Trip Report
Mr. E vs The Happiest Place on Earth. With pics!
|
Tuesday January 15, 2013 8:08pm
|
|
True Story:
An eager young 8-year-old boy pressed his nose up against the car window. Excitement was rising. It had been a long, long drive from Washington state to California. After all those restless hours in the car, this was it! The gates to the Magic Kingdom were in sight! The family parks the car. The boy's step-dad gets out of the vehicle... and proceeds to light up a joint. Within minutes... Disneyland security throws the entire family off the lot.
Having never set foot in the park, the boy never returned...
Until now....
Righting the wrongs of the universe, one misdemeanor at a time...
I present to you...
Mr E at Disneyland.
Regardless of the fact that Mr E is cagey about crowds, children, noise and non-climbing related fun or happy places in general...I intended to fix this childhood travesty. For his 51st birthday... he was going to Disneyland...even if it killed him.
Reticent hard-man E got the full tour...
Trams:
Main street USA:
The Magic Castle:
Tomorrowland.
Star Tours, Space Mountain and Autopia. Evidently a freezing cold Monday in January is the perfect time to go if you don't want to wait in lines BTW.
After that, I dragged him around to see the usual suspects:
The Matterhorn:
Took in the sights.
Big thunder Mountain (closed for renovations)
Submarines
Ship
...and there was no way in hell he was getting away without wearing the damn ears.
Jungle Tour , Indiana Jones, & the Treehouse:
A nice lunch at the Blue Bayou
Mr. E meets the Pirates (kinda cool freaky shots from taking pics in the dark)
Mr E rubs elbows with the Disney stars
Chauffeurs before his wild ride with Mr. Toad:
Mr. E was a terrifically good sport. He seemed to have a good time, and lasted a whole half a day before getting cranky, demanding his binky and having to be carried back to the car all tuckered out. :)
The End.
justthemaid
|
|
About the Author
justthemaid is a climber from Jim Henson's Basement. |
Comments
Michelle
Social climber
1187 Hunterwasser
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 08:12pm PT
|
too cute!
|
|
hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 08:55pm PT
|
Brutal, Tough--anyone who can do this is a keeper for sure.
|
|
SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:00pm PT
|
I don't believe it. What a classy TR. Glad he's only 51....there was a lot of energy expended for that trip
Susan
|
|
Captain...or Skully
climber
Boise, ID
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:17pm PT
|
Whoa. That's some scary sh#t, right there.
|
|
prickle
Gym climber
globe,az
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:19pm PT
|
yur gunna die?
|
|
Jingy
climber
Random Nobody
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:23pm PT
|
Fantastic!!!
I thought for sure this was a story being told many years after the fact by a third person, then got the greatest punchline ever: Stepped out of the card and lit up a joint… within minutes security had tossed the whole family….
There is just no chillin out in the magic kingdom… oh the humanity, and what a total travesty for the young mister e…
glad to have been around to read the conclusion to that story.
Cheers
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Author's Reply
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:24pm PT
|
Probably scarier than R/X runout to a guy like Erik. He handled it well.
... and no.. they are definitely not weed-friendly there. The cameras are everywhere and no one want's the humiliation of being locked in Disney-jail. . I had a Disney-fanatic friend get caught hunkered down, hiding in his car trying to get a little puff in. They cancelled his season pass and tossed him out.
|
|
Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:25pm PT
|
I hope you took a rest day, you deserved it!
How did you find parking????
Way to SHRED THE GNAR!!!
-E
|
|
Reeotch
climber
4 Corners Area
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:27pm PT
|
One question . . .
Did you guys light up a joint before you went in?
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:39pm PT
|
Okay, the Blue Bayou--wuz Linda Ronstadt there?
hee hee hee. . .
And he didn't even get to climb the Matterhorn!!!!
thanks for sharin' maidy
|
|
paganmonkeyboy
climber
mars...it's near nevada...
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 09:59pm PT
|
dude you are so wearing those ears to sushifest, right ?
|
|
nutjob
Sport climber
Almost to Hollywood, Baby!
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 10:05pm PT
|
This is pretty cute, and patching up a nice hole from childhood trauma!
I instantly thought of this:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
|
|
MisterE
Gym climber
Small Town with a Big Back Yard
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 11:03pm PT
|
Yes, it's true...
I had a blast! It was a cold Monday, and like Maidy said: probably one of the best days to go. Probably didn't hurt that a few of the big attractions were shut down.
I must correct the wife:
Reticent, yes. Hard-man, knott.
Thanks, Honey!
