The day that Disneyland fell silent and paid homage

I know that we adult Disney nerds realized exactly how privileged we are to be able to go to a place like Walt Disney World and Disneyland.  There are so many people in this world and even in our country that cannot afford the extravagance of going to a Disney park.  There are a lot of people right now suffering through the ravages of war; there are children that have lost their parents and parents that have lost their children.  We have enjoyed an extremely long peace within the borders of our country where many others have not.  The peace that I speak of was broken on September 11, 2001. Our country had been attacked viciously and unprovoked.  Those that gave their lives that day will always be remembered just as those that died on December 7, 1941 in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

We were in Los Angeles staying with an actor friend, Daniel Roebuck, and he knocked on our door that morning waking us up and telling us that we had to come downstairs to see this. There had been a major disaster.  What I saw was unbelievable. The horror that went through my mind was extremely intense.  We had planned that day to go to the real Hollywood movie studios because some of them gave guided tours of their studios but, of course, none of the studios were open. Even Disneyland was on lockdown.  Later we had heard that all of the Disney Parks worldwide had been shut down and evacuated.  This was only the second time in history that Disneyland had been closed due to a national tragedy.  The first was when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. We went the next day to Disneyland and there was extreme security. Every car was checked thoroughly and we were only allowed to park in the faraway parking lot.  Even in the opening show, they gave homage to those that lost their lives the day before and had announced that there would be a national time for mourning on this day and it would be observed throughout the parks and it was. We were in Disney’s California at the studio limousine ride when the announcement came over that it was time for the memorial to be observed. Every cast member, every single person stepped out onto the street and bowed their head in silence.  You could’ve heard a pin drop. The music was turned off and no one was saying a word. Children were as quiet as they could be even though it was a very special time at Disneyland.

I hope we never see a moment like that again.  It inspired me that everyone was still and quiet and paying homage to those that had died.  Everyone there at Disneyland had stopped their day to say a prayer and remember.  So I ask you to just take a moment out of your day to stop and pay respect to those that are no longer with us because of this cowardly attack on September 11 2001 and, if by chance you have another moment, I would beg of you to please remember all of our fallen heroes that gave their last measure of devotion so that we could have the freedom to be able to share these wonderful magical Walt Disney Parks we love so dear.

Just a personal side note, our plane was the fifth plane to take off from LAX after September 11, 2001,   and we felt very safe because the many soldiers on leave had been recalled and flew with us on our way back to Atlanta.

          God bless all the soldiers and their loved ones that keep us safe and thank you.