Friday, July 20, 2012

Anaheim, Disneyland, Golden Heart…Whoohoo!

I’m not really sure where to go from here… I mean…Terri is up for a Golden Heart! And I’m gonna get to take her to Disneyland. Which is soooooooo much better than Disneyworld. Well, at least the Magical Kingdom part.

I’ve warned her about earplugs when nearing It’s a Small World as that is one earworm that will burrow it’s way deep into your cerebral cortex and turn you into a pink zombie who can’t stop humming the melody, thus wandering through the park and infecting others…


If there are aliens anywhere in California, it’s hidden in that big pink clockwork frontage.

That’s my story and I’m sticking with it…

I’d sorta like to write a story set in a Disneyworld sort of park. I’d fill it with aliens and clockwork characters…a princess who escapes from one of the rides and maybe finds a charming geek who came to the park with a girl he hoped would be more than a friend, but she dumped him at the entrance to Space Mountain when he started talking about how many of the scientific details were wrong…

Deep breath…

I could do it. Go to the park off season and spend a week just wandering around, absorbing details…

;-)

I know not everyone has gone to Disneyland, but there are amusement parks of one sort of the other everywhere… Where could you set a story? At the giant ball of string? At the castle of Hogwarts? The Busch Gardens rollercoaster? What are your wildest, or sweetest dreams, when it comes to a setting?

Keep an eye on my FB page and I’ll try to post pics of Terri’s adventure in Disneyland… ;-) Oh, and at the Golden Heart!






27 comments:

Quantum said...

I don't visit amusement parks if I can help it!

Though I do visit castles and historic houses. Walking through Hampton Court recently (NOT THE Hampton Court near London!) we heard an American couple exclaim that they would miss their flight home if they didn't dash. Apparently their satnav had brought them to the wrong Hampton Court, in the wilds of rural Worcestershire, many miles from Heath Row airport.

I digress! The rural Hampton court has walls lined with suits of armour,remnants from historic battles and a priest hole. It was very reminiscent of Hogwarts. Indeed I believe that the Harry Potter films used some of these old houses as locations.

I would definitely set my story in one of these houses, one with a (real) ghost.

Yesterday my Grand read a charming story to me. It was entitled 'My Grandma is an alien'. I could write something similar, set amongst the cobwebs and armoury of a ghostly English castle. LOL

I'm rooting for Terri to win at the GH!

Terri Osburn said...

Q - I want to visit that castle! Or any castle really. *sigh* Someday. Can't wait to hear the alien story.

Chance - I'm pretty sure there's already a story set in the Hogwarts castle. Or two. ;)

I did enjoy Disney World back in 2010 but I'm looking forward to a cooler experience this time. And you've promised me the POTC ride is better over there. I'm trusting you on that!

There's an amusement park outside Pittsburgh called Kennywood. That would be a fun place to set a story. Not sure if they still have it, but there was a wooden roller coaster called the Jack Rabbit that would creek and move and lift your butt off the seat when topping the hills.

Surely ghosts of some kind could linger in those wooden rails.

Hellie Sinclair said...

*LOL* I'm with Terri--although my preference would be setting a story at Hogwart's, it's already been done and better than I could ever do.

And the Assassin has already set a book at DisneyWorld. *LOL* Well, a Disneyworld that's not really Disneyworld but we all knew where she was, you know?

The only two amusement parks "near" me are Six Flags (St. Louis) and Worlds of Fun (Kansas City). I prefer Six Flags actually (Worlds of Fun is a misnomer or at least a gross exaggeration.) I'm not sure I could write a story set there, but if I did, it would probably be something a lot like that movie, ADVENTURELAND that was made a few years ago. It has Kristan Stewart in it (don't let that send you screaming away) and Ryan Reynolds...and some nerdy guys...and it's just a good movie. Good writing. Good characterization.

Maureen said...

Quantum! A real castle with a real story would be fabulous and no doubt there are stories there waiting to be told...

Maureen said...

Ter - Of course there is Harry Potter, but a story set in the amusement park...with a real Potterfan and maybe someone who was hauled to the park but never read the books, etc... That could be a lot of fun!

This weekend, Steph and I spent a day at our local park, the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk and it's funny, I've seen several movies set at our park. Not just the famous Lost Boys, but also several really bad B movies... We had a roller coaster like the Jack Rabbit, They called it the Wild Mouse and that thing was scarier than hell. The Big Dipper is our famous coaster, but the Wild Mouse was insane...

Maureen said...

Oh, yeah...Pirates of the Caribbean... It's longer, it's deeper and it begins in the swamps...and yes! I think it's better!

Maureen said...

