The Day the Mickey Died - In memoriam: Pal Mickey

[Smadoo]

Originally Posted by Peter Panic Attack

Chpt 19 – We’re really cooking now
You've got to respect a ride that lulls you into a false sense of peace through happy music sung by adorable woodland creatures only to try to murder you in the end.

That's one of you're best lines yet.

[Peter Panic Attack]

Chpt 20 – Who’s up for some lunch?

So after we had washed Pal Mickey’s little mouth out with soap... and impressed upon him the importance of not harassing the animatronic eye candy.....Tinkershell figured it was high time that we stop for a penny break. Every now and then...she insists that we stop and get the kids a squashed penny from one of the many squashed penny machines that are spread out all over WDW. I’ve got a number of problems with these spontaneous penny breaks. First of all.... Tinkershell is the only one who ever ends up with any pennies.....so all this “getting pennies for the kids” stuff is totally bogus. Second of all.... aren’t there some kinds of laws in place that protect U.S. currency from frivolous destruction...and if there are...am I not..in fact.. obligated to make a citizens arrest and collect whatever reward might be offered? And lastly....are we properly honoring the memory of Abraham Lincoln...one of our country’s greatest leaders... when we iron out his likeness and replace it with Chip and Dale fighting over an acorn? I for one..don't really think so.

So, following Tinkershell’s squashed penny crime spree, we decided to break for lunch at Columbia Harbor House...because apparently some people work up quite an appetite when they are breaking the law. However, on the way through Adventureland, we stumbled across Aladdin and Jasmine signing autographs. Now...no disrespect to the other princesses...who are all special in their own special way.... but Jasmine is DD Woobie’s favorite. On our last vacation, Tinkershell and DD Woob searched MK... from on end to the other....in hot muggy conditions... in a fruitless effort to get Jasmine’s autograph. Time and time again, they arrived just a half step too slow...and would be told things like... “Jasmine was in the parade”....or “Jasmine was taking a break”....or “Jasmine was off somewhere with her bodyguard because she had told Aladdin six months ago that their marriage was over and then had given him a contract to sign that said that she didn’t care if he had girlfriends as long as he pretended they were still married so they could continue to make a bunch of money even though they were living a lie”. Long story short (too late), they didn’t get Jasmine’s autograph.

So after all those Jasmine related disappointments on our last trip....here she was.....all wrapped up in a bow....without us even looking for her. Isn’t life funny? I’ve been told that finding DeVine works like that too.....but I refuse to listen. Anyway, after a short wait in line....during which Pal Mickey and I slipped over to Frontierland to watch Woody’s Ho-Down (who was surprisingly light on his feet for a seven foot tall child’s plaything by the way)... DD Woobie finally bagged her most precious autograph. Obviously, this autograph was so important that Tinkershell herself took custody of the book....for safe keeping. Right then and there.....she made a vow to Woob....and to Aladdin and Jasmine....and to anyone else in the area who cared to listen that nothing bad would ever befall that autograph book. Nope, not on her watch.

DD Woobie hits the mother-lode


So with Woob’s most precious autograph safely in Tinkershell’s protective custody....we finally made our way to Columbia Harbor House for lunch. CHH is our kids favorite counter-service......mine too for that matter because they have an upstairs area where its usually pretty easy to find a table. You could feed me a tongue sandwich with a side order of pickled beets and I’d still be a happy camper...as long as I got my table. Of course, we had arrived at CHH before the traditional lunch-time crowd because this wasn’t our first rodeo.....or lunch at MK for that matter. On a nostalgic note, during our very first experience at CHH many moons ago, they had allowed us to substitute a clam chowder for a dessert on the dining plan. Ever since that fateful visit, we have tried to get a clam chowder in place of a dessert....but to no avail. I asked again this visit and the CM gave me a sharp slap across the face for my trouble. Ok...not really....but it felt like it, because I didn’t get the chowder. I suppose we could always just pay for a clam chowder but..when you’re on the dining plan....that just seems wrong..

