published

1. It’s been 214 days since Disneyland closed.
For these superfans, it’s agony
It has been 214 days sinceDisneyland closed, and StaceyMajor is
struggling.
“I haven’t been to Disneyland in seven months,” said Major, a 32-
year-old high school teacher. “This hasbeen my longest stretch since
2012.”
She’s not alone. Whenthe coronaviruspandemic forced the parkto
close in March, it left thousandsof its fervent fans — annual
passholderswho spend $400 to$1,500 a year to visit the parkon a
weekly basis — without a beloved escapefrom reality.
“Being a single mom and a teacher meansI have a lot of adult
responsibilities,” said Major, whovisitsDisneyland at least once a
month and even toured the parkin a wheelchair when she was eight
monthspregnant. “I am a very Type A personalityand can’t relax. For
me, Disneyland is a stress release. It’s very freeing for me to bethere
for a day. I canwatch paradesand be with my friends and not feel any
pressure.”
On Oct. 7, Gov. GavinNewsom said that although Walt DisneyCo.
had to lay off 28,000 domestic employees, he is in no rush to open
California themeparks. A week later, Newsom announced that he was
sending a team to Disney World in Florida, as well as other theme
parks, to learn what they are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19
since reopening in July.
Against thebackdrop ofa pandemic, it’s easy to understand why
people miss Disneyland. For more than60 years, thetheme parkhas
been the ultimatesocialand fantasyexperience. It evokes warm
memoriesof simpler timesand allows us to experiencechildlike
thrills regardlessof our age.

2. But now that many of us areworking from home and self-
quarantining, thosethrillsaredifficult to find amid thefear of the
coronavirus, economic distressand prolonged isolation.
For Disneyland enthusiasts, thethrill is gone. The parkis closed. The
magic is missing. How to keep going when the“Happiest Placeon
Earth” is closed?
“I’ve been watching videosof Disneyland paradeson YouTubeand
crying,” Major said.
In other words, fans are coping by finding creativewaysto keep the
magic alive: consulting Disney-inspired cooking blogs, participating
in Disneybound costumechallenges on TikTok and Instagram,
watching Disney+, hosting outdoor movie nightsand stay-at-home
Disney Days.
People miss themeparksbecausethey produce“psychosocial
engagement and it keeps us on a high and our blood pumping,” said
OrangeCounty certified lifecoach Anita Kanti, author of “Behaving
Bravely: How to Mindshift Life’s Challenges.”
“Being surrounded by crowdsis exciting and makesus feel like we are
part of a group and a community,” shesaid. “It producestemporary
endorphinsand instills happinessthat’shard to replicate. Disneyland
checksevery box when it comes to humansensory needs and desires
— thesmells, tastes, sounds and experiences. You can get all of that in
one environment.”
Still, for the tens of thousandsof visitors who flock to Disneyland
every month, the parkis more thanjust Mickey-shaped delectables,
Piratesof theCaribbeanand “Fantasmic!” fireworks. Thereare
Dapper Days and swing dances. High school marching band
performances. Birthdaypartiesand anniversary celebrations. You can
even get married at Disneyland. (Scatteringcremated ashes, a
misdemeanor, isnot allowed in the park, although it is rumored to
be a popular covert activity.)

3. “Disneyland is a community,” said CameronKeaggy, a 30-year-old
Apple salesmanwho visited the Anaheim themepark123 timeslast
year. “Thepeople arewhat makes it magical. Everyone loves
Disneyland for different reasons — nostalgia and magic. At
Disneyland, you are transported intoa story. You becomea part of
the story.”
Before thepark closed, Keaggyvisited Disneyland threeor four times
a month. During quarantine, Keaggyhaskept himself busy by making
“Star Wars” videos(he is certified torepresent the Storm Troopersas
a member of the volunteer 501st Legion), hosting Disneyland trivia
nightson Zoom, and transforming hisbackyard intoa Jungle Cruise-
meets-Adventureland hangout (thinkfirepit and bamboofencing).
“Sincewe have to be home, why not bring some of the Disney magic
here?” Keaggyasked.
Creating Disneymagic extendsto Disneybounding, a subtlecostume
trend of dressing like a Disney character using clothesfrom the closet.
(Disneyland does not allow guests14 and older to wear costumes.)
“It’s definitely a creativething,” said Sophia Hotchkiss, whois 15 and
loves to dress up as Stitch and Ariel, among other characters. “It’sa
really cool way to expresssomething that you love.”
Another Disneybounder, Lauren Gabourel, 29, showcasesher outfits
on her popular @dressesandcapes Instagramaccount. “It’sa creative
outlet for me,” she said. “When I heard that thenew Ariel would be a
blackprincess, I cosplayed her immediately. Thereis a very active
Black nerd Disney communitythat Iam a part of, and I am trying to
inspireothers. I want everyone to know that theycan be a Disney
princess. When I was growing up, I didn’t have that.”
For Gabourel, Disneyland is where she socializes with friendsand
decompressesafter a stressful day at work.

