Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were my role models as a six year old. Now, though I am 17 years old, I can still watch the Disney movies and reminisce about my childhood bliss because the memories are enough to bring back the innocence we all once had. Sometimes, each of us needs to remember what it means to relax and have child-like joy, which is exactly what Disneyland did for me, Feb. 9-11.
When my mom, Deb Fries, told me that I was finally getting to go to Disneyland after about two years since my last trip, I knew it was perfect timing. In the middle of journalism competitions, Night of the Stars (NOTS) planning and not to mention tons of health problems, the three-day weekend away would be the perfect escape and stress reliever.
My mom, my aunt Janice Line and my younger sister Callista Fries, ’15, would also accompany me. We had purchased three-day park hopper tickets, to give us plenty of time and access to both parks. The countdown to the trip had me anxious for over a week before we left.
PODCAST: Be a Kid by Callista Fries: Feb. 22, 2013–
As both Callista and I are thoroughly involved in The Feather, we decided to document our trip in multiple ways. We took pictures, recording numerous video blogs and created our own hashtag to post tweets and pictures on Twitter and Instagram: #Fries2Disneyland. (To see our coverage while at Disneyland, search #Fries2Disneyland on either social media site.)
One of the things that made this trip the best vacation I have ever had was the people I was with. My sister, Callista, is one of the most joyful people I have ever met. She, nonverbally, helped to encourage me to forget about the worries I left back in Fresno, CA, and focus on simply enjoying a break.
Another thing that showed me just how joyful children really are was the surprise company of our family friends, the Rock family. Andy and April brought their sons Jonah, 8, and Levi, 5, to surprise us while in line for Star Tours. Jonah and Levi are some of my favorite kids in the world, and spending time with them allowed me to enter the world of imagination and pretending again.
Though some of my friends chuckled and cracked jokes at my excitement for the trip, I think even teenagers can enjoy Disneyland just as much as a 6-year old on their birthday. Most adults and teens get stuck in the routine of life, making it hard to take breaks for fun.
I want to encourage all my peers and their parents to take a weekend or even just one night to revert back to a mindset where they can enjoy the simplest things like a churro or a glimpse of a Disney princess on a parade float. That’s what Callista and I were able to do while we were in Anaheim, CA. We weren’t afraid of dancing in public or acting immature while in ride lines, we were simply having fun.
The effects this one trip had on me were enormous. My stress was relieved, totally and completely relieved. Time with my family could be cherished and tucked away as memories to last for years to come. Homework wasn’t even thought about, I hardly answered my phone and I let the magic of Disney bring me peace.
Disney magic might sound like a cliche idea that only little kids believe, but honestly, Disneyland is a magical place. A place where kids are always smiling, a place where parents can witness their kids’s innocence, a place where teenagers can escape the pressure of the everyday life; magical.
For more opinions, read the Feb. 19 article, College Corner: How to avoid senioritis.
