“A place where dreams come true” that is what is said Walt Disney himself imagined when he hatched the idea of Disneyland back in the 1950’s. While I knew Zack would have a great time at Disney, my honest motivations were to fulfill my sweet Kayla’s dreams about meeting her girls, aka the Disney Princesses.

So we arrived plenty early, 730 AM for an 8 AM open, needless to say we were in line with thousands of other Disney tourists of all ages, genders, races and well sizes. And off we got to the start of the day.

After enjoying a few rides in Fantasyland we headed to the Princess Fantasy Faire for it’s 9 AM opening! We qued up for our moment to go through the receiving line and greet the Royal gals. Snow White, Cinderella and Princess Aurora were waiting for us when we came in. In his recently typical Zack “guy” style, he kept the girls and their “girly smells” at a safe distance. This didn’t stop Snow White and Aurora from coming right over for a little tag team princess action!

Kayla rather apprehensively greeted each girl with hugs and small chat. THEN we left only to notice the next stop in the fantasy Faire, the Bibbedy Bobbedy Boutique! And Kayla proclaimed at the top of her lungs, “I need to go get my style on “ And so Zack and Alex went off to ride Buzz Lightyears astroblasters and Kayla and I set into the salon to get her hair and face painting.

Well, Kayla came out of there with a DO! Her hair was clad full of roses and her face decorated with hearts and sparkles all over! We went to the Jedi Knight training to meet up with Alex and Zack, then to see Buzz Lightyear and then some lunch when we realized (after two failed attempts to get K on the “big rides” that we should divide and take separate ways for a bit.)

Kayla and I headed to Ariel’s Grotto to meet Ariel! WELL! Talk about dreams. I often talk about “authentic moments” or “living in the moment” or in college, my less articulate years it was “BOOM moment”. There was a moment here, Kayla, decked out in her new hair do and having changed into a skirt when it got warmer walked up to Ariel with her autograph book and pen in hand and these two girls just started talking’! I asked if I could get a picture of them together, they posed, then Ariel announced, “we’re just going to talk for another minute here mom” OK, no problem with me and with that Kayla GLOWED, she was telling Ariel all about… breakfast? But it was so sweet. Then Ariel said hold on have something for you…. And she turned into her chair and came up with a sequin from her tail, AKA a “wishing scale” which she ceremoniously presented Kayla with. Kayla and Ariel hugged and kissed and now, well lets just say I think the Barbie Beach Party will be by the wayside and it will be all about Ariel in part of our world!

Later, on the pirates of the Caribbean ride, Zack had his Boom Moment of the day. The animatronics in this ride are amazing! You really think you are looking at Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow! Zack was on the edge of the boat, talking up a storm and we came to point where the boat went between two sets of pistol fire. Zack HITS THE DECK in the boat and takes cover for fear of his life! It was so real, so honest, and so cute!

I have to say; in Brazil at Carnival I was amazed at how they know passion and performance. Well Disney knows dreams and entertainment (and marketing. but this isn’t a glass half empty kind of blog tonight.)

I carried my sweet Kayla home after she fell sound asleep on the booth of the restaurant. Zack rode home on Alex’s back, clad with balloon swords and arms. They both lay here passed out, I am sipping a bear, hoping the internet connection is fast enough for me to join them sound asleep in dream land…. Dreaming of the next BOOM MOMENT to come!

Love ya all!

H