Homo Mouse Event!

[fj]

Ok, who knew? timfogartyfeed is a Disney top. Once we were in the park we suddenly found out he had been here 12 times before, had favorite rides, and knew where everything was, how it worked, and when to go to wait the least. It was really quite impressive.

We went for Gay Days, and I went because, well, I remember the parks really rather fondly from when I was 7, and work was starting to raise eyebrows whenever I mentioned I hadn't gone recently yet. "Don't you think it is about time?"

I got some vintage attractions checked out -- I died and went to Hell in one of them, I kid you not -- saw some of the refurbished ones, went also to some more modern ones, saw random presentations. I actually achieved a lot of my goals for the day and had a nice time thanks to some very good guidance about where to be when. Being around all the red shirts was very festive, and I really liked that it was not stratified at all, I saw GLBTQ people and supporters of all shapes and sizes and ages wandering happily, all kinds of families and configurations, participating together. That is actually pretty darn rare in our communities for a non-Pride thing.

But now that I have a good foundation down of the park thing,  I think the plan for next year  is that pinkfish and I will go even later than 2, check out one new attraction I may have to for work, have dinner off-park, get a good spot to watch Fantasmic as we eat dessert, and then leisurly stroll to whatever hotel hot-tub e_ticket is in. Because last night, just meeting him, but then also decompressing, with our feet in the warm bubbling water after a day of walking, with his insights about the park experience, was pretty damn awesome.

Comments

[bigjohnsf.livejournal.com]

My strategy is to be there when the park opens, stay until the Bears lunch at Hungry Bear -- then, leave the park as quickly as possible, retire to my air-conditioned hotel (I'm convinced the HoJo's is the closest nicest non-disney hotel) room, maybe a quick dip in the pool. Return around 6:30 for dinner, and by the time I've eaten dinner the screaming, over-heated kiddies are mostly falling over dead, leaving the park for the rest of the evening to knowing teenagers and childless adults.

My favorite ride (which I think is underrated): Enchanted Tiki Room.

My (Disney) life goal: To meet someone who can invite me to dinner at Club 33.

[fj.livejournal.com]

Sitting in the Tiki Room, I remembered loving it when I was very young. I do not know if I was in 'Land or 'World. But I loved the colored fountain and the lights. As an adult, it didn't work that well for me.

[pinkfish.livejournal.com]

I was surprised to find that the late-night park crowds were more oppressive than the daytime crowds. The kids were very fussy (one table full of parents with fussy kids left, just so that another one could arrive). The only time we found ourselves having to walk in large detours because of crowds was after 8:30 (twice!). The cast members were putting up random barriers and directing people to go around them - I never quite understood why, but it seemed necessary for crowd control (it hadn't been, during the day).

My favorite ride (because of the very sarcastic commentary by the cute tour guide) was the Jungle Adventure.

[bigjohnsf.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you mean the freakish crowds on Main Street USA who are waiting for the fireworks -- definitely to be avoided.

Yes, the Jungle ride is my second favorite -- I try to do it twice on each visit -- once in daytime, once at night time... though, night time is better.

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

The phrase "Disney Top" brings to mind so many images. All of them bad.

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

p.s. since you are living in LA and working for The Mouse, you really need to read Ellroy's LA quartet. (The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential and White Jazz-- n.b. that while the movie of L.A. Confidential is pretty good considered on its own terms, it pretty aggressively trashed a lot of the inter-book continuity, to the point where I suspect we'll just never see a movie of White Jazz in our lifetime.)

[fj.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, but the "reading books" part would be a problem. I have given that up over a decade ago, and am loving the results.

[(Anonymous)]

the crowds cleared out after Fantasmic, so we got to go on many more rides before leaving at midnight. At the Opera House near the entrance (where Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln played) there was a short film hosted by Steve Martin (who use to work at Disneyland) on the first 50 years of Disneyland. It was really quite fascinating. In the lobby were all the models and drawings of the park.

I agree Jungle Cruise was my favorite. It's one of the original attractions, and it's amazing that it's still around considering how much space it takes up and how few people visit it.

tim

[cubdaddy.livejournal.com]

I've only been once myself, and if it weren't for the long lines, I'd have gone back. I love the rides.

[shanynrose.livejournal.com]

GLBTQ? Q for Queer? I though Q covered all the above, plus poly people like yours truly.
I'm a breeder (or was before surgery) but I'm a queer breeder all the same.

I couldn't manage a ticket for Alice to go to Gay Days, but she did get to go to Queer Prom last spring and had a great time. Maybe next year. Pride AND Gay Days.

She's already had her first experience running the Gay Straight Alliance meeting at school because evidently the president feels like he intimidates people. Though how a 16yo twink can be intimidating is beyond me...he's such a sweety. Anyway, I'm sorry she had to miss it but even though I won't be working at Disney I WILL be working and should be able to send her next time.

Hell, if everything works out the way it should, I might be able to send her to the next Gay Days at Disney WORLD. I can't say more because I'm under a hugeass NDA, but please keep your fingers crossed that I get THE PHONE CALL this week. Some very good things have a very good potential for happening.

Even though Alice had to miss it, I'm so glad you got to go and had a good time. And yes, the crowd control at night is for the fireworks and also the Fantasmic shows.

[unzeugmatic.livejournal.com]

I went to Disneyland on a random Sunday August evening, alone, in 1987. I was amazed at every turn.

Arriving at the very end of the afternoon meant that the parking spaces right at the entrance had opened up. I asked the perky woman at the gate whether they accepted Traveler's Checks (remember, this was 1987) and she said, perky-voiced still but with a sarcastic glint in her eye, "The largest tourist attraction in the world and you think we wouldn't accept traveler's checks?". Then she asked me if I wasnted to buy any "Disney dollars." What are they? "You can use them for purchases in the park." Do they take regular currency? "They'll take anything you have." Imagine the sarcastic undertone.

I liked that. Clearly she saw that this was the sort of attitude I would appreciate. That's pretty fine assessment of your customers.

In the park there were lots of teenagers working the rides dressed awkwardly in flamboyant costumes clearly designed by queens. The Tomorrowland boys in particular, in their black and mint green Jetson's clothing, did not seem comfortable. Because the park was emptying out at the end of what was probably a long crowded weekend the employees all seemed a little punch-drunk and goofy. I encountered no lines that I recall.

Disneyland, in my childhood, was this imagined unreal magical place, a land all its own I saw only in film on Sunday nights during Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. It was odd to see that it was merely an amusement park. Also I remember some sort of film about the making of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride. So I went on the ride. Where I saw a leering animatronic pirate chasing a frightened animatronic woman in a nightdress around and around in a circle. How amusing!

I had first seen the It's A Small World Exhibit at the 1964 World's Fair, when I was 7. I remembered it vividly and fondly (and I also vaguely remember it being sponsored by Pepsi). I was really excited about seeing it again. It was decrepit and worn and absolutely frightening at any number of levels. Scratchy soundrack and semi-broken puppets singing over and over and OVER and OVER and OVER!!! "It's a small world after all, It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all." AAAGGGHHH!!!

I'd go back in a heartbeat.