Tokyo Disneyland

Much hope swirls around a boy’s mind near his birthday. A hope to stand out. A hope for recognition. A hope for first place.

Add to that hopes of life on a new continent, days before his seventh birthday.

You know how we answered that?!?

WE’RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!

On Son1′s birthday we abandoned the hotel and hoofed it one extra train stop. We made a quick chow stop at his favorite, McDonald’s. We claimed a table as the line wrapped around the building. It felt like home, but better. The hosts bowed before and after we ordered. The culture extends into fast food restaurants. I cannot say McDonald’s hosts in the United States are so polite. And, it was the cleanest McDonald’s. Someone was constantly wiping or sweeping.

Next, it was a heroic ordeal to get Son1 a train card. We hiked down a parade of steps to the underground office. I do mean hike. This station had no elevator. Dr. Romance is THE MAN, though. He hoisted up the toddler in the stroller. He treaded down. I was wide eyed until others did the same.

Son1 was beamed at his train card. In Tokyo your name is printed on it. If lost, they replace it with your fare credit, OR someone can return it. That is SO different than subway culture in NYC, DC, and Boston. I am used to “finders, keepers…losers, weepers.”

We waited on the platform and by a fluke, loaded onto an express train. The ride was only 30 minutes! Time flew for the boys. They are so curious about trains in Japan and the different colored routes.

We sprung off the train at the Magic Kingdom. So we all remember, the fam posed with seven birthday fingers.

Tokyo Disney was packed like no other amusement park.  It was also the major Japanese holiday, Odon. We asked for an English map at the gate and hatched a plan. Our first stop was “It’s a Small World.”

Our boys have never been to any Disney park, not even when we lived 2 hours from Disneyland, California.  That shocks people. But, if you have been around this blog awhile, you know they have been to other amazing places. They were not been stripped of too much. So the wonder of Disneyland, “The Happiest Place on Earth” was new and precious.

We drifted along in two rows of the boat. A family of five merits big real estate on the rides! The older boys and Dr.Romance sat behind me and Son3. I relive their banter. They boiled down the places they have lived, and where they live now. And,… It IS A Small World, after all!!

Oh….and about the amusement park real estate….I just have to throw this in here. One of the most senseless reasons (okay, I have heard people actually say this multiple times) to not have a third child is that the whole family can’t ride on amusement park rides together, or sit at a table for four. That is crazy talk. Remember this blog post…remember we find beauty in BIG real estate on amusement rides. Two family tea cups scored us sidesplitting laughter.

Soon we were melting like ice cream in a hot desert. Our bodies had not yet acclimated. We spied a door that read “The Country Bear Jamboree.” So fun! It does not exist at Disneyland California anymore! The boys hee-hawed and roared at Japanese twangy bear voices set to country music.

Son1 was captivated all day. It occurred to me as we climbed up and down the Swiss Family Robinson house, and he popped up seven fingers….these days of pretend,  of imagination, and of enchantment…I have been there with Son1 for seven years. How much longer do days of make believe and fantasy last?

I don’t know. But when Son1 asked to ride the steam engine train, Dr. Romance said, “these train loving days aren’t forever.” So our hot, red, and sweaty family of five slid onto a passenger bench and closed the door.

Our last family ride before Son3 conked out was Pirates of the Caribbean. The older two boys were bedazzled by pirate gold and pirate life. We surprised them with dinner at the Blue Bayou, inside the ride.

And the restaurant surprised us all with a special dessert inside those mouse ears. And under the glow of lanterns, and beside the  sparkle of a candle, Son1′s face lit up.

He hoped brightly. He wished quietly.