July 17, 1955

[BetsyAnn]

That is the day Disneyland opened! What a simple statement - what a powerful, magical place!

So as we count down the last 10 days til the 17th - let's talk about the magical, special, funny, ahh moments that we have experienced at Disneyland or any Disney park since the little park that could started all of the dreams - and in my humble opinion let all of us meet and become friends!

So do tell -even if you have told the stories before - even if you have never shared! :boyears: :girlears:

[Moley]

Disneyland embodies so many dreams, BA. When I was 6 years old, I knew Disneyland would open soon. I dreamed that one day I would get to go. I still have not been to Disneyland but my dreams get to happen everytime I set foot in Disney World. We have celebrated many an anniversary and birthday there and my inner 6 year old is always thrilled to look back and look ahead to one more trip.

I think one of my favorite moments was the first time to see a nighttime parade, a specialty of both Disneyland and Disney World. It was 1979 and my young nephew was only 10. We had gotten separated from the parents and grandparents, so it was just the two of us. Time to buy every bit of junk food we could lay our hands on and run around like the heathens we were when unwatched. Finally exhausted, we sat on the curb of Mainstreet with large slices of pizza decorating our chins with tomato sauce. As a synchronized bite was about to take place, Mainstreet went completely dark. Those wondrous first beats of "Baroque Hoedown" sounded just as the electrical parade appeared before our eyes. Our pizza awaiting mouths were still open, but no pizza was going in. I believe we watched the entire parade with mouths frozen in mid-bite. If a picture had captured our expressions, the word "ahhh" would have been etched on them for the entire parade.

This is the nephew who has promised to run the half marathon with me next January. I wonder if we can manage a pizza delivery in mid-race. :cool: