A beloved grandpa who always loved seeing his family’s photos and souvenirs from their visits to Disneyland wiped away tears when his granddaughter surprised him with his first-ever trip.
Ruben Vazquez, 70, from Southern California, always loved seeing the photo his children and grandchildren had taken on their days out at the self-described “Happiest Place on Earth,” but he had never had the opportunity to go himself.
For years, Ruben was too busy working and providing for his family to make the trips, his granddaughter, Alondra, said, and so she wanted to come up with a plan to make his dream come true.
Ahead of Father’s Day this year, Alondra purchased a ticket to the park for her grandpa, along with a selection of Disney items: a Mickey Mouse shirt, hat, balloons – and the physical ticket itself.
Alondra then placed the items in a box and presented them to her grandpa, who humbly asked what the present meant on June 16.
In seeing her grandfather’s emotional reaction, Alondra said her heart felt complete, as she knew his inner child was coming out again, and she was grateful to help a man who had been like a father figure for her growing up.
Alondra then explained, “You’re going to Disneyland!” which caused her grandpa to burst into tears.
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The moment was captured in an emotional video, which Alondra later shared on TikTok, along with clips from her grandpa’s day out on August 23.
Alondra said: “My grandpa loved seeing our pictures and souvenirs, but he has never been to Disneyland in his 70 years of living.
“He was always too busy providing for his family and working hard to even think of having fun.
“I decided to get a big box with a Mickey shirt, Mickey, hat, balloons and his ticket inside.
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“At first, he seemed to be confused in the video and even asked what the present meant, which I responded with, ‘You’re going to Disneyland.’
“My grandfather is not someone who gets emotional, but his inner child came through.
“When I saw him burst into tears, my heart felt complete.
“I knew I was healing his inner child like he healed mine, since he played a huge part as a father figure to me growing up.
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“I was so happy to see that he was finally getting to be a kid again.
“When we arrived at Disneyland, my grandpa was in awe.
“He said, ‘It feels like its own world.’
“He had the best time ever!