What It’s All About – Reflections on the 2011 CHOC Walk at Disneyland
Yesterday I found myself waking up at the unknown to me hour of 4 AM and making my way to the Disneyland Resort. The sun wasn’t out and frankly, I didn’t feel much like being out either. However, nothing could have stopped me from getting to the Disneyland Resort shortly after five. Yesterday was CHOC Walk. This is an event that I have come to look forward to every year. For several hours you see some of the best of humanity shining as you walk around Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and finally into Downtown Disney.
This year was even more special to me than other years. Previous years I have watched as other teams have walked in memory of someone special but this year, we were walking for a beautiful little girl named Ylaria. She died from cancer earlier this year and her family walked through the parks with us yesterday. It was a beautiful experience seeing them being loved and supported by not only our small group, but by the thousands of other people cheering them on at CHOC Walk. A moment that stands out in particular to me was when one of the young girls in the family met Caroline Sunshine from The Disney Channel show Shake it Up. This young actress was taking photos with fans at the finish line for CHOC Walk. As this young girl walked up to Caroline, she was clearly quite excited to be meeting this star. After taking a picture, Caroline Sunshine asked her about the sign she was holding. I don’t know exactly what was said but within moments Caroline Sunshine embraced this young girl in a big hug of raw emotion. It was an absolutely beautiful moment. I looked to my left and saw both parents overcome with emotion as I struggled to not be overcome myself.
I have been going to Disneyland for many years. When I was a child I visited Disneyland once a year with my family. My first trip was when I turned 6. Then when I was about 15 I purchased my first annual pass and I have been coming back regularly ever since. So many times people ask me, “how can you keep going to Disneyland so much and not get tired of it?” As I think about that beautiful moment from yesterday the answer seems so crystal clear. I see beautiful moments like that happen all the time at Disneyland. I’ve had beautiful moments of my own made there. I’ve seen couples get engaged, a dad and son dance down Main Street, USA each wearing a tutu, I’ve seen couples young and old dance the night away to a live swing band, and I’ve seen people of all ages cheer for a mouse every time that he overcomes the powers of an evil fairy’s imagination.
Disneyland isn’t just a collection of attractions, shows, and fancy fireworks. This year, it’s theme is “let the memories begin.” Really, they began happening there before the park was opened in 1955. My friend Lisa over at Babes in Disneyland told me about an amazing blog/story yesterday at CHOC Walk. It is the story of a cancer survivor who was facing chemo and not really sure what her future would be. This uncertainty forced her to be certain that she had made the memories for her son in case they weren’t able to be made in the future. As I read this story I couldn’t help but being reminded of a night five years ago when I walked into the kitchen of my parent’s home and found my mom lying on the floor in the kitchen table in the midst of a massive stroke. That night changed my perspective on a great many things in life. As many of you who have read any blog I post, I always end with the tagline: Make it a GREAT day! A man I greatly respect said this phrase and it really rang true to me. We need to make each day great because we never know what tomorrow will bring.
Going back to Disneyland, we need to make each trip to Disneyland great for we never know if it will be our last. I have always felt that it is my job to bring magic to each trip to the park I take as much as it is the job of every performer and cast member. Bringing this back to CHOC Walk yesterday, the whole event was really reminder of how fragile life is and what an amazing gift it is for us to be able to go to Disneyland, make those memories, and experience those magical moments that are created there every day… especially if you take the time to watch for them. I’m sure that only four or five of us saw that beautiful moment between a grieving sister and Caroline Sunshine, but that is what it is all about. A moment was made. A tear was shed. A memory was made that will I’m sure honor Ylaria for each of us that experienced it for years to come.
Make it a GREAT day!
-Mr. DAPs
CLICK HERE to see the DAPs Magic CHOC Walk 2011 Photos.
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Tags: 2011, Caroline Sunshine, CHOC Walk, Disney Channel, Disneyland, October 16, Shake it Up, Ylaria
