My Dad, the Disney Freak

A Trip From Years Past.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a Disney kid. Growing up it was all about the Disney channel, the Disney Princess Barbies, and of course any Disney movie that I could see. When I was a child, our favorite was The Lion King; we both loved the soundtrack and the art so much. He had a huge art book from the movie with a signature from one of the artists themselves that he held dear and that has now been passed to me. It's definitely something I will always cherish, along with many of the other books he collected.

My dad’s favorite time of year to visit the Parks was Christmastime; he loved the lights and the seasonal parades. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was something he always looked forward to; the extra time in the park with less of a crowd was treasured by him. Our trip to Disney World when I was 16 was during the Christmas season. He had a video camera during that visit. My mother and I must have yelled at him, I do not know how many times, to turn the darn thing off, but he was a kid with a new toy at his favorite place and there was just no stopping him. I still have the tapes which include his funny narrative throughout; he was nothing if not hysterically comedic.

I have so many memories of gallivanting around Disneyland with my dad. He knew the layout like the back of his hand and would soon show me the ropes: the best times to visit certain rides or shows, where to get the greatest food, or the most amazing spots to watch the fireworks at the end of the night. His favorite show was Fantasmic. He watched in awe when Maleficent’s dragon form appeared and blazed fire onto the water, like it was his first time. He cheered just as loud as any child when sorcerer Mickey arrived to defeat the evil creature. It never got old to him, no matter how many times he watched it.

We had no hats, but we held on to our glasses!

One of the funniest memories I have during our numerous trips is from my first time experiencing the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland. I was still a little girl, but I was finally tall enough to ride. I was not excited, I was petrified, but both my parents wanted to ride and refused to leave me on my own, so off I went. The line itself was terrifying, what with the ancient tomb-like ambiance and ominous soundtrack. My dad soothed me throughout the whole waiting process, promising me that he would hold on to me the entire ride and that I had nothing to fear. We finally get onto the ride’s vehicle, which can best be described as a hulked out, open-aired Jeep, and I am sandwiched in-between my parents before my dad wraps his arms around me tightly. Meanwhile, I have my eyes clenched tight with my hands covering my face and am dreading the next few minutes. Everything starts out okay, nice and slow, and then we really take off and the first jolt hits. And what happens? My dad lets me go to fend for myself and grabs onto the handrails in front of him. At the time, I was traumatized, and my mom was none too happy, but looking back, we have a hilarious memory of a ride that is now one of my favorites. The moment even created a phrase that we still use jokingly to this day: “You’re on your own!!” He could never live it down, but all in good fun; I am still alive, no real harm done.

The frequent visits ended once we moved from the Bay Area, California to Arizona after I graduated from high school. We had a couple more trips together, and then I would not go again until my 21st birthday, which was without my dad in tow. I have not been back since. It breaks my heart that my dad was never able to return to his favorite place again. His declining health took precedence and it just was not an option. He looked forward to his annual books about the parks though and would read and reread them till the bindings fell apart. He still watched the travel guide videos that were obtained during our countless visits, letting him relive some of the magic. His home away from home was never far from his mind. He always did plan to go back one day; maybe he is visiting even now, enjoying the sights and sounds once more.

It has been almost a year without my dad, but I love all the memories that came from these Disney adventures. I am so blessed and thankful to have been able to have so many wonderful visits, all because my dad wanted me to have a beautiful childhood. To this day, Disneyland is still my happy place and I hope to visit again once the world gets back to some state of normalcy. I look forward to making new memories there and I will always hold the old ones close to my heart. Nothing can ever tarnish them and they will always be magical, all thanks to my dad.