In the late 50’s
(or was it the early 60's) a lot of folk in my generation with television
sets in the home were glued every week to “The Magical World of Disney”.
Next day at school, the big subject was the latest adventure of Davey Crocket.
Coonskin hats were in. If it wasn't for Fess Parker, we would never have
known about the "real world". Me, I lived for the cartoons!
It was indeed a magical time. We had only one TV station in town. Except for weekends it came on at the supper time to give the news and went off around 10:30. Before the TV arrived in the house, I and all the others in the area would go down to the corner electronics shop and watch the TV in the window. As I recall it was an appliance sales/repair shop (corner of 3rd St. and 8th Ave NE in Calgary if any of my friends are still out there). It was an experience you had to live. Ed Sullivan was king, but Mickey Mouse was God!
Well here I am, 30+ some years later. Somewhat older. My children
now have children. A Pilgramagic (my
word) was in order. I remember my first visit to Disneyland as if it was
yesterday. I remember the look in my children’s eyes as we toured that
“Magical Kingdom”. I am not an emotional man, but tears really
start to form when I think of the magical time we had. Thank you Walt wherever
you are! You have created an experience that no mere mortal man can describe.
This mortal is going to try, just to share a small part of an experience.
Circumstances are changing, the Campground at Disneyland is closed. The Strawberry Field (I bet a lot of folk didn’t even know that Disneyland grew strawberries) is no more. I guess we all have to look ahead to the future. But to me the biggest loss was the Electric Light Parade. I do have one of the lightbulbs from the floats though. Disney had them for sale when I went to say goodbye to the parade.
How does one go about describing an experience to someone who has not been there? How does one describe it to those that have experienced it? As the song says “just do it”!
For me, the Pilgrimagic is over but the magic remains. Gone is Dumbo’s wild ride. The General Electric theater that I used to love (the one where the audience was moved around various stages describing life in America) is gone. Bear Country Jamboree has a new name, but it is still the same. There are all sorts of new and exciting rides.
I love the Small World ride. Not a single thing has changed.
I waited for that moment in the Haunted Mansion where an “Apparition”
hitches a ride. The voices of my children come back to me. “Daddy,
how do they do that”. I hear myself saying, “Son, it’s all
done with mirrors!” 
I await that moment when “Teddy
Beara” descends from the ceiling to sing for us. The Pirates are still
fighting and pillaging and doing whatever pirates do best.
The Safari is still up the tree, there is still
danger on the Mighty Amazon.
The new excitement is in the air. Indiana Jone’s lost mine
is here (I got to drive!). Star Wars is pure electric excitement! Toon Town
is as un-describable in real life as it is on the screen.
On my last visit he Main Street Parade of the Lion
King was fantasy brought to life. Music, food, excitement. In short the
Disney experience is real.
When darkness descends everyone starts to gather along the boulevard. Suddenly, off in the distance, somewhere near the Castle you hear it. That certain sound (I have a copy, email me and I will give you a URL)! If it is your Pilgrimagic you remember it immediately. If it is your first visit you just know that something memorable is about to happen. Then suddenly, down the darkened street it appears. Floats, big floats! Characters, beautiful, colorful, alive! Music, alive and beautiful! And the lights, millions of them! Everywhere! On the floats, on the people, in the trees. Lights, in the eyes of the children and adults! An event is happening here. We are all aware that this is what we have been waiting for. As the parade passes we see it all. Snow White, the Magic Coach and Coachmen. The Dwarfs. Every single thing that is Disney is on parade. Not just Disney, but America was on parade just for me. Sorry Mickey, but I will miss it.
I have many assorted photos in my collection. Some are new, some are old. All are treasured!
But, guess what?????
They can't keep a good mouse down it appears. I have just found out that as part of the new expanded park The Parade is back. So, now my kids can take their kids for their own "Experience". Look for a link here when I find out more details. Now, if I could just figure out where to park the sailboat down there. The new park is where the old RV park and strawberry fields used to be...