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My Dream Vacation To Disneyland Essay

My family said I could choose where we go on vacation for my birthday this year. I’ve always wanted to visit Disneyland in California! In this essay, I will explain why Disneyland seems like the most magical place and why it would be an amazing trip. I will describe some unbelievable lands to explore and attractions I’m excited to experience. By the end, I hope you’ll understand why a vacation at Disneyland is my top dream!

Table of Contents

My Dream Trip to Disneyland

Disneyland has different “lands” that transport guests to different places. My favorite would be Magic Kingdom (Topic sentence). Walking through the gates, you enter a world filled with colorful castles and charming characters. Sleeping Beauty Castle is so elegant with its blue spires and picturesque lagoon. I can’t wait to meet princesses and princes! Fantasyland has gentle rides like “It’s A Small World” and Dumbo the Flying Elephant that seem whimsical. Adventureland takes you to far-off places with rides like pink elephants! Indulging my imagination in Magic Kingdom would be a dream come true.

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Another “land” I’m eager to check out is Tomorrowland (Transition). This futuristic area has never-been-seen technology like rockets, aliens and robots galore! (Topic sentence). Attractions here include Space Mountain, a rollercoaster ride through the solar system in outer space! The Astro Orbiters let visitors pilot their own flying saucers, too. For a sneak peek at what scientists think tomorrow may bring, Tomorrowland is definitely the coolest land in Disneyland. Who knows, I’ll get inspired to design my own inventions after learning what’s possible!

Magical Shows and Parades

Aside from the lands, Disneyland puts on phenomenal live shows and nightly fireworks. (Transition). One unmissable show is “World of Color,” where fountains “dance” via lights and lasers along to music against a backdrop of mountains. Mickey’s Soundsational Parade also features your favorite Disney characters singing and marching down the street. With lights, music and costumes, Disney’s nightly parades seem full of dazzling magic. Sitting with my friends and family to watch the entertainment is the most beautiful way to end the day.

Meet Famous Characters

Beyond attractions and lands, what makes Disneyland special is meeting your most beloved Disney friends in person! (Topic sentence). Waiting in line to warmly hug Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse would fulfill my childhood dreams (Example). Belle from Beauty and the Beast would be as sweet and kind as her story. Other character experiences, like dining with Cinderella or taking pictures with Snow White, seem like priceless memories. Getting to interact with the characters who brought me such joy through their movies is something I want to take advantage of.

Disney Fun for All

While some rides may be scary, Disneyland accommodates visitors of all ages. My little brother would adore smaller rides in Fantasyland like Dumbo and classic dark rides like Snow White. (Topic sentence). Once he’s older, we could all enjoy adventures like “Indiana Jones” or “Pirates of the Caribbean” together. With delicious food, character greetings, and nighttime shows as alternatives, everybody in the family could bond having fun at Disneyland for days. Between charming characters, imagination-fueled lands, and eye-popping entertainment – Disneyland seems like a place where magic can happen forever.

In conclusion, a vacation at Disneyland has been a top dream of mine for years. From indulging in a fantasy world of castles and princesses to experiencing the creativity of Tomorrowland, Disneyland offers unforgettable experiences around every corner. Best of all, it brings favorite characters to life through hugs and encounters. Disneyland magic is for everyone. Please say we get to make my wish come true this year – I promise it will be the happiest trip ever.

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Tips for Planning a Trip To Disneyland

Posted on Published: 11/16/2023

If you are a regular reader here, you know that I am a frequent traveler to Walt Disney World in Florida. I’ve been so many times that it’s fairly easy for me to plan a Walt Disney World vacation, because I know exactly what to do, and where I’ll want to go when I’m there.

In recent years, I finally had the chance to plan a trip to Disneyland, and while there are some similarities, there are lots of things you’ll need to know. Since my first trip to Disneyland several years ago, I’ve returned multiple times and have always loved my visits.

Disneyland, with its two theme parks and central Anaheim location, is very different from Walt Disney World . So, if you are planning a trip to Disneyland, you’ll want to do your research and some planning in advance so that you’ll be prepared.

This post contains affiliate links. A purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

I visited Disneyland as part of the AWESome Retreat conference and Mastermind and received complimentary admission and some media perks. I have also received a complimentary stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim. I’ve also paid my own way several times.

Save money on your Disneyland California tickets and your Southern California vacation by booking through  Get Away Today . You can also save $10 on your Southern California vacation of 2 days or more with the code FTM10. 

Pixar Pier at Disney's California Adventure

Planning a Trip To Disneyland

Before planning a trip to Disneyland, it’s a good idea to review the two parks – Disney’s California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park. There are different shows, rides, restaurants, and other attractions in each park, and you’ll want to have an idea of how much time you’ll want to spend in each park. Disneyland also offers Downtown Disney, and there are no water parks.

Planning Your Disneyland Vacation 

Unlike Walt Disney World, you probably don’t need to spend quite as much time at Disneyland Resort. The two parks are adjacent to each other, and you can easily walk from one to the other multiple times per day. For our family, I’d probably plan for a three-day trip, although you can even get quite a bit done in just one day.

Before you go, you’ll want to do some research. What time does Disneyland open during your trip? If it’s open late, and you can stay up late, you can get a lot more done. You’ll also want to look at dates and crowd levels.

As you’d expect, weekends, holidays, and school vacations (including summer) can be more crowded. While I wouldn’t completely avoid those dates (sometimes it’s unavoidable), it’s important to know so you are prepared for long waits. You can see the best times to visit Disneyland here .

Pixar Pier

Disneyland Discount Tickets

When purchasing your Disneyland tickets, you’ll definitely want to get a discount if possible. Our friends at Get Away Today offer discounted park tickets as well as Southern California vacation packages. Use this link to purchase , and you can get $10 off a valid vacation package with the code FTM10.

You’ll be able to buy a package that includes nights at an official Disneyland hotel or an off-property hotel. Third or fourth night free deals are offered at select off-property hotels. Saving money on your hotel and ticket means you’ll have more for souvenirs and food!

Even if you don’t book a vacation package, it’s best to buy your tickets in advance since you also will need a valid park reservation. Get your tickets early and go right to the park entrance.

When purchasing your tickets, you’ll have several options. You can choose the park hopper, which means you will be able to go to either park during the day. A standard ticket allows you admission to just one park.

I’d recommend getting the park hopper. Because the parks are so close together, you can go between them easily.

You’ll also select how many days you want to include on your tickets. If you’d like to experience most of the attractions, I think a three-day pass would be the best for a family. When visiting with my son, we went for three days and had a great time.

Hotels in Anaheim Close to Disneyland

There are lots of wonderful family-friendly hotels located on and off property in the Anaheim area near Disneyland . On property, you’ll find the following hotels:

  • Disneyland Hotel
  • Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
  • Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

Like Walt Disney World, Disneyland also has Good Neighbor hotels . Many of these are located directly across the street from the parks, so they are incredibly convenient. Most are family-friendly chain hotels , so you’ll have a good idea of what to expect. These hotels are located right across from the parks:

  • Anaheim Camelot Inn and Suites
  • Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground
  • Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim Resort
  • Homewood Suites by Marriott Anaheim Resort Convention Center
  • Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (also offers an outdoor water park)
  • Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn
  • The Anaheim Hotel
  • Grand Legacy at the Park
  • Springhill Suites Anaheim Resort Convention Center
  • Westin Anaheim

During my most recent trip to Disneyland, I had the chance to do a complimentary stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground . This family-friendly hotel is about an eight-minute walk from the front entrance of Disneyland. I would definitely recommend staying there.

I’ve also stayed at the Westin Anaheim, and the Courtyard by Marriott – both were excellent. It’s best to choose the hotel that has the rooms and amenities (as well as price range) that best suit your family.

There are other Good Neighbor hotels that are located a bit further away. Some may offer shuttles. If you book a vacation package through the Get Away Today link listed above, you may be able to get a third or fourth night free.

The hotel we stayed at during my first trip, the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel , was located about 20 minutes away from the parks. They offered complimentary shuttle service throughout the day, but it was on a set schedule and you needed to book it in advance.

If your hotel offers a shuttle, check to see what the schedule and process is. Some may have a separate fee.

Wondering if you need a car during your Disneyland vacation? If you are just visiting the theme parks and are staying within walking distance, you won’t need a car. During my four-night visit with my son, we didn’t have a car and just walked to the parks and Downtown Disney.

Dole Whip Float at Disneyland

Planning Disneyland Dining

Disneyland, like Walt Disney World, offers a wide variety of dining options. While quick-service restaurants don’t take or require reservations, the table service restaurants do accept reservations. It’s a good idea to make reservations well in advance to ensure availability.

Reservations can be made 60 days in advance by calling (714) 781-DINE or by booking online. This is a much shorter window than Walt Disney World, making it easier to make more last-minute vacation plans.

There are lots of different dining venues, including character dining , hotel restaurants, themed dining, and Downtown Disney restaurants. There are also several dining packages that give you priority access to some of the shows.

Mobile ordering on the Disneyland app is available at many of the quick service venues. Order on the app, and select an arrival window. When you are ready to pick up, indicate that on the app and then go to the special mobile order window and provide your order number.

During my visit, I made sure to get two iconic Disneyland snacks – the Mickey Shaped Beignets and a Dole Whip. Both were delicious!

If you are most familiar with Walt Disney World, I’ve found that Disneyland dining is a bit different. There are fewer must-try table service restaurants, with lots of good quick-service options. Therefore, you may not need to make as many table service reservations.

My must-try restaurants at Disneyland are the Lamplight Lounge at Disney’s California Adventure (make a brunch reservation on the weekend), and Blue Bayou at Disneyland Park.

Airports Near Disneyland

When it’s time to book your airfare, you may be wondering which airports are near Disneyland. Luckily, you’ll have some choices. While Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the largest and most popular, there are other small airports that may be easier.

Long Beach Airport (LBG) is a small airport that is so easy to fly in and out of. I flew through there on Jetblue and found it to be so convenient.

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is another option that is relatively small and convenient. Other options in the area are Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Ontario International Airport (ONT). If you are visiting San Diego , you can also fly through that airport.

In the past, guests flying into LAX or SNA could take the Disneyland Resort Express, which was offered for an additional fee. Unfortunately, that service has been discontinued. See more details here .

Radiator Springs Racers

Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane

To maximize your time in the parks, you may want to take advantage of Genie+ and the individual lightning lanes.

Unlike the old Fastpass system, Genie+ is not free. It’s closest to the old Maxpass program. You can add this to your tickets, and it’s completely options.

Once you have Genie+ on your ticket, you can use it to book return times through the Lightning Lanes. While you may still have to wait in a short line, it’s definitely going to be a shorter wait.

Individual lightning lanes are a separate purchase available for the most popular attractions. Again, these are optional but will save you time. The current attractions with an individual lightning lane are Radiator Springs Racers and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Learn more about Genie+ and individual lightning lane here .

Attractions at Disneyland

I love the rides at any theme park, so I was most excited to experience the attractions. There are so many different options – from kiddie rides to thrill rides.

You’ll want to research these in advance so you know what your must-dos are. If you are a Walt Disney World fan, you’ll definitely want to do those attractions that are different. Here are my top rides at Disneyland .

Disneyland offers nine themed lands: Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, Fantasyland, ToonTown, Adventureland, Main Street USA, Frontierland, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Critter Country.

In Disney California Adventure, you’ll find Buena Vista Street, Hollywood Land, Cars Land , Grizzly Peak, Avenger’s Campus , Paradise Garden Park, and Pixar Pier . I absolutely loved the theming of Cars Land – it looks exactly as I’d expect Radiator Springs to look!

Flo's at Radiator Springs

Events at Disneyland Resort

Disneyland is home to several events during the year. These include the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, which was taking place during several of my visits. During this festival, you can visit various kiosks to purchase drinks and food samples.

We ended up eating both lunch and dinner at the California Adventure Food and Wine Festival. I had some delicious food, like the Salt and Vinegar Parmesan Chicken Wings, the Shrimp Boil Tacos, and the Verlasso Sustainable Salmon Peruvian Poke with Cucumber-Lime Salad and Aji Verde Salsa. The offerings for the California Adventure Food and Wine Festival change each year.

Downtown Disney

In addition to the two parks, there’s also Downtown Disney. It offers dining, shopping, and entertainment, including Splitsville Lanes. Tickets aren’t required to visit Downtown Disney, so it’s a great place to visit on your first day if you don’t want to buy tickets to the theme parks. There are also some fantastic restaurants for lunch or dinner.

Quick Tips for Planning a Disneyland Vacation

  • Book your vacation package (purchase through Get Away Today with the discount code FTM10) and decide whether you want to stay on or off property.
  • Plan your flights looking at all of the nearby airports to get the best prices.
  • Book your dining reservations 60 days out.
  • Download the Disneyland app and create an account.
  • Develop a Genie+ plan if you are thinking of purchasing it.
  • Enjoy your vacation!

Visiting Disneyland CA? Click to see all of our Disneyland posts with reviews, tips, overviews of the best rides, and more.

Cars driving in Cars Land, stormtroopers lined up, Pixar pier at night.

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Family Vacations to Disneyland

After packing four adults and one child into a small car and traveling for two days we finally reached our destination. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the front entrance of Disneyland; finally my childhood dream had come true. I was overjoyed with emotions that I was able to not only fulfill a dream of my own, but provide a vacation for my kid that he would never forget. After getting through the front gates it seems like your day flies by without you even noticing.

There’s so much to do and so little time in a day to get through all the exciting rides. I was just as sad as my kid when we had to leave the park when closing hours came. With our stuffed animals, Mickey ears, and cotton candy in hand we left the park glad that we had one more day to come back to enjoy the fun. Many years ago a vacation such as this might not have been as feasible as it is now for the average American family. Theme parks including Disneyland have for a long time served as a cultural symbol for our country that thrives off being entertained.

Families need places where they can go that everyone can have a good time and not have to worry about work or school. With as many resources available now, there has become more opportunities for families to provide vacations to theme parks such as Disneyland. The term theme park didn’t catch on until the beginning of Disneyland. Before then places like Coney Island were where families could go to get cheap thrills. Disneyland may not have been the first theme park but it certainly brought new ideas that no one had done before.

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The combination of development of audio-animatronics, themed sections of the park, shopping and food made for a place with mass appeal. Having been famous in film certainly helped in the popularity of the park as well. The first place that a lot of people might think about for a family vacation is Disneyland. Besides Disneyland being a fun place for a vacation, it has also been seen as an American staple for a dream family vacation. It’s a place specially made for people of all ages to truly enjoy themselves.

Going on a family vacation not only can be fun and relaxing but provide for time to build and strengthen bonds, create everlasting memories, and create chances to learn new things. Even in times where money can be tight, by researching your possibilities and providing ample time for planning, vacations don't always end up breaking the bank. Bigger family vacations, such as Disneyland, need ample time to save up money for and can't just be planned over a couple of weeks. With all the resources that we have now compared to what there used to be, it helps for planning.

There are all kinds of travel websites that have packaged deals for hotels, flights, and rental cars. Along with added packages for trips like Disneyland that provide park tickets and discounts. It seems like in today's busy world that family time isn't held as important as it once was and can be easily pushed aside. More and more parents have to work longer hours or weekends to make ends meet. Also the rate of single parents has increased dramatically over the last couple decades, which can cause a struggle for having quality time together.

Even though my family and I all have hectic schedules we have always found spending time together to be extremely important. Whether that be playing board games, going on walks, or even reading a book. It not only keeps us close but also helps instill good values for our kids to pass down. This is one of the reasons why my husband and I wanted to take a vacation to Disneyland. We wanted to provide a vacation that would give us time to not have to worry about schedules or homework and be able to just relax and have fun.

Another reason why I hold strong values on family time is because I didn't come from a family that had any. I've seen how not spending time can impact you as a kid on up into adulthood. American families now spend more time apart from each other than together. This causes families to grow apart; parents have a hard time relating to their own kids and even struggle to know how to talk to them. Though coming from a family that did struggle so much with connecting has made me really cherish every moment that I spend with my own family.

Disneyland has been a symbol of American culture for over 50 years and will continue to be for years to come. Being a country that loves our entertainment, theme parks will continue to trend in popularity. With better technology over the years family vacations to places such as Disneyland have become easier for families to access. Hopefully over time more and more families will understand the importance of spending time together and going on vacations. Making everlasting memories together is something that can never be taken away and will hopefully be passed on for generations to come.

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Nothing is greater than the sight of children having fun. The Golden State’s best-in-class theme parks provide exciting entertainment certain to keep kids grinning from ear to ear. Some of my fondest childhood memories include driving south to spend the day at the Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Resort, which consists of the original Disneyland Theme Park and the neighboring Disney California Adventure Park which includes

My Second Visit to Disneyland

“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy,” I read as I passed through the gates of what seemed to me, at the time, a place full of deception, corruption and lost dreams. Little did I know, the place would become a staple in my life when I needed to restore my sense of feeling perfectly content. When I visited Disneyland in 2011, ten years after my first visit, all my prejudices of a brainwashing corporation faded away. Instead, I realized this very place was full of enough dreams and magic to lift a brooding teen from a temper tantrum into a state of contentment. Disneyland had the power to restore the stolen innocence of the young and the frail.

Disney-Personal Narrative

Last year I found out that I was going to Disney with Becky and Michael, my mom and dad’s friends. I was extremely excited because I had only gone once before and I had been asking to go for years. We left in late July and came back 7 days later. While we were there we went to all of the parks and stayed in the Disney animal Kingdom lodge. Going to Disney was incredibly important to me because I got to spend time with other than my family and I got to do something that I had been wanting to do for a long time. My favorite part of Disney was seeing the fireworks and seeing the differences in the unusual buildings that were so diverse. The weather was really nice when we were at Disney however, in evening it would start to rain, on our to monorail

Childhood Memories

When I heard my parents talking about going to Disney World I was so excited. It was a long trip down to Florida and I could not sit still, because I was so excited. We finally arrived that evening and decided to stay in a hotel near the theme park. When it was time for bed I could not go to sleep for a long time, because I was so excited about going at Disney world. When I saw the big mirror ball from the entrance, I was amazed. Disney world had a wide variety of rides. There were tons of rides that shocked me. Some of these rides made you feel like you were riding in a jet because of how fast they were. There was even a roller coaster ride in the huge mirror ball. It was a slow ride, but I still liked it because there was air conditioning inside the ball. We spent all day at the park until we had ridden everything. That night Disney World had a firework show. The fireworks seemed like they lasted forever with the amazing colors bursting in the air one right after another. When the firework show finally ended my parents told me that it was time to leave. I was...

