Definition Disney

DD [1]

Seven Year Old Girl in Critical Condition after "Big Thunder Mountain" Accident

Orlando, Florida

August 15th, 1999

by Ramone Pierce

To celebrate her seventh birthday, Avery More boarded one of Disney World's most popular rides with her mother. "Big Thunder Mountain" takes riders through and exciting, topsy-turvy adventure through mine shafts and ravines. Only, the ride is now temporarily closed due to the catastrophe that occurred yesterday afternoon. According to police, the attendant that normally watches the gas gauge for the fire blast portion of the attraction stepped away from their post. A leak in the tank caused more gasoline than needed to spill into the combustion chamber and sent a massive wave of fire towards the tracks holding twenty three riders. Witnesses recall Miss More to be leaning out of her seat to look at the river below when the fire struck the right side of her upper body. She has been transferred to Florida Hospital where she is being treated for her burns. Her mother has denied us any interviews and refuses to comment about the incident, though obviously shaken and upset.

I smooth the tattered newspaper clipping with my thumb, the aging ink rubbing onto my fingers. Every year, before we would sing 'Happy Birthday' Ma would sit me down at the dinner table with a box full of similar articles and make me read each and every one. Soon after the ice cream cake was stowed away in the freezer and Ma had several glasses of champagne too many, she would begin her epic monologue about how Disney and everything it stood for was evil.

"Look at what they did to you..." she would say with a disappointed frown, running her lacquered nails over the scars that run from the middle of my torso to the middle of my right cheek. "Look at what they caused."

I'm missing Ma's speech this year though. I'm missing Ma's speech because I'm standing in Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, selling miniature Simba dolls as a Walt Disney World intern.

In essence, it's all Ferris' fault. He was the one that got the job as a replacement for Prince Eric for the Disney World's Parades and convinced me to come along with him. I had come up with a laundry list of excuses of why going would be bad in every shape and form; the flaming reason being my mother, yet an entire summer with my boyfriend, who had moved several hours away a couple months before, sounded more appealing than spending countless days with my mother's book club ladies.

An elderly woman steps up to the counter, her gaze shifting between two Barbie edition princess dolls. "S'excuse me Miss?" she asks timidly, snapping me out of my daydream, "which is your favorite?"

In one hand is a girl with flowing tendrils of cherry red hair and in the other is a figure with a blue ball gown that has more detail than my dress for prom.

"I have to be honest with you," I exclaim, a blush growing on my cheeks. "I'm not really sure."

As soon as we landed in New York after the accident, Ma made sure that every Disney tape, storybook, costume and accessory was out in front of our porch for the next garbage collection. I grew up not knowing the difference between Minnie Mouse and Cinderella, Snow White and Aurora, or Ursula and Ariel.

The woman nods sympathetically and hobbles over to Beck's counter where Beck will probably try to convince her to buy both and secretly praise herself for ripping off a defenseless old lady. Soon enough, Beck launches into an explanation as to why the woman should buy Cinderella, Ariel and the special edition, collector's item Mickey Mouse ears that sit in their own exclusive case.

Outside of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the sun has already dipped below the horizon and the stars begin to reluctantly wake up. The night parade is over and Beck starts to help me close up after she's done selling three dolls, two necklaces and a light up toy to the old grandma.

"It's been one heck of a day, eh?" she says after we mull through our lock up routine. She rummages through her purse and whips out something wrapped tightly in orange Saran Wrap. "Happy birthday, kiddo."

She tosses the cupcake and I manage to catch it in my palm, a small smirk spreading across my face.

Walking through Disney World minus the people is something straight out of my nightmares. The vividly painted buildings and kiddie rides seem to direct their attention solely on me as I keep my chin tucked low while walking down Daisy Lane. The brightly lit street lamps do almost nothing to restrain the haunting darkness.

It was a whole different world at night.

I turn the corner and come face to face with the Dumbo ride, the gate ajar and a shadowy figure already inside the Timothy Mouse cart. Scurrying over to the entrance, I quickly slip inside and climb next to the person.

"Hey, stranger."

The figure turns, his grin glowing like the moon above. "Hey babe," says Ferris, placing a small paper bag in my lap. The silvery light from above casts shadows against his curly blond hair and he leans in to place a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Happy birthday."

We eat the midnight snack in the paper bag and recall our days. Ferris tells me that Pippa - the girl that plays Ariel In the parade - tripped today and nearly brought down this character and that character during the parade. I nod along as I if actually understand what he's saying. He asks if my mother has called and I shake my head. Eventually, a cool breeze passes over us and we find ourselves tangled in each other searching for warmth while gazing up at the stars.

That's when I saw them, eyes like melted gold. They were far too large to be human and beneath the eyes was a smile far too wide. A purple tail curls itself around the mysterious figure and slowly, the rest of the cat's body comes to view on the balloon cart no more than three feet away.

"Hello, Miss More," says the Cheshire Cat, its famous smile stretching across its furry, purple face.