Meeting Mickey Mouse

The first time I met Mickey Mouse was in March of 1996 when my husband and I took our kids to Walt Disney World. We stood in the line to his dressing room for a long time. (When you have small children any amount of time seems to be a long time.) We arrived backstage and stood in a room where autographed photos of Mickey and many celebreties adorned the walls. There were a few of his life long sweetheart, Minnie, signed with X's and O's and as we rounded the corner of his room we saw a large lighted mirror in the shape of, you guessed it, his head. My heart skipped a beat as I laid eyes on him for the first time. It was as if I was standing in the presence of royalty, it was Mickey Mouse right here in the mousey fur himself completely decked out in his traditional tux tails and bow tie. As the children took turns hugging him, asking for autographs and posing for pictures I stood there in awe wondering why I am thiry years old and feel like a 7 year old. Suddenly I realize my child is next in line so I have to grab the camera to get photgraphs and video coverage of this miraculous meeting. As my youngest runs to hug him she nearly knocks him down with her enthusiasm, and we all chuckle nervously hoping she hasn't offended his Mousjesty. He places both hands, er a paws on either side of his head (to readjust himself I'm guessing)and poses for a picture and waves at the camcorder. As we all wave goodbye I try to hide my excitment by talking to the kids about how exciting that must have been for them.
The next couple of times we went to Disney World we didn't get the chance to take a picture with Mickey Mouse. One time I did get a picture of him in his Sorcerer's attire but it was just in passing and didn't turn out very clear.
I was able to get pictures of the girls with Mickey Mouse as he was about ot go on Safari. He was dressing in his hiking boots, safari hat and kahkis.
Last year my sister joined us to celebrate her birthday in Walt Disney World. I realized that I had never had MY picture taken with Mickey Mouse. I was surprised that I had never posed with my absolute MOST favorite Disney character in all my visits to the parks of the Mousedom. I was now on a mission. I had pictures of me with the Wicked Stepmother and Stepsister from Cinderella, with Mary Poppins, Pocahontas, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and many others but never, ever had I posed with Mickey.
It was at the Animal Kingdom that I found him standing there ready to venture out on another safari that I was able to finally capture a magical moment, it was a Kodak moment for sure.