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Emma’s First Visit to Disneyland

A Photoessay

Words: Jason Picetti   Pictures: Ameer Khan

Earlier this month, Fehmeen, her brother Ameer, Emma, and I piled into the proverbial Wally Wagon and made our way south down I-5 to Disneyland. And despite the fact that things got off to a less-than-ideal start (please refer to the stolen stroller incident), a magical time was had by all.

Much to our surprise, breakfast the first day included a photo op with several costumed characters. However, no one is as surprised, or as tense, as Emma.

At this point in time, we were all smiles. That changed upon receipt of our bill: $100, gratuity included, for breakfast for three. It wouldn't be the only crazy expenditure of the morning, either.

In an effort to lessen the tension with Emma, Minnie cozies up to her dad, the perma-grinning ALS Boy.

Taking her innocent flirtations to the next level, Minnie seems to have forgotten all about the camera. Luckily, Stitch rats her out.

Once inside the park, our first ride was on King Arthur's Carousel. Seemingly happy now, Emma's face told a vastly different story once the ride started.

There are about ten attractions at Disneyland that allow for a wheelchair-bound guest to literally roll across a ramp and onto the ride. This is one such example of me on the carousel.

Our next stop was the world famous Tiki Room. As Fehmeen likes to point out, despite the 39 year age difference between Emma and me, our reaction is exactly the same.

Hands down, Emma's favorite ride was It's a Small World. Watching her eyes bug out of her head with excitement as she floated through was the highlight of the trip for me.

Major props to whoever designed the sound for Small World. What a remarkable accomplishment to have one song playing over and over but depending upon where you are in the ride, you hear different things. For example, the music you hear in the middle of the ride is different from what you heard in the beginning yet the people in the beginning are hearing what you yourself had heard when you were there. By design, the song is no longer linear in nature but parallel. It boggles my mind.

Travelling by train to Adventureland minus our replacement stroller which Fehmeen left parked in front of Toon Town. Ameer picked it up later.

Cost of three ice cream cones at Gibson Girls: $12. Cost of the stylish hat atop my un-sunburned head: $85. Seeing Fehmeen's face unblemished by chocolate ice cream: Priceless.

"I had a great time at Disneyland. Thank you Mama, Dada, and Mamoo Ameer."

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