JYMN P SULLIVAN
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2014
What is your Disneyland Origin story?
I'm guessing that many of us on here LOVE Disneyland and I want to know why? What's your story? Does your story begin in the early days of your childhood? Are you a recent convert? What is your Disneyland Origin Story?
I know for many of us words can't capture the true essence of our story but do your best
My story begins with my first trip to Disneyland in 1988 at 15 yrs old. I came from an abusive home situation (father) and upon the blessed split of my parents my Mom and Aunt took my brother, sister and I to Disneyland. Although I had a wonderful time, I also was quite sad. Seeing "whole families" happy and together just hurt a bit. Throw on top of that me being a hopeless romantic and being way too shy to have a girlfriend. I viewed Disneyland as a reminder of what I didn't have thus ... Sad.
In 1995 I returned with two friends who were dating (now married) and had a blast but being with them also had a reminder attached that I was again alone and sad (don't worry this gets better and happy I promise).
Then In 2000 I returned yet again. This time with some including my best friend Tad (huge Disney fan and eventual employee) and my girlfriend and eventual wife. We actually had gone about 3 times between 2000 and 2004 and again I had a blast but I still felt sad. The reason being my wife was not family oriented and kind of GRUMPY about the experience and about "family" in general. Love is blond
Divorced (life lesson learned there), I returned with Tad and friends in the Summer of 2009. Again I had a blast but seeing couples and families happy and together I couldn't help but be yet again, sad.
Then a month later I met Leanna. She had a love for life and family and fun. We went to Disneyland in 2010 and had an amazing time. Filled with laughter love and that Disney Magic I found my match.
I realized on that trip that Disneyland was a reflection of what I had longed for in life ever since I was a child. True love and wonderful family. Being with Leanna in Disneyland was a literal dream come true. As Tom Bell says as he signs off from the Disneyland Podcast "Disneyland is best when shared".
If you would have said to me years ago that I would become a huge Disneyland fan I'd say you're crazy. Yet here I am.
Since that trip I've....
1. Proposed to Leanna on the Mark Twain in front of 30+ family and friends.
2. Surprised 10 young cousins with a surprise trip to Disneyland where I asked them to be in our wedding.
3. Surprised my Brother and his kids with a trip to Disneyland.
4. Am an annual passholder and die hard Grand Californian fan.
5. Took our (then) two month old to Disneyland for the first time in Nov.
2013.
6. Returning to the Grand Californian for a 6 day trip (our longest yet) in April.
The welcome home and "Disney way" has me hooked. Having a safe family atmosphere where I can be myself is what I was looking for my whole life really. But sharing it with my new family and friends old and new has made me a new life long fan.
What's your Disneyland origin story?
I'm guessing that many of us on here LOVE Disneyland and I want to know why? What's your story? Does your story begin in the early days of your childhood? Are you a recent convert? What is your Disneyland Origin Story?
I know for many of us words can't capture the true essence of our story but do your best
My story begins with my first trip to Disneyland in 1988 at 15 yrs old. I came from an abusive home situation (father) and upon the blessed split of my parents my Mom and Aunt took my brother, sister and I to Disneyland. Although I had a wonderful time, I also was quite sad. Seeing "whole families" happy and together just hurt a bit. Throw on top of that me being a hopeless romantic and being way too shy to have a girlfriend. I viewed Disneyland as a reminder of what I didn't have thus ... Sad.
In 1995 I returned with two friends who were dating (now married) and had a blast but being with them also had a reminder attached that I was again alone and sad (don't worry this gets better and happy I promise).
Then In 2000 I returned yet again. This time with some including my best friend Tad (huge Disney fan and eventual employee) and my girlfriend and eventual wife. We actually had gone about 3 times between 2000 and 2004 and again I had a blast but I still felt sad. The reason being my wife was not family oriented and kind of GRUMPY about the experience and about "family" in general. Love is blond
Divorced (life lesson learned there), I returned with Tad and friends in the Summer of 2009. Again I had a blast but seeing couples and families happy and together I couldn't help but be yet again, sad.
Then a month later I met Leanna. She had a love for life and family and fun. We went to Disneyland in 2010 and had an amazing time. Filled with laughter love and that Disney Magic I found my match.
I realized on that trip that Disneyland was a reflection of what I had longed for in life ever since I was a child. True love and wonderful family. Being with Leanna in Disneyland was a literal dream come true. As Tom Bell says as he signs off from the Disneyland Podcast "Disneyland is best when shared".
If you would have said to me years ago that I would become a huge Disneyland fan I'd say you're crazy. Yet here I am.
Since that trip I've....
1. Proposed to Leanna on the Mark Twain in front of 30+ family and friends.
2. Surprised 10 young cousins with a surprise trip to Disneyland where I asked them to be in our wedding.
3. Surprised my Brother and his kids with a trip to Disneyland.
4. Am an annual passholder and die hard Grand Californian fan.
5. Took our (then) two month old to Disneyland for the first time in Nov.
2013.
6. Returning to the Grand Californian for a 6 day trip (our longest yet) in April.
The welcome home and "Disney way" has me hooked. Having a safe family atmosphere where I can be myself is what I was looking for my whole life really. But sharing it with my new family and friends old and new has made me a new life long fan.
What's your Disneyland origin story?