Too much ground to cover and thousands of people meant the search was futile -- we retraced our steps, but no puppy.
To us, her parents, it was just another toy, but to our three-year-old daughter, the lost black-and-white stuffy was cause for heartbreak -- Disneyland may be the Happiest Place on Earth, but not when you're a little girl with a lost dog.
So, it was off to the Lost and Found, fingers crossed.
Chances were, there'd be no stuffed puppy, and our already-upset daughter would end up sobbing. We braced for the worst, the way parents do.
But this was no ordinary Lost and Found. This was Disneyland's Lost and Found.
The puppy, as predicted, wasn't there -- but the cheery attendant wasn't going to let that ruin our daughter's day.
"Your puppy isn't here, but I have another little dog who really needs a home," he said, lifting a little stuffed hound from under the counter.
Like magic, the tears were gone -- her eyes lit up, she hugged the new dog, and her smile returned.
And that, more than anything, sums up the Disneyland experience: Excellent customer service, and meticulous attention to detail, no matter how seemingly trivial.
A quality experience means more than ever in a still-shakey economy, where any vacation involving airports is a major investment.
There'd be nothing worse than blowing the bank on the holiday of a lifetime, only to have it fall short of expectations, young or old.
With Disney, there's no such worry.
From the minute we walked through the famous main entrance, my family fell under the Disneyland spell, staring with slack-jawed wonder at a scene so familiar from postcards, books and television.
Our little girls, three and five, spotted the castle ahead, the older one whispering to me with reverent respect, "That's where Sleeping Beauty lives."
That awe never diminished for the three days we spent exploring Disneyland and its impressive neighbour, California Adventure.
It's 54 years old, but there's no tiredness or neglect to be found in Walt's original theme park -- shoddy and thrown-together are simply not in the Disney vocabulary.
For our family, it was apparent from the minute we took our girls on their first ride: Dumbo the Flying Elephant has been twirling around for a half-century, but it looks and feels brand new.
And it's as fun as any modern ride -- Disney's classic attractions are kept pristine with upgrades and constant care, and for young visitors, they remain fresh favourites.
The aforementioned Tiki Room is another simple concept. You sit on benches, watching animatronic birds and flowers as they sing a catchy tune, but our delighted girls insisted we go back three times. Walt sure knew his audience -- and his modern successors know too.
Of course, it goes beyond rides, whether it's a classic like Peter Pan, the re-imagined Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, or the awesome and brand new 3-D shooting gallery of Toy Story Mania.
Even mealtimes are magical.
Having lunch at Ariel's Grotto, with all of the Disney princesses in attendance, had our little princesses mesmerized, as the royalty paid personal visits to each table.
And the food -- which could easily have been an afterthought -- was excellent.
Just the right royal mood then, to head over to the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Sleeping Beauty's Castle, where girls are made over, complete with hair, make-up and gown.
Boys may say yuck, but there's armour and swords for the wannabe knight as well -- or the young Jedi can always build a custom lightsabre at the Star Tours giftshop.
Whether it's rides, costumes or just strolling around, Disneyland is a can't-miss experience -- even the line-ups are fun, because of the built-in effects and scenery.
For our kids, the best part of all was the free entertainment throughout the Disney parks.
Watching Goofy dance to the Dixie-jazz of the Disney fire department band was impromptu and hilarious, while the daily parades of characters which run through both parks are a sight-and-sound extravaganza.
Aladdin -- A Musical Spectacular, is a 40-minute play of Broadway quality -- it's truly amazing, with top-notch acting, singing and scenery that never fails to astound.
With so much to do, Disneyland can be exhausting, but reserving a little energy for the night-hours is a must.
Magical, a fireworks show set to music from Disney's famous films, fills the sky over the castle -- and like everything Disneyland does, it's breathtakingly good.
To close the day with stars in your eyes and a song in your heart -- it's the perfect ending to a perfect vacation.
MICHAEL.PLATT@SUNMEDIA.CA
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IF YOU GO to Disneyland
Warm weather and smaller crowds make fall one of the best times to visit Disneyland.
Sept. 25-Nov. 1, Disneyland celebrates Halloween. Famous villains from classic Disney movies will join the festivities, while famous attractions take on a spooky, but still family friendly, theme.
ATTRACTIONS:
- Space Mountain becomes Ghost Galaxy -- throttle through the outer reaches of an uncannily creepy cosmos.
- A new fireworks spooktacular, hosted by Jack Skellington from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, explodes into the night skies.
- Jack can also be found hosting guests at the revamped Haunted Mansion.
- Both parks and many Disney characters will be dressed in the spooky spirit of Halloween.
- Special Halloween treats and merchandise are available.
- On select nights in October, kids can go trick-or-treating in the ultimate Disney neighbourhood at Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party at California Adventure. Tickets for this event sell out annually, so book early.
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