The Ears Have It

      

Misty and Mama on the carousel. PHOTO:KCS

                                                                      

Over a span of 50 years, he hadn't aged one bit. 

I didn't recognize the outfit, but the face, the posturing and those unmistakable ears were the giveaway, still round and black as midnight, not a touch of grey.

Mickey Mouse lives! And looks like a million bucks!

I spotted the founding icon of the great and timeless Disney empire -- a mouse -- prancing around, waving his white mittens and showing off his welcome smile in the center of an intersection at California Adventure Park, an extension of the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

"There's Mickey!" I shouted.

Viva and Misty. Note the mouse ear on the post.

My two grandchildren, Viva, 11, and Mystiko, almost 4, barely skipped a beat. They and Mama Isabel Bryna were hot-footing through Car Land with their sites on another wonderful, thrilling ride.

And why wouldn't they be? That's why you come to Disneyland: to have fun, partake in the dream and enjoy the latest greatest rides on Earth. It's a total immersion experience. And it costs an arm and a leg.

These grandchildren, Kauai kids, had, according to Misty, "crossed the ocean" to get here. He waved his miniature arm to emphasize the distance traveled and smiled a smile that rarely left his munchkin face.

Big sister Viva, also full of smiles, had ridden the amazing Incredicoaster, Disney's fantastic roller coaster of tunnels, swoops and water splashes "We went upside down!"

Our group of four began the day with a simulated flight, Soarin Over California, an IMAX-like virtual experience that flew us over numerous California landmarks, including Yosemite Falls, up a gorgeous tree-lined river, over the  snow-capped Sierra Nevada and zooming among colorful air balloons above Sonoma County.

Misty barely made the 40-inch height requirement. He sat in the front row, his little feet dangling above the clouds. We all did.

"Did you smell the orange blossoms and the ocean?" Mama asked me, referring to the full sensory experience.

"No, I was wearing my mask."  Bummer, I thought.

I was among the .00002-percent of thousands of attendees who were wearing the controversial protective face masks due to COVID. In other words, face masks were harder to find than drinking fountains (remember them?).

On the other hand (or side of the head), we were not among the 70-percent of attendees who were wearing mouse ears in honor of the founder.

It dawned on me how that far-away, long-ago television show, The Mickey Mouse Club, in which all the kids wore caps with mouse ears, had reverberated through time and space. In the year 2022, Mickey's ears still signify membership in the all-inclusive Disneyland club. 

I worried that if I were to stay at a nearby Disney resort and visit the park daily, I would be wearing the ubiquitous mouse ears by day two. How could I resist? Some were wearing mechanical mice on their shoulders. That's cool. I want one.

Years ago I had sworn off the Disney thing, during my anti-establishment period. In the meantime the franchise and has circled the globe with theme parks, produced an entertainment empire that includes films like The Little Mermaid, Frozen and most recently Encanto, all of which my grandchildren have watched and loved. These films have evolved with the culture, introducing characters who empower women and stories that exalt diversity. This is a good thing. Right?

Based on my unscientific study of attendees, more than 75-percent of visitors during our visit were Latino. That is a large and growing market. Welcome to the club! Your orders, according to one entertaining vignette presented by a team sporting green soldier fatigues and faces:

"Have fun!"

Me wearing my mask next to Viva inside the chamber of the Guardians of the Galaxy. YIKES!

Fun requires an investment of more than choice.

For a family of four, you're going to throw down at least a grand to have fun, with day tickets alone running around $200 each. Upgrades for the waiting lines run $20 each. The most poplar rides tack on an extra $18. If you don't pay for the upgrades, you could be waiting in line until the next full moon.

We spent near three hours walking from and to the parking lot a few blocks away from the park, for which we paid $30. No worries. Misty rode in a stroller and I raised my children to walk. Mama booked it like the cross-country runner she once was, pushing the three-wheeled BOB safely through the pedestrian traffic. By end of day, according to my iPhone Health app we had trucked more than six miles.

You must have the Disneyland app to upgrade. That is where I turned to Mama to negotiate the digital fineries of virtual adventure, else I find myself immobilized in the proverbial mouse trap.

Lucky for us, the Disneyland employees -- mostly young folks -- were happy to assist, always courteous and helpful, providing a good, honest vibe. In Florida, Disney employees nudged the corporate giant to stand up against a discriminatory new law by the governor. Strike one for the corporate giant, currently in a political pickle with the autocratic governor.

Why can't it just be about fun? 

Despite the cruel prices, we had a blast, which included continually announcing our favorite rides, which seemed to change with each new experience. Creative rides and attractions, cleanliness and a sense of WOW kept us entertained.

We spent eight hours inside the park and couldn't possibly see everything. We stopped to eat only once, since we were on a mission to ride. Mama and I both finished a craft IPA ($12) and the kids shared a gourmet potato with fixings. Concession food and drink cater to a wide palette and the prices are not over the top. Purchases must be made through an app. Grrrrr! Leave your cash in a safe deposit box. It will soon be an artifact.

We steered clear of souvenirs, although our quintessential decision arrived when Viva said:

"I want a pair of those ears."

The moment called for ride distraction. Memories are worth more than a million ears.