Damian and I both grew up in southern California, which means that our entire pasts are peppered with memories of Disneyland. The overwhelming elation of the very first visit. Then over the years, birthday parties and family adventures. High school senior ditch day!

The Magical Kingdom has always been this amazing, ubiquitous part of the southern California childhood experience. And of course, for us, that meant we couldn’t wait to take Waits for the first time. But we wanted to make sure he would be old enough to really “get” it . . . and also tall enough to ride the good rides! So we decided, together, that his fourth birthday present would be a trip to Disneyland. Finally!

Left: Waiting in line for The Haunted Mansion, lookit those rosy cheeks. Mid-morning and it was already over 80º! // Right: Healthy snacking in line for the Jungle Cruise.


On the Jungle Cruise. I distinctly remember going on this ride when I was his age. His perplexed little face just cracks me up! (And also *sigh* Disney, why you so racist?)

So I knew going into this that things might be tricky, in terms of food. I’d heard that Disneyland was actually pretty vegan-friendly, but after some investigation, I realized two things:

1) Almost all the vegan options are gluten-y (think pasta, pretzels, sandwiches, etc)

2) They are all pure carb, very little protein. Which doesn’t work for us.

So that’s fine, we don’t need to eat off of Mickey’s menu. Luckily the park is awesome about allowing people to bring their own food in, so that’s just what we did. And oh my gosh, it saved us some major money as well!

If you’re traveling to Disneyland and you are interested in eating there, I found a few resources which were really helpful. Most notably, this comprehensive blog post by The Vegan Cowgirl which literally lays out every vegan option in the entire park, sorted by “land.” (Note: there’s vegetarian chili available in Critter Country, and a tofu veggie BBQ skewer or refried beans in Frontierland – and that’s about your only bet for solid protein in the whole park. There’s also only one restaurant that has non-dairy milk for espresso drinks, which is in Main Street USA.)

Like I said, we brought our own food (thank you Trader Joe’s!) which I carried in a knapsack. It was cheap and easy and I recommend it times a million.

Left: Virtual reality flight-testing the Iron Man suit. BEST! Right: The only things we bought were drinks and “treats” – like this frozen lemonade that the three of us shared. Because dudes, it was really hot.


Another snack attack on a park bench in Toon Town. We ate before we arrived, brought two tubs of hummus, rice crackers, carrot sticks, and Lara Bars, and then stopped for a late dinner on the way home. I recommend this.


No trip to Disneyland could be complete without a giant pickle. WHY ARE THESE SO GOOD?!

It was such an amazing day, and so nice to spend the time together as a family. When Damian and I first separated, we told Waits, “We’re still a family. We look different now, but we’re still a family.” And I’m proud of us for that. I’m so grateful for this eccentric, unconventional, absolutely perfect little family of mine. I wouldn’t have it any other way.




That night at dusk we were traversing the park, and we stumbled across the Main Street Parade. Floats and singing and dancing, such a spectacle. Damian lifted the kid up onto his shoulders, and Waits just watched, eyes so wide with wonder. He doesn’t know many of the Disney characters, but he does have a bit of a penchant for one particular blue blazered duck.

And suddenly there he was, turning the corner in front of us. “It’s Donald!” Waits shrieked with glee, his little hand shooting up like lightening so he could wave. “Oh hi Donald! Donald! Hiiii!!!”

Tears were instantly in my eyes and I had to fight back that stupid lump in my throat. His joy was just so completely unabashed, so utterly innocence. He believed with all of his heart that that was really Donald Duck up there. He believed it so sincerely.

And that single precious moment was the highlight of the whole entire trip, for me.

Happy Birthday baby boy.

♥ ♥ ♥

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