As comedian Bill Cosby once said "I started out as a child...." and so it is with me and Dumbo. I'm sure I have ridden Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Disneyland, but that was back in childhood and childhood is now a long time ago. Me riding Dumbo isn't even a memory anymore. It's gone, a memory vanished into thin air.
Dumbo is an original attraction to Disneyland dating back to 1955. Oh, the ride has been moved around once or twice. The water feature part of the ride wasn't always there. But Dumbo is one of the quintessential Disneyland rides. Riding Dumbo is a rite of passage for all children fortunate enough to pass through the front gates. And my memory is gone.
Dumbo is a child's ride if there is such a thing. Children ride Dumbo. Parents with children ride Dumbo. Young couples in love ride Dumbo. Grown-ups riding Dumbo alone get stared at. At least that would be my impression ("Hey, isn't that guy a little old to ride Dumbo. What a loser"). I suppose when he was very young, there may have been an opportunity to ride Dumbo with the Boy but for whatever reason, it didn't happen. But he's 23 now and about 6'5". The two of us together? That's not going to work very well. When Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I were making trips to Disneyland with my nieces and their kids, I always kind of wanted to borrow a kid to take on Dumbo but somehow, mom or dad always got that opportunity while I stood by the railing and took pictures of family in full flight.
So on the bucket list I know at some point I am going to have to bite the bullet, stand in line, and ride Dumbo alone just to recapture a memory that is long forgotten. Silly? A bit, but it's something that has to be done.
I shouldn't feel too embarrassed. After all, if Darth Vader can ride Dumbo alone, so can I. Enjoy a Disneyland classic video from last year.....
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