By BRODIE H. BROCKIE

NOW IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO ALL OUR COMPANY...

Christa meets Princess Minnie.

We had one final official item on our itinerary, a farewell reception in the Pavilion room of the Disneyland Hotel. Inside, we found an array of finger foods and dessert options, and our old Traditions ushers: pirate Goofy, princess Minnie, cheerleader Daisy, butler Pluto, and skipper Donald Duck.

We shared stories of our adventures with each other and our families. The pirates, we learned, had been all finished out of costume and make-up and having lunch when they were told there had been a recording problem and they'd have to do it all again. Naturally they were thrilled, and were given the extra bonus of getting to ride the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in costume (and in character).

Disneyland ambassador Adonis Reeves and Mickey Mouse present Brodie with his parting gift.

Executives from Disney and Careerbuilder.com congratulated us and thanked us (thanked US!) one last time and then our old pal Mickey Mouse came out to present us each with our final surprise: a lovely frame with our group photo in front of the castle, another picture of Mickey presenting us with our honorary cast member badges, and another copy of the badge itself (solving the question I was already asking myself about whether to frame mine or keep it wearable).

Brodie with honorary pirate Stephanie Burke at the closing reception.

We said our final goodbyes to the other dream job members. We had all bonded quite a bit over the last few days and it seemed some real friendships had been made. I think it says something about the lasting impact of Walt Disney and his team of animators and theme park Imagineers that their work (and the work of those they inspired) would draw a group of people who were so creative, talented, generous, and kind.

Honorary parade performer Lisa Mettlen with Princess Minnie.

Christa and I returned to the park that night for a few more hours of enjoying some of that work: another ride through The Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion, my first time seeing Pinocchio's Daring Journey and Alice In Wonderland, and a visit to the Disney Gallery. As we rode the Disneyland railroad around the park perimeter, I thought back on my time as a skipper. The day had been so packed it already seemed like that had been on a different day. The weekend had been so full of activities, it felt as if we'd been there a week rather than just three days.

On our last day we were free to enjoy the parks before catching a plane home that afternoon. I managed to check off most of the things I had still wanted to do: seeing the new Monsters Inc. Factory Tour, eating a Mickey Mouse pancake at the Riverbelle restaurant, visiting the original Enchanted Tiki Room (corny and quaint and much more enjoyable than the crassly-updated Florida version), and one more visit to the Jungle Cruise, this time just as a park guest. It's still awfully fun that way too.

Christa and Brodie waiting to enter The Enchanted Tiki Room on their last day at Disneyland.

I didn't quite manage to get in everything I'd hoped: Space Mountain foiled us with extremely long lines, we ran out of time for the Storybook Canal boats, and I never caught either of the parades or any shows. I don't mind that, though, it's nice to leave a few experiences for next time, whenever that may be.

I know some people don't understand why Christa and I so love visiting Disney World, and now Disneyland. Why adults with no children are drawn, again and again, back to a place full of artificial experiences that most think of as being made for kids. It's hard to explain. I know that I give myself over to the experience, I accept the unreal and admire the art and skill with which it was made. I can't think of any other place where you can explore a haunted house, fight off scurvy pirates, ride a rocket through the stratosphere, plunge to the ocean's depths, and join an expedition through the jungle rivers of the world all in the same day. I think people either understand the inherent appeal in that or they just don't, and no amount of explaining can ever really convey the experience.

For those still scratching their heads, I can only add this: On the Disney Dream Jobs trip I was treated like royalty, given special treatment, allowed rare experiences, and shown things most people never see. This was, of course, an extra special event, but somehow the real Disney cast members manage to make me feel that way to some degree every time I enter a Disney park.

Christa, Brodie, Wendy, and Dale Brockie in Disneyland.