What are your Disneyland credentials?

[Barbaraann]

I have been here at MiceChat since 2005, and when I first joined, I knew absolutely nothing about the place. As I continue to post here, I read a lot of posts from a lot of MiceChatters. Some of these people I have gotten to know over the years. I know them by what they have posted, not necessarily from meeting them in person. Then there are other newer MiceChatters who post things, and I have no point of reference for them. I sometimes wonder how long they have been going to the parks, when did they first go? Do they live close, or far away? Things like that. Other things popping into my head are: Do they read Disneyland books, and listen to Disneyland music? Do they go the parks alone, and or with friends? I could go on and on. There are many factors that would form your "Disneyland Credentials"

I wondered if some of you MiceChatters might want to share your "Disneyland Credentials" with the rest of us.

I feel it would be informative, and fun at the same time.

I will list mine in another post soon to follow.

[OswaldTheRabbit]

First time in Disneyland:
As a baby, less then 1 years old in 1984

How far away do you live:
6 hours north in Monterey, CA

Disneyland Books:
I hadn't until recently but I have been getting into many of the Imagineering ones, including those by John Hench. Next book on my list is the Progress City one I have heard of many times on MiceChat.

Disneyland Music:
Absolutely always have some on my iPhone and iPod. I collect Disneyland CD's and Vinyl's and have quite a large digital collection so far. One CD I really wanted which is extremely rare is the Haunted Mansion Movie Orchestra soundtrack, very few CD's were produced and the few snippets I have heard were on par with Hans Zimmer and other greats.

Visiting the Parks:
Rarely alone, mostly with friends and family, but wouldn't turn down an opportunity if I was by myself.

Piece of History:
My grandfather was one of the official ticket holders for opening day in 1955. After he went on opening day my family since then has gone every since year at least once.

Recent Disney Memory:
During the relaunch of DCA last year my GF and I had got up to the Radiator Springs Racers loading when John Lasseter and his family boarded the cars in front of us. I got a few pics. We rode right after them, and while my GF and I were buying our Car's photos everyone else was escorted out by Disney security when John and his family came in to get their photos. I got to talk to him for a moment and shake his hand. Very cool memory.

Other Fun Facts Over The Years:
Part of the original VMK group and did the VMK tour in the park. Went to DPB Midnight Snack event, also blogged from the line to MiceChat and met some really amazing people while waiting for One More Disney Day.

I am sure there is more but my lunch is over and I have to head back to work.

[Barbaraann]

I went to Disneyland the first time back in 2005, Before that, all I knew about the place was what I had seen on television as a child. Disneyland was that themepark on the westcoast that I would probably never get to, so I traveled to Disney World instead.

2005, is the year that Disneyland celebrated it's 50th Anniversary, and that very fact opened up the opportunity for me to visit. I traveled there with some friends, and basically fell in love with the place. I'd rather vacation there than anywhere else. I credit MiceChat with informing me all about Disneyland, before I ever set foot in the place. They armed me with facts, and knowledge, and fan reaction to what I was about to experience for myself, and I was not disappointed.

I returned in 2006 with my grandson, and that trip only helped to clarify in my mind exactly how much I did love the place. My grandson and I had a really special time together. He often talks about key magical moments that happened during that trip. I attended my first MiceChat Noon Meet, and I learned first hand just how special this website is, and all that it does for it's members. MiceChat isn't afraid to tell things like they are both the good, and the bad. Nothings perfect after all, not even Disneyland.

2007 brought me back with my grandson again, and this time we brought his mom along. I had a super great time again like I knew that I would. I was getting good at that Noon Meet thing. I actually felt more on the giving end of that meet than the receiving end, if that makes any sense. MiceChat was starting to feel like family, and Disneyland was now feeling like home.

In 2008, I experienced the Christmas season. This was the first time that I traveled alone, and I'd rather come alone, than not come at all. It was a magical time, and I enjoyed every sparkling moment that I spent in the parks. I was getting better at taking pictures, and knew that there was more to experience in the parks then just the rides. I learned to slow down, and not try to do it all. I'd be back after all. I had to be. Disneyland was calling me back, after all.

I waited a while to return due to financial difficulties in my family, but my next trip happened in 2011 for MiceChat's Anniversary. By this time, I had made a lot of friends here at MiceChat. So even though I travel alone, I am never truly alone once I get here. On this vacation, I even shared a room with a few MiceChat friends. I planned some time especially for me during the trip, and then I had the special time with MiceChat during their festivities. It was a great time. I even got snowed in, on Anaheim's end, as a blizzard shutdown the airports in Chicago.

