What’s Your Disney Thing?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Jennifer Tucker over at disneydaytrippers.com (http://www.disneydaytrippers.com/2013/02/whats-your-disney-thing/) asks, "What is your Disney thing?"Last night, Jason and I were on our way home from the Parks, and we got to talking about our friend's "things." You know, that thing you look forward to doing most at the Park. For some people it's searching for hidden Mickeys. For others, it's rocking out at the Mad T Party. Some people have an attraction they simply must visit every time they go.

Truth is, when some of your friend find their "thing," and it isn't your "thing," you begin to feel left out. No matter how much you try to force it to become the thing you love, it sometimes falls flat.

I asked Jason what he feels his thing is. After thinking about it for a few minutes, he settled on closing down the Park during the summer months. He enjoys sitting back at Jolly Holiday or the porch at the end of the night and watching the people leave. He enjoys being one of the last people to leave Disneyland at the end of a hot summer day. He even enjoys riding the sweeper train. Me? Nope, not my thing. I'm an early bird, not a night owl. I just don't enjoy staying up that late. It feels more like a chore than like fun.I don't have any strong things, but if I go to Disneyland, I will almost certainly go on Mansion and Jungle Cruise. In DCA, I will almost always get a snack at Corn Dog Castle.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Taking pictures, trying to find something that I haven't already shot a hundred times. New details, new angles, something like that.

[innerSpaceman]

If by Disney thing, you mean Disneyland Thing - here's what comes to mind.

If you arrive at the Park at or near opening and are still or back there at or near closing - plus any and all Disneyland birthdays no matter what - you and all accompanying friends perform the sacred ritual at the S - the dual silly walks along the compass in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. It's a tradition as old as time, as old as rhyme.


Space Mountain with rainbow glasses. If you can manage it, and attempts are especially made on Disneyland birthday - add nitrous oxide balloons and LSD. Best Ride Ever. (though, for other reasons, The Haunted Mansion has always been my favorite attraction)


There are a few smaller traditions around the edges, but these are the stongest and longest lasting rituals of fun.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Man, I've had so many over the years. Watching people leave at the end of the night. Saying goodnight to the swans and lingering in Disneyana. Riding Big Thunder with a nearly full train of Padders/Fabbers/Swankers. Standing next to a bathroom talking for half an hour. Spending 45 minutes deciding where to eat, another 20 walking across the park to the designated restaurant, then two hours eating and talking and just enjoying myself so damn much.

Lately, it's been tough. T doesn't love the place the way I do. I'm sure he'll grow out of it. For now, the thing I make sure to do is get us a nice lunch somewhere, anywhere with a nice view. He loves the food there. Thank goodness for that.

A thread like this tugs my heartstrings. Next we can debate our favorite DL snacks or fireworks views. What a fun ten years we've had together. :)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

One of my things has been I always enter and exit to the right. I enter by the Opera House and Exit by City Hall.... Always.

Most of the time I like walking down the dead center of Main St. avoiding all horse crap.

Walking in the shops to see what's new, especially Disneyanna.

Matterhorn (when I used to ride it) tap the top of the cave at the start.

Goofy holler after emerging from lift C.

Look towards the Firehouse on the way out.

[RStar]

My favorite Disney thing to do is the opposite of most people. It's to experience something new, something I've never done there before. The first year or two that I had a pass was easy. I had gone to Disneyland a hundred times and didn't even know that Story Book boats or Casey Jones train was even there! We dashed from E ticket to E ticket, ignoring some of the C rides. Then after I got to know every inch of the park, I waited for new attractions, starting with Indy.

Then as a new movie would come out, we'd see the movie, then go to the park to see the parade ( Alladin, Lion King), stage play (Beauty & the Beast, Pocahontas), or window display on Main Street.

Other treats like going on a rainy day, or doing the rope drop, or watching the firewoorks from the outside stares of the Mickey & friends parking structure corner closest to where they are shot off is great. Hanging out in off the beaten path places like the far end of Hungry Bear under the balcony and watch the river traffic go by that makes it feel like you have a special place is cool as well.

Then came the whole new gate with DCA. And it's re-launch. There is so many new things to experience there all of the time. My next one is to see the Oz 4 D preview in the tough to be a bug theater. The last one was the Golden Horseshoe review.

I use to love to close the park, and still can. But it is getting harder as I get older.

Although I always say goodby to Walt on the way out, to the light in the window of his appartment.

[Alex]

Really, it is just being there with a couple of friends and being an environment that provides just enough framework to the day while everybody's talking and cracking each other up.

