We found their miniature American history museum! And you can’t have one of those without a bust of Lincoln.
Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:
Each year Anne and I take one (1) road trip to a different part of the United States and see attractions, wonders, and events we didn’t have back home. One thing we rarely do is fly. We’d much rather drive than be flown unless we absolutely have to…or are given some pretty sweet incentives to do so. Fast-forward to December 2022 and a most unexpected opportunity: The Powers That Be at Anne’s rather large place of employment recognized her and several other employees nationwide for outstanding achievements in the field of excellence. Their grand prize was a Disney World vacation! We could at last announce to friends and family, “THE GOLDENS ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!”
For Anne it was officially, legally a business trip. Much of the time, she’d have to work…
…except the one day she didn’t have to, so we could do actual tourism together in this supernaturally fun place where our families could never afford to visit in childhood, unlike all the other, more well-off whitebread kids who outnumbered us tens-of-millions-to-2. Thus we spent our afternoon in the Magic Kingdom wandering more than riding, gawking more than waiting in lines, and feeling dumbstruck at sights that surely would’ve blown our minds if we’d come here as kids. It was impossible to hold onto our Gen-X jadedness here.
After spending a good while lurking around the grounds of centrally located Cinderella Castle, we veered west and worked our way clockwise around the park’s territories to see what we could see in the time allotted.
The road to Adventureland with the sun in my already starry eyes.
A fraction of Agrabah, free of rooftop-scampering street rats.
Sometimes we’d just stop and stare at architecture, like here at the Enchanted Tiki Room.
As of March 2023 this was the construction zone for the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, still not open as of July 2024.
The lagoon between Frontierland and Cinderella Castle.
Frontierland shops and/or facades.
In Liberty Square, we didn’t stick around for the show at the Hall of Presidents, but we were surprised to discover their collection of Presidential artifacts.
Teddy Roosevelt’s saddle and hat.
At left, Woodrow Wilson’s golf club and a letter signed by him. At right, Jimmy Carter’s fly-fishing lures and wading boots.
An inkwell that belonged to James K. Polk and a walking stick that belonged to Indiana’s own Benjamin Harrison.
This key to Disneyland was a 1955 gift to then-Vice President Richard Nixon, who’d eventually visit that park more than any other President has to date.
A 1990 Disney bust , whose sculpting was directed by retired animator Blaine Gibson.
From history back to fantasy: a map of Neverland, probably not to scale.
Fantasyland, home of the incessant chant of “It’s a Small World“.
A beanstalk too short to reach the giants in the clouds above us, which is probably for the best.
Sir Mickey’s was one of several shops where we resumed my souvenir shirt quest, again in vain.
Minnie Mouse goes medieval.
Not the first abandoned tea service we’ve seen in a Disney park. This is an awfully weird pattern.
…and that’s just when the sun was out. As the darkness approached, things got even cooler.
To be continued!
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[Link enclosed here to handy checklist for other chapters and for our complete major trip history to date. Follow us on Facebook or via email sign-up for new-entry alerts. For further signs of life between entries, wave hi to me on . Thanks for reading!]
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