Lackadaisical Days

[€uroMeinke]

I was having a conversation yesterday about Gay Day this year, that the event, in it’s maturity, didn’t seem to have the same “specialness” to it that it once had. From there we sort of discussed that it was the same in some ways for Bats Day this year. It’s as if these annual events have become so methodical that they no long possess that bit of something different that makes them exciting, or give you that sort of anticipation.

I wonder if this is still a bit of the post-50th blues – the park, while looking better than it has in years doesn’t really have anything to look forward to at the moment. Nightmare Before Christmas opened again, but this time no sequential unveiling of new Mansion decorations, no hidden Boogies, nothing to make you want to ride it again and again. I’ve been on once – and that’s fine, I'll go again this season to be sure – but I didn’t have that “gotta get on it again” feeling that I have in the past.

So is it me, or is there something greater at work that is making these once special park experiences somewhat lackadaisical? Is it time to put these events to bed and move on to something different? Or do I just need to sit out these things for awhile and stop bringing down everyone elses groove?

[Not Afraid]

You know, having also had a really great summer of other, non-Disney, adventures has put a bit of tarnish on the usual glow of the Mouse. The cemetery screenings were, for me, one of the highlights of the summer. It was new, it was great fun, it was unpredictable, it was filled with great friends and, above all, the films we saw were exceptional. Disney just seems so.....predictable right now.

I'm actually liking my occasional visit to the park schedule. I've been 3 times since June 17th and that has been plenty for right now. I live in a city that has so much going on and I'm liking the fact that we're taking advantage of it. I'm also enjoying just doing things at home. As a matter of fact, I want to do more of that.

Just today, I discovered the COOLEST hardware store that has great stuff for historic houses. It's pure heaven! And, it is 2 miles away. Ahhh, bliss.

[blueerica]

I think that all things have their time, and times are bound to come and go as they please, no matter how much we may want them to stay, or in some cases, go. Interests don't need to go away forever, €, but sometimes it's good to find new fascinations, as I know that you and Lisa have. Indulge in them, and revisit past interests, I say. I think it was some time ago that I stopped looking at the park in the way you allude to in your post. Maybe that's due to childhood burnout of going there so many times, but it has morphed for me, into something different and new, most noticeably when I first met everyone here.

Disneyland has it's own room in my heart, it's just been redecorated a few times, and I don't always spend my time in there. It's kind of nice to walk down Main Street with aged eyes.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think it's like Halloween on Castro Street in SF. It used to be something fun and fabulous. Now it's just a bunch of people (not in costume) wanting to see what the queens and lovers of queens are going to do to entertain them.

OR

It's like Gay Pride has become. Too popular and too corporate.

OR

Queens are just saving their money to go to the more popular Florida Gay Day.

??? :shrug:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I totally agree with the OP.

We need to try new things....

[Not Afraid]

Oh, we've been doing new things. I think that's what's making Disneyland seem so.....lackadaisical. But, we had our 4 year run of constant Disneyland activity and now it is time to get the balance back. Or, not have Disney be such a huge part of our time. We used to do a LOT more varied and interesting things. I think it is time to get some of that back into our lives.

When I think about it, we went through about 9 years of not going to the parks at all. We did a lot of really cool things during that time, saw some great music and art and traveled to some cool place. It's not that we don't do any of that now, only a lot less. Our past 4 major trips have included Disney parks. It's not a bad thing at all, but I think variety is needed.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Like anything, I have an ebb and flow of interest. Things that were once new and exciting become routine and characatures of themselves. We too have only been to Disneyland a handful of times since the 50th, once with friends who hadn't been in years (a totally different experience than going alone or with the usual crowd). The only thing I really missed was seeing certain people, and that was mitigated by some of the other things we spent our time doing instead.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Being that our "fanaticism" has only been for the last two years, we are suffering a little less of the overall burned out feeling. Still, we are also feeling a little ho-hum after all of the 50th stuff. I even commented last night that I will be happy to see all of the 50th decorations taken down and seeing the park returned to normal. It's very strange to see things like the golden streetlamps when the celebration seems long ago by now.

Still, we haven't been in the same frenzied hurry to renew our passes like we were this time last year. We will renew but I think we will make less frequent trips this time around. I think that absence does make the heart grow fonder and hope that seeing the park less frequently might restore some of the magic. I can't imagine not going though. There is a part of Disneyland that provides some theraputic benefit and with life's struggles, we appreciate having that outlet.

Knowing that some of you will be spending less time at the park does sadden us a bit because we tend to see you more there than anywhere else. I guess that means that we will just have to keep a more diligent eye out for extra-curricular activities that are posted here. I'm sure we can figure out a way. :)

[CoasterMatt]

I'd probably be visiting Disneyland more if I wasn't working so much at another local park :D

It is neat to get to answer questions about Disneyland, though.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Knowing that some of you will be spending less time at the park does sadden us a bit because we tend to see you more there than anywhere else. I guess that means that we will just have to keep a more diligent eye out for extra-curricular activities that are posted here. I'm sure we can figure out a way. :)Don't you dare suggest that we'd go off and do other stuff without you! :D When things happen, you'll hear about them, I guarantee it. It sure as hell isn't the the people involved that make me feel lackadasical...

[Not Afraid]

Knowing that some of you will be spending less time at the park does sadden us a bit because we tend to see you more there than anywhere else. I guess that means that we will just have to keep a more diligent eye out for extra-curricular activities that are posted here. I'm sure we can figure out a way. :)

You too can have a life beyond Disneyland. ;) I think that is why Chris and I - and others - keep announcing things to do on LoT.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Don't you dare suggest that we'd go off and do other stuff without you!

I wasn't really trying to suggest that, although the reassurance is noted and appreciated. :) Rather, I was just speaking more to the fact that with DL, we've been able to see people, not only when there is a special day that is planned in advance for, but also when it is least expected. There is something very cool about showing up at the park on a whim and discovering that 5 or 6 people had the same whim. It seems like there will be a little less of that, perhaps, and that is what I will miss. Hope that makes sense. :)

[innerSpaceman]

Before I met all you guys, I had been Disneyland passless for 2 years - - and that really helped to fuel the fun of my rediscovery of the place with you all. I still enjoy the Park, but prefer the once-in-awhile to the ever-other-weekend.

I, too, think we constantly need new to fuel our fun. The Cemetery screenings are a perfect example. I predict loving them next year, and finding them lacking something the year after.

Growing up Jewish, I never had Christmas. Out on my own at 18, Christmas became a mania that lasted lavishly for a couple of decades. Yet even that most joyous of holiday seasons has become somewhat mundane to me. But, oh I am still fond of Christmas. And still fond of Disneyland. I don't intend to throw out all beloved traditions with the new stuff I hope to see added to all our lives.


I'm still fond of Gay Day and Goth Day and, as Zapp and I discussed yesterday, instead of abandoning them to lacklusterhood - - we are going to inject new life into them next year. Some of you may recall sitting around the Heathstone hearth on Saturday, going thru the Gay Day program and discovering how same-old the offerings were. And though they are never going to put me in charge of Gay Day or Goth Day to shake things up, I intend to enlist you all in coming up with a handful of new and fun events for both G Days at Disneyland, and hopefully promote them on the internet as much as we can.


Maybe we can find something new to gin up Christmas, something kewl and interesting to perk up Halloween, and by all means keep eyes and ears out for the totally new stuff that jazzes up the spice of life on a continuing basis.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

You too can have a life beyond Disneyland. ;) I think that is why Chris and I - and others - keep announcing things to do on LoT.

Huh? What? A life without Disneyland? LALALALALA, I can't hear you.

;)

Seriously though, we do keep an eye out for that stuff and hopefully we can start joining in more. It sure would help if my better half had a work schedule that was more in sync with the rest of the world though. Working evenings on Friday and Saturdays presents some interesting social challenges. :)

[€uroMeinke]

Hmmm this thread seems to be more of a downer than I intended. I'm not really looking to let my AP lapse or anything like that, rather I'm expressing my current malaise and pondering what to do about it - as well as reality checking against the rest of you. I'm not sure if I qualify as "burnt out" yet.

I applaud ISM's post though becasue I think he rather nicely expresses a solution to my funk in creating our own twists and treats. Looking back to the 50th, I have to say that the most fun was the fun we created ourselves. The challenge of course is finding the new. Mouse Adventure, for as many years as it's been going on has had a pretty good run on keeping things fresh - I'd like to think we can do the same.

But I also do like to have some focus beyond the mouse. Recent trips to Tokyo and Paris have been a blast, and while there was a Disney componant those trips were so much more. Likewise, my recent trips have made me look at Los Angeleles and Southern Californmia in a different way - there is soooo much to do and see here, and I think I've barely scratched the surface. I've been taking the train into work and been fantasizing about exploring some of the stops along the way (well, on the red line anyway ;) ). There's a lot of swank in this town and I hope you'll all join me in uncovering (and indulging in) it.

€

[lizziebith]

Count me in! I feel I've been "fallow" for a few years now, and only Star Wars (don't hit me) got me out of my little hut of lizzie-by-herself. Okay, I'll admit that the new series left us all wanting, but the cool thing is that I met new people, and re-met old friends. I re-discovered my inner Goth. I went back to a certain land that had towered over my youth with my own son, and found wonder afresh, through his eyes. Go, Buzz!

And since I'm still new to my hometown of L.A., I look forward to exploring it with LoT-ers!

[Prudence]

I hope some of you will be able to drag yourselves to the park in January. :(

[Not Afraid]

I hope some of you will be able to drag yourselves to the park in January. :(

Wouldn't miss it for the world!

[Prudence]

Oh good! Because not only have we not seen any of the new decorations or the fireworks, but we've never sunk a single attraction boat! Ever! (And maybe the Monsters, Inc. attraction will be open and maybe there will be characters present and maybe Ryan will finally get to see Mike Wazowski!)