Merchandising

Disney is good at selling stuff.  All kinds of stuff. Junky stuff we don't need. Good stuff that we keep forever. They sell magnets and hats and stuffed toys and pencil holders and boxes and bags and shirts and trinkets and everything! And, by simply putting the Mickey ears silhouette or some other Disney-branded thing on the item, they can sell it for waaaaaaaaay more than it's worth. Except, how can you put a price on a treasured memento that serves as a reminder of such a great trip to Disneyland?!

The long story:

The Chaos of a Family Picture in Front of the Castle

With the rides done (for now), it was time for the ultimate Disneyland experience: the family picture in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. But with four families, wrangling everyone for a photo was no small task.

“Okay, everyone, gather up!” Mandy called, trying to herd the group together like a Disney-fied version of a sheepdog.

But the kids were already distracted. Some were admiring the castle, others were talking about churros, and Brandon was inexplicably wandering off in the direction of Main Street.

“Where’s Brandon going?” Lissa asked, scanning the crowd.

“He’s in search of the perfect churro,” Scot said with a laugh. “A noble quest.”

After some effort, everyone finally grouped up in front of the castle, but getting everyone to smile at the same time was a whole other challenge.

“Kevin, look at the camera, not the churro cart!” Julene shouted.

“I’m smiling!” Kevin protested, while clearly eyeing the cart.

“Okay, everyone say ‘Disney Magic!’” the photographer instructed.

“Disney Debt!” Zac joked, and a few of the kids cracked up mid-photo.

The photographer clicked away as everyone adjusted their poses—some grinning, some making goofy faces, and others just looking tired. Finally, after a few attempts, they got a semi-decent photo.

“Well, that’s about as good as it’s going to get,” Mandy sighed, looking at the preview. “But hey, we’ve captured the chaos, and that’s what matters.”

“Yeah,” Steve said with a grin. “Now, can we move on to more churros, or is that just me?”

With laughter, the families regrouped, ready to tackle whatever Disney had in store next—whether that was more rides, more food, or the quest for the ultimate churro.

As the day rolled on and the families’ feet grew tired, it became clear that there was only one thing to do: fuel up. Naturally, this meant acquiring an absurd amount of churros and cream cheese pretzels.

“Alright, we need at least two churros per person,” Steve declared, eyeing the cart.

“That’s… a lot of churros,” Lissa said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, you never know when you’ll need a churro emergency supply,” Steve replied, handing out the sugary sticks like he was rationing survival equipment.

The families gathered churros and cream cheese-filled pretzels, their arms practically overflowing with Disneyland's finest treats. As they bit into the warm, cinnamon-dusted churros, it was as if the magic of the park became even more tangible.

“These churros are worth every penny,” Mandy sighed, happily munching away.

“I’d pay double,” Zac added, breaking his churro in half and handing some to Gage.

Once their hands were sticky with cinnamon and their hearts full of churro-induced joy, they made their way to the Disneyland Railroad station. They boarded the iconic train, ready for a relaxing tour around the park.

“Alright, this is the perfect time for the secret stash,” Steve said, pulling out an alarming amount of homemade jerky and dried mangoes from his backpack.

“You brought jerky to Disneyland?” Scot asked, impressed.

“I don’t go anywhere without it,” Steve replied, passing out the snacks like a seasoned pro.

As the train gently chugged along the tracks, the families took in the sights of the park from a new perspective. They passed the Grand Canyon diorama, dinosaurs, and scenic views of Frontierland.

“This is the life,” Kevin said, leaning back in his seat and tearing into a piece of jerky.

The sun was starting to set, and the sky turned a soft, dusky pink. The lights around the park flickered on, casting a warm glow over everything. The families, now feeling the effects of a long but magical day, realized there were only two more rides they had to experience before the night ended.

“We need to ride Big Thunder and Jungle Cruise,” Zac said confidently. “They’re the best at night.”

“I second that,” Roman chimed in, a churro still dangling from his hand.