Up next was my May trip in 2012. I missed the opening of Carsland by a few weeks. I loved this vacation a lot, and it was my most recent. I managed to cram in a whole lot. Coming in May had definite advantages.

Almost all of my vacations have been for at least a week in length. I have always purchased a parkhopper, and to this point in time I have never had an Annual Pass. I have never stayed in any of the Disneyland Hotels. My favorite park is Disneyland. My favorite land is Fantasyland. My favorite ride is Dumbo, and I can ride Pinocchio over and over and over again. Jiminy Cricket is my favorite character. As much as I love Remember, I must say that the Magical Fireworks really touch my heart. Fantasmic is first rate, and I almost shed a tear, when I saw Murphy for the first time during my May vacation last year.

I am looking forward to seeing the new DCA, when my next vacation begins in just 9 days.

I could go on, and on, but basically that's me. I don't have the history in the parks like some of you, but I love the place. I don't buy much in the way of souvenirs, and or books. I do have some Disneyland music, and I do enjoy that . Each and everyone of my trips always has to include a viewing of a parade, if they are running , of course.

So what about the rest of you?

[disneygrandpa]

First time in Disneyland...The third day it was open, I was seven. My folks didn't want to go on opening day.

How far away do I live ... Three hours away, so with work and travel time for an old man I'm lucky to get there every other month.


Visiting the parks ... I usually go by myself to take pictures, my wife has got a little burned out and it costs too much to take the grandkids very often.

Favorite disney memory .. Thats a tough one !!! I can still remember riding the horse drawn carriage down mainstreet on my first trip, or the first time I rode the Adventure land jungle ride. I have so many memories of the wonderful cast members who have recognized me and said hello, or in a couple of instances made a point of telling me how much they enjoyed my photos and it was there last day there !! But my most favorite memory of all was when my Grandaughter met her first Princess. It was such a wonderful moment and Princess Cinderella was so sweet that she made a grandpa and a grandma cry while hugging our three year old. !!!

I've been a passholder for four years and plan to continue until I can't walk from toytown to California screaming !! I figure I've got a couple of years left.

[sbk1234]

I am 45 years old, and have lived an hour (or less) away from Disneyland all my life. My first trip there was when I was 3, and I've been going regularly ever since.
When I was a kid and had to rely on my parents to go, it was once every year or two. As an adult, I usually go at least 3-4 times a year. More when I can afford an annual pass.
I got engaged at Disneyland, honeymooned in Walt Disney World, so I'm fairly well versed in both resorts. My son crawled for his first time in the lobby of Mr. Lincoln. My daughter used her first flushing toilet in the baby center on Main Street. Disney is truly a part of my life.

I've read multiple books on the subject. I especially love the Imagineering books, and the commemorative pictoral ones. The Nickel Tour is a personal favorite. As well as others.

I have a few CDs of music from Disneyland, but my favorite is the 6 disc set from the 50th anniversary. I have also made CDs when it was available in Tomorrowland.

A major moment for me was when I got to visit Marcelene, Mo., and saw the house where Walt grew up, and the tree where he would sit and tell stories to his little sister, and the barn where he played. Surely, the true beginning of Disneyland.

[Congo Chris]

Although I am fairly new to Mice Chat, my Disneyland credentials go all the way back to 1954, when I auditioned for the original Mouseketeers at the Disney studio. Disneyland was being built at the time, and we saw many things under construction, including the Mark Twain, and Jungle Cruise animals. I freaked out when I nearly bumped into the giant squid from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. We had just seen the movie.

I wasn't selected to be a Mousketeer, but a few years later, I went to work as a ride operator (that's what we called them back then) in 1966, and then later as a musician in the park. I walked through the Submarine ride before they filled the lagoon, rode on POTC before it opened to the public, and was present at opening day in '59 of the subs, monorail and Matterhorn.

Both my older brothers were CMs beginning in '56, my son worked at CA, and my daughter is currently a performer at the park, so I guess it's come full circle for me. You'd think I would be sick of the place, but it's still my favorite refuge.

[Barbaraann]

I am so loving these posts. It is exactly what I was hoping for.

Thanks everyone whose posted so far.