4. “Normally, I would go at least once a week or twicea week,” she said.
“On my way home from work, I’d often stop at the parkand meet a
friend. I miss the days of riding one ride, getting somepopcornand a
churro, and leaving after the fireworks. Just being there makesme
feel safe and happy. I attributethat tothecast members.”
Gabourelsaid Disney employees, among themost cherished talent
pool in the serviceindustry, contributetothepark’s enchantment.
“They arethe magic makers,” shesaid as she fondly recalled the time
a cast member performing asJackSkellingtongave her an Honorary
Citizenof Disney badge.
“It’s something they hand out when people are representing Disney in
a positiveway,” she explained. “It is so heartwarming tobeseen as
part of the Disney community. Therelationshipsthat you makewith
other people areamazing. It’s a beautifulcommunity.”
Becausecast membersare “on the front lines,” Gabourelsaid she
understandswhy the parkis closed. “I would prefer that people are
safe,” she said. “I was worried about them.”
Parentsmaybe unable to pull off weekend tripsto Disneyland during
the pandemic, but that doesn’t meanthat they can’t bring Disneyland
home.
Creating new ways to pretend and play, Kanti said, can help kids who
are companionlessand sequestered at home with their parents. “If we
teach our childrenthat it’sa timeto innovate, that tells them that
good thingsarecoming. I thinkwhat we have to do is step backand
realize that we have other choicesto help us manageour anxietyand
still have fun.”
High school teacher BlaineCorlew, 40, started to see the negative
effects of the quarantineonhis familyafter months of juggling work,
distancelearning and parenting. Hedecided to createDisney Days at
home as a way to add fun to his family’s stay-at-homeroutine.

5. “I put together a Disney playlist and found all of the paradesand
fireworksshows that I could thinkof on YouTube,” hesaid. “I used
the Disney food blog and madeeggs benedict and ham and hash
browns just like at the CarnationCafe. For a snack, I madebanyan
beef skewers and churrobitesand MonteCristosandwichesfrom the
Blue Bayou. We found Mickeyicecream barsat Target. Wewould
wear our MickeyMouse ears, and our daughter would wear her
costumes.”
Kanti views Corlew’s Disney Days concept as the “socialbridging” we
all need in uncertaintimes. “Keep in mind that whilewe aresocial
distancing, wehave to makea commitmenttosocialbridging with
others,” she said. “Weneed to continue to makeplans for the future
and createopportunitiesfor joy and purposefulwork. It shiftsyou
from a victim mentalitytoone of empowerment.”
Added Corlew: “We need to be fun parentsright now.”
As the single father of twodaughters, 10 and 17, Tony Tiradomisses
having Disneyland as something tolook forward to.
“It was a wonderfulactivityfor us,” said Tirado, whoworks as a
personal trainer and visited thepark at least twicea month. “It’s a fun
thing for us to plan ahead. It’s a distraction, and it bringsus joy and
allows for familytime. You canget so busy working, and the family
timeyou share becomeslimited. Disneyland allows you to connect
and be a kid again.”
Tiradolaughed as he pointed out that “actinglikea kid” also means
being able to demonstratevulnerabilityinfront of your children. “My
dad is scared of Goofy’s Sky School,” said Tirado’syounger daughter,
Sofia. “It goes too fast for him.”
Brianna Simpsonknows that if thingswere different, she would be
eating corndogs on MainStreet, cracking jokeswith cast member Dr.
Facilier and creating content for her Eat See Magic onlineplatform.

6. She started her Instagram and vlog because she did not see a lot of
Black creativeswho looked like her. But during thelast few months,
Simpsonsaid her communityhasgrownas a family. “Wedo movie-
night events and not just for people of color. It’s for everyone. Disney
is a big melting pot for me. I want to spread joy to others who can’t
travel here.”
Recently, she recorded a freestyle rap, “I MissDisneyland,” for its
65th anniversaryand co-hosted a food challenge on Instagram that
combined Disneybounding with dishesfrom specific movies.
Despite pressure from companyofficialsas well as politiciansand the
tourism industry, no one knows when visitorswill be ableto returnto
Disneyland.
Even so, fans know that the magic ofDisneyland cancontinue as long
as, to quoteWalt Disney, “thereis imaginationleft in the world.”
“It’s an adjustment, but weall have to makeadjustmentsrightnow,”
Simpsonsaid. “I can’t wait toget on the Indiana Jones Adventureride
again, but untilthingsreturnto normal, I’ll just have to keep the
magic ofDisneyland alive at home.”