We grew up in Ventura County, California, and we were fortunate to go to Disneyland many times. I could never get enough, nor could my two sisters.
When we moved back to Oklahoma in June of 1988, we got to know our paternal grandparents. Both of them had worked at Disneyland. My grandmother over at Tomorrowland, and my grandfather was one of many to work on the construction. He would tell us the stories of getting to know Walt Disney himself, and how my grandfather was one of the men to work on Adventureland and New Orleans Square areas. He gave us even more love for the parks, as the tradition still is there for all who believe in magic and happiness. My grandfather even mentioned how Walt was the best boss he ever worked for, and how he had accidently got concrete on Walt one day when working on a project. Walt wasn’t even angry with him. He even offered my grandfather a job at the new idea of Walt Disney World and EPCOT. His last job for Disneyland was at The Haunted Mansion. A few years ago, my mother wrote to The Disney Company and my grandfather was made an honorary citizen of Disneyland for life. Sadly, he never had the chance to go and see it again, and he has since passed. The memories are still with us, as well as the love for all things Disney. I hope that we do have the chance to see Disneyland again, and see what my grandfather worked on, as well as many others did as well.
– Judy Ritter, 44, Guthrie, OK