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: My credentials are the same as my two sisters--we are animated characters from The Black Cauldron--

ORWEN: --one of the biggest--

ORGOCH: --flops in the his'try a the Dizzy comp'ny.

ORWEN: (Gasp!) That is NOT what I was gonna' say!

ORDDU: Anyway, we first showed up at Disneyland on July 24th, 1985. We were there to promote our new movie as meet and greet characters with the rest of the cast. To make a long story short, our first day out was also our last day out because our little sister--Orgoch--became terribly upset when we were mistaken by a certain guest who thought we were cleaning women and ordered us to clean up a big mess left on Main Street by a horse.

ORWEN: When Orgoch went balistic and attacked that poor old man, it meant the end of our days as meet and greet characters forever--at ALL Disney theme parks.

ORDDU: It wasn't bad enough that our movie flopped--

ORWEN: --but we flopped too!!!

ORGOCH: Well, maybe if'n ya'd go on a DIET ya wouldn't be floppin' 'round so much!!!!

(sounds of smackings and whackings followed by a series of low moans)

ORDDU: So, with all these handicaps against us, one might expect that we wouldn't have the nerve to show up in ANY sort of public way anymore. But we're a courageous coven, you see. Therefore we must forge ahead and hold our broomsticks proudly--hoping to win over all the ducklings and goslings of the Disney Worlds...

[Barbaraann]

My favorite ladies have made me laugh once again.

[Witches of Morva]

ORWEN: Well, you're one of our favorite ducklings, too, Barbaraann! Just let us know if you'd ever like to join our coven!!! There's plenty of room in the cauldron!!!!

[HiddenMickeyBook]

First time at park: I was 6 in 1962. Love at first sight for both my dad and me.

Distance: Now I live 3 hours north. When I was 6, we lived over 6 hours away in the San Joaquin Valley.

Disneyland Books: I love reading all about the parks, and especially love castmember tales (MouseTales) and stories about Walt (Vault of Walt). I also have written about Disneyland.

Disneyland Music: Don't listen to the music at home. Prefer 50's music.

Visiting the Park: Hubby and I try to go at least 2 times a year. Take grandkids when we can. Own a DVC membership and used it at WDW exactly a year. Our annual passes expired on our anniversary this past Oct and we haven't renewed yet. I've gone alone when I was single. I enjoy alone and with people. Have played tourist guide in the park and that was a lot of fun.

Fun Disney events: Have ridden in the Lilly Belle, steered the Mark Twain, eaten in Club 33, had reserved box seats in the original Golden Horseshoe by Betty Taylor herself, been onstage with Wally Boag when I was probably 7, toured the Disney Studios in Burbank, have met Tony Baxter, Dave Smith, Bob Gurr, Alice Davis, Kim (Stanley???), Floyd Norman, Jim Korkis (who also gave us a private tour of Hollywood Studios in WDW), Margaret Kerry, Bill Farmer, Rick Farmiloe, and Mark Silverman.

Was member of VMK and did the tour in the park twice. REALLY miss that site! I was awesomekeelboat and Russ was BoatGuy.

My office is filled with Disney memorabilia and it is fun to try and fit in something new even though I have run out of wall and shelf space!

[Bob Weaver]

Me in 1964. We lived in the city of Orange then.

[jchamb268]

First time in Disneyland:
In 1972 4 years old

How far away do you live:
7 Hours north in Concord Ca

Disneyland Books:
I have collected all of the "over the years" books from the park, the Bob Gurr book, The Disneyland Hotel books (my fav) and may other trivia and Imagineering ones.

Disneyland Music:
I have tried to collect all of the actual music from the park. I would say that I am about 94% complete with my collection. I listen to the WTTM podcast (Paul is a great guy) and a couple other Disney podcast's also.

Visiting the Parks:
Over the years I would travel with my family or the Thanksgiving night (bus down) 24hour trip to the park. My senior year in H.S. I bought my first Annual Pass and would travel down with my brother or by myself. I now travel with my wife and son.

Piece of History:
I have been lost in Disneyland, on Main street when I was 5.

Recent Disney Memory:
Watching my four year old son experience Disneyland and DCA for the first time. Seeing the park through his eyes.

Other Fun Facts Over The Years:
I have attended the first two years of the gumball rally (actually would have won the first year but the ones who did cheated, and they admitted to it).

