Homeless Youths Revel in Day at Disneyland : Youngsters Get to Live Out a Fantasy

The caravan--almost a dozen buses, station wagons and cars--pulled into the sprawling Disneyland parking lot Saturday morning. With their parents in tow, more than 250 homeless children darted from the vehicles toward their favorite Disney character, sitting atop the main entrance gate. Stopping suddenly, they began to jump up and down, cheer, shout and point.

“It’s Mickey. It’s Mickey Mouse!”

With their hair neatly combed and dressed in new white day camp T-shirts complete with name tags, the youngsters strolled up Main Street past the cinema, magic shop and crystal arcade as antique cars and horse-drawn trolleys drove by.

Some of the younger children debated spiritedly over what would be their first stop: Fantasyland or Tomorrowland. Older children bragged and challenged each other to ride on “scary” attractions like Space Mountain and the Matterhorn bobsleds.

Paid for by Donations

And parents chatted, sharing their delight that the Fred Jordan Mission on Los Angeles’ Skid Row had organized this daylong trip to Disneyland. The outing was paid with more than $10,000 in donations that were mailed to the mission after an article earlier this month in The Times describing the mission’s shoestring day-camp program.

People who gave money said they wanted to pay for the trip the children dreamed of--a day at Disneyland. Los Angeles businessman Art Prager donated $4,500 and La Opinion, the city’s Spanish-language newspaper, gave $2,000.

The children, ranging in age from 6 months to 16 years, ran enthusiastically from attraction to attraction.

Most had never seen anything like Disneyland. Mickey, Donald and Goofy were a far cry--and a welcome change--from the characters that they are more accustomed to seeing on the streets near their welfare hotels or their tents in Los Angeles’ urban campground, which almost 400 people call home.

‘Wasn’t a Dream’

“When I saw the castle, I knew this all wasn’t a dream,” said Lisa Gomez, 14.

“It’s so nice to get away from the urban campground--what we call Tent City,” Lisa said as she waited in line at the Haunted Mansion.

“Here at Disneyland, there are trees, flowers and nice people. None of the weird folks that hang out there who look at you funny. Even the cement floors here beat the dusty ground at the camp.

“It’s hard to describe in words. Let’s talk fun! Space Mountain was just amazing. It went so, so, so fast. I almost got sick, but it was still fun.”

Jody Heard, 12, shouted that he wasn’t afraid of Space Mountain.

“I didn’t mind the dark and all the fast curves. That made the ride even more fun,” Jody said. “Just to be able to run around and not worry is fun. This place makes Tent City look like a nightmare. I can be a kid for a day.”

Jody’s younger sister, Flomanda, said she wants to live in Disneyland--even though the monster that roams the Matterhorn is nearly as scary as the cockroaches and rats that infest her family’s welfare hotel room.

“I was crying because I was scared when the big monster went raaaarh, raaaarh,” said Flomanda, 10. “And when we got off we got splashed and got wet. The monster scared my mommy and my mommy screamed.”

Goofy, Mickey Arrive

In Tomorrowland, one group of children fidgeted in line as they waited to see the 3-D movie “Captain Eo” that stars singer Michael Jackson. Suddenly, a dozen youngsters scooted under a restraining rope away from the chaperones. Goofy and Mickey Mouse had arrived.

“It’s tiring, but it’s fun,” sighed Juanita Gomez, mother of six.

“The looks on their faces makes me tingle inside,” Gomez said. “It makes me feel like I’m doing my part. I don’t like to take handouts. And the people who donated the tickets don’t make you feel like it is one. I’m doing my part by being with the kids and helping out.”

Across the park in Fantasyland, another group gathered for lunch. Willie Jordan, who organized the trip, was giving the hungry children hundreds of cheeseburgers, fries and Cokes bought with the donated funds. For many, this was their first meal in more than a day.

Some of the 75 parents and volunteers who accompanied the youngsters helped Jordan with the lunchtime chores.

Two volunteers, Robin and Frank Plass, seated at a table with three youngsters, listened in on a lively discussion of what rides to go on after lunch.

“These kids are just in awe of everything here,” said Robin, who works as a nurse at White Memorial Hospital. “This is their chance to act like normal kids, even if it is just only for a day. They need everything we can give them.”

Her husband, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, jumped into the conversation. “They act like little monsters--it’s great to see them run free. When it comes down to it, all kids are the same,” he said.

“Sure, they still need a home, clothes and food, but this kind of experience gives them hope for the future. This could be a turning point for some of them. They sure will never forget this day at Disneyland.”