The Land That Is Disney

What is it about a place, that at 37 years old, I still get excited when I have a chance to go?  After all these years, countless visits, Disneyland remains one of my favorite destinations.  Yesterday made my umpeteenth visit, on a very busy Saturday, with people I hardly knew.  They were unorganized in their attack of the park, but instead set upon it like rabid... well, what they were, tourists.  We crossed the park multiple times, going from a ride in Adventureland, to Tomorrowland, back again to Frontierland.  And, anyone who knows the layout of the park knows, that's a whole lot of walking.  No quarter was given, meals were few far between.  But, they got in the experience they wanted, I snuck in a few things I enjoy as well.  With very tired sore feet, little food in my belly, sitting in my car, glad to be away from the crowds, I have to admit to myself that I still had a good time.

Even working at Disneyland for 9 whole days back in the late 80s, at one the worst attractions you can find there, failed to sour my affection for "The Happiest Place On Earth."  If you're scratching your head as to what I could be talking about, I'll just save you a headache & tell ya.  I, Paul, wore a gold peasant shirt, tasseled faux-suede pants, moccasin slippers raccoon-skin headband.  Not a raccoon-skin hat.  A raccoon-skin HEADBAND!  Just a strip of fur, wrapped around my head, with a tail in the back.  Wear said clothing, I rowed canoes around Tom Sawyer Island (now re-named "Pirate's Lair" to tie in with the POTC movies & becasue nobody reads anymore & has no idea who Tom Sawyer is.)  After 2 days of that, & discovering the whole "Happiest Place" thing doesn't translate to my fellow employees, I had had enough.  Quit the next day.  According to them, because I left without notice, I can never be employed by them again.  So, even though I can't accept their money, I still willingly give them mine.

Lets finish this thing up with a few things I have learned from my many visits, & my, albeit brief, employment.

• You can find a silhouette of Mickey just about everywhere you look.  Even on the rides.  For example, on Pirates of the Caribbean.  As you pass through the battle between the fort & ship, look at the blast whole on the fort wall.
• The Matterhorn has two tracks.  One of the Fantasyland side of the mountain & one on the Tomorrowland side.  Take the Tomorrowland side.  Its faster & has more turns & dips.
• Tuesdays & Wednesdays are the best days to visit.  When were there for the above picture, after our wedding, the longest line was 25 minutes.  And I don't even think it took that long.
• And finally, there are no longer any make-out rides at Disneyland.  The People-Mover & Voyage to the Center of the Universe are a distant memory.  Once they were taken out for Rocket Rods (defunct) & Star Tours, respectively, kids were forced to find any dark corner or try to get an empty car/boat on Snow White or Peter Pan.  But, then you risk taunting jeers by smaller kids, or reprimands from their parents.