Anyway, after a pleasant lunch, we emerged from CHH mostly satisfied....except for that empty chowder-shaped space in my heart. The plan was to head on over to the Haunted Mansion next because it was only a stone’s throw away.....if it was a reasonably sized stone....and if you had a major-league caliber arm....and if stone throwing was even allowed in the MK, which I’m pretty sure it isn’t...although I don’t recall any prohibitive signs. Anyway, it was about that time that Tinkershell started to get this nagging feeling that she was forgetting something......something important....or precious if you prefer.

Tinkershell’s howl of anguish was still ringing in our ears as we watched her push her way back through the crowd to CHH...leaving piles of sprawled bodies in her wake. Once inside, she had rushed back to our table to retrieve Woob’s precious autograph book...only to find it already occupied by another family. After a quick, yet thorough, examination of the crime scene...which included interrogating the six year-old in blonde ringlets with the “shifty eyes”... and roughly patting down the 70 year-old grandmother who looked a little lumpy under her shawl...Tinkershell concluded that the book must have been removed before the family in question had sat down. After warning the frightened family not to leave town in case she had any further questions... she grabbed the nearest CHH employee and started violently shaking him as she loudly demanded that he return Woob’s missing book.

As MK security escorted her from restaurant, we could tell by the look on Tinkershell’s face that the book was gone. At this point, Woob started to get a bit teary. Now, I suspect all mothers are like this.....but when it comes to our kids and making them happy....Tinkershell is like a S’more....except without the graham cracker and chocolate. Seeing the sad look on Woob’s face, Tinkershell turned on her heals and headed back to CHH for a second try. I’m not sure what she had in mind....but she had that “search the dumpster” look in her eyes. Believe me, I’ve seen it before.

This time she spoke to the CHH manager. Touched by her heartfelt story, he presented her with a coupon for a free autograph book and a hand-written note which allowed DD Woob to go to the front of the Aladdin and Jasmine autograph line. All he asked for in exchange was for Tinkershell to let go of his ankle and stop sobbing on the floor....because people were starting to stare. Tinkershell agreed.

Tinkershell's suffering her self-imposed punishment for losing the book....DS Buddy is in for an unrelated offense...and I have no idea what Pal Mickey is doing


Next up: Chpt 21 - Yup...we're still at MK

[PrincessEeyore]

So you've basically heard this again and again but your TR is awesome! Unfortunately for me, I now long to acquire my own Pal Mickey, but unless I want to spend $150 on eBay for one, I don't think that's going to happen. So for now I'll just live through yours if you don't mind, that is, until we get to the fateful chapter when he *happens* to go missing.

Can't wait for the next update!

[Girldreamer02]

Still reading along and loving your tr! I'm very protective of my autograph book too so I understand tinkershells distress over you dd's missing book!

[luvngoofy]

So, you are a fan of Jon and Kate!!!!

Please tell me Tinkershell really found the autograph book. I can't imagine having to replace all Woob's autographs...

[wannago2disney]

Go Tinkershell!! As next January we will be on the hunt for ALL the princesses (this is DD's plan...she is 4) and their autographs; and if such a tragedy were to befall us, I too hope to have the stamina and fortitude to weep at the ankles of a sympathetic CM to achieve sucess!

[Peter Panic Attack]

Originally Posted by PrincessEeyore

So you've basically heard this again and again but your TR is awesome! Unfortunately for me, I now long to acquire my own Pal Mickey, but unless I want to spend $150 on eBay for one, I don't think that's going to happen. So for now I'll just live through yours if you don't mind, that is, until we get to the fateful chapter when he *happens* to go missing.

Can't wait for the next update!

Thanks. It's pretty sad that Pal Mickey has been discontinued.....but I guess we weren't seeing that many people carrying one in the parks anymore. Pal Mickey wasn't for everyone....but if you've got the right stuff...or stuffing in his case....it was a match made in heaven.

Originally Posted by Girldreamer02

Still reading along and loving your tr! I'm very protective of my autograph book too so I understand tinkershells distress over you dd's missing book!

The CHH Manager totally saved the day.

Originally Posted by luvngoofy

So, you are a fan of Jon and Kate!!!!