If all my friends were into Legoland, then that's where I'd do it. If they were all into SeaWorld then I wouldn't have any friends.

[Moonliner]

Just getting there at all is my thing.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Riding all the rides my kids want to. Riding Splash Mountain at the end of a winter's evening, walking back through the empty park.

[innerSpaceman]

How could I forget Goat Trick?!! Or, if you can snag the back row on Big Thunder, looking backwards the whole time (really nausiating!)

Newer on Big Thunder, if you "snag" the front row, bloodcurdling screams of horror when you go through the "death cave."


Ah, red long johns. Long gone.



Sitting on the porch on Main Street to watch people leave and, if you can stay late, trying the invisibility cloak that guards that same porch (i.e., Disneyland staff will let you sit there forever, even if they get to hosing down the streets at 3am!)



OMG, before cell phones - and for decades - the meeting spot was Snow White Wishing Well on the hour. That song ingrained in all the brains of my pre-cellphone Disneyland pals.


The recent revival of the Golden Horseshoe Revue reminded me we used to watch it from "Roy's Box" as a must. (The one opposite of Walt's Box, though there was never any inkling Roy ever sat there - hehehe)



Sinking boats on Small World and Pirates before Unsinkable Molly Brown boats were installed.


Backwards on the big Splash Mountain drop was a thing for a while.


Oh, le sigh, le sigh.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

OMG, before cell phones - and for decades - the meeting spot was Snow White Wishing Well on the hour. That song ingrained in all the brains of my pre-cellphone Disneyland pals.
Ah, I always wondered what your system was before phones. If I ever get my time machine I'll be able to stop by and say hi.

[Moonliner]

Cell phones. Who needs um? I just will meets into existence when I need them.


Also don't forget ISM Glasses on Space Mtn.

[innerSpaceman]

And so ... because there was so much time spent at the wishing well, there was a choreographed ritual of throwing in pennies to make a wish, in time to the proper moment of "I'm Wishing." We still do this when making a wish there.





Ok, we need an All-Ritual, All-Traditions Disneyland Day - stat!

[innerSpaceman]

Photographic evidence (circa 1989)

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6933/mwishing.jpg

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Ok, we need an All-Ritual, All-Traditions Disneyland Day - stat!That sounds delightful!

[Ghoulish Delight]

These days...cocktails.

[innerSpaceman]

Cocktail traditions:

Re-arranging all the seating at the Swank Bar.

Re-arranging ALL the seating in the Grand Cal Lobby.



Alas, Sweaty Ass Crackers are no longer available as a cocktail tradition.

[lashbear]

Lashbear Disney traditions (when I can get there):

Seeing at least one Disney park every time I go overseas.
Bursting into tears when walking into the entrance plaza and hearing the music.
Bursting into tears whenever I enter Main Street and hear the Music. ('Fortuosity' is particularly effective for this one)
Bursting into tears whenever I watch the Tiki Room
Bursting into tears in "It's A Small World" (probably for different reasons than the regulars)
Singing "Green Acres" in counterpoint to the "It's A Small World" Song.
Riding the Haunted Mansion
CORN DOG!!!! (Just one nowadays)
Trying to see the park with friends.
...Then trying not to burst into tears saying goodbye on the final night.


It's not a real trip to Disneyland unless I achieve all (or most) of the above.

[Kevy Baby]

Bursting into tears...

Bursting into tears...

Bursting into tears...

Bursting into tears...

...Then trying not to burst into tears...[/LIST]Jeez man: sack up

;)

[katiesue]

Green Acres in Small World - great idea!

When we do small world holiday maddie always sings "nah nah nah nah...nah nah nah nah" from a ride with GC and Bornieo years ago.

Maddie has distinct traditions that vary a bit but for her Little Mermaid is a must. Used to be Tiki Room.

We almost always enter Disneyland to the right. I generally go straight to our destination but at some point hit all the shops, window shopping mostly. We almost always ride the train around at least one loop then get off.

I used to like breakfast at River Belle. Then the sort of pre-made everything so Tomorrowland Terrace was better. Now not as much but usually I'd try to get up in time for breakfast. Have a nice leisurely meal then get on with my day.

When Maddie was a baby we'd often come early, hey babies are up anyway, have breakfast at Plaza Inn then walk around for a few hours and take her home when she got tired.

Marching bands and the flag ceremony make me tear up a little. Same with fireworks.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Photographic evidence (circa 1989)

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6933/mwishing.jpg
You guys are the best. Where's my damn time machine???