Happy Tuesday and welcome to the – SO IRONIC, considering – longest episode in Mugly Truth history! Maybe. We think. Anyway, we talk a LOT today because we are passionate about our subject: Disneyland! We’ve been going to Disneyland pretty much since the day(s) we were born, eventually becoming annual pass-holders for decades. And we are both going through the withdrawals from being newly post-AP. Yep. The prices, the crowds…the prices…did we mention the crowds? *** sigh *** They priced-crowded us out after all these years. But as much as we miss Disneyland, we DON’T miss the stress of thousands of people shuffling through Main Street, nor do we miss the $1000 hit to our wallets.
So today we examine our love-hate relationship with the (Not Always) Happiest Place on Earth. We recall the magical glory days of the excitement driving through that archway that gloriously announced DISNEYLAND, finding a parking spot right up front if you were lucky (or got there early), and walking right up to the ticket kiosks and through the turnstiles. The magic was palpable and the day would be long, but enchanting. And damn did it feel good to get in bed later that night, feet hurting and head spinning with all the fun we had. Every year Disneyland was the number one birthday gift on the list.
We revisit our high school days, going to Videopolis and dancing the night away, watching swing dancers at Carnation Plaza, shrinking down to molecule size on the Adventures Thru Inner Space, gliding high above everyone’s heads on the People Mover and Skyway gondolas, and spinning around on the original rocket ride for a literal bird’s-eye view of the park.
Jeez, we’re even old enough to remember the ORIGINAL lyrics to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride song. Don’t get us started on ALL THE CHANGES to POTC. Oh wait, yeah, we go there.
We STILL wants the redhead!
But, as magical as Disneyland continued to be well into our adult lives, the last few years the crowds have caused more than discomfort for us (severe panic attack on Main Street anyone? No? Ok, just Kris then). We’d maybe find a way to scrounge up the $1100-$1500 annual pass cost if it wasn’t for the damned crowds. It’s a delicate subject for a lot of people. Go onto any Disney forum and you’ll hear gripes on both sides…people who think price-complainers are welcome to stay away and good riddance, and those – like us – who are going through serious pangs missing being able to drive up to our favorite date-night spot on a whim (if your pass allowed), mosey through either park, people watch, ride a couple favorite rides, and maybe stay for some lovely fireworks.
And now that Star Wars Land (really, what IS the name of the new land??) is a thing, well, we probably won’t ride that tram (Kris) or bus (Kym) to the most crowded place on earth, walk under those venerable railroad tunnels, and emerge wide-eyed and lightheaded from all that pixie dust for quite awhile now. Nope, standing in a 2-hour line for a 4-minute ride with three or four hundred people in denim Disney button-festooned vests just isn’t our thing anymore. By the way, Disney gangs, what terrible deeds did you have to do to earn your badges? (Patches? Rags?)
Dear Hell’s Angels, please school us on the proper phrase. And we don’t need to know the details on what YOU did to earn the badgespatchesrags. Thanks.
So if you miss the fun of it all and can’t handle the quiet Friday nights, then maybe consider Kym’s proposal of a Knott’s Berry Farm annual ticket. She makes quite a compelling argument for the switchover! And to wrap things up, Kris talks about a Reader’s Digest article from July 2018 (23 Magical, Mind-Blowing Facts About Disneyland) which has some slightly eyebrow raising (not necessarily mind blowing if you are a real Disneyphile) bits o’ trivia you might not have heard of before. (Oh, and here’s an Amazon link to the book we talk about, Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland.)
Someday we will return to our beloved Disneyland, because we know we can’t stay away too long. Yes. Someday we’ll save up for that magical 14 hour day…someday that’s a blockout date for everyone but the richy-rich top tier pass holders. Someday when it’s raining buckets and all the newbies who don’t know that’s the PERFECT time to go end up staying home (thank you). Ah, yes. Someday. Unless we win the lottery. Then we’re getting our richy-rich passes, and applying for Club 33 ASAP!
But for now, we have our wonderful E Ticket memories and the idea of Walt’s dream to sustain us.
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Intro and outro music, “Clever as a Fox” by Espresso Music through premiumbeats.com
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