Please tell me Tinkershell really found the autograph book. I can't imagine having to replace all Woob's autographs...

Tinkershell is a huge Jon and Kate fan....but it's pretty hard for anybody to miss what's going on lately......kind of a media frenzy.

and nope...the book was never found....but it was a brand new one so it just had the Aladdin and Jasmine autographs to replace. DD Woob has other autograph books from previous trips but they were safe and sound at home.

Originally Posted by wannago2disney

Go Tinkershell!! As next January we will be on the hunt for ALL the princesses (this is DD's plan...she is 4) and their autographs; and if such a tragedy were to befall us, I too hope to have the stamina and fortitude to weep at the ankles of a sympathetic CM to achieve sucess!

Tinkershell is the bomb. We'll keep our fingers crossed that you don't suffer a similar fate....because four years old is the optimum age for autograph collecting.

[disneydiva0729]

YAY!! Keep it coming, Keep it coming!! This is a story that I may tell my grandkids someday.... if I ever have them... or kids at that

[Peter Panic Attack]

Chpt 21 - Yup...we're still at MK

I believe it was 17th century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer who wrote “to overcome difficulties is to experience the full delight of existence”….or was that Arthur Fonzarelli, the leather jacketed high school drop-out, turned auto mechanics teacher, from the popular 1970’s sitcom “Happy Days.” I always get those two mixed up. Well, whichever one it was…..and I’m kind of leaning towards the Fonz here…he was totally full of refurbishment, because losing that autograph book didn’t feel very much like the full delight of existence to me. But it did serve a purpose…because now we had gotten our mistakes out of our system. Yup, I was pretty sure it was going to be smooth sailing from here on out.

We were in the afternoon part of the day which meant we could stow Tinkershell’s non-negotiable itinerary and just go wherever the trade winds carried us. Well, I can't speak for the trade winds.....but I had a hankering for the Haunted Mansion something fierce. Actually, I enjoy the HM more than the rest of the family....which means that at some point in the trip I typically have to hold my breath......and sometimes I can get dangerously purple before I get my way.

The reason the kids aren't huge fans is they haven't trusted us with anything scary ever since we showed them “Ghostbusters” when they were little. Tinkershell and I had watched it years before and we only remembered that there were funny pudgy ghosts in that movie....so we went to great lengths to assure our young'uns that "Ghostbusters" was a light-hearted romp and that they had nothing to fear. About 10 minutes into the picture, a librarian ghost turns into a devilish banshee and springs at the screen with black eyes and needle sharp teeth. At this point, our wee tikes felt we had misled them......and henceforth banished us from their circle of trust.

Pal Mickey, on the other hand, doesn’t like HM because all the screaming teens in the stretching room hurt his delicate over-sized ginormous ears. Plus, at the end of the ride, the hitchhiking ghost appears to be sitting in his lap....and then I tease Pal Mickey about his new girlfriend....and then Pal Mickey punches me in the arm....but with very little effect because his tiny fists are filled with fluff.

Long story short (too late), I got my ride on HM. It was pretty cool too because they had made some changes since our last vacation. Now, normally I detest change, but these weren’t too bad. They had upgraded the sound in the stretching room so the ghostly voice seemed to float around you. Even Pal Mickey thought that was neat....until he was deafened a few minutes later by screaming teens. They also added a staircase with ghostly footsteps and bride who had murdered a bunch of husbands for money....which some people might find disturbing....but I feel is a valuable public-service announcement regarding the dangers inherent in carrying too much life insurance.

After HM, we decided to split up. That was not a decision we made lightly, because normally we are thick as thieves at WDW. On rare occasions in the past, we have found it necessary to go our separate ways....usually when Tinkershell and DD Woobie were obsessed about a particular princess autograph and decided they were going to track her down....no matter the cost... to themselves or the princess for that matter. This time, they wanted to ride “Stitch”....and DS Buddy and I just weren’t feeling that ride.....because it’s no good.....and it stinks. So we bid them adieu and headed over to Buzz to use up our fastpasses from earlier in the morning. Now, I'm always a bit nervous about using fastpasses outside of their printed return time.....so I was careful when I handed them to the CM not to make eye contact....and then I stuck my hands in my pocket and started to whistle real nonchalant-like...you know...so he wouldn't suspect anything.

