[twitter]Charlie had his rite of passage as a member of the family last week: he made his trip to Disneyland at 5 yrs old with his grandparents.
Since 1975, it has been so. When you’re 5, the grands take you on a plane trip by yourself to the happiest place on earth. I did it, Zacharie did it, and this fall Charlie did it.
He popped on his new shoes, his most favorite bright socks and rode the shuttle to the gates.
Seriously, look at those new shoes. Somewhere, a young wicked witch is barefoot.
Along the way a new tradition has started: becoming a Jedi. When Zacharie graduated from the Jedi Academy on his trip in 2013, it became a wish for Charlie to become a Jedi like his brother.
And he fought Darth Vader to become one. 
His trip was a hot one. The temperature was over 30 degrees Celsius every day. But there was still plenty of time for rides. 
And encounters with characters 
And a dip in the pool 
Charlie’s trip was a special time for his friend, Mouse. It was his birthday!! 
Charlie brought him along to meet Mickey Mouse and when they went into Mickey’s house one day, the Disney photographer thought it was Charlie’s birthday. Mickey, however, got it. He shook his finger wildly and pointed to Charlie’s stuffie. It was his birthday, he reminded everyone. Mickey had a great chat with Mouse (and Charlie) and hugged them all. 
Charlie’s visit coincided with the 60th Anniversary of Disneyland, so there was a big night parade with bright lights 
And, since it was just a few weeks before Halloween, the park was getting ready for Mickey’s big boo and some characters wandered around in costume
and there were specially themed treats.
Charlie dug into mouse eared pancakes, sat on the sidewalk waiting for parades, and skyped home to Mom and Dad.
All the things you expect a kid and his grandparents to do while away for a week at Disneyland.
With Disneyland admission spiking at US$400 for a family of four for a day, I’m so lucky to have parents who have made it their mission to take my kids to the happiest place on Earth. I’m so glad Charlie became a Jedi, his pal Mouse got to meet THE Mouse and that he had the experience of a lifetime.