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Essay on Vacation With Family

Students are often asked to write an essay on Vacation With Family in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Vacation With Family

Introduction.

Vacations are a great time to relax and enjoy. A family vacation is even more special as it strengthens the bond among family members.

The Journey

The journey is filled with laughter and fun. We play games, share stories, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes passing by.

Exploring New Places

Visiting new places together is exciting. We learn about different cultures, try new foods, and make unforgettable memories.

A vacation with family is precious. It allows us to spend quality time together, creating a treasure trove of beautiful memories.

250 Words Essay on Vacation With Family

Vacations with family hold a special place in our hearts, offering a unique blend of relaxation, bonding, and shared experiences. These moments are not just about escaping daily routines, but also about creating memories that last a lifetime.

The Importance of Family Vacations

Family vacations offer an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen bonds. The shared experiences, laughter, and even disagreements foster understanding and empathy, contributing to a more profound familial connection. They also provide a platform for parents to model adaptability and problem-solving skills to their children, thus helping them grow.

Creating Lifelong Memories

Family vacations are a treasure trove of memories. The joy of exploring new places, the thrill of trying different cuisines, or the serenity of watching a sunset together, all become part of our collective memory bank. These memories often become stories that are recounted at family gatherings, embedding themselves into the fabric of family history.

Education Beyond Textbooks

Family vacations are also an opportunity for experiential learning. Visiting historical sites, interacting with diverse cultures, or exploring nature’s wonders can supplement classroom knowledge, fostering a holistic understanding of the world.

In conclusion, vacations with family are more than just leisure activities. They serve as a catalyst for strengthening relationships, creating lasting memories, and fostering personal growth. They are an investment in shared experiences that enrich our lives and deepen our understanding of each other. Despite the occasional challenges, the rewards of these shared journeys are truly priceless.

500 Words Essay on Vacation With Family

The essence of vacationing with family.

Vacationing with family is an experience that transcends the boundaries of mere enjoyment. It is a time of bonding, understanding, and creating memories that last a lifetime. It is an opportunity to escape the monotony of daily life, to explore new places, and to immerse ourselves in diverse cultures and experiences.

Learning and Growth

Family vacations serve as a platform for learning and growth. They provide a break from the structured learning environment of schools and colleges, offering a more experiential form of education. Visiting historical sites, for instance, can bring history lessons to life, making them more tangible and memorable. Similarly, interacting with people from different cultures can foster a sense of empathy and understanding that textbooks often fail to impart.

Strengthening Bonds

Vacations also play a crucial role in strengthening familial bonds. In today’s fast-paced world, quality family time is often sacrificed for work or academic commitments. A family vacation provides an opportunity to reconnect, to engage in shared activities, and to create shared memories. These experiences can foster a sense of unity and strengthen emotional connections, which are integral to maintaining healthy family relationships.

Creating Memories

The memories created during family vacations are invaluable. They serve as a repository of joy and nostalgia that can be revisited in times of distress or change. They remind us of our roots, of the love and support that our family offers, and of the adventures we’ve shared. These memories are not just snapshots of past vacations, but are part of our identity, shaping our perceptions and our understanding of our family and our place within it.

Building Resilience

Family vacations also help in building resilience. Travel often involves facing unexpected challenges – a missed flight, lost luggage, or a sudden change in plans. Navigating these challenges as a family can foster problem-solving skills, flexibility, and resilience. It teaches us to adapt, to remain calm in the face of adversity, and to work together towards a common goal.

In conclusion, vacationing with family is more than just a leisure activity. It is a multifaceted experience that promotes learning, strengthens bonds, creates enduring memories, and builds resilience. It is an investment in personal growth and familial relationships, yielding dividends that last a lifetime. As we navigate the complexities of adulthood, these vacations serve as a reminder of the simple joys of life and the comfort of family. They remind us that amidst the hustle and bustle of life, it is essential to pause, to explore, and to cherish the company of our loved ones.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Personal Narrative Essay : My Trip To Disneyland

When I was six years old, I wanted, in the worst way, to go to Disneyland. I would hope every year that my parents would choose Disneyland as our next family vacation destination. I dreamt of the day I would come back from Disneyland with exciting tales of adventure and a pair of sparkly, ruby red and black Minnie Mouse ears of my own that would be the envy of every kid in my elementary class. When I was twelve, I finally got to go to Disneyland. My first visit to Disneyland was amazing; Disneyland was everything I had expected and more. However, a couple years later when I returned to Disneyland, my experience was different. The rides, the buildings, and the whole theme park did not have the same allure. The magic I had experienced as a child was no longer there. I was twelve when I first heard the news that my family was finally going to Disneyland. After hearing the news, I instantly felt an adrenaline rush travel through my entire body. My parents and sisters, Emily and Alex, were excited to go to get a break from school and work, but not nearly as excited as I was. I could hardly contain my enthusiasm. I immediately made a count down to keep track of how many days remained until I would be at Disneyland. I carefully recorded the number of days remaining on my calendar. Each day I would leap out of bed to cross off the numbers getting increasingly excited as they dwindled. Finally, no days remained. My dream had finally come true; I was at Disneyland. The second I stepped foot on the amusement park ’s property, I could feel magic whirling all around me. As I raced through the crowds of people, young and old, wearing Disney apparel and Mickey Mouse ears, I noticed every aspect of Disneyland was completely enchanting: the cheerful music, the twinkly lights on all of the buildings, and the stores that could have been from my favorite Disney movies. One of my favorite stores was Grinch-themed; the store was filled with curved, topsy-turvy Christmas trees with obscure-shaped red and green ornaments suspended from each branch. The moment I walked into the Grinch store, it was as though I stepped into Whoville. Wandering through the streets , I took pictures of everything around me because I did not want to

Creating Magic Summary

No matter how old you are, when you go to Disney the inner child in you comes out. From the moment you walk into Disney until the moment you walk out you feel welcomed and special. There is one word that describes the Disney experience and that is that it is “magical”. Lee Cockerell writes of this “magic” from firsthand experience, as he was the Executive Vice President of Operations of Walt Disney World Resort for over ten years.

Personal Narrative: The First Day Of Disney World

I remember the first time I went to Disney World; excited and eager like a child on the first day of school. I already had my suitcase packed two weeks before we even left, and that two weeks felt more like two years. The night before we left, I couldn’t sleep. It was like I had nonstop adrenaline rushing through my body. All I could think about were the rides, princesses, and that beautiful beach I’ve seen thousands of pictures of. Finally, after hours and hours of stirring around, I fell asleep.

Personal Narrative : My Trip To Disney World

As an 8-year-old child, the worlds scary place. Everywhere you look there’s something terrifying. From people the size of giants, roaming the streets, with no care what so ever with their surroundings or just realizing that in a few years would come the most difficult and emotionally unstable time of my life. Sure, those things may be slightly exaggerated, but what I do know is the most horrendous experience I had in the land of joy that ultimately ruined my love Disney for many years.

My Journey To Six Flags-Personal Narrative

"Wake up babe! We're going to Six Flags today!", my boyfriend yelled excitedly. Those two words instantly made my stomach knot. I was not a fan of roller coasters and I knew exactly what Henry, my boyfriend, wanted to do as soon as we got there. Krystal and Emily, my two younger cousins, had spent the night with us so we could all go together the next day. I anxiously got up and started to get ready. Everybody was really excited. I wanted to be just as excited as they were but some how I couldn't manage to gain enough courage.

Disney Is A Utopian Society

The Disney experience is the imagined world that guests endure immediately upon entering the park. Disney is considered to be the “most important entertainment center in the world” because it “segregates the fantastic” by only portraying cultures in a positive way. Since Disney only expresses the highlights of the world, Disney taps into a nostalgic need for a false history to remind guests of how the past should have

The Great Divorce Analysis

The peculiar setting of this unlikely family affair reminds the reader that the events are the result of the writer's "wild" imagination yet the theme park exists in the real world, leaving the reader as trapped between reality and fantasy. Using the “Happiest Place on Earth,” Disneyland, as a

Creative Writing: New Mexico

“We’re going to Disney World, we’re going to Disney World!” I chanted as more and more excitement filled inside me, as quickly as helium fills balloons. “But, I thought you said we weren’t gonna go Disney World.”

Research Paper On Disney World

When I got to magic kingdom, the first thing I saw were shrubs shaped like Mickey Mouse. Like any other mom, mine wanted to take pictures in front of anything and everything, which included the Mickey Mouse shaped shrubs. I quickly got annoyed, but when I started walking down main street the amazement hit me. I started looking around wanting to take everything in. I saw kids sitting on their dad’s shoulders so they could get a better look. I saw balloons, ice cream, and hats all shaped like Mickey Mouse. The stores, the characters, the castle, everything was like something I’d see in a movie. It was truly magical. I realized then that I wasn’t too old to experience the magic of Disney.

Personal Narrative: A Walk In The Six Flags

I remember a day when I was walking in the Six Flags theme park in Texas with my best friend. The smell of popcorn and candy and the feeling of excitement from the little kids coming for the first time with the grandparents just enjoying the family experience. We were walking down the winding stone pathways, waiting for our next adventure at every turn. Trying not to leave our parents behind, we ran ahead enough to be in eyesight, but we were going at our own pace. He and I stood amazed at the sight of the gigantic rides as their shadows were cast down over us. The mini-shops and food stand would attract our little noses at the sight and smell of every peculiar food and trinket imaginable. My Friend, Rhett, suggested we go try a roller coaster. At first, I thought he was just joking around trying to scare me. I asked him what he really wanted to do and after that I realized that he wasn’t joking.

Personal Narrative: My Trip To Disney World

We went on a trip to florida for spring break of 2016 and we went to disney world when we were down there. We stayed for 7 days and we had so much fun because we went magic kingdom, animal kingdom and hollywood studios also epcot to. Today was are last day in florida and we planned nothing to do so we could sit back and relax because we are leaving tonight at 8:00 . Today we are gonna just go eat breakfast and then maybe go swimming and hang out. We have to go to a time chair place because they give some tickets for disney world.

Personal Narrative: The Incredibles

When I was four or five, my parents decided to take us, my siblings and I, to disneyland. Well I didn’t actually know because I woke up right away when we were already inside the resort. As a little kid I thought that I had powers like The Incredibles. So I thought I transported them to Disneyland. I don’t remember much but I know that I met many of my favorite characters from the disney movies. I remember that I met Goofy, Mulan and The Incredibles. I only met Mr. and Mrs. Incredibles but not violet, dash or jack-jack. I can also remember meeting A Bug’s Life characters. After meeting them we just got inside the theater and we watched a musical that I can’t remember about. My brother would take me with him to the scary rides. I don’t remember

Disneyland Research Paper

Disney's dream came true; to have a magical place where children and parents can go and

Disney World-Personal Narrative

I never knew that I was a part of something bigger than a backup, but I turned out to be. Now the fate of every sliver of good magic Walt Disney ever dreamed up rests on me-me and the team, I should say. I suppose it all started, that everything changed at midnight.

“Are you packed yet?” These are the only words my mom say been saying to me for the last three weeks. We had been planning our trip to Disney World since Easter when my parents surprised me and my siblings with our plan tickets. That was seven months ago. There was now less than 24 hours before we would be heading to the Dubuque Airport and I was just deciding to pack. I was running through a check list in my head: shorts, tanktops, shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, shoes, hats, sunglasses, swimsuits, pajamas, underwear, and bras. Check! Now on to bath stuff: toothbrush, hairbrush, face wash, contacts, contacts solution, makeup and hair ties. Check! I hate packing because of all the dumb rules the airport has. Like the rule where you can’t have any liquids bigger than 5 oz. or whatever it is.