Anyway, after administering DS another sound drubbing on Buzz, we proceeded to our designated rendezvous point ..which was Carousel of Progress. DS and I arrived first, so we grabbed a bench and sat a spell...or took a load off if you prefer. Not too much later, we spotted the woman folk approaching. Is it just me or does DD Woob look shorter? Turns out....on the Stinkin’ Stitch ride....the contraptions on Woob’s seat that are supposed to stop when they touch the top of her delicate shoulders....kept on going, until she was compressed into a tiny crumpled ball of Woobie. Suprisingly, she didn't enjoy that.

Our little accordion-shaped Woobie wearing her new Carousel of Progress tiara


Since we were already in the neighborhood, we decided to hit Carousel of Progress and Tomorrowland Transit Authority. In my opinion, these two attractions are the litmus test for how bad you've got the WDW bug. If you know all the words to "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" and you think "Paging Mr. Morrow...Mr. Tom Morrow" is one of the top five funniest lines you've ever heard......you've got it bad.

In our case....it's terminal.

Chpt 22 - Yup...we're still....still at MK

[Peter Panic Attack]

Originally Posted by disneydiva0729

YAY!! Keep it coming, Keep it coming!! This is a story that I may tell my grandkids someday.... if I ever have them... or kids at that

All I ask is that you name your first child Peter.....even if its a girl.

[shebaxric]

Look what I miss when I go on vacation with no internet access! Great updates!! I love the fact that Tinkershell did everything humanly possible to try and get that autograph book back, it hurt me to find out that someone else would just take something that wasn't theirs. . .

I must confess that I have the WDW bug really bad! I overheard some co-workers talking today, one of them stating that she was going to WDW with her daughters FOR THE FIRST TIME!! I jumped out of my seat and wormed my way into the conversation, telling her everything that she could possibly need to know about going. After the initial shock of my interrupting her conversation, she was delighted and now has a fully planned itinerary. The DIS boards feeds my WDW needs for the most part, but when someone who has never been is going, they must not go without a plan! The Tinkershells of the world unite in non-negotionable itineraries!

P.S. Okay, I have to ask the obvious question, is your avatar your dog dressed up for Halloween?

[Peter Panic Attack]

Originally Posted by shebaxric

Look what I miss when I go on vacation with no internet access! Great updates!! I love the fact that Tinkershell did everything humanly possible to try and get that autograph book back, it hurt me to find out that someone else would just take something that wasn't theirs. . .

I must confess that I have the WDW bug really bad! I overheard some co-workers talking today, one of them stating that she was going to WDW with her daughters FOR THE FIRST TIME!! I jumped out of my seat and wormed my way into the conversation, telling her everything that she could possibly need to know about going. After the initial shock of my interrupting her conversation, she was delighted and now has a fully planned itinerary. The DIS boards feeds my WDW needs for the most part, but when someone who has never been is going, they must not go without a plan! The Tinkershells of the world unite in non-negotionable itineraries!

P.S. Okay, I have to ask the obvious question, is your avatar your dog dressed up for Halloween?

I was wondering where you went. I'm glad to hear you are reaching out to the less fortunate non-dissers of this world and helping them put together a workable plan.

And....as for the dog....we have a pug ...but he's not the one in my avatar. I just felt the picture captured his essence.

[msgrimm23]

im in love with it so far sorry it took me so long to check it out

[Peter Panic Attack]

Originally Posted by msgrimm23

im in love it so far sorry it took me so long to check it out

Welcome...don't worry about being late.....I'm a little slow.

[RunningGirl]

"Paging Mr. Morrow... Mr. Tom Morrow. Your party from Saturn has arrived. Please give them a ring." DS and I actually dream of riding TTA for an hour straight sometime.

Yep, and we have the They Might Be Giants version of GBBT on our iPods. We're with ya.