Well...
Where's the show??
Begun the show has. And seeing as you're from northern Utah, you should recognize my jacket. Brigham Young University Class of 2000.
The Happiest Birthday on Earth: Episode II
So now let's set our wayback machine to a new date. Namely February 2009.
As you may remember from prior reports that I am an accountant, like my father before me. This also means that trips to Disneyland don't happen in tax season even if my birthday falls in February. I was fully prepared that my dream visit on my birthday in February 2008 that featured a visit to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank a couple of days later would be a one time deal and I was fine with that. But before tax season really picked up, I decided to take a one day trip to Disneyland before my annual pass expired.
I mentioned this in passing to my mother and she asked why I wasn't going down on my birthday for the free admission or birthday gift card promotion on your birthday that Disneyland was offering in 2009. I replied that it was tax season, to which she turned to my dad (also my boss) and told him that she thought I should go. After all, how often does Disney give you a birthday present like that? When my dad didn't protest, I asked if that would be okay with him. After all since my birthday fell on a Friday in mid February, it wasn't too busy yet. Since I had proven the year before that I would put in the work necessary, my dad agreed and my one day quick trip became a 2 day birthday visit. Huzzah!!!
One thing to understand about me. For whatever reason, I've never really been a big birthday person. One year in college my roommates couldn't believe it when they found out at the end of the day that it had been my birthday. But somehow that all changes at Disneyland. I don't really know why. So on the morning of February 13, 2009, I spend my second consecutive birthday in the Happiest Place on Earth where my first thrilling and exciting stop is: City Hall.
Why City Hall do you ask? First I need to get my birthday button and birthday fun card. And second I've decided that I want to see Princess Aurora on my birthday. City Hall is friendly as always, even making mouse ear balloons next to my name. However, they did give me a piece of information that I didn't want. The only place to see Princess Aurora in the parks today is the dreaded Princess Fantasy Faire or as I like to call it, Disney Princess Russian Roulette. Why does this meet and greet drive me mad? Because I really only want to see one princess and the line for this meet and greet can get really long, really fast and may well end up with my turn coming to find that there are 3 random princesses, none of whom are famous for having hair of golden sunshine.
So with that news, I proceed to Fantasyland where I decide that my first attraction of the day will be the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. Yes, I'm going to spend that precious morning ride time in an attraction that will not have a line for the entire day. But it's my birthday, and I really want to see the recently reopened walkthrough in all its glory. And now comes the moment of decision. Do I play Disney Princess Russian Roulette which will open in just a few minutes? I head over to the area and find that just a few minutes before opening, the line remains short. Figuring that I don't have much to lose, I opt to get in line. Worst case scenario, I'll only lose 15-20 minutes if my turn comes and Aurora isn't there.
In just a few minutes, the cast members arrive and we begin the walk to the queue. The princesses will be coming soon. The buzz and excitement all around me build. People cannot wait to see the princesses. Younglings bounce off the walls and chains that form the queue. Autograph books. Check. Pens ready and full of ink. Check. Wait, we don't have an autograph book? Quick, let's send dad in the Batmobile to the nearest gift shop to get one. And then we come to me. All by myself, I wait, hoping that my wait ends happily. It is during this wait, that I overhear a story that sums up why I really wish Disneyland would end the insanity of Disney Princess Russian Roulette.
A family behind me has once again entered into the breach. Many days have they spent in Disneyland. And their daughter wants one thing. See Cinderella she must. And so this family has tried. Oh how they've tried. They went to the Princess Fantasy Faire on the first day. No such luck. Again on the second day they try. And again they fail. They even have lunch at Ariel's Grotto. And guess who isn't there? So they again play Disney Princess Russian Roulette. And again they lose. You can hear the frustration in their voices. It's reached a point where the princesses recognize this little girl because they've seen her. A lot. And still no Cinderella. This is their last day and this little girl's last chance. As they inch closer to the start of the line, they send a scout to see what he can find out. The cast members, as usual, give their "it's a surprise" answer. You know, sometimes I hate that answer. But then the scout catches a glimpse. He comes back to report that there's al girl in a yellow dress, a blue dress, and a pink dress.
The excitement level in this area has now really gone through the roof. There are audible sighs of relief, muttered statements of "finally," and one very excited little girl. As for me I'm hopeful that the sighting of a girl in a pink dress means that Aurora will be there. And finally after 15-20 minutes, my turn comes. I turn the corner and there she is. The Princess Aurora. Upon seeing my button she wishes me a happy birthday. And upon seeing my shirt, she comments that she remembers when they took that portrait of her and comments that she's been trying to get Merryweather to change her dress back to blue, but Flora won't let her. I laugh and tell her that I agree with Merryweather. Aurora then teaches me to stand like a Prince. The Force is with me on my birthday.
Dear Disney, please watch Sleeping Beauty again. Aurora's dress is blue far more often than it's pink. Stop toying with the magic of such a fun ending by never showing her in blue.
Having seen Princess Aurora, I see no need to remain any longer at the Princess Fantasy Faire. Somebody else can have their turn now. I've seen the one princess I really wanted to see. Attractions wait for me to ride them. There's a birthday fun card with my name written on it. And a free character photo in California Adventure on account of my Disney Visa. I head over there and it's Pluto. Yea! Pluto makes my top 10 Disney character list.
But on this day, one surprise remains. Rain. I reach a point where I head back to my hotel to change into dry clothes and put my camera away. But this rain is not a bad thing. The park is virtually empty. On a Friday night. I literally ride Splash Mountain all by myself 2 times in a row. And then I score a walk up reservation to the Blue Bayou where I will be eating for the first time.
The next day brings sunnier weather for which I'm quite happy. And it's now time to see the chipmunks, for whom I have very exciting news. Chip and Dale have made a habit out of examining my pins each time they see me. And each time, they scold me for not having a pin of them on my lanyard. I temporary placate them with a truthful explanation that I don't want to lose the pin of them as ewoks banging on a stormtrooper helmet. But since my last meeting with my favorite trouble making ewoks, I have procured a pin of them for my lanyard. But before the moment of truth arrives, we have a problem. Chip and Dale start to fight with each other. This is awesome! Why in the world would I say that Chip and Dale fighting with each other is awesome? Because this means that I'm meeting Chip and Dale. These are not people wearing costumes of chipmunks. Oh no, they really are Chip and Dale. This is how Chip and Dale behave.
The cast member tries to get them to behave, but behaving and Chip and Dale don't always go together so the fight continues.
Having had their fun, Chip and Dale decide I can now meet them.
And sure enough, they begin their examination of my lanyard and lo and behold, there near the bottom are the greatest chipmunks in the world. Dressed as ewoks banging on a stormtrooper helmet.
Why Bolt? Because Rhino is part hamster, 1/16th wolverine, and 1000% beAWESOME!!!! And yes, there's a little bit or maybe a whole lot of me in that character. Made the movie he did.
Two of my favorite places in all Disneyland.
And for the last moment of the day, it's time to see Mickey. I missed getting a picture with him yesterday on account of leaving my camera in my hotel. No trip to Disneyland is complete without seeing the mouse that started it all.
So while one trip comes to an end, the other is just a few parsecs away. And it will be a dream come true. If I can survive tax season, it's time to lay in a course for the Orlando system and Star Wars Weekends 2009.