Originally Posted By coffeesnob November 18, 10:45am: Oops. Missed that rope drop, didn’t I? I can’t even begin to say how much nicer Main St is with all the live acts, as opposed to the piped-in music…although the horses might not agree with me. I saw one bucking his way down Main St to get away from one of the bands when I was at Carnation Café the other day. And you thought the new E-Ticket would be the Submarines. This morning I started off with a Mark Twain breakfast at the River Belle. It was ok, but the view can’t be beat. The line was long when I got there, but they opened a new one a few minutes later, so I was lucky. 3:18pm: Musings on…the Jungle Cruise because I want to like it so much more than I do. I rode it the other day, and was so dismayed to see that the spiel felt as tired and mean-spirited as ever. Let’s face it. You have a cornball script of fifties jokes to work with. Sarcasm does not make it work. That’s saying a lot, coming from me, the Queen of Sarcasm. Playing cornball comedy straight is such a better choice because then you’re invested in it, and by consequence the ride and the rest of the experience come together as a complete world. You’re a part of that world, not removing yourself from it by using sarcasm. Guests don’t care how many times you’ve done it today, how stupid you think the jokes are, or if you’re about to be committed to a straightjacket if you have to say the damned spiel again. We don’t care. We come here for the illusion of whatever world we’re riding at the time, and each time you break that, you corrupt the ride. It’s called “the illusion of the first time†in the theatre, and you are part of the greatest live theatrical set ever created. Today, I know this is possible. Disney is the champion of doing cornball exceedingly well, and it has to do with enthusiasm and commitment. You can make people believe anything if you have those. I wasn’t going to ride Jungle Cruise again, but it’s crowded today, and that ride has a 5 minute wait. Thousands of people are passing by without going in. Tired and mean-spirited anyone? Fortunately for all of us, Branden from Whittier was our guide this time, and did many of the exact same jokes, but then it changed. His delivery turned it around. I have never laughed so hard on that ride in my life, and have never been in a boat that was cheering by the end. Whatever you have, Branden, please give it to the rest of them. 4:30pm: After some fabulous mozzarella sticks from the Stage Door Café, I hit BTMRR again. I have been on it at sunset every day now, and in row 13 three times. Now I’m sitting on a deck chair on the lower level of the Mark Twain with NOS lighting up in the twilight. The lights haven’t quite spread over to HMH and Splash yet, but they’ll get there. 5:30ish pm: I headed over to Fantasyland to see what I could ride without too much grief, and ended up on the Canal Boats again. As I got to the front of the line, and was in the next group to be loaded, Pinnochio and Gideon came through the gate. Pinnochio got on the boat in front of me, and then Gideon got in ours! I’ll tell ya, that’ll make anyone smarten up right quick to have a character in their boat, even if the CM didn’t know his name. I was all sittin’ up straight like a 4 year old, making sure my Mickey ears were on straight, that I wasn’t poking anybody. Nobody in the boat could guess his name, but I finally leaned over and asked him, “Is it Gideon?†He got all happy and kissed my hand and wiped a little tear away because nobody knows who he is anymore. I went on Pinnochio again, and for the first time, I turned and saw the star at the end of the ride. You can bet I wished on it. I have a good record there. 7pm: And then I rode Splash and stepped on Tinker Bell. Ok, not quite. I got off Splash and stepped on a Tink pin that somebody had dropped, pin side up. I was going to leave it there, but I thought it might be a good sign to stumble upon the purveyor of pixie dust herself, one way or another, so I kept it. So there. Wish on that. I was so tired after doing it all last night, I left at 8:30. I didn’t even make it to the fireworks. I’m usually such a commando here, but this has been an emotional trip, and I guess that sucks out your stamina as well as anything else. I was none too happy the next day having to leave the uncommonly hot weather behind. Even the newscasters were surprised. I kept looking at my standby ticket thinking, "Wellllll, it doesn't expire until February..." But no, I got myself on the plane and left the palm trees behind and that was it. PS. I like to eternally edit things and can't do it here, so if I remember anything else, this may go on my blog so I can fiddle with it. It's at: <a href="http://eightshotsshort.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://eightshotsshort.blogspo t.com/</a> Parental guidance is suggested ;-)
Originally Posted By liveforvacations I have enjoyed reading your trip reports! You have a very unique writing style. Usually trip reports make me "be able to see" the attractions, but yours made me "feel the emotions". Like a dream, if that makes sense. I think your report shows that although Disneyland cannot make you forget completely about your woes, it sure can provide moments of total bliss.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I love your style of writing Very detailed and emotional. Just lovely. I'm so happy that you found a good skipper on the Jungle Cruise. It's much appreciated isn't it? Your post about the cruise should be sent to all the skippers. A good head's up for those who have forgotten and a pat on the back to those who remember, cruise after cruise after cruise I'm sure your new AP will find you back "home" soon