[leopardchucks]

Hey all! I have been on MC off and on since 2009. I was thrilled to discover a whole community of Disneyphiles with whom I could nerd out with. My family and friends don't really understand the love I have for the place.
My first visit was in December 1981. I was 1 month old. My mother has a cool polaroid pic of Tigger holding me! I grew up all over the place and I have only lived in California briefly. Visiting DLR was always a treat. Most of my younger memories are from my visits to my father a couple times a year. After my parents divorced, that was THE way he spent time with me. So Disneyland has a very real and strong emotional value to me.
After my own son was born, I wanted to share those experiences with him as well. He is 8 and has been 3 times. We are planning on making our next visit for the Gumball Rally this year.

We just moved back to the western part of the USA after living in the South. I'm eager to see the ocean again! Current location: Boise, ID. Just bought a house, so we won't be moving any time soon.

I do read many books about Disneyland. I collect vintage children's books as well. I'd say I have about 8-10 different books about the park. I'm mostly interested in the artistic history and Imagineering/Imagineers.
I am a pert of the Disney Movie Club, so I basically own all the classic films (and documentaries), but I don't really listen to Disney CDs. That's not really my cup of tea.

Special Memories: Gumball Rally 2010, taking my adult brother for his first time, and I got to walk-out of MTWR twice in my life!! I am just hoping and wishing for a SM or HM walk out someday in my lifetime!

[mpabis525]

While I have been reading Mice Chat for years, I have only started posting recently.

First time in Disneyland:
As a toddler around 1980.

How far away do you live:
In Phoenix. 6 ½ hours away with kids or 4 hours and 55 minutes without kids. I did grow up in Orange County and lived 15 minutes away until leaving for college. Disneyland was just a place with roller coasters that wasn’t too fun for me back then.

Disneyland Books:
I only have two as I have only recently started reading about the history of the park. Disney by Neil Gabler and the official park version of the history of Disneyland. I think they put it out for the 50th anniversary. However, many more are on my list.

Disneyland Music:
My iphone is filled with hours of Disney music. I have the 50th anniversary album on my pc as I don’t have any more room on my phone to fit it. My Disney playlist gets about 75% of all music play though.

Visiting the Parks:
Once a year, but oh so wishing for more. With two kids, one in school, it makes it a bit tougher to go at the ideal times.

Piece of History:
As a teen, I plunked down some serious cash to buy up Disney stock around 1995. Not because of the company, the parks, movies or anything. Rather, it was to be an owner of the Angels. Everything else was secondary to “owning” the Angels. Yeah, I owned a World Series Champion. Somehow my ring must have gotten lost in the mail though.

Favorite Disney Memory:
Hands down my son's first visit. I never enjoyed Disneyland as a kid. It was just ok. Once I was done with the submarine ride and the shooting gallery, I was usually ready to go home. Even as an adult, my wife( then girlfriend) and I did Disneyland in about 5 hours. We left my parents house at 1 and got home at 6. Whoop di de dooh.

However, everything changed in 2007. I had a convention to attend at the Convention Center. Somehow I talked my wife into coming and we brought my oldest, then 2. Disneyland was a throw in for them to do as we had talked about taking our son after he was born and old enough.

As we strolled through the gates in the afternoon for the first time, everything was different and never the same again. My son’s first sight was of the parade, complete with giant floats, animals, etc. Up until this point he had never seen a Disney character in his life. Not even on tv or movies. Needless to say he didn’t know what to make of things.

His first ride was IASW and I couldn’t get enough about how big his eyes were upon taking it all in. He was in awe of what all this was. The next day, he was up at 5:30 yelling “I want to see Mi-hey”. Yeah, that was the start of a good day.

It was at those moments in the park, I truly saw magic. Magic is indeed real. Since then, I have been hooked. Just ask my wife and co-workers.

Recent Disneyland Memory:
After finally being able to talk both boys into seeing World of Color for the first time and after waiting dead center, up front against the rails for over an hour. Withing 30 seconds of the show starting, my three year old made it quite known he was done with the show and wanted to get out of there.

Other Fun Facts Over The Years:
The first ever walkman I owned was upon winning one after walking through the gates back in the mid 80s for a summer promotion.

I had never seen Disneyland fireworks from the park until 2010. I have seen them 100s times from Anaheim Stadium or on a really good 4th of July from my house. But a surprise birthday present of going to Disneyland on my birthday from my wife and kids meant I got to see them in person finally.