Hells, sure, the books were set at Hogwarts, but not a book or story at the amusement park they built about Hogwarts... Yeah, Leslie's story was set at Disneyworld, true. And it was a lot of fun...

Jenny Crusie did one with Bob Mayer at an amusement park that I enjoyed, mildly paranormal and I have seen several movies set at parks...but I still think there is room for more!

Terri Osburn said...

I haven't read Wild Ride but I want to. And that is the perfect place for magical elements. Though not the fun house stuff. I'm still scarred by fun house horror movies of the 80s.

Maureen said...

That's why Disneyland is so perfect...nothing is really scary/scary. I mean, fun houses and amusement park carnival rides are scary. Just because you swear they are just going to crumble at a moment's notice... Though I'm talking about a romance, so not a whole lot of slasher stuff going on...

Marnee Bailey said...

I think one set at Sea World would be cool. Big fish, all sorts of ways to make connections.

????

I bet it could be done. By someone more creative than me.

I'm sooo looking forward to hearing all about Nationals. I blog next Weds while you're all there. I need to come up with something.

I'll be listening in next Sat night for the GH winners. I can't wait!

Maureen said...

Seaworld would be a sweet place for a lovestory... Been a long time since I've been to one of those places. I go to aquariums but haven't been to a 'water park' for a long time...

I'll have to master some tweet stuff so I can instantly spread the news!

Terri Osburn said...

I think Marn is onto something. It's the perfect mystery. Death by killer whale, but was he pushed? That means a hunky police detective would have to be called in. And the heroine killer whale trainer must fight to save her normally loving creature. (Mammal? Porpoise??)

P. Kirby said...

I'm with Quantum. I'd rather visit something historic like a castle. Maybe a pub crawl in Ireland. Actually, I'd rather put on my hiking shoes, hit the trail and get far away from humanity.

My first and only trip to Disneyland was freshman year in college, which, I'd argue is the best time to go. No parents or irritating siblings, just a bunch of crazy friends being silly and having fun.

But...I have absolutely no desire to go back. I think, if I did write a story set in Disneyland, it would be from the POV of one of the poor schmucks who works there, tinged with cynicism and wry observations on tourists, screaming children, overanxious parents, and the over-controlling management.

Looking forward to hearing about Nationals. :)

Sabrina Shields (Scapegoat) said...

For a theme park, I think I could see one at Sea World too. :)

Dream settings...There have been a few castles we visited that really captured me. One was Leeds Castle in England. Stunning. Amazing location. The Hubby and I would love to go back just to stay there. I spent the whole day dreaming of story ideas there.

Maureen said...

Death by Manatee...that could be interesting!

Pat, Disneyland is best left to adults right out of high school...at least, my best memories are those times we split town and headed south to visit the mouse. I could totally see a story from behind the mask of...Chip. Or Dale!

Castles are always going to be a setting, but really...how many have hatched love on the Monorail!?

Marnee Bailey said...

Manatees move slow. It would need to be premeditated because they don't make sudden movements.

Terri Osburn said...

Tell that to the Crocodile Hunter.

Hellie Sinclair said...

I think Marn is onto something. It's the perfect mystery. Death by killer whale, but was he pushed? That means a hunky police detective would have to be called in. And the heroine killer whale trainer must fight to save her normally loving creature. (Mammal? Porpoise??)

OH, I love this!! Someone should write this one!

Terri Osburn said...

It sounds like an episode of Hawaii 5-0. LOL!

P. Kirby said...

Tell that to the Crocodile Hunter.

I think you mean "manta [ray]," not manatee. Just sayin.

Terri Osburn said...

Goes to show what I know about marine biology. I didn't even know thee was a difference between those two things. LOL!

Terri Osburn said...

Wait. Manatee is like a seal/walrus thing, huh? Oh, I knew that.

Sabrina Shields (Scapegoat) said...

Terri - having grown up here in FLA I can tell you all about Manatees.

Plus, I now live about 3 minutes from one of the busiest Manatee habitats. The stay at our natural spring because of the water temps and I go to our manatee festival every year. :)

Maureen said...

Death be manatee would involve having one dropped on you. I mean, it's not like that are bad tempered critters.

Most of the aquatic parks have walrus or polar bears. They could go the job!

Nancy Northcott said...

Maureen, I would love a theme park like your imaginary one. Our favorite miniature golf place at Nag's Head beach has a science fiction theme.

We love the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim more than the Orlando one. We like not having things so spread out.

I know y'all will have a great time. I wish Terri luck on Saturday.

Maureen said...

I can't wait to show Terri the difference, Nancy. Less store front, more theme ride!

Terri Osburn said...

Thanks, Nancy!