:)
|
|
zBrown
Ice climber
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 10:27pm PT
|
Bravo
|
|
rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 10:32pm PT
|
Did you find the diaper changing facilities adequate...?
|
|
MisterE
Gym climber
Small Town with a Big Back Yard
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 10:50pm PT
|
Depends...
|
|
happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 10:57pm PT
|
I've never been to Disneyland myself - this makes me want to... But first I need someone to subject to...er, I mean share the experience with.
|
|
Bad Acronym
climber
Little Death Hollow
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 11:10pm PT
|
Next time just drop acid.
Been there, done that.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Author's Reply
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 11:27pm PT
|
Next time just drop acid.
Been there, done that.
er...Yup.
Moving the old light parade to California Adventure... yet another travesty... for future generations of hallucinogen users that is. Toon Town was but a small consolation.
but I digress.
Edit to add: Not that I would know anything about that... Mom... if you are reading... :)
2nd Edit to add:
"Depends"
buh-dum *(cymbal)*
HA-ha
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 11:32pm PT
|
Getting it done! You guys are on a roll.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Outside the Asylum
|
|
|
|
Jan 15, 2013 - 11:41pm PT
|
Conclusive proof that the magic kingdom is best experienced in the company of an eight year old! (In spirit, anyway.)
|
|
Fletcher
Boulder climber
Institute of Better Bouldering-DirtbagDad Division
|
|
|
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 03:05am PT
|
Awesome! Love this report... you two are way high on the creative spectrum!
For my 50th last year, that's where we went. When you have three young kids plus are a 50 year old kid yerself, where else could I have possibly wanted to go? Spent three days and two nights at the Disneyland Hotel and had a complete blast. Was a tad warmer since it was May!
Only problem is now all the kids think that you get to stay at Disneyland for three days for their birthdays!
Not my first time by far, since my wife is ex-Diz from back in the day. Plus her Mom lives about 15 minutes away so access is easy. Literally due west in a straight line by about a block. You can see the fireworks every night from Grandma's street.
If you want warm temps and low crowds, we always go for the day on the last Saturday in August. It's usually pretty quiet because everyone is gearing up for back to school and done with vacations plus Saturdays are blacked out for most season pass holders.
I always enjoy the people watching. You get to see a cross section of some kind of America that I (at least) don't get to see every day. :-)
Thanks for the great report!
Eric
|
|
rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
|
|
|
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 07:55am PT
|
Mr. E looks like he behaved very well...? Did giving him a spanking help...?
|
|
J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
|
|
|
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 11:33am PT
|
Nice! I thought they shut down Mr. Toad's? Good to see it is running still. Quality TR.
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
|
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 02:07pm PT
|
Mr E's Wild Ride!Oh yeah, that's the stuff!
And on a fashion note, nice tasteful mini mouse red and white poka dots, JTM!
|
|
Gal
Trad climber
going big air to fakie
|
|
|
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 02:30pm PT
|
Adorable TR, thanks for the report... sounds as though "the man" is ruling the magic kingdom with an iron fist... ;-)
|
|
Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
|
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 04:00pm PT
|
Nice report. It's wild you'd never been there. I grew up in Orange County so we could and did go fairly often. Now that I live in LA, it's no problem taking my three kids either. Can't imagine missing out on that as a kid. I think getting that familiarity earlier in life helped ingrain it as a special place to me despite, what is now, a clear acknowledgement of what a corporate money extracting machine it truly is. Still have a great time despite how much lighter my wallet is when I leave.
Glad you were able to check that off your list.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Author's Reply
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 08:54pm PT
|
@Fatdad
I'm in your camp. Erik (my husband) is the one who grew up out of state. I grew up in LA. My family went to Disneyland pretty regularly. In college I had friends working there and got in free or cheap so I'd go to Disneyland at the drop of a hat (pre-climbing when I had no life).
In spite of the "corporate money extracting machine" aspect of it... I still felt pretty nostalgic about the visit. It had probably been 10 years since I was last there. I got into climbing on weekends. The friends stopped working there and when they cleaved off California Adventure and raised the prices it seemed to dilute the experience so I stopped going.
There was some major sticker-shock over the current ticket price BTW. Not sure how Joe-Blow affords to take his kids there these days.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Author's Reply
|
Jan 16, 2013 - 11:34pm PT
|
Jaybro: And on a fashion note, nice tasteful mini mouse red and white poka dots, JTM!
and on a personal note... I live for a positive fashion review from the Taco fashion police.
Jaybro can be so catty sometimes ;)
|
|
Fletcher
Boulder climber
Institute of Better Bouldering-DirtbagDad Division
|
|
I love Dada! A fried sent that CD to us when we were living in Hong Kong and I fell in love with it. My wife worked for Disney there at the time so that's why she sent it (to keep on TR topic!).
She didn't work for the theme park side (she was in consumer products) but as an employee we got into Disneyland for free and got the 30% discount on everything else in the park. Now that that she's ex-Diz, we gotta pay for the full ride too. Wallet emptying, yes, but we still have fun. It's kind of like crack. And I love the people watching.
I have a funny story about returning another defective Dada CD in Hong Kong, but that's for some other thread. :-)
Eric
|
|
BASE104
Social climber
An Oil Field
|
|
The rotating tea cups are the best ride at Disneyland. Trade in all of your tickets and do the tea cups until you send a spray of spew across the entire ride.
|
|
k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
|
|
I came very close to doing just that--spewing across the swirling floor of the Tea Cups.
The other three in our cup were intent on spinning it as fast as they could. And spin it they did. The crowds on aligned against the sides of the ride cheered each time we went past, we were spinning like a top I suppose.
And, I suppose it didn't help that we were all high as kites, and not just from the joint we sparked on Tom Sawyer's Island... And to think, that was just a few years ago when I was a senior in High School. Ho dear...
|
|
JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
What a fun TR! Thanks -- I really needed this today.
John
|
|
tornado
climber
lawrence kansas
|
|
|
|
Nov 12, 2013 - 02:18pm PT
|
bump
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Author's Reply
|
Feb 27, 2016 - 05:34pm PT
|
Bump. There's a whole lotta Disney front page. Thought I'd run with it :)
|
|
johntp
Trad climber
Punter, Little Rock
|
|
|
|
Feb 27, 2016 - 06:05pm PT
|
Sweet TR
Ghey? Or just pretty?
edit: a good fun TR. Thanks JTM
|
|
Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
|
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2016 - 09:37am PT
|
Nice report, Thanks! Back in the day I was offered a climbing job in Disneyland on the Matterhorn. They used to have a climber or two wearing lederhosen and one of those hats with a big feather yodeling and moving around on the Matterhorn in view of people. They actually had routes on it and I believe a topo. 5.7 was the hardest. I don't know if they still have it and I didn't take the job, only because I lived too far away at the time. My friend worked there and gave me the tip about the job which I could have had.....and wish I did.
|
|
cotuclimber
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2016 - 11:25pm PT
|
No photo on top of the Matterhorn?
Great report.
|
|
clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
|
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2016 - 06:25am PT
|
I was inspired to google Goofy climbing ;)
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Author's Reply
|
Feb 29, 2016 - 08:27am PT
|
Speaking of lederhosen...MisterE totally rocks the look BTW...
|
|
Bobbleseth
Trad climber
Utah
|
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2016 - 08:29am PT
|
"No photo on top of the Matterhorn?"
They probably got it shut down along with their long list of other areas.
|
|
clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
|
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2016 - 10:32am PT
|
Speaking of lederhosen...MisterE totally rocks the look BTW...
Thank God there is no kilt shots.
|
|
JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2016 - 12:43pm PT
|
Remember that Chuck Wilts designed climbing routes on the Disneyland Matterhorn. When I was at Berkeley, the U.C. Hiking Club archives had a copy of the Summit magazine article describing it.
John
|
|
Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
|
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2016 - 01:19pm PT
|
Awesomeness! I have a climber friend who has never been to DL for the same reasons as Erik. Wish I could pull it off like you JTM. Killer TR. :)
|
|
MisterE
Gym climber
Small Town with a Big Back Yard
|
|
|
|
Feb 29, 2016 - 03:45pm PT
|
She did make it super fun, Lynne.
Edibles are much safer than the alternative in Disneyland - just sayin'
;^)
|
|
|
 |
|
Recent Trip Reports
- The Kohala Ditch Trail: 36ish hrs on foot... to and from the headwaters. [5 of 5]
May 31, 2019; 11:57pm
- A Winter Traverse of the California section of the PCT Part 8
May 31, 2019; 11:18pm
- Supertopo,A trip report for posterity
May 31, 2019; 11:00pm
- Balch Fest 2013. Two Days in and Around and On The Flake. The Official Trip Report
May 31, 2019; 10:57pm
- TR: My visit to the Canoe
May 31, 2019; 10:24pm
- Death, Alpine Climbing, The Shield on El Cap
May 31, 2019; 4:07pm
- Andy Nisbet (1953-2019)
May 31, 2019; 2:11pm
- Drama on Baboquivari Peak
May 31, 2019; 1:19pm
- Joffre + The Aemmer Couloir: ski descents come unexpected catharsis [part 2]
May 31, 2019; 7:45am
- Lost To The Sea, by Disaster Master
May 30, 2019; 5:36am
- My Up And Down Life, Disaster Master
May 29, 2019; 11:44pm
- Halibut Hats and Climbers-What Gives?
May 29, 2019; 7:24pm
- G Rubberfat Overhang-First Ascent 1961
May 29, 2019; 12:28pm
- Coonyard Pinnacle 50 Years Later
May 29, 2019; 12:24pm
- Great Pumpkin with Mr Kamps and McClinsky- 1971
May 29, 2019; 12:02pm
- View more trip reports >
|
