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Dec. 23rd, 2008 12:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
senoritafishSo a week or two ago, Doug called to see if we wanted to go to the Mouse Place, and I told him we couldn't because the passes had expired the week before. He declared that was a perfect time for him to renew them (as what's become his traditional gift), and then we could watch the tradtional Dismal Xmas Show, which they only do the first or second weekends of December, with an orchestra and various choral groups from local schools and churches. I guess the kids can handle at least one performance of the Story, and we hadn't been to the Drive-Thru Nativity yet. So we met at the ticket windows (Doug was actually standing there buying them when we walked up), and handed one to each of us, me and the kids, that is. He also bought our parking and we will get ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
runsamuck's pass later ourselves. Which comes out to about even for paying him back the difference between the cheapest passes (which is what we did last year).
So we went in and the show was about to start, so we found ourselves a place to stand. Doug asked about how you get tickets for this - the only way to get a seat - and was told you have to spend at least $40 in one of the park restaurants and then they give you one. So I guess we'll be standing any time we watch this. The thing is most of the crowd is adults, and it's very hard for the kids to see anything, so I hold them piggy-back for five or ten minutes. It's getting harder to do this with Angus at all - he's an inch or two taller than my shoulder now. As a result, all of them get rather antsy, since they can't see anything, and geeze, didn't we come here for the rides?
So the choruses all troup in holding battery powered candles, the orchestra is already seated, all climb up various structures placed in front of the Main Street train station. The chorale in the center is all wearing green robes and stand in the shape of a tree with a lit star at the top. At certain points, when the music has to be especially dramatic, trumpeters in full Disney regalia come out on the train station roof to sound fanfares.
Interspersed through all the music is a celebrity reading the story; I think last year we heard Julie Andrews, this year it was John Stamos, although Doug had thought it was going to be Danny Glover. Now I don't mind hearing the story, and I enjoy the music; I just put all of my holiday music on the 'pod. The part I could do without, though, is the arrogance at the end about how this one man has influenced the world more than any other living being, and makes it sound like the entire world is Christian. Well, it isn't, and it's worldviews like that that get this country (and others) into trouble. I just started grinding my teeth through the epilogue.
Then it was over; we went to Star Tours because Doug's new beau Ivor had never been on it (being from Sweden) and then it was time for fireworks. Everyone in the park has to squeeze into Main St to see them and it's almost impossible to get anywhere while it's on. At the denouement of that show, they turn on the fake snow makers which shoot out little clumps of soap bubbles that stick to your hair and occasionally make you snort because you accidentally breathe them up your nose. Then they turn lights on the trees and Sleeping Beauty's Castle; lights being Southern California's version of icicles.
Doug has his own tradition of having go on the holiday version of Small World; the boys and I declined in favor of Pirates, but Avalon went off with Uncle Doug. I'm sorry, but Small World could be marketed as an alternative to ipecac, especially during the holidays. We met up at the Haunted Mansion later, because Angus MUST go on that every time. Didn't want his sister to ride by herself though; omg, scary!
Oh, and I forgot - the main reason I started writing this was Doug noticed Avalon's last name on her pass was the same as mine and assumed it must have been a mistake, so he had them change it. I'm sure I told him, but he was a bit dumbfounded, saying he didn't know. Oh well, she's seven, it's not like they check her ID at the gate.
(all pics except the crappy snow/tree one taken last year)
runsamuck's pass later ourselves. Which comes out to about even for paying him back the difference between the cheapest passes (which is what we did last year). So we went in and the show was about to start, so we found ourselves a place to stand. Doug asked about how you get tickets for this - the only way to get a seat - and was told you have to spend at least $40 in one of the park restaurants and then they give you one. So I guess we'll be standing any time we watch this. The thing is most of the crowd is adults, and it's very hard for the kids to see anything, so I hold them piggy-back for five or ten minutes. It's getting harder to do this with Angus at all - he's an inch or two taller than my shoulder now. As a result, all of them get rather antsy, since they can't see anything, and geeze, didn't we come here for the rides?So the choruses all troup in holding battery powered candles, the orchestra is already seated, all climb up various structures placed in front of the Main Street train station. The chorale in the center is all wearing green robes and stand in the shape of a tree with a lit star at the top. At certain points, when the music has to be especially dramatic, trumpeters in full Disney regalia come out on the train station roof to sound fanfares.
Interspersed through all the music is a celebrity reading the story; I think last year we heard Julie Andrews, this year it was John Stamos, although Doug had thought it was going to be Danny Glover. Now I don't mind hearing the story, and I enjoy the music; I just put all of my holiday music on the 'pod. The part I could do without, though, is the arrogance at the end about how this one man has influenced the world more than any other living being, and makes it sound like the entire world is Christian. Well, it isn't, and it's worldviews like that that get this country (and others) into trouble. I just started grinding my teeth through the epilogue.
Then it was over; we went to Star Tours because Doug's new beau Ivor had never been on it (being from Sweden) and then it was time for fireworks. Everyone in the park has to squeeze into Main St to see them and it's almost impossible to get anywhere while it's on. At the denouement of that show, they turn on the fake snow makers which shoot out little clumps of soap bubbles that stick to your hair and occasionally make you snort because you accidentally breathe them up your nose. Then they turn lights on the trees and Sleeping Beauty's Castle; lights being Southern California's version of icicles. Doug has his own tradition of having go on the holiday version of Small World; the boys and I declined in favor of Pirates, but Avalon went off with Uncle Doug. I'm sorry, but Small World could be marketed as an alternative to ipecac, especially during the holidays. We met up at the Haunted Mansion later, because Angus MUST go on that every time. Didn't want his sister to ride by herself though; omg, scary!
Oh, and I forgot - the main reason I started writing this was Doug noticed Avalon's last name on her pass was the same as mine and assumed it must have been a mistake, so he had them change it. I'm sure I told him, but he was a bit dumbfounded, saying he didn't know. Oh well, she's seven, it's not like they check her ID at the gate.
(all pics except the crappy snow/tree one taken last year)
