"So, kids, what do you want to do this summer?"

"DISNEYLAND! DISNEYLAND!" my two sisters and I would sing to my parents every approaching holiday or break from school. We were nothing short from obsessed with the magical atmosphere of Disneyland, the characters, and the fantastical rides. Such thematic elements are unmatched by any theme park we had been to, and it remains unbeatable to this day. A day in Disneyland was "Another Day in Paradise" (and I'm sure that Phil Collins was talking about Disneyland – he later did the music for Tarzan, didn't he?). Every ride enthralled me, but nothing captivated me more than Disney’s parades.

It was dusky out, lights twinkled in the trees surrounding Main Street, and The Electric Light Parade captured my imagination while overwhelming my eyes with dazzling lights. I was 6 or 7, watching this menagerie of sparkling Disney characters, when Prince Charming's float stopped in front of my family. He held a glass slipper on a shiny pillow, smiled down at me, and gestured with a wave of his gloved hand to the slipper.

"Is this slipper yours?" He asked. I blushed furiously and shook my head. Had he actually talked to me? My sister Alysa giggled in my ear while my mom and dad smiled benignly.

Another parade during the hot afternoon of a summer in Disneyland brought many of my favorite Disney movies to life. Aladdin and Jasmine towered above our heads on Abu transformed as an Elephant. Aladdin waved to the crowd, caught my eye, and pointed to me. My breath caught in my chest when he waved down once more. Later that same day I was brought in the crowd of parade stars to shake an African instrument with the cast from Lion King.

At 15, I hope to have many more pleasant experiences at Disneyland, but one of my favorite parts of Disney is sharing my knowledge and nostalgia with other fanatics. When I heard about Mickey News, I signed up for the newsletter in a frenzy, and envisioned writing for it. Being able to express myself to others who know the same feeling of excitement when I recall the many times I have seen that castle glittering in the distance.

I am currently a sophomore at Casa Roble High School in Sacramento, and am part of the newspaper for the school. Not many high school students want to hear about Disneyland and all its fascinations, but hey! That's what I like to write about! Thanks to Mickey News, I've gotten to see myself published for what I enjoy writing about the most. Now if only we can get schools to give a class on Disney, there’s some homework I would gladly do...