[Andrea]

Well... it's 5:49am. My alarm was set for 5:45, but I've been up since 5. I didn't sleep well last night, because today I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!

It's a good thing I was up early. I put on my old camp t-shirt... still fits... kinda... and I'm rarin' to go. EXCEPT.... said camp t-shirt is sporting a stain on the front. Uh-oh... the iced tea incident of last Wednesday night appears to have had lasting consequence. So... out comes the bleach pen, into the washer goes the shirt, and what else am I going to do with my time but start my TR?

So... about that camp t-shirt. Today the rest of the staff and I descend upon the Happiest Place on Earth with about 20 kids, ages 10-17, of the Children's Civic Light Opera.

And about the apology... these are really great kids. Except... they're in a group. They'll be mostly unsupervised, as their parents have all signed permission slips that allow them to roam about alone with their friends. Yesterday I was regaled with tales of past Disneyland trips.

Let's just say that the science is absolutely right about how the judgement portion of the brain isn't fully matured until at least 21.

Yes, the worst of it is something about throwing ketchup packets at the snowman on the Matterhorn. Not life threatening, but really obnoxious. I did what I could to discourage this sort of behavior, but I don't think I made much of an impression. They're teenagers. They know everything.

So, if you happen to be at Disneyland today and see a kid wearing a "Fiddler on the Roof" T-shirt and he or she is being annoying/obnoxious/oblivious... I'm sorry. Really.

Ah... it's 5:58. Shirt is in the rinse cycle. I'll throw it in the dryer for a few moments, but I suspect it's going to have to dry on my commute. Then I'll get the kids in my carpool (I hit the carpool jackpot with fun, articulate kids), we'll drive to DL, spend an eternity waiting for our group rate tickets...

... and then it's STRAIGHT to PIRATES! And then to the HAUNTED MANSION!... and then wherever our little hearts desire!

I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!!

[Dana]

What a fun day you are going to have. I can't wait to hear everything!!!

[ingamba]

YES! It's not everyday that the greatest Trip Report writer writes a Trip Report. I'm settling in, this is going to be fun!

[llama]

Ah - teenagers! Aren't they just adorable!

Have lots of fun - we'll be waiting for the report!

[ingamba]

Originally Posted by Andrea

So, if you happen to be at Disneyland today and see a kid wearing a "Fiddler on the Roof" T-shirt and he or she is being annoying/obnoxious/oblivious... I'm sorry. Really.

"If I were a rich man" I'd fly out there right now and help you with those crazy kids.

[daisyd]

I bet you're in line for Splash about now, thinking about lunch...
I can't wait to hear about your day

[mickaholic4077]

Reading this is reminding me that in a month and a half I will be a chaperone for my church youth group for Night of Joy in the MK. I'm SO excited(yeah right!!). I hear that CM's try their darndest to get out of working Nights of Joy in the MK because the church youth groups can get rowdy. I have been to the event the past 2 years and I haven't seen anything remotely like any rowdy behavior,but I guess it is different if you work there.

[Andrea]

Ah... and I'm back to finish this off!

Friday, July 28th

Cast of Characters:

Me (Set & Costume Designer)
Diane (director of the Children’s Theater)
Allie (mid-20s, acting coach)
Katie (costuming assistant)
Rebecca (props assistant)
Random Parents
34 kids, ages 10-18

After making the drive from Simi to Culver City, I stopped at Rite Aid to pick up some necessities of the day: travel sized deodorant (so you may assure yourself that I always smelled sweet), travel toothpaste, travel Advil, and some 15spf lipbalm. I got to the parking lot of our space at about 7:20am, which was perfect since we were meeting between 7:45 and 8.

My camp t-shirt was still spread out across the back seat. Less damp, but not dry. This is the sort of information you won’t get in just any trip report.

[llama]

Whoa! I'm on the edge of my seat!

[ingamba]

Originally Posted by Andrea

My camp t-shirt was still spread out across the back seat. Less damp, but not dry. This is the sort of information you won’t get in just any trip report.

Much like a comment you made in your last TR. Something about you sitting down to eat on something that was a little on the wet side? And then you went on to say that certain parts of your anatomy were no longer dry and pristine?

Or am I making that up?

[Andrea]

Kids slowly trickled in, we did all of the business with carpool permission slips and blah blah blah. CD (I’m going to use the kids’ initials) will not be joining us for the day; we got a phone message from her father. Pay attention- this fact will become relevant later.

Here's some of the kids waiting for us to go.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by ingamba

Much like a comment you made in your last TR. Something about you sitting down to eat on something that was a little on the wet side? And then you went on to say that certain parts of your anatomy were no longer dry and pristine?

Or am I making that up?

I don't remember it, but it sounds like me.

[Andrea]

Diane handed out the directions to the carpool drivers… and thus it starts. Honestly, people, is the route we take to Disneyland THAT big of a deal? We’ve got one parent whose entire male ego appears to depend upon us taking the fastest route, no matter how minimal the difference. Geez.

We take the route we always take: I10 to I5. Straightforward. No problem. And it has nothing to do with the fact that the large bridge that is the 105 makes Diane a little nervous. :

We got going around 8:10, and traffic was an absolute breeze. I had a nice time in my car- I had two older boys, brothers, (playing Tevye and Perchik, for those of you familiar with Fiddler on the Roof), and Rebecca.

At 8:36 I announced that Disneyland had been open for 36 minutes, and that it was a complete travesty that we were still en route.

Yay! Disneyland Way!!!!!

[Andrea]

Parked in Daisy, 1A. And two things were very, very wrong. There was a disgusting mess on the parking lot floor in our spot. Someone’s old fast food. Completely gross… and they allowed that? Disneyland… I expect more from you! Also, parking went kind of slowly, which also surprised me, since Disneyland parking is usually so straightforward and efficient.

Diane honked at us as they passed to go to their parking spot. Hi, Diane! Hi, Diane’s carpool!

Tram from the parking lot to the plaza: completely uneventful.

[lovemysons]

Ok I am paying attention!!! Pleeaaaseee proceed!!