Personal Narrative On A Disney World

When my grandparents told us we were going to disney world they didn't have any special way of doing it , There was no pizza that was shaped like mickey mouse or any posters, or scavenger hunts to find clues to get to the piece of paper that said it, They kinda just told us we were going. Of course we were very excited to go because it was our first time going. When they told us, they told us a couple months ahead so we had to wait, and we counted down the days till we got to go. Before we went to disney we had to go shopping, we had to get clothes, suitcases, and many other things for our trip.

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Personal Narrative: My Family Vacation To Disney World

my family vacation to disneyland essay

Show More In the initial observation of his written work, Student A lacked variety in his piece. His thoughts and words were well organized but very mechanical. For our third session I decided I wanted to explore with him on how to brainstorm ideas before he writes an assignment. I had drawn up a blank graphic organizer and explained how to use it. I asked him to pick a topic and insert it in the middle of the organizer. He chose to write about his family vacation to Disney World. I then instructed him to start branching out different experiences he had during his vacation and write them in each circle. He immediately filled almost every circle of the organizer. I then took a sheet of paper and asked him to write me a small essay using the organizer

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my family vacation to disneyland essay

Disney World with a Wheelchair? Here's How DVC Made Our Trip Easier and More Fun

M y family recently returned from our first family trip to Walt Disney World since the start of the pandemic. Immediately after our last trip, in January 2020, my wife Dana experienced a severe MS flare that diminished her mobility so she now uses a wheelchair outside of the house. Four years later, we headed back to the House of Mouse and discovered an even more accessible way to visit using Disney Vacation Club. 

Disney Vacation Club Basics

For those not familiar, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney’s version of a timeshare. Unlike a traditional timeshare where you’re locked into a fixed week at a certain time of year, Disney utilizes a flexible, points-based system that can be used at over a dozen different Disney properties in Florida, California, South Carolina, and Hawaii at any time.

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During our Disney World trip, we booked an accessible room in the sophisticated Riviera Resort—inspired by Mediterranean beach retreats along the French and Italian Riviera. Disney’s Riviera Resort is a dedicated DVC property conveniently located between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme parks. We could easily watch the colors changing on Epcot’s Spaceship Earth from our room at night, and hop on the Skyliner gondola for quick and convenient access to two theme parks. Plus, my wife could roll right onto the cable car in her wheelchair.

DVC Villas Aren’t Traditional Hotel Rooms

Disney calls its DVC rooms a “home away from home” because they feature amenities not found in a traditional double queen hotel room, such as a fully equipped kitchen (with full-size refrigerator, stove, microwave, and dishwasher), dining nook, and stacked washer and dryer. Our one-bedroom wheelchair-accessible villa had plenty of space for the whole family of four: myself, my wife, and young adult daughters (ages 26 and 23).

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Accessibility features included wide doorways and a large bathroom (with room to maneuver the wheelchair) with grab bars next to the toilet. This particular room had a tub with additional grab bars and a hand-held shower head. Our daughter called housekeeping, and they quickly delivered a transfer bench for the tub. Accessible rooms with roll-in showers are also available.

Dana said the space worked really well for her especially after rearranging some of the side chairs and tables, “I had plenty of space for my wheelchair and walker.” This was the first advantage of DVC for our accessible Disney trip, the larger room with ~820 sq feet and over twice the square footage of a standard Disney Deluxe Resort hotel room.

Because of the large size, the DVC villa was easily navigable in a wheelchair. The king-size bed in the bedroom was close to the bathroom that included a roll-under sink, and the clever queen-size Murphy bed and pull-down bunk in the living room provided bunks for our daughters to sleep. Four adults in our family were quite comfortable sharing this one-bedroom DVC villa.

DISNEY DOLLARS: How Much Does it Really Cost to Spend a Day at Disneyland?  

Unfortunately, my wife had one bit of trouble with the accessible room: the bed height. The king bed was lowered for accessibility purposes. While this may help some, for her disability, a lower bed is much more difficult to get out of. We mentioned this to the front desk and they looked into changing the bed height, but couldn’t for safety reasons.

Instead, they offered us a deluxe studio room with a standard-height bed for my wife and me to sleep in, just down the hall from our original accessible one-bedroom villa. We used the one-bedroom villa as our home base, and the studio as the bedroom for my wife and me.

DVC Perks Made the Theme Parks More Accessible

In addition to the larger room size of the DVC villa, there were extra perks for DVC members that made our theme park visit even more accommodating for our family’s accessibility needs. There is a special lounge just for DVC members on the second floor of the Imagination! pavilion in Epcot. The lounge offers free soft drinks and places to recharge your devices while taking a break from the crowds and sun. Gazing out of the glass pyramid are commanding views of The Land pavilion gardens and World Nature beyond. 

During our trip, we experienced Moonlight Magic at Epcot—a special after-hours event where the park is open from 10:00 pm to midnight for DVC Members, which means shorter lines for rides and attractions. For us, the best part of Moonlight Magic at Epcot was the certificates for free food throughout the park (each guest received three vouchers).

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We redeemed the snack certificates at the Flower and Garden Festival outdoor kitchens and dined on chicken and waffles, Dole whips, peanut butter and jelly soft-serve, and strawberry rhubarb upside-down cakes. The smaller crowds during Moonlight Magic again made it easier to navigate the park in a wheelchair and see the topiary and garden displays. The evening hours were also much cooler for my wife, who’s sensitive to heat due to her MS.

Our family’s favorite experience during the whole trip was also a DVC exclusive benefit. Atop DVC’s Bay Lake Tower is a lounge overlooking the Magic Kingdom theme park. Each evening it turns into “A Villains Lair” with themed cocktails, appetizers, and desserts. We treated this as our dinner and opted for the Wicked Wind Down with a cocktail, appetizer, and dessert for $55 per person plus a special reserved spot to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

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Our server (with impeccable villainous makeup) took our order and, since it was almost 8:00 pm, said she would hold everything until after the fireworks. We headed to the terrace outside and had a bird’s-eye view of the spectacular complete with background music and narration. Dana’s eyes lit up describing the experience, “it was so great to see the fireworks from up there, it wasn’t crowded at all. I couldn’t see the [Magic Kingdom] castle, but the higher fireworks were some of the best I’ve seen.”

