"I really got an insight on why Walt Disney came out here," David says. "We went for a morning horseback ride in the desert---the scenery and the landscape are so beautiful---and it's a great place to decompress. Walt brought his family here to unwind."
Action figures, Vinylmation, pins… The list of items Disney fans collect goes on and on. And D23 Member David Ludwig can fill a page or two with the Disney treasures he’s accumulated over the years. But the one thing he loves to collect more than anything else isn’t a thing. The card-carrying annual passholder is most excited to tell you about his collection of memories he’s gathered from the Disneyland Resort. For a recurring date on his calendar, David meets up with friends at Disney California Adventure’s Ariel’s Grotto on the second Friday of each month. And since he lives in Orange, California—just five minutes from Disneyland—it’s easy for him to pop into the park for a quick visit. The resort is his favorite place to kick back and relax with friends—and add more good times to his collection of Disney memories.
Walt Disney had a similar place to hang his hat on the weekends and holidays. The vacation hideaway of Walt and his family, Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs, California, is an old-fashioned dude ranch in the heart of the desert (READ MORE). David joined D23′s Smoke Tree Ranch Round-up from January 23-25 to experience the desert as Walt did. David recounts a few of his favorite memories from the two-day jamboree.
Happiest Trails on Earth
“I really got an insight on why Walt Disney came out here. We went for a morning horseback ride in the desert—the scenery and the landscape are so beautiful—and it’s a great place to decompress. Walt brought his family here to unwind.”
To Make a Lawn Story Short
“We played a game of lawn bowling on the same green that Walt did. It’s a very relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Though I had never played before, so I didn’t do too well. The score was 10 to 2 (laughs). It was a close game.”
Back at the Ranch
“The sliced New York steak at dinner was so tender, and the staff was so attentive. We also had breakfast outdoors halfway through our trail ride in the desert. Of course everything tastes better outdoors! We had bacon, eggs, and the Mickey pancakes were such a nice touch. I can’t wait to come back!”
By D23′s Billy Stanek
