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Well i have a great one this morning, Dr. Jones.
Very difficult to put into mere words the wonderful experience i had at 'Tony's River Run' yesterday morning.
As readers here are aware, i decided to try for a better on-ride photo with Mr. Baxter's laminated photo. Boy am i glad i did.
Having Splash Mountain go 101 the other night was actually a blessing in disguise, as it meant i had to come back the next day and try again. Because of this, i had a memorable moment that i would have otherwise surely missed.
Not only did i get to have a great experience trying to capture the perfect pic, i also had a wonderful interaction with the CM manning the photo pick up booth afterwards.
I had to ride four times in a row to get a photo that did not have hands or hats blocking my face or 'Tony' during the drop. You really had to have the 'right' combination of passengers in the log to hit the right image where you were not being blocked.
Thankfully there was minimal wait since it was so early in day. Pretty much walk-on...but each repeat ride added a slightly longer wait to load.
I think i can safely say now i have conquered my often present fear of that faster 'big drop' here on the Original.
Yay! So that in itself was a nice little personal victory.
I have to admit it was also rather surreal to ride this non-stop during that 35 minute spat with 'Tony'.
I mean, how many can say that ?
"I rode Splash Mountain with Tony Baxter"...!
Well...i sorta did...uh...yeah, kind of...
After i finally scored the perfect photo i went to pick it up and the REAL fun began.
The woman i met at the photo booth turned out to be someone who knew Tony and has had several encounters with him.
She spotted my Fan Club pin and immediately wanted to start talking to me about him.
I have to say i have never heard someone speak so warmly about another being than i did yesterday morning.
It was actually both reassuring and uplifting.
She clearly understood this personality on a deeper level then your average casual fan.
When we started talking about his recent activities, she was fully aware of what he has been up to.
When the topic came up regarding his Main Street window, i was touching on the events of how it was presented to him at D23.
She then held out her arm from behind the counter to show me the goosebumps she had just being reminded of that moment.
Wow.
Yes, it was quite moving to see that kind of reaction from someone.
We could have easily stood there and talked all afternoon, but the line behind me was starting to pile up and we both knew this.
I will say however that 20 minutes we had together talking about Mr. Baxter were quite memorable.
Nice to meet someone with the same affection and deep respect for the man and his accomplishments.
This venture has had his influence in a major way and his presence has certainly been at the forefront. This experience was a highlight...and now i have not only a better photo from the ride, but i now have this wonderful experience connected to it after meeting her.
Just yet another example how it is the CMs who make the magic happen.
Sure the experience i had riding the attraction was great, and the keepsake photo is awesome, but it is the interaction i had with HER that will be the lasting memory of that experience.
Later i shall talk about other neat 'happy accidents'.....like seeing Indiana Jones himself waiting in the Single Riders line at 'his' attraction ( i kid you not)...watching fireworks over 'Tony's Mountain' instead of the Castle ( hey, ya have to during a Tony Baxter Tour of Disneyland!) and becoming a 'Honorary Citizen of Disneyland' last night in Tomorrowland.
Oh...can i just say i love the Subs at night..???
