100 Chinese Sailors Invited by Pentagon Visit Disneyland

There they were, about 100 Chinese sailors upstairs in Frontierland’s Golden Horseshoe, smiling politely between bites of their Lumberjack combos and facing a welcome only Disneyland could deliver. On stage below was Billy Hill & The Hillbillies plucking away at a bluegrass version of “It’s a Small World.”

“It’s very nice,” said one Chinese sailor, who asked not to be identified, in halting English. “It’s very nice.”

Score one for international diplomacy.

On a five-day visit to Southern California, the Chinese sailors are participating in a new Pentagon policy to promote better relations between the two superpowers. Their arrival Friday in San Diego marked the first time Chinese naval ships had ever visited the United States.

Disneyland is one of several tourist attractions the sailors are taking in before leaving Tuesday for port calls in Acapulco, Peru and Chile. Only about 100 of the 800 Chinese sailors on three warships were able to spend Sunday afternoon at the Magic Kingdom.

“These are the lucky boys,” said Liu Jikang, of China’s consul general’s office in Los Angeles. “We have theme parks in China, but nothing as big and interesting as Disneyland.”

After taking pictures in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and eating a western-style lunch, the sailors fanned out through the park. Many headed for the major attractions like the Matterhorn, Space Mountain and Mickey’s ToonTown.

“I never thought I would come to America or Disneyland,” said one Chinese captain standing at the gates of Fantasyland. “So far, so good.”

Just as new to Disneyland on Sunday was Mickey Murray of the U.S. Navy, one of six American servicemen tagging along with the Chinese sailors. The 25-year-old St. Louis native, who spent Saturday socializing with the Chinese sailors, had never even been to California before joining the Navy several years ago.

“We didn’t really know what to expect from them,” said Murray, who noted U.S. sailors and Marines beat the Chinese in basketball and volleyball games, but lost in a tug of war. “But it’s been a real good time. They are very respectful people.”

Civilian park visitors were surprised by the sight of Chinese military men wandering around the Magic Kingdom.

“Hey, are we being invaded?” joked Jason Donaldson, 25, of Lakewood, who visited the park with his four nieces. “I think it’s great that they want to come and see the ‘Happiest Place on Earth.’ ”

But with spring break crowds causing long waits, some sailors, who had earlier bypassed lines at the front gate and for lunch, got a rude awakening at one of the park’s most popular rides. The queue for the Indiana Jones attraction was about an hour long.

“Now they are going to learn a real lesson about America,” said Disneyland spokesman John McClintock. “Waiting in line for the Indiana Jones ride.”