I Finally Went To Disneyland Without My Parents And Of Course It Was Magical, But...
Start writing a post

I Finally Went To Disneyland Without My Parents And Of Course It Was Magical, But...

I missed them :'(

639
I Finally Went To Disneyland Without My Parents And Of Course It Was Magical, But...
Kaylee Floden

I’ll set the stage for you.

Spring Break 2018.

2 excited, self-sufficient, fun-loving young ladies.

1 entire week in Los Angeles.

Endless possibilities.

On the itinerary, of course, were the beach, the sun, and very good very overpriced ice cream…

...and last but not least, Disneyland! 2 days, 2 parks–too fun ;)

But the last time I went to Disneyland was with my parents. That’s right–good ol’ mom & dad. I wore my Mickey ears, eagerly traded pins, and let my folks take care of all the meals, fast passes, and navigating.

I thought the only thing that would transfer over to my 2018 trip would be the Mickey ears...if they’d still fit. And I’d now have to be in charge of everything else.

Big whoop, right?

I know kids go to Disneyland alone all the time; I’m behind the times.

But there were the new responsibilities: driving over an hour to and from the park 2 days in a row, paying for parking in the maze of the Mickey & Friends lot, buying meals with the steady income I don’t make, packing and carrying everything I’d need for the day (I hate wearing purses). And though I’d have the freedom to go wherever in the park I wanted, I also thought having to plan everything would kinda sorta...dampen…the magic.

And yeah, the reality of waiting in lines (some for literally 3 hours), for lack of a better word, sucks. Spending $20 on a meal that could easily be $7 anywhere else is inconvenient. And being unable to fully see the fireworks as a 5-foot young woman standing behind a 6-foot-1 father with a child atop his shoulders doesn’t quite work…

But ya know what?

OF COURSE my friend and I still had fun! Disneyland was still the happiest place on earth for us independent girlies.

I still got to trade pins with cast members. We got to choose how many Mickey ice creams, pineapple Dole whips, and churros we ate. & We got to laugh at all the cute but probably way-too-young-for-us boys.

But everywhere we ate, every ride we rode, every character we saw...I still thought about my parents. Thoughts raced in my mind like, “Ooh, my dad would’ve loved the avocado ice cream or barbacoa tacos from the California Adventure Food & Wine Festival!” or “Ohh, my mom would looooove the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride!” I even found myself thinking, “Hey, this was where my parents and I saw Woody & Jessie from Toy Story that one time!”

I didn't think I would even care that they were at home, and yet I found myself talking about them A LOT.

But hey, no crying at the club, right?

So, even though I loved having my own Disney adventure, I guess I did miss my parents. And I guess I’ve associated my love for Disneyland with them this whole time…

Maybe, just maybe, you can take the girl away from her parents, but you can’t stop her from thinking about them…

*(I know you’re reading this, Mom, and yes I love you :D)

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

54040
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34784
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957165
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

182125
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments