The Day the Mickey Died - In memoriam: Pal Mickey

[luvngoofy]

Thanks for the update! But...
I'll let my ignorance show here...what is a chunnel?
I have been to the UK and France but it was a very long time ago so, maybe this is something after my time there!

 

[hucifer]

We headed for Canada to pick up the kids Le Happy Meal

Is that Canadian for "The Happy Meal"?

We felt a little guilty using England’s facilities without buying some much as a single fish or chip...which are actually french fries by the way.

See? This is why I read your trip report. Because I learn stuff.

By the way, we got to see the lagoon from Gilligan’s Island on our honeymoon cruise....and it turns out that it’s super close to the Bahamas. How ironic is that? Stranded all those years.....when they probably could have just flagged down a Carnival Cruise ship. I’m starting to wonder if the Professor was as smart as he claimed to be.

Actually, that man was brilliant. He was stuck on an island with that hot Mary Ann for several years. Sure, he had to put up with daily cries of "Doooop!" from Skipper and outrageously ostentatious behavior from the Thurstons. But a cute chick in short shorts was totally worth it. Or so I hear.

Speaking of chunnels, did you realize that there’s no chunnel in Epcot between the UK and France? How do you have England and France right next to each other....separated by water.....and not have a chunnel?

Brilliant observation. No, seriously. Brilliant.

We used to have a bunch of video I took of the Marrakesh belly-dancer....because I found her performance culturally fascinating .....but Tinkershell accidently deleted it.

We women can be so technically dumb sometimes!

I love those Hostess fruit pies that you can buy at the gas station....even though they are probably the exact same ones that have been on the shelf since I was a kid.....so you might want to take that review with a grain of salt.

Or two.

 

[babydinosaur03]

Thanks for the update! But...
I'll let my ignorance show here...what is a chunnel?
I have been to the UK and France but it was a very long time ago so, maybe this is something after my time there!

Here you go! The Chunnel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel

 

[erinch]

Chpt 41 - Black Forest Cake for lunch
So we headed off in the direction of France to start our long journey around the lagoon....which always reminds me of Gilligan’s Island because, as a kid, that was my first encounter with the word “lagoon”. By the way, we got to see the lagoon from Gilligan’s Island on our honeymoon cruise....and it turns out that it’s super close to the Bahamas. How ironic is that? Stranded all those years.....when they probably could have just flagged down a Carnival Cruise ship. I’m starting to wonder if the Professor was as smart as he claimed to be.

A couple of thoughts:

first, did you know that you can sing "Amazing Grace" to the tune to Gilligan's Island???
Why would you want to, you ask? Well, it is a good way to drive Church Ladies totally crazy.

Second, the flagging down the Carnival Cruise ship reminded me of the one episode on the History Channel that hubby and I watched of a reality series called something like "Livingstone, I presume??" Oh, I just googled it, it was called "Expedition, Africa" except we called it "Livingstone, I Presume." It was billed as modern adventurers trying to trace the route of Stanley on his way to presuming Livingstone. We watched the first episode, which was a longer hour than an hour sitting on International Drive watching taillights. It featured 4 whiners fighting whenever they were on camera, except for the part where the "native" grad student from Oxford they hired was prancing about in "native attire" shaking sacred gourds to scare away the spirits. (I hear that chanting to the tune of Gilligan's Island is also good for that.)

But the kicker came when the only chick, on the second day of the expedition, was sobbing on camera, because all of the experienced adventurers had totally forgotten that they might want to bring some WATER along. She sobbed, (one day into the trip) "I'm SO scared! We're LOST in this wilderness. This is the first time on this trip that I actually think we might all DIE out here."

As she is sobbing, you can see behind her, a row of electric wires.

I also think there was a Carnival ship going by.

And, not intimating about where Pal Mickey might have gotten off to, but I do need to point out her hair was red. And since they didn't have any water, well, you get my drift.

 

[Peter Panic Attack]

Thanks for the update! But...
I'll let my ignorance show here...what is a chunnel?
I have been to the UK and France but it was a very long time ago so, maybe this is something after my time there!

I even stumped my family on that one. DS Buddy took a shot at it... but he was thinking of the "channel" between France and England instead of the "chunnel". Whoever is in charge of publicity for the Chunnel ought to be ashamed of themselves.....because they're not getting the word out.

Is that Canadian for "The Happy Meal"?.

Sometimes I worry that I come off pompous when I flaunt my proficiency in foreign languages. After all, I'd hate to lose my connection with the regular folk.

I wonder if subtitles would help?

Actually, that man was brilliant. He was stuck on an island with that hot Mary Ann for several years. Sure, he had to put up with daily cries of "Doooop!" from Skipper and outrageously ostentatious behavior from the Thurstons. But a cute chick in short shorts was totally worth it. Or so I hear..

I must admit.....it's an interesting hypothesis......although I think Mary Ann's wore her shorts at that length for practical reasons. You know....to counter the extreme mugginess of the tropical jungle environment. Plus....you're forgetting about Ginger....the glamorous movie star. I don't think the typical adult male would enjoy be marooned with two single provocatively-dressed young women.....it just seems unnatural.

By the way....I don't think I've ever seen anybody spell "doooop" before....so kudos to you.

We women can be so technically dumb sometimes!.

To be honest......there are times I suspect it wasn't an accident.

Here you go! The Chunnel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel

Thank you for your timely assistance. What did we ever do without wikipedia?

first, did you know that you can sing "Amazing Grace" to the tune to Gilligan's Island???.

I tried this on Sunday.....to very mixed reviews.

As she is sobbing, you can see behind her, a row of electric wires. .

Reminds me of "Lost"....where a plane goes down on an uncharted island that just happens to have underground bunkers with all the comforts of home.....and polar bears.

And, not intimating about where Pal Mickey might have gotten off to, but I do need to point out her hair was red. And since they didn't have any water, well, you get my drift.

That would be a combination that Pal Mickey would have had difficulty resisting.

 

[MagicShell]

I have missed several updates. I guess I didn't want to hear of the end of Pal Mickey. I am glad that you all where about to continue on without him.

So would you suggest ignoring your itinerary? Two EMH parks in two days?! I'm sure Pal Mickey would not have let you do such a thing. Too bad he is not around.

 

[Peter Panic Attack]

I have missed several updates. I guess I didn't want to hear of the end of Pal Mickey. I am glad that you all where about to continue on without him.

So would you suggest ignoring your itinerary? Two EMH parks in two days?! I'm sure Pal Mickey would not have let you do such a thing. Too bad he is not around.

No.....going to a park after the EMH crowd has already arrived is bad news. Pal Mickey would not have been pleased.

 

[shebaxric]

The three B's. I'd partake in two out of the three. Bratts aren't my favorite thing in the world (Epcot and in general). We've always eaten inside at Germany, never at Somerfest. This year we'll probably be doing that because DH wants to do the CS dining plan instead of TS. I am not very happy about that, but for some strange reason I'm letting him get his way. Perhaps it's because he's going to let me drink my way through the world at Epcot. . .

The Fish and Fries laughing in England is one of my favorites, despite the extremely long line.

 

[My sister's princess]

Glad to see you update again. I mean jeepers it is no fun to be at work, not wanting to do work and not have an update available.

 

[DisneyChristian]

My DW (Mickey'sGal) and I absolutely love your trip report. We sat and read all 40 chapters together in one sitting (ok actually two seperate sittings), well she read it to me because she can read outloud with "inflection" which made it even more funny I must admit. It only took us about 4.5 hours to get through too! We see that you are leaving WDW on the day we arrive this year. We are having a terrible time trying to work out our touring plan this year. Too bad we don't have Tinkershell's non-negotiable itinerary. It probably could tell us what parks to go to on what days that would be the least crowded. Do you and Tinkershell have your schedule's worked out for Christmas 2009?

PS. DW and I both think your Trip Report could be published.

 

[Peter Panic Attack]

The three B's. I'd partake in two out of the three. Bratts aren't my favorite thing in the world (Epcot and in general). We've always eaten inside at Germany, never at Somerfest. This year we'll probably be doing that because DH wants to do the CS dining plan instead of TS. I am not very happy about that, but for some strange reason I'm letting him get his way. Perhaps it's because he's going to let me drink my way through the world at Epcot. . .

The Fish and Fries laughing in England is one of my favorites, despite the extremely long line.

Shhh....don't tell anybody....but free dining has been extended through your trip if you have a Disney visa. We just added it last friday. Might be a problem if you're staying in a villa however.

If that doesn't work out......you've always got "drinking your way around the world" to fall back on.

Glad to see you update again. I mean jeepers it is no fun to be at work, not wanting to do work and not have an update available.

Might be another update tomorrow.....if you don't feel like working then either.

My DW (Mickey'sGal) and I absolutely love your trip report. We sat and read all 40 chapters together in one sitting (ok actually two seperate sittings), well she read it to me because she can read outloud with "inflection" which made it even more funny I must admit. It only took us about 4.5 hours to get through too! We see that you are leaving WDW on the day we arrive this year. We are having a terrible time trying to work out our touring plan this year. Too bad we don't have Tinkershell's non-negotiable itinerary. It probably could tell us what parks to go to on what days that would be the least crowded. Do you and Tinkershell have your schedule's worked out for Christmas 2009?

PS. DW and I both think your Trip Report could be published.

Thank you very much. I can't believe that I've accumulated 4.5 hours of TR....without ever writing anything of substance. That's not easy to do.

Tinkershell has a rough draft of our itinerary put together....but it won't become non-negotiable until the official December park hours are released. We use Tourguide Mike by the way......and I profit in no way by telling you that.......which doesn't really seem right.

 

[luvngoofy]

Here you go! The Chunnel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel

Thank you babydino... it WAS built after I visited. 31 miles is too long for me!...

Now back to our regularly scheduled TR...
What? no TR today?

 

[skywaywaver]

But then again, I love those Hostess fruit pies that you can buy at the gas station....even though they are probably the exact same ones that have been on the shelf since I was a kid....

Nothing wrong with those...some days they can rank right up there with dark-chocolate-covered-Mickey-head-on-a-stick.

 

[Peter Panic Attack]

Chpt 42 - Park Hopping to MK....after spending a bunch of time in the Norway pavilion

After our pleasant lunch at Sommerfest, we bid adieu to Germany. To be honest, it was a little hard for me to leave....for a number of reasons. First, I felt a great affinity with the German people....possibly because my mother used to dress me up in lederhosen as a small boy; second, my body was still trying to decide whether combining a McFlurry with the three B’s had been a serious mistake; and third, Germany was Pal Mickey’s favorite pavilion. He used to love to stand in the cobblestone-paved central plaza and stare up at the big glockenspiel clock. I think he just appreciated it’s craftsmanship......or how it made him feel connected to days gone by.......or maybe he had a school-boy crush on the little mechanical maiden who came out on the hour and was wondering how he could get up there and get her phone number. With Pal Mickey, it was often times hard to tell.

A quick check of the park map.....which was filling in admirably while Tinkershell’s non-negotiable itinerary was off somewhere trying to find it in it’s little leather bound heart to forgive us.....revealed that we were approaching Norway. Ah, that explains my lightheadedness and feelings of euphoria. I was being drawn by the irresistible siren call of my homeland.....for I am full-blooded Norwegian on my mother’s side. Tinkershell is Norwegian too....passed down from her grandmother I believe. Sadly, her grandfather was a muggle.....which is why she will never be fully embraced by the Norwegian wizarding community. Anyway, it was our common love of lefse that brought us together. What’s that? You’ve never heard of lefse? Well, by all means...allow me to enlighten you. Lefse is a Norwegian delicacy that looks like a tortilla.....but it’s made of potatoes. You lay it out flat and then smear it with butter. Here’s a word to the wise, don’t ever let Tinkershell’s brother butter your lefse.....he’s a chronic over-butterer. Frankly....it’s probably best not to butter someone else’s lefse....because it sounds naughty. ”Man, I’d like to butter her lefse”. See what I mean?

Anyway, the next step in lefse preparation is also the subject of much family controversy. If you wish to properly prepare your lefse, you sprinkle it with brown sugar and then roll it into a cigar shape before you eat it. However, if you were dropped when you were a baby like Tinkershell.....you sprinkle it with white sugar and fold it up like one of those paper footballs we used to flick around 7th grade social studies class when the teacher wasn’t looking. I know....sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? What reasonable person wants their delicious potato tortilla smeared with butter and sugar folded up like a paper football? Oddly enough, our kids don't care for either variety.....the cigar or the football.....which leaves me dumbfounded.

The Norway pavilion is also the home of Maelstrom.....a stormy voyage back through time...on a dragon-headed longboat.... through a forest full of trolls. Some people scoff at the idea that Maelstrom is a fastpass attraction but I can only assume that these folks have never stayed for the delightful short film they show in the fishing village at the end of the ride. Plus, who are we to second guess Walt Disney? I mean, the man was a genius. What's that?.......the concept of the fastpass was developed long after Walt's time.....and it probably wasn’t even his idea to have the World Showcase in the first place...let alone the Norway Pavilion? Granted, you make some valid points.....but I’m still not going to sit here and listen to you bad-mouth Walt Disney.

After Maelstrom, we browsed around the gift shop….for it had long been a dream of mine to buy a troll. When I was a boy, I had bought a little wooden troll on one of our family vacations. I don’t exactly remember where….but it might have been at one of those little gift shops in Yellowstone. Anyway, I loved that troll. Sadly, one day…..as sometimes boys are wont to do…..I was too rough with my troll and I broke off his little wooden toes. Obviously, I was devastated……but now, after all these years….I finally had a chance to replace my precious troll. The Norway gift shop was lousy with trolls. Big trolls……little trolls…..trolls who climb on rocks. Wait a second…..that's starting to sound an awful lot like the armour hotdog song. Fat trolls...skinny trolls...even trolls with chicken pox. Yup, it's the hotdog song alright. Little known fact there Normy...it's believed that it was chicken pox that cause the extinction of the trolls. It was either that or a giant meteor. There is support in both camps. In fact, it's nearly as controversial as the proper method to fold lefse. Anyway, after much searching….I was able to find my exact troll……but I thought it was too expensive….so I spent my money on a ice-cold Carlsberg beer from the cart outside instead.

As we exited the World Showcase for the last time on this trip, we couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic. Goodbye Black Forest Cake. Goodbye Fish and Fries. Goodbye Marrakesh belly-dancer whose culturally rich dance Tinkershell will no longer allow me to enjoy because she insists on turning it into something dirty. Goodbye glockenstien clock which houses the hummel maiden that once held the key’s to Pal Mickey’s heart. Goodbye expensive gift shop trolls and surprisingly reasonable Carlsberg beer. Oh sure, we knew we’d be back someday…..because we are Disney folk…..but that knowledge didn’t make parting any easier. On the way out of the park, we stopped to use our fastpasses at Test Track and then said a final goodbye to Ellen at the Universe of Energy…..who still liked Tinkershell’s hair during the pre-show by the way. Finally, with out looking back, we boarded the monorail and left Epcot behind us.

Next up: Chpt 43 - our last night at WDW.

 

[Rosiekins]

I love your report, though I was hoping you could help me with something? Ever since my Pal Mickey read about the sad passing of yours he has been clingy, he sits in my lap all the time at home and clings to my leg when I walk around. To leave the house I have to shake him off and RUN often when I get home he is passed out by the door little tears still in his eyes. Any tips for Pal Mickey anxiety?

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

I am sad your report is almost over! Could you just pretend you went back to Disney in say . . . August? And October? We'll never know the difference!

 

[Peter Panic Attack]

Nothing wrong with those...some days they can rank right up there with dark-chocolate-covered-Mickey-head-on-a-stick.

At least Pal Mickey wasn't horrified when I ate a hostess fruit pie.

I love your report, though I was hoping you could help me with something? Ever since my Pal Mickey read about the sad passing of yours he has been clingy, he sits in my lap all the time at home and clings to my leg when I walk around. To leave the house I have to shake him off and RUN often when I get home he is passed out by the door little tears still in his eyes. Any tips for Pal Mickey anxiety?

Thank you. The behavior you are describing is quite typical in Pal Mickey's who have been introduced to the idea of their own mortality. I would suggest giving him extra attention.....and if that doesn't work you can always pop out his batteries.

 

[Peter Panic Attack]

I am sad your report is almost over! Could you just pretend you went back to Disney in say . . . August? And October? We'll never know the difference!

Actually....you may be on to something. A totally fictional TR would be way easier......none of those pesky facts to have to deal with.

 

[shebaxric]

Shhh....don't tell anybody....but free dining has been extended through your trip if you have a Disney visa. We just added it last friday. Might be a problem if you're staying in a villa however.

If that doesn't work out......you've always got "drinking your way around the world" to fall back on.

Drinking around the world it is! We actually rented DVC points from a friend and are staying in a 1BR Villa, so we won't be able to get the free dining deal anyway. DH parents are going with us. . . .

I love Norway, too! I don't have any facts of being of Norwegian descent, but I think the blond hair and blue eyes must count for something.

 

[wdwlovin'family]

Chpt 42 - Park Hopping to MK....after spending a bunch of time in the Norway pavilion

After our pleasant lunch at Sommerfest, we bid adieu to Germany. To be honest, it was a little hard for me to leave....for a number of reasons. First, I felt a great affinity with the German people....possibly because my mother used to dress me up in lederhosen as a small boy; second, my body was still trying to decide whether combining a McFlurry with the three B’s had been a serious mistake; and third, Germany was Pal Mickey’s favorite pavilion. He used to love to stand in the cobblestone-paved central plaza and stare up at the big glockenspiel clock. I think he just appreciated it’s craftsmanship......or how it made him feel connected to days gone by.......or maybe he had a school-boy crush on the little mechanical maiden who came out on the hour and was wondering how he could get up there and get her phone number. With Pal Mickey, it was often times hard to tell.

