The saddest fans on earth
After a year of closure, Disneyland’s most fervent customers are coping, but not happily
The girl who did her homework there. The mom who came to the park after her kids went to school. The pet sitter who used it for exercise. The homeowner who actually liked living underneath the Disneyland fireworks displays.
Life has changed for these Disneyland fans, and not in a good way. Nearly a year after the resort closed its gates because of the COVID-19 pandemic on a rainy March 14, 2020, people are coping and making do. But they’re not happy about it.
“I walk around the house now wearing my Mickey ears just because,” said Sheryl Herchenroeder of Fontana, who spends time these days scrapbooking photos of happier days at the park and “trying not to be sad.”
It’s hard for casual, infrequent visitors to imagine the extent to which the Happiest Place on Earth has entered the DNA of many and become an indispensable part of their daily lives.
“It was an escape where I could go to get a break from life,” said Susie Gapinski of Fullerton, whose family typically went once a week.
Families plan their holiday traditions around the change of seasons, when the resort holds special events and puts up elaborate decorations. The most spectacular displays are reserved for Halloween and Christmas, with jaw-dropping lights, colors, flowers and ornaments. Rituals are observed there, both public and private. People get engaged there, married there and — in a tradition deeply frowned upon by park officials — sometimes even have their ashes scattered there.
Generations of families have posed in front of the Christmas tree at the entrance for their annual photos. Halloween fans look forward to the annual party — the only time adults are allowed to wear costumes in the parks.
People drive for hours and then stand in long lines to buy crucial holiday necessities like an oversize candy cane. It’s so popular Disneyland has to announce when it will be available in advance, so aficionados can make plans. Others make a hobby of collecting items as diverse as popcorn buckets and tiki mugs.
“We went to Disney World [in Florida] in December, because you can’t have Christmas without a Disney parade,” said Lauralea Thompson of Laguna Niguel. “I have to see the toy soldiers and dancing gingerbread men. You’d be amazed how many Californians were there.”
To Jon Hale of Brea, Christmas has been even more special. Every year, he’d hand out cookies to the cast members who run the Radiator Springs Racers ride in Disney California Adventure. Hale is famous for having ridden that ride thousands of times. Over the years, he’s become close to the ride operators, even socializing with them after hours. This year, he just stayed at home on Christmas, though he’s often found these days in Downtown Disney, getting his fix.
“The cast members are my Disney family,” he said. “Really the reason I keep going back.”