Tag: theme parks

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Grace Koepele

The Happiest (And Most Theatrical?) Place on Earth

Last week I traveled to California to visit my cousin who recently moved to Marina Del Rey. I enjoyed spending the week doing some sightseeing (you know I couldn’t miss seeing Lin-Manuel Miranda’s star on the Walk of Fame), catching up with family, and trying lots of new food spots. My favorite part of the week, however, had to be the two days my mom and I spent at Disneyland.

A young woman (the author, Cami) wearing overalls dress and pink Mickey Mouse ears, poses in front of a castle at Disneyland.

I was lucky that my parents took me to Disney World a few times as a kid, and a lot of my best childhood memories were formed there. This recent trip was my first time ever visiting Disneyland. I had the best time getting to ride LOTS of rides, meeting Minnie Mouse, and trying a Mickey Mouse-shaped fruity pebbles funnel cake that was as amazing as it sounds. One thing I couldn’t help noticing is that Disneyland is a VERY theatrical place. Although you wouldn’t necessarily expect the park to be theatre-related, during my time there, I found that Disneyland has an undeniably theatrical spirit.

A plate of funnel cake, covered in fruity pebbles and whipped cream shaped like Mickey Mouse ears.

My delicious fruity pebbles funnel cake

First, every single person who works at Disneyland is referred to as a “cast member,” not an “employee.” This is because the Disneyland cast members are pretty much performing at all times. Disney obviously places the utmost importance on the happiness of its visitors, and its cast members are entrusted with the job of creating magical moments for guests. To do this, they are always friendly, smiling, and using a specific themed language to add to the immersive experience of Disneyland. They want to make the overall experience the best it can be.

Secondly, Disneyland is basically a hub of all things needed for a show—costumes, sets, props, etc. Each land in Disneyland has its own unique feel and set pieces that transport you to that area: Fantasyland is marked by Sleeping Beauty’s castle and brightly colored cottages, while Frontierland is adorned with red rock, railroads, and western style trading posts. In addition, Disney cast members and many of the guests are in costume. One of the best parts of Disneyland is seeing the adorable kids visiting the parks dressed like their favorite Disney characters.

A decorative white and gold wall shaped like towers and turrets in Disneyland.
A view of the teacup ride at Disneyland, with multiple people riding giant, colorful teacups underneath vines with hanging, colorful lanterns.

Lastly, Disneyland is packed with live performances every single day. While I was there, I saw Frozen Live at the Hyperion Theater. I had previously seen Frozen on Broadway, and while this was a condensed version of the story, the quality of both shows was pretty comparable. It’s geared towards families, of course, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the diverse casting that Disney used in this production. I love that there are opportunities to watch live theatre all day, every day at Disneyland.

With all of its theatrical elements, it’s probably not surprising that I cherished my time at Disneyland. I greatly appreciate the effort Disney puts into making their parks an immersive, interactive, and memorable experience. We were lucky enough to be there on Disneyland’s 64th birthday—commemorating 64 years of creating happiness and lifelong memories. Whether you’re a child or an adult, Disneyland can be a magical place for everyone. Most importantly, I love that Disneyland allows you to feel like a kid again, where everything is magical and anything is possible.

Fireworks explode at night over the lit up Disneyland castle.
Two women, Cami and her mother, stand in front of a building and Mickey Mouse-shaped garden with a circle sign that reads "We're 64 today!" for Disneyland's 64th anniversary.

Celebrating Disneyland’s 64th birthday