Every year for many years (I've lost count) my family travels from Washington to California one week prior to Christmas. We take our son out of school, we get out of work and we head to Disneyland to kick off our holiday season. We have many memories, most good a few bad (like the time we were stuck by the Matterhorn until the candlelight processional went by... but that's another story). I'd have to say my favorite one includes "Santa Goofy" and the lighting of the Disneyland Hotels Christmas Tree.

At the time our son was only four, still young enough to believe the characters were real but tall enough to go on most of the attractions. It was shaping up to be a fun and memorable trip. We had learned from Grizelda Madrigal, a cast member (yes, that is her real name!) that the Disneyland Hotel has a ceremony every night with Goofy to light up their tree and the marina.

We made our way to the Marina with our son in tow. When Tallon the storyteller announced that he needed one child to help him light the marina and tree. Luckily for us Tallon knew our son from years past when Mychal had listened to Tallon's stories in the lobby of the Disneyland Pacific hotel. He picked Mychal to help him light the tree. There was all sorts of fanfare and singing but no matter what they did the lights wouldn't come on. Enter Goofy, making his way to the stage in his rather clumsy way we've all grown to love, dressed up as Santa Goofy. Again, they wiggled their ears, they danced, they sang but still nothing. So Goofy whispers something to Tallon and Tallon announces that Santa Goofy says we all have to believe in the magic of Christmas in order to get the marina light lit. So Tallon asks Mychal if he believes in the magic of Christmas, he of course very enthusiastically, says yes (he's got a microphone so we can all here this conversation). So Tallon tells him he must close his eyes and shout "I Believe!" So Mychal closes his eyes, in his little voice, with the microphone up to his mouth shouts " I BELIEVE" and slowly strand by strand every light comes on. When Mychal opened his eyes and saw that he had lit the Marina, the look was priceless. Then the Dickens Carolers come onto the stage to sing and keep Mychal with them. Not only does he get to wear one of the singers top hats but he got to sing with them as well. What a great evening!

We'll never forget that trip. Others have been memorable but the innocence of that time will always stay fresh in my heart.

Here's our family's Disney christmas tree. It's 9 feet tall and has ornaments all the way around. It's on a rotating tree stand to show all of the ornament. 99% of the ornaments are Disney with most being Walt Disney World exclusives.