Disneyland….the Happiest (Holiday) Place on Earth

It’s so tempting to start a post about Disneyland with positive comments because, well, because it’s Disneyland. Having just been there I can tell you that the mouse and his friends are certainly eager to celebrate the Year of a Million Dreams. However, they don’t seem to be willing to celebrate “Christmas”.

Of course there are tons of holiday decorations; trees, lights and holly. And snow on Sleeping Beauty’s castle. The fireworks are called “Believe…in Holiday Magic”, and Jack Skellington has invaded the Haunted Mansion. About the only place to actually see the word Christmas though is the “Christmas Fantasy” Parade.

Now, lest you think that I want Disney to apply their hyper marketing sense to everything, I don’t. I do not wish to see baby Mickey in the manger. Nor do I wish to see the Three Wise Men walking up Main Street USA, on their way to visit Sleeping Beauty's castle. I’m sure however, that if the smart pencil guys thought it would bring in a buck or two they’d do it. I'd rather see the word Christmas. Disney has no problem calling their family friendly October promotion "Halloween Time", instead of the more appropriate (and Junie Harper approved) "Harvest Festival". However, Christmas is hard to find. It's there, but you have to look past the "holidays" to see it.

Perhaps I can offer a bit of yule cheer, though, as I tell you about the best thing in the park. With a tag line of "Joy to the Small World", and a Santa's cap on the iconic smiling clock face, the "it's a small world holiday" ride is top notch. It is the annual overlay to the classic attraction from the 1964 World’s Fair, and is a special treat. Each year the attraction is converted to portray the various Christmas and New Year’s celebrations around the world. From the French can-can dancers wishing us a bonne année, to the Polynesian dolls saying “Mele Kalikimaka”, they do a wonderful job intermingling that infectious tune and various pieces of Christmas music. There are tons of jingle bells, holly, luminaria, and other typically Christmas traditions, represented. Outside, the attraction comes alive every 15 minutes with a multimedia presentation of colorful imagery projected on the building façade, with Santa, toy soldiers, etc. Often the butt of numerous jokes, the attraction takes on a new life for Christmas, charming both young and old, putting all in the Christmas spirit.

And when it happens to you, that's the Happiest Christmas place on earth.