Life
Could the magic hold strong without my nearest and dearest by my side?
Growing up, I never found Disney vacations to be a divisive topic.
Whats not to like?
But by the time you near 30, people start to have opinions on the matter.
is the most frequent response Im met with upon telling friends of an upcoming Mickey-adjacent trip.
being the close runner-up.
Setting off into the foggy O.C.
morning, Minnie ears ready, my childish excitement was mixed with a dose of anxiety.
Who would receive my wild grin after that first glimpse of the castle?
Who would stymie the boredom of a two-hour line for Space Mountain?
Crucially, who would justify my third Dole Whip of the day?
It seemed improper, gauche even, to enjoy the magic unless it was shared.
Was I being dramatic?
Despite my status as a lifelong Disney loyalist, I was apprehensive as I left my hotel.
For most guests of Disneyland, a stay off-site means a short walk or shuttle before reaching the gates.
I made the 15-minute journey on foot, congregating at crosswalks with kids and parents, couples and friends.
Their closeness made me smile and reach for my phone: Wish you were here!
I wrote to various group chats, selfie attached.
If I concentrated hard enough, it felt almost as though the recipients were right there with me.
Before I knew it, I was scanning my ticket in the shadow of Disneylands railroad.
Walking into any Disney park comes with a bizarre sense of familiarity.
Throwing myself into the fantasy of it all was going to take a different shape on this trip.
The slow cruise around the Storybook Land Canal provided a welcome respite from the crowds.
No activity left me feeling lonely, nor did I succumb to a shred of self-consciousness.
1998 kick-started the love affair, and 2004 goes down as the first vacation I took with a friend.
But 2022 will be unique for what it taught me about enjoying my own company.
This solo trip was the first, I hope, of many.
This article was originally published onFeb.
