Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California Rock Disneyland

MJ-UPBEAT

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March 20, 2010

Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California Rock Disneyland

By Betty Burnes

Here it was the day we had all been anticipating for weeks. On a very early crystal clear, crisp, spring, Southern California, Saturday morning a group of very excited fans from So. Cal. converged on Disneyland. Many were wearing Justic4MJ shirts. Some bought and changed into MJ shirts later inside. This Is It… the time to have fun and make a statement for Justice4MJ in the very place that Michael Jackson loved so much, ”The Happiest Place On Earth”.

We gathered outside the flowered Mickey at the Train Station. The Train Station which MJ had recreated at Neverland. For some it was chilling to see it and the hear the train whistle as it rumbled into the station…bringing back fond memories and happier times… exposing deep gripping sadness…but this was a day for new memories in honor of our beloved King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

It seemed within minutes some DLand staffers saw the T-shirts and started conversations with us about Michael Jackson and Capt EO. That was the start of a 12 hour day of Michaeling. I have to say this is the most incredible group of people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I have met many of these precious people during visits to Forest Lawn in honor of Michael Jackson and have come to know and love them. Some I have corresponded with from avatars on Face Book but this Magical Day at Disneyland proved to be a life affirming, bonding experience I will treasure For All Time! Placing faces and personalities to every one of these beautiful, funny, kind, witty, talented, caring individuals touched my heart each in their own separate way. We were regaled with beautiful voices breaking into song, singing portions of “Smile”, “The Girl Is Mine” & tidbits of other MJ songs, stories of MJ experiences. My favorites perhaps were those who actually met ‘Our Beautiful Michael’ and shared personal experiences with him. It was amazing!

Every where we ventured throughout the park we encountered MJ lovers and responded with cheers, Whoo Hoos, peace signs, thumbs up and VERY big smiles. It was so awesome to see people look at us and as they read our shirts their faces would light up and smiles would break across their faces. At one point in front of Capt EO we met another group of Michael lovers who had the most awesome BAD banner. We joined together for a picture and a crowd began to gather and they too were taking pictures. A crowd member broke out into a fantastic Moon Walk. Our entire group cheered for her which inspired her to Moon Walk for us again. Many were yelling “Justice4MJ”. ALL were smiling!

I still have chills as I write this. It was simply an amazing experience I will treasure always. Michael’s love has touched so many everywhere and continues to grow in our hearts all over the world.
LOVE WINS!!!

Every part of the day was a blast. Even waiting in line was a chance to mingle
and get our message of Justice4MJ across.

After seeing EO…

Rockin the MJ T-shirts on Main Street.

In the caverns of Indian Jones where it seemed the echo went for miles about 15 of us, by that time, made quite a statement. I just know the whole of Disney underground must have heard as our shrieks of joyful “We Love You Michael” traveled through the tunnel along with many Whooo Hooos, Hee Hees and Justice4MJ shouts! Then we were stalled due to ‘technical difficulties’, waiting in line for sometime but not letting anything steal our joy we shared more stories about MJ and personal experiences for all those also waiting inline to hear. MJ’s love spreading everywhere we went… as the line begins to move again I am lifted on air as a few of us break into song and begin to sing “Man In The Mirror”…. Smiles… sighs…simply so beautiful.

We all visited Capt EO at least one time. As new members would join us throughout the day, as the group grew to 20, we would with each new arriving person again go to visit our beautiful Capt EO.

Thank you Susan for the heads up to Disney staff on our 2nd or 3rd time to see the show the announcer said “Everyone I would like you all to know we have some VERY special visitors here today to see Capt EO and in support of Michael Jackson. Please welcome the ‘Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California’!”

We then all stood up and filled the theatre with a chorus of cheers and chants

“We Love Michael Jackson” and “Justice4MJ”!

It was quite an experience. The show was amazing each time we saw it.
I personally have now seen Capt EO seven times and counting.

I never want it to end…. “Capt EO!.. Please don’t go…please don’t wave goodbye…
turn around…come back… MJ… please… comeback…….”

As the sun sets some fans venture off to experience other rides while the remainder of the group gather to

eat a yummy dinner at the restaurant which has been said was Walt Disney’s favorite place to eat breakfast while he was visiting his own “Happiest Place On Earth” We feasted on salads, pasta and MJ’s favorite down home fried chicken in the Victorian themed Plaza Inn right next door to Cinderella’s castle. Gotta love the pink!

Tummies full…more MJ stories under our belt and filling our hearts…it wasn’t long before we were back on the Disney streets and off to experience the most frightful and hilarious moments of the day. Everywhere we went there was love and always the gathering of bodies asking is everyone here??

Ooops we lost our Russian non English speaking MJ fan in the literal, sea of people that siphons off from Frontier Land. It is dark now and there are so many people we are afraid she will never be found but the troops call cell phones (thank God for technology) and hear that she is “Standing at Mickey”. We are not sure which Mickey or where Mickey is but four brave souls set out to retrieve her from the human sea, while all other fans wait and don’t move until the wayward return to the fold. We all breathe a HUGE sigh of relief about 30 minutes later and enfold her in hugs of love upon her return.

All fans back in the fold we journey on toward the Haunted Mansion. The Disney staffers always state “Wow you have a big group!” We respond with “Justice4MJ” and smile and cheer a lot!! They always manage to fit us all together on each ride. This time along with another large group we are ushered into the stretching room of the Haunted Mansion. It suddenly goes pitch dark and a sound I thought I’d never hear in my life hits my ears as each and every one of us lets
out the most blood curdling screams ever heard from living souls.

Are You Scared Yet?

We are all smiles, ear to ear, when the lights flicker back on.

The images of Thriller danced in my mind!

SooooooooooooHillarious! SoooooooooFun!

MJFSC You All Rock!!!!!!!

I had planned to make a short day of it at DLand given I had just been there two weeks earlier with my amazing son and his beautiful girl friend and we had closed the park down at midnight. Yes, I mean literally…ours was the last car in the parking lot that night. LOL It had taken a few days for my legs and feet to recover from that visit and I had decided to be kind to my feet this visit. However…donning much more comfortable shoes and ultimately once you are encompassed and embraced by MJFSC LOVE it is ALWAYS just simply to hard to pull yourself away.
So I ended up one more time spending the full 12 hours in the Magic Kingdom
reveling in “Michael Love” and “Disney Magic”.

It was amazing and wonderful…everywhere I turned were reminders of Michael.
The whole day’s magical adventure was sad at times, gut wrenching at others, wistfully heart wrenching feelings mixed with incredible feelings of over whelming joy. Thoughts of “He didn’t have to die” surfaced even in the joyful and sometimes euphoric day.

For me this day was a healing and cathartic process, traveling the streets of DLand with
amazing, loving MJ lovers, living this special moment in time together
in MJ’s Peter Pan world.

“I will forever be counting backwards from June 25, 2009”
“Michael Jackson will forever live in my heart”

“I Love all of you @ MJFSC”

and… when’s the next trip???

UPDATE: There will be another gathering at Disneyland on April 19, 2010!

Please Click Here For More Information. ;-)

Thank you Betty for sharing this with us!