A quick check of the park map.....which was filling in admirably while Tinkershell’s non-negotiable itinerary was off somewhere trying to find it in it’s little leather bound heart to forgive us.....revealed that we were approaching Norway. Ah....that explains my lightheadedness and feelings of euphoria. I was being drawn by the irresistible siren call of my homeland.....for I am full-blooded Norwegian on my mother’s side. Tinkershell is Norwegian too....passed down from her grandmother I believe. Sadly, her grandfather was a muggle.....which is why she will never be fully embraced by the Norwegian wizarding community. Anyway, it was our common love of lefse that brought us together. What’s that? You’ve never heard of lefse? Well....allow me to enlighten you. Lefse is a Norwegian delicacy that looks like a tortilla.....but it’s made of potatoes. You lay it out flat and then smear it with butter. Here’s a word to the wise, don’t ever let Tinkershell’s brother butter your lefse.....he’s a chronic over-butterer. Frankly....it’s probably best not to butter someone else’s lefse....because it sounds naughty. ”Man, I’d like to butter her lefse”. See what I mean?

Anyway, the next step in lefse preparation is the subject of much family controversy. If you wish to properly prepare your lefse, you sprinkle it with brown sugar and then roll it into a cigar shape before you eat it. However, if you were dropped when you were a baby like Tinkershell.....you sprinkle it with white sugar and fold it up like one of those paper footballs we used to flick around 7th grade social studies class when the teacher wasn’t looking. I know....sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? What reasonable person wants their delicious potato tortilla smeared with butter and sugar folded up like a paper football? Oddly enough, our kids don't care for either variety.....the cigar or the football.....which leaves me dumbfounded.

The Norway pavilion is also the home of Maelstrom.....a stormy voyage back through time...on a dragon-headed longboat.... through a forest full of trolls. Some people scoff at the idea that Maelstrom is a fastpass attraction.....but I can only assume that these folks have never stayed for the delightful short film they show in the fishing village at the end of the ride. Plus, who are we to second guess Walt Disney? I mean.....the man was a genius. What's that?.......the concept of the fastpass was developed long after Walt's time.....and it probably wasn’t even his idea to have the World Showcase in the first place...let alone the Norway Pavilion? Ok....you make some valid points.....but I’m still not going to sit here and listen to you bad-mouth Walt Disney.

After Maelstrom, we browsed around the gift shop….for it had long been a dream of mine to buy a troll. When I was a boy, I had bought a little wooden troll on one of our family vacations. I don’t exactly remember where….but it might have been at one of those little gift shops in Yellowstone. Anyway, I loved that troll. Sadly, one day…..as sometimes boys are wont to do…..I was too rough with my troll….and I broke off his little wooden toes. Obviously, I was devastated……but now, after all these years….I finally had a chance to replace my precious troll. The Norway gift shop was lousy with trolls. Big trolls……little trolls…..trolls who climb on rocks…..wait a second…..am I getting mixed up with the armour hotdog song.? Anyway, after much searching….I was able to find my exact troll……but I thought it was too expensive….so I spent my money on a ice-cold Carlsberg beer from the cart outside instead.

As we exited the World Showcase for the last time on this trip….we couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic. Goodbye Black Forest Cake. Goodbye Fish and Fries. Goodbye Marrakesh belly-dancer whose culturally rich dance Tinkershell will no longer allow me to enjoy because she insists on turning it into something dirty. Goodbye glockenstien clock which houses the hummel maiden that once held the key’s to Pal Mickey’s heart. Goodbye expensive gift shop trolls and surprisingly reasonable Carlsberg beer. Oh sure, we knew we’d be back someday…..because we are Disney folk…..but that knowledge didn’t make parting any easier. On the way out of the park, we stopped to use our fastpasses at Test Track….and then said a final goodbye to Ellen at the Universe of Energy…..who still liked Tinkershell’s hair during the pre-show by the way. Finally, with out looking back, we boarded the monorail and left Epcot behind us.

Next up: Chpt 43 - our last night at WDW.

I can remember when Maelstrom was *the* ride to go on in Epcot. Back in it's day, Fast Pass would have been a really good thing -- it's unforturnate that Disney is about 20 years late. I can remember riding it for the first time and waiting at least 45 min in line and being sorely disappointed when I got off. Maelstrom w/o a line is a fun little ride though.