Recently, I’ve been reflecting on my childhood, and since Disneyland played
such a big role, a poem began to bloom like a new bud slowly opening up.
It all began with a seed – a most beloved mouse, who is 96 years old,
making his first appearance in November 1928. Each memory that came
to mind was like a new petal on a blooming flower…

Ode to Walt Disney

A kidney-shaped pool, lush lawn,
and lone palm tree sat in my backyard,
along with Walt Disney’s visionary creation.
Friends and I visited the magical park
during many summers,
paying around $5 to walk through the gates
that would lead us to Main Street.
Those were the days!

‘A through E’ ticket books navigated us,
but we had our favorite starting point,
a boat ride through different countries
while everyone sang, “It’s a Small World.”
Then we flew through space on a rollercoaster,
Cinderella’s castle enchanted us,
and who wouldn’t fall in love with
the flying elephant we know as Dumbo?

We cruised through the jungle,
screamed around every turn in the mansion,
held tight to bobsleds down the mountain,
had fun in the sun on Tom Sawyer’s Island,
guzzling cold apple cider. E tickets were gold!
An adventure for both young and old!

We indulged in a sinfully delicious Monte Cristo
at The Blue Bayou in The Pirates of the Caribbean
listening to sounds in the night as boats glided by.
Later in life, it was still ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’
for a family of four, everlasting delight.

Despite climbing ticket costs and cacophony of crowds,
I’d love another stroll down Main Street
to feel the enchantment swirl around me,
wave to Donald Duck, shake hands with Tigger,
hear laughter of children,
eyes opened wide with wonder.
I’d join others in wearing those iconic mouse ears!
I’d love to see Mickey and Minnie again
after all these years!

Maybe one more time from memories so dear
because joy would bloom from being in the moment,
in the fairytale…what a feeling!
Dear Walt Disney, thank you for dreaming!

I could only find a few photos, so here’s one of me from the mid 70s 🙂

And here’s a family Disneyland collage from 2012:

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed this Disney blast to the past!
A fun poem for me to write and great memories to revisit. And if you’re
also a Disney fan and find yourself in San Francisco, try to visit
The Walt Disney Family Museum. You’ll learn about the history and making
of Disneyland, how it all began for Walt Disney, and it’s a fascinating
visual experience!
https://www.waltdisney.org

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Photo of Mickey Mouse found from Google.

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