Vacation 2007--Pooh and Tigger

We've joked about the funds the Pooh Industrial Complex generated from Fiona-related purchases in 2005. For that period as she transitioned from baby into toddlerhood, she had a deep love for all things related to Winnie the Pooh and Friends. I've probably seen Pooh's Heffalump Movie more times than I've seen Star Wars at this point, and I still don't think you could open a toy box in the house without stumbling over another Pooh, Tigger or Piglet.

As Fiona has moved past early toddlerhood she's developed an interest in what groups she might belong to, which is to say she's developed an interest in what girls do, which is to say we're in the Princess phase. Which you already knew.

So we expected the princesses to be a highlight of the Disneyland trip, which they were, but in our nostalgia for how things were all those many years ago when Fiona was one-and-a-half instead of three-and-a-half, we insisted on taking her to the Winnie the Pooh ride. We knew this was the only time we could take her that she might still be young enough to like it, but we weren't sure if she would really be into it or if it would just blend in with the other fun rides like the teacups or Dumbo ride.

Nevermind.

When we rode the Peter Pan or Alice in Wonderland rides, both of which are movies Fiona knows well, Fiona nodded as we pointed out many of the things she recognized, but she was still a little overwhelmed by the experience.

On the Pooh ride, however, Fiona did all the pointing, practically shouting with excitement as she recognized scenes from the movie, and laughing out loud at all the crazy creatures in the room showing Pooh's Heffalump and Woozles dream. The moment the ride was over she wanted to do it again.

Which we did. But first, I happened to notice that Disneyland had very conveniently put up a line to meet Pooh Bear himself right around the corner from the Pooh ride.

Fiona was intrigued.

Strike that--Fiona was thrilled. Imagine waiting in line for 30 minutes to meet a guy in a big costume. Now imagine that everybody else in that line is escorting at least one child no older than four, and generally younger.

Now imagine that all of those children are perfectly behaved, showing no signs of impatience.

Such is the power of Pooh.

When we reached second in line, Pooh's handler came out and announced that he had to take a short break, but that he'd be right back. Now, I can't begrudge a guy in a heavy suit in 90 degree weather needing to take a break, but I was dreading Fiona's response.

Not a peep.

And, in fact, Pooh disappeared behind the fence to take his break and, conveniently enough, ten seconds later walked right back out. Apparently somebody at Disneyland figured out how to stagger their Poohs so that the toddlers never had to be without him for long.

And so Fiona met Pooh, with none of the awe in which she held the princesses, instead rushing to him for a big hug as she greeted an old friend. She got his autograph and posed for a photo...

...and then, as we were leaving, Tigger arrived.

So Fiona got to be the first child during that session to meet Tigger as well. The first thing Tigger did when Fiona ran up to him was to take her hat and put it on his ear.

This, apparently, was the Funniest Thing That Anybody Had Ever Done. Weeks later, Fiona is still talking about how Tigger put her hat on his ear "like an earring" (cue hysterical laughter).


Years from now I'm sure we'll be back at Disneyland and Andrea and I will wind up dragging Fiona along on the Pooh Bear ride for nostalgia's sake as she rolls her eyes. In 2007, however, it was her highlight of the whole trip.