Disney was always a dream for me. Even as I write this, my eyes are tearing again - I am so full of joy and missing. I can remember the very first time I heard of Disney. It started with receiving my very first postcard from my Aunt Helene from Disney - it had Snow White and the seven dwarfs on it. Not long after, we had a family gathering at my Aunt Suzanne's. Aunt Micheline and her family - along with Aunt Helene had just returned. There we sat with our Mickey ears (a souvenir with our names on the back, mine was pink) watching the home movies of their trip. I wanted to go. But I don't recall ever asking my parents, nor were there any promises of someday visiting the Magic Kingdom -- I just knew in my heart that someday I would love to go.
Scott and I often reminisce about our childhood and on Sunday evenings at 6pm - we would cross our fingers in hopes for a cartoon instead of a tv movie. LOL. Disney was a huge part of our lives growing up...Fast forward to Hale being 3 years old and the promise of taking her and Nicholas when she was ten. We would hope that we would have enough money to go...Hale turns 10. As a family, we have gone through some tough financial challenges, things are looking up, but we couldn't go that year...or the next...
Fast forward to 2009. My step-father passes away and a few months later I get a phone call from his bank. It seems that there is a little bit of money left and I am listed as the beneficiary. I have exactly enough money to take our family to Disney - on a trip of a lifetime! Our very first family vacation.
Even leading up to our departure, I refused to read about the parks or dream what it would be like. I had a fear, deep-down that it might get taken away.
April 12th, 2010. We are in Walt Disney World - I can hardly believe it! We stayed at the Polynesian Resort "Aloha Cousin" for eight days, and are treated like royalty. On the beach, in the distance you can see Cinderella's Castle. Hop the boat and you are there within 10 minutes!
We visited all the parks - hugged Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore, Mickey, Pluto, Lilo, Stitch, Jessie, Woody and Buzz Lightyear.
Our favorite rides were: Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, Everest, Thunder Mountain... and so many more.
As I walked down Main Street USA, glancing up at the Castle, the icon of my childhood - I take a deep breath, and soak it in. We have arrived. We are here.
Of course the music. Every store, street, ride - has the sounds to accompany ever feeling you are experiencing. We have made our playlist and are in the midst of putting it all together. And you know how a song can bring you back to the very moment you heard it...?
There’s no place I’d rather be
Then on my surfboard out at sea
Lingering in the ocean blue
And If I had one wish come true
I’d surf till the sun sets
Beyond the horizon ...
...Lalala i kala hanahana
Me ke kai hoene i ka pu'e one
It’s time to try the Hawaiian Roller coaster ride...
The other day we are driving to work and I am singing the Hawaiin Rollercoaster Ride – I start smiling and laughing – and it turns to tears. I cannot stop crying.
I made it. We made it.
It was pure magic – where nothing else matters.
I can’t wait to go back.
Mickey --- I miss you!
