Disney and Me

Intro

This book is about my experiences with Disney Parks, especially those in Anaheim. Just to be clear on where the perspective is coming from, this isn't some 50-year old Disneyland aficionado, nor is it some 6-year-old copying and pasting from Wikipedia. This is a Disneyland aficionado, but at an age probably more representative of this app's age group. I'm a high school kid from Southern California who has the misfortune of being in a military family while also being a huge Disneyland nerd. The military family part isn't really misfortune, but it sucks when I try to explain Disneyland to people and they're totally with me as I talk about everything. Then, they ask if I've been on Rock'N'Roller Coaster when I was there. It wouldn't drive me so crazy if sometimes people asked about Mission: Space, Expedition Everest, or Philharmagic, but it's always Rock'N'Roller Coaster.

Anyways, I grew up alongside California Adventure. DCA is only a few months older than me. When I went through the awkward preteen phase, DCA was having its guts shifted around too. Paradise Pier was redone. Cars Land was built. Sunshine Plaza disappeared, but Buena Vista Street took its place. The cover picture wasn't just chosen because it's a cool dead ride. I think there is perhaps no ride more iconic of my relationship with Disney Parks than the Maliboomer. In retrospect, it wasn't that great of a ride. It was literally the Tower of Terror, but not in a hotel-shaped box and with no strong theming. I measured my life not in years, but inches, waiting to finally go on Maliboomer. I got one shot. I can point to that moment, looking down at the construction of The Little Mermaid, seeing all the glorious destruction going on in Paradise Pier, as one of the happiest of my life.

So, to sum it up, I'm a teenage Disney geek who loves thrill rides. I'm not a Disney Parks "traditionalist." I think rides like Storybook Land are stupid, and they should be replaced pronto. I don't have a frame of reference for rides like the Skyway and the original Submarine Voyage. I grew up alongside DCA at Disneyland. I've been to Anaheim parks many times, and 3 of 4 Orlando parks, but I've read up on the parks I've missed. I think Paris seems fairly similar to Disneyland and Hollywood Studios, but with a weird Tomorrowland. Tokyo Disneyland seems like a clone of Disneyland, but Tokyo DisneySea is awesome. Hong Kong's best stuff is their new stuff. Shanghai is small, but ridiculously cool. Through this book I hope to be informative as I tell you about the various Disney Parks. I hope to be humorous through my storytelling and blatant Pro-Anaheim bias.

- Padsquad2010