We got to go to Disney World for my birthday this year. It was my third year in a row, so I'm going to push to make it an annual tradition. Anywho, it was very fun. Do you want to know why it was fun, aside from the fact that IT'S DISNEY WORLD?!! Well, I shall tell you. My loverly sister, Sis, is working at Disney in their college program this year! Yeah, I know it's cool. Even cooler, she has an awesome job! Guess where she works! Go on, guess!
Did you guess?
Good. If you guessed Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios, congratulations! You are correct! To be more specific, she works the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Fantasmic lights show, and the High School Musical parade. Now, I'll let you all in on a little secret: I love the Twilight Zone. Rod Serling is a super fantastic guy, I'm just sayin'. So, I got the super-duper-mega-awesome birthday treat of a lifetime when we rode Tower of Terror.
It started out with us heading over to the ride. We were planning on getting the incredibly handy Fast Passes, which would enable us to go through a shorter line for the ride. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, there were sadly no more Tower Fast Passes left. This did not dampen our spirits, however, because we had a family member working the ride, which would certainly give us the power to cut through the line without a pass. We were right! It just so happened that one of Sis's friends were working the entrance, and he gave us Fast Passes! Convenient! Plus, he was from Brazil, I think, and so he had a really cool accent!
So, we got to trot our way right to the front of the line, where we were seated in the front of the ride vehicle. Only being my third time on the ride ever, I was a little nervous, and my dad's paranoia did not help (he hates thrill rides, and we only got him on Tower because Sis works there). But, it was super fun, as I knew it would be, deep down, and when it was done, the elevator doors opened, and there was Sis, in her super-cool bellhop costume (Did you know the Tower castmember costumes in the most expensive complete costume in Disney World? It's over $1,000!!!! It includes pants, two short sleeve tops, two long sleeve tops, a trenchcoat, a hat, a shoulder-whistle-chord-thing, and shoes! Just a little tidbit! The hat alone costs $50!!!). We got off the ride, and she told us to stay there until she was done inspecting the vehicle, and she had a surprise for me. Oh, what a surprise it was! I got to put on her hat and greet the next batch of guests when the doors opened. They thought it was hilarious. I kind of did, too. Here's how it went:
Me: Welcome back, ladies gentlemen. I hope you enjoyed your stay! Check out is right this way!
Guests: *hysterical laughter*
Me: *bashfully pulling off the hat and shoving it back on Sis's head to offer explanation for what was going on*
They probably thought that I was a terminally ill child, or something.
Then, we got to go into Tower Control. This is where they watch everything happening on the ride, to make sure that nobody is dying, or something awful like that. They can stop the ride at any time, which they demonstrated to us! (Those poor guests...) Watching the moniters of people riding was fun. You could see their hair fly up above their heads when they dropped! Another tidbit: The Tower of Terror is safer than a regular elevator. It is inspected daily, and very thoroughly, at that. Not many regular elevators can boast that, now, can they? Another cool fact: There may or may not be a cardboard cutout of Rod Serling wearing a lei in Tower Control. I can't prove it, because they don't allow photographs in there, but I know in my heart that it was real! And it was beautiful. *wipes eyes*
Moving beyond Tower, I also love the Haunted Mansion. Alas, no backstage tour there, but it was still incredible. I've decided that someday, when I'm rich and famous, I'm building my own replica of the Haunted Mansion, and living in it. Until then, I have Ray Keim to tide me over. I've already completed my Liberty Square paper model, and created my very own paper model of the Stretching Room. I will send in some pictures for his gallery soon, so watch for them!
Until then, remember: At the signpost up ahead, you've entered...The Twilight Zone. Baaaa-da-da-da-da-dum!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment