Can you tell that one of my favorite rides in Disneyland is Splash Mountain? It's most likely my favorite because it usually has the shortest line out of all of the "Big Kid" rides in Disneyland. Plus, I have to admit that I enjoy the catchy song, "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," even though I can't get it out of my head for the next few weeks after hearing it.
The ride has acquired the nickname of "Flash Mountain" due to the number of people who feel the need to flash the camera found at the exhilarating, jaw-dropping, and heart pounding drop. This camera sends the pictures to a television screen at the exit of the ride, and if you wish to, then you can buy the picture (Who would want a printed picture of them flashing a camera?). Witnessing the horror of people flashing the camera at the Happiest Place on Earth, Disney censors most of the...unflattering photographs of park guests. Yet, some of these...unflattering pictures find themselves on the television screen.
My friend, Matthew (Yes, the one I wrote about pranking at Disneyland before) brought his friend, Ethan, along with him on his trip to Anaheim over winter break this past year. Knowing that Ethan and I would get along, I met him, and we quickly became friends. (May I add that Matthew's AWESOME dad brought along with him a brand new SURFACE PRO 2 for me that trip??) Going to Disneyland together that night, we had a blast, and decided to end the night on a high note, at Splash Mountain.
Not wanting to waste time, Matthew, Ryan, Ethan, and I raced through the practically empty park to Critter Country. Being one of the few people in the park at the time, the line was at 0 minutes. It was incredible!
Entering our log, Ethan (I have no idea why) went on a suicide mission by sitting in the front. Ryan, my little sister who was eight at the time, sat two seats behind him. Behind her was me, and behind me was Matthew (Who was NOT in the mood to be soaked at a quarter to twelve on an icy cold night).
Going on the ride about three times in a row without having to leave our log, or getting wet, I wanted to go on about ten more times. But, Matthew was still deathly afraid of getting touched by the water (Even though his hotel was literally two minutes away, #LOL) and the park was closing any minute. Deciding to make the last trip worthwhile, I planned on being a "Flasher". I had joined the dark side.. >:)
As the ride went on, we went down several little drops that we had gone on plenty of times, but going up the final hill, I felt butterflies in my stomach. I had a scary thought going through my mind that somehow my shirt would knock off my glasses while I was taking it off, and my glasses would go plummeting down the hill.
I put the thought behind me as our log climbed up the hill. Ahead of us was a pitch dark sky, and the Anaheim stars were nowhere to be seen over the layer of fog. Finally, the log came to a halt at the top of the hill. Usually the halt felt like a second, but this time it felt longer as I scrambled to yank off my shirt.
Yanking it off, I clutched onto it for dear life, the four of us plummeting downwards into the water below. Screaming at the top of my lungs, our log hit the water with such force that I was nearly thrown into the chair in front of me.
From there, the four of us rode through the last scene of the ride, seeing a picture on a screen of me flashing the camera. It was official...I was a flasher. *Sighs*
Leaving the logs, the four of us went to the exit room where yet another few screens were. On one screen there was a picture perfect photograph of the four of us making exotic faces. Laughing, I saw how soaked Ethan was, having been on the ride FOUR times in the FRONT seat. (#YOLO).
Snapping a picture of the picture, I put on my jacket, and we headed to the Plaza Inn where my mom and Matthew's dad waited for us. Walking over there through the almost empty Disneyland, I felt the magic of the park. It was peaceful, relaxing, and not how Disneyland usually was. Usually it was spilling with tourists wearing high shorts, carrying bulky backpacks, fighting over line spots, and trying to find a place to rest. This new side to Disneyland was a relief, and I will never forget that moment where the four of us walked side-by-side through the park, nearly by ourselves if it weren't for the cast members cleaning up around us.
Leaving the park, I waved goodbye to Disneyland like it was a person, and headed to the trams. From the trams, I don't remember anything, leaving the park for me is nearly always a blur.
And that is the end of the story, and the moral of the story is...well, there isn't a moral of the story actually... Umm...*Awkward silence* Yeah...And that's a day in the life of a Disney Pro.