Following the pyrotechnic show, we returned to our table to find cocktails, charcuterie, pork belly sliders, hummus, and flatbread all waiting for us. Dana said, “the food was awesome.” After drinks and the substantial appetizers, our server delivered two slices of Seven-Lair cake (a seven-layer cake drizzled with salted caramel sauce) on our table with another two packaged to go. This was a smart move as the pieces were immense, and became a special treat we enjoyed in our room on the last night thanks to the full refrigerator and stocked kitchen.

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This DVC extra was easily the highlight of the trip—a relaxed way to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks while enjoying food and drinks.

DVC Accessibility Comes at a Price

While the larger DVC villa, member lounges, and Moonlight Magic party all helped our family’s accessibility needs, Disney Vacation Club does come at a price, and the entry cost can be a barrier for some families.

Depending on the number of points you purchase, the size of your family, and the type of resort, the investment can be substantial. For example, I used the cost calculator on the DVC website and created a package based on how my family typically travels including a six-day vacation, our family of four, and flexible travel season.

REAL REVIEW: Should You Stay at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World? Here’s How to Decide  

I picked Disney’s Riviera Resort (where we stayed on this trip) as the home resort, and the calculator recommended a DVC membership of 250 points. The cost equaled $53K that could be financed using a 10-year loan with a 10% down payment for $755 per month. In addition, there’s another $2,215 in annual membership dues as $185 per month. So that’s nearly $950 per month, and we have not even purchased theme park tickets or food for our vacation yet.

Remember, your DVC Membership will last far longer once you pay off your upfront costs—in some cases up to 50 years. So you need to ensure you are ready for decades of Disney vacations when you sign up.

Disney Park Accessibility

During this trip we expected the Disney Parks to be accessible. Disney is famous for accommodating many types of special needs, including people visiting Disney World in a wheelchair. However, in the past four or five years, we’ve also realized that accessibility while traveling is not guaranteed (even when booking accessible rooms and experiences).

We were thrilled to find many of the rides in the parks were fully accessible to those in wheelchairs. My wife could stay in her chair and roll right inside a Little Mermaid clamshell, onto a Jungle Cruise boat, into a Ratatouille ride vehicle, and more. Our DVC one-bedroom villa and special member perks, made the trip even more enjoyable and accessible for our family. 

MORE MAGIC: How to Get Extra Time at Disney or Universal Beyond the Regular Theme Park Hours  

However, even if you cannot pay the premium for DVC, there are ways to replicate some of these perks. There are larger, accessible accommodations just off Walt Disney World property at a lower price point, for example a two-bedroom villa with a roll-in shower two miles away at the Caribe Royale Orlando.

Disney holds After Hours events at the theme parks with limited numbers of tickets, shorter wait times, and free snacks similar to DVC Moonlight Magic. While not a lounge, for those who need to get away from the crowds or heat of the theme park, there are first aid stations with beds and nurses for a quiet respite from the park. 

For those who have the means, DVC offers a “home away from home” and plenty of perks that can make your Disney vacation even more accessible for those with special needs.

More from FamilyVacationist:

  • How to Plan a Multigenerational Disney World Trip
  • Are Disney’s After Hours Events Worth the Price?
  • Best Disney World Rides for Big Kids and Grownups

The post Disney World with a Wheelchair? Here’s How DVC Made Our Trip Easier and More Fun appeared first on FamilyVacationist .

How Disney's approach to guests with mobility issues helped my family enjoy our vacation.

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For Disney, Small Shareholders Loom Large in Boardroom Fight

Individuals hold as much as 40 percent of the company’s shares, and they may decide a proxy battle that is one of the most expensive in history.

Two people stand in front of the Dumbo flying carousel at Disneyland.

By Brooks Barnes and Lauren Hirsch

Gavin Doyle used allowance money in 2009, when he was 11, to buy a few shares of Disney stock. They cost $31 apiece.

He now owns a little over 400 shares — barely enough to be a speck of dust in the Disney investor galaxy. But the entertainment company, which has 1.8 billion shares outstanding, has nonetheless barraged him for months with political-style campaign materials (letters, email, social media ads) that urge him to elect certain people to its board .

“I guess every vote matters,” said Mr. Doyle, 26, who runs MickeyVisit , a blog unaffiliated with Disney that focuses on theme park vacation planning.

In most cases, global companies pay little attention to individual shareholders. Powerful institutional investors like mutual funds and index funds typically run the show. But Disney finds itself in an atypical situation as it scrambles to thwart Nelson Peltz , an activist investor who is seeking two board seats, including one for himself.

Up to 40 percent of Disney shares are held by individuals — retail investors, as Wall Street sometimes refers to them, with a hint of derision. On average among public companies, individuals represent closer to 15 percent of the ownership, according to analysts and academic studies.

“In the retail market, a lot of individuals don’t feel comfortable investing in companies they’ve never heard of,” said David Reibstein, a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “Disney is known: I can relate to it, I have taken my kids there, I’ve seen their movies.”

In other words, the Disney-Peltz proxy battle, expected to be one of the most expensive in history, may be decided by the little people.

Disney’s fight with Mr. Peltz will come to a head on Wednesday, when the company is scheduled to virtually host its annual shareholder meeting. A smaller activist investor, Blackwells Capital, is also seeking seats on Disney’s board, to the company’s irritation. While Mr. Peltz and Blackwells have sharply different views on how Disney should be managed — one wants “Netflix-like margins” of up to 20 percent in streaming, the other has floated splitting up the company — they have expressed the same basic motivation: Disney’s stock price is not high enough.

Shares are trading at about $122, down from $197 three years ago.

Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, and the company’s 12-member board have responded to the insurgents like Avengers battling Thanos — that is, with startling force. They say a 13-month-old turnaround plan has taken hold, and point to drastically improved financials, a new strategy for ESPN in the streaming age and a retrenchment at Marvel Studios to improve movie quality, among other initiatives. Yes, Disney’s stock is down from three years ago, but it’s up from $81 six months ago.

Disney executives contend that Mr. Peltz’s campaign is rooted in revenge. He is backed by Ike Perlmutter , the disgruntled former chairman of Marvel Entertainment, and aligned with Jay Rasulo , a former Disney executive who was passed over for the top job in 2015 and resigned. Elon Musk, who has been throwing elbows at Mr. Iger since November, when Disney and other major companies paused spending on X, has cheered on Mr. Peltz.

At first, Disney seemed poised to easily defeat Mr. Peltz. A parade of prominent shareholders (George Lucas, Laurene Powell Jobs), business titans (Jamie Dimon), analysts (Guggenheim, Macquarie), shareholder advisories (Glass Lewis, ValueEdge) and Disney family members ( Abigail E. Disney ) have advised against giving Mr. Peltz seats on the company’s board.

But it has evolved into a much closer contest. Two weeks ago, an influential proxy firm, ISS, partly sided with Mr. Peltz , recommending that shareholders elect him to the board and advising against adding Mr. Rasulo. ISS largely cited Disney’s botched succession planning. On Tuesday, Mr. Peltz won the backing of Egan-Jones , another advisory firm.

Until ISS weighed in, “I was pretty sure that Peltz was kind of cooked,” said Michael Levin, an independent activist investor and adviser who oversees the Activist Investor website. Mr. Levin estimated that ISS’s recommendation could influence 5 to 10 percent of Disney’s vote, with institutional shareholders like Vanguard and BlackRock likely to pay close attention.

Mom-and-pop shareholders are more of a mystery. Retail investors are frequently apathetic, even in the face of a contest, proxy experts say. “You have to find a way to connect with somebody who doesn’t have a requirement to vote, who doesn’t necessarily have it within their routine,” Bruce Goldfarb, the chief executive of Okapi Partners, a proxy solicitation firm working with Mr. Peltz, said at a recent conference .

Disney and Mr. Peltz have each been spending heavily to get out the small-fry vote. Trian Partners, Mr. Peltz’s investment firm, said in a securities filing that it expected to spend about $25 million in total on its campaign; it hired Okapi and another firm, D.F. King, to help identify shareholders and encourage them to vote. Disney, which has teamed with the firm Innisfree M&A, among others, has priced its countercampaign at up to $40 million.

In part to appeal to individual shareholders, Disney has deployed characters like Moana and Iron Man to solicit votes. In February, the company released an animated video starring Donald Duck’s uncle, Professor Ludwig Von Drake. “Voting this year is critical no matter how many or how few shares you may own,” a narrator says. “Do not vote for the Trian Group or Blackwells’ nominees.”

Mr. Peltz responded with a letter to Disney shareholders that included a cartoon showing bored and haggard board members and a messy bowl of noodles. “Spaghetti on the wall will not feed shareholders starved of returns” was the letter’s headline.

Douglas Chia, the president of Soundboard Governance, which advises on corporate governance, got calls from both sides of the battle. Mr. Chia, who says he owns a couple hundred shares of Disney, said he was left unimpressed by the first call on Trian’s behalf. (Mr. Chia conceded that his professional background trained him to ask questions a traditional retail investor might not.)

After he posted about it on LinkedIn, he got a follow-up call from Trian directly, underlining just how much each side is paying attention to every vote.

“These were very senior people at Trian who talked to me for about 45 minutes,” Mr. Chia said. “And it’s like: The meeting is less than a week away — they could be on the phone with BlackRock.” (Mr. Chia said he was not persuaded by Trian’s arguments, but appreciated the follow-up call.)

Retail investors tend to side with management in proxy contests. In the case of Disney, many of these shareholders are fans.

Cori Borgstadt has been a Disney stockholder since 2008, when her grandmother gave her a single share for Christmas. She was 3. Ms. Borgstadt, who has continued to acquire shares, said she had read a few news articles about the proxy contest but had largely disregarded Trian’s case.

“I admire Bob Iger, and I trust him to know what’s right,” Ms. Borgstadt said. “So I voted the white slate.” (Each side has a ballot — white for Disney, blue for Trian.)

Still, experts say there is one big factor in Disney’s fight that may affect the instinct of fans to support Mr. Iger. It involves politics.

Disney has become a political punching bag in recent years, partly because it has added openly gay, lesbian and queer characters to its animated movies. The emphasis on diversity in some of Disney’s live-action films, including “The Little Mermaid” and “The Marvels,” has also led to fan complaints. Although Disney has also received positive reactions, the blowback — and poor ticket sales for some of the films in question — has prompted Disney to retrench.

In what some proxy solicitation experts viewed as an appeal to disenfranchised Disney fans, Mr. Peltz recently waded into the “woke Disney” debate by commenting about “The Marvels,” which focused on female superheroes, and “Black Panther,” which had an all-Black principal cast.

“Why do I have to have a Marvel that’s all women? Not that I have anything against women, but why do I have to do that?” Mr. Peltz told The Financial Times . “Why can’t I have Marvels that are both? Why do I need an all-Black cast?”

The move could “backfire against him — there’s presumably a lot of Disney investors who support diversity in the content,” said Scott Bisang, a partner at Collected Strategies, a communications firm. “But I don’t think he would be doing that unless he thought there was sort of a supportive audience for it.”

Mr. Peltz has been victorious in proxy fights with retail investors before. In 2017, he won what was then the most expensive proxy fight in history at Procter & Gamble with a margin of about 0.0016 percent. (The sides spent about $60 million, or $77 million in today’s money.)

But he lost a hotly contested proxy contest with DuPont in 2015, with studies citing retail investors as one reason.

As Mr. Peltz said in a January securities filing detailing some of Trian’s outreach to Disney shareholders, “Every vote counts!”

Brooks Barnes covers all things Hollywood. He joined The New York Times in 2007 and previously worked at The Wall Street Journal. More about Brooks Barnes

Lauren Hirsch joined The Times from CNBC in 2020, covering deals and the biggest stories on Wall Street. More about Lauren Hirsch

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