One of the major tourist destinations in California is the self-proclaimed “Happiest Place on the Earth” Disneyland. For us, Disneyland is not only a place for fun and happiness, but it is also very inspirational. The original Disneyland theme park was opened on July 17, 1955, in Anaheim, California. Disney’s amazing success did not come without struggles.
Walt Disney reportedly visited over 300 financiers and bankers in an attempt to fund his dream of an amusement park that would bring his cartoon characters to life. Disney parks and resorts generated over $20 billion in revenue in the year 2018. Disneyland is the number two most visited amusement park in the world trailing behind the Magic Kingdom in Florida. These parks have brought joy to countless families worldwide, giving them a safe place to laugh and dream together.
Imagine if Walt Disney had given up on creating the park after getting his idea rejected 100 times. Most people would argue that if you have attempted something 100 times without gaining traction, it may be time to pursue another “dream”. While it is true that most “dreams” or goals that we have are not of the same magnitude as a global phenomenon like the Disney Corporation, the majority of our goals have the potential to impact not only our own lives positively but also the lives of those around us.
Maybe your “Walt Disneyesque” dream is to sell your paintings to others, or to open a fitness studio in your neighborhood, or to share your homemade recipes online, or to be the next Broadway star. Whatever your dreams may be, however big or seemingly insignificant they might seem, if they light a fire in you, if you courageously and relentlessly pursue them not only will they succeed but they will have a positive impact on others. Life is about harnessing our strengths and passions and sharing those with others.
This is one of the many reasons we love visiting the Disneyland Resort. It fills us with the courage to pursue our dreams and remember that every amazing success story begins with a dream and a deep desire to go after it. The crazier that idea seems, the more determined you should be to make it a reality because everything seems impossible before it is done. So when you do get the chance to visit this magical place, make sure you allow some time for daydreaming and once you leave the fun-filled place that was once someone’s dream, go out and pave the way for your dreams to become reality.
Kat + Alex’s Disney Favorites:
- Thunder Mountain Railroad (Ride) – this is a mini roller coaster that is in the form of a train riding through the Wild West wilderness. The wait time for this ride is usually about 30-45 minutes long, but if you get to the park early or when they are preparing for parades, the wait can be as short as 10-15 minutes!
- Space Mountain (Ride) – arguably a favorite amongst all Disney goers and for good reason. This is the fastest roller coaster in the park with cool lighting and musical effects that are frequently changed to keep the ride novel. The ride’s popularity means that it also has the longest wait-times to be found in Disneyland. The wait time is usually 60 minutes long or more, sometimes it has risen up to 120 minutes. The long line sounds horrendous however, it really depends on who you are in line with. We have found that when we are in good company, the line allows us to have long, deep conversations that we normally wouldn’t have and the line passes by quicker than you would expect. So, just make sure you don’t decide to wait in this line with that one person…if you know, you know.
- Dole Whip (Dessert) – like Space mountain, this dessert is raved about by Disney enthusiasts across the globe. The Dole Whip is pineapple-flavored soft-serve ice cream. It has the perfect balance of being tart from the pineapple, and sweet from the vanilla ice-cream. Give this one a chance, we guarantee it will not disappoint!
- Animation Academy (Activity) – the animation academy is found in the Hollywood Studios section of California Adventure. Here you will be given a clipboard with a large blank canvas and a pencil. The class is led by an animator who will walk you through the various steps of drawing an animated character. Here you can learn how to draw nostalgic characters like Mickey and Minnie, or newer Disney characters like Frozen’s Olaf and Sven. Our artistic abilities when it comes to drawing are like a negative five, but with this class, we are able to draw something that is a semblance of the character. These classes typically run every 30 minutes and end around 5:00 p.m., so be sure to check them out if you are in the park in the day time!
“First, think. Second, believe. Third, dream. And finally, dare.”
– Walt Disney
~Don’t ever give up on your dreams.~
Kat + Alex ✨
LoCALs 