed at the time unfortunately. I loved riding the submarines and also Matterhorn.
It was such a magical time. I'll be forever thankful to my American cousins and aunt/uncle for taking us there.
We left the park really late I remember and headed back to Beverly Hills.
No comments:
Post a Comment