Ten Things To Know About Walt Disney World
1. Crabby children come with even crabbier parents who are determined to make sure that little Johnny or Susie squeaks every possible moment out of this magical vacation that took every single penny of the second mortgage to afford.
2. Even if you’ve never liked Mickey Mouse and his big ears, you will find yourself overwhelmed with having to purchase souvenirs. That were all made in China. Forget McDonalds. Disney has the lock on cheap, plastic crap made in China. Every single ride ends with a “store” where you can purchase special memorabilia of the moment you just spent with Pooh and his friends.
3. If it looks like it is going to rain, it is going to rain. And the clothes you’re wearing should be able to withstand torrential downpours. Unless, of course, you’re Nakedjen and it happens to be Friday. Then getting absolutely drenched and walking around the park in your see-thru top and pants is perfectly acceptable no matter what your Mormon niece and nephew have to say about it.
4. Wearing your pajamas to the restaurant for an afternoon snack is perfectly acceptable as well. Especially if it is, again, going to rain. Might as well do the wet pajama contest while you’re there. And not worry about how you have completely embarrassed your Mormon relatives. They’ll get over it. So will the other restaurant patrons.
5. The kale that is growing under the trees in Morocco in Epcot is NOT organic. It looks very good, but it is riddled with pesticides. As is everything else served at Disney. Organics just aren’t popular enough to sell according to everyone I asked. And believe me, I asked.
6. Speaking of organics, when the limo driver tells you he’s taking you to a very exclusive grocery store that has all the organic produce and rice cakes you could possibly need, he’s lying. The grocery store has carpeting. As well as a wine section large enough to keep all of Florida drunk for the entire hurricane season. But there is not a single organic item to be found in the whole store. Demand that he take you to Whole Foods, instead. Even if it is 30 minutes in the wrong direction.
7. There is no good coffee at Disney, either. Not even Starbucks, which I would have settled for, given my increasing lack of good nutrition anyway. In Morocco at Epcot you can find a saint who will make you a café au lait. Praise her and ask her to marry you. She’ll then make you another one. For free.
8. There is no flash photography allowed on any of the rides at Disney. Apparently, they have signs and public announcements telling you this. I never saw or heard a single one. And so I happily took lots of pictures. I was also reprimanded many many times for doing just that. I’m not sure why there is no flash photography allowed. It’s not like the characters are “real” or will screw up if the flash goes off in their eyes.
9. Speaking of those characters, in the words of my astute nine year old niece, “They’re just entertainers, you know. They’re paid to hug you and make you smile. It’s not like they really like you.” She said this to her own mother who was quite keen on getting hugs and autographs from as many “characters” as possible while she was there spending her children’s college fund on the family vacation.
10. When attempting to take a naked picture lying on Mickey’s Bed, alarms will go off. There’s a reason that there is a do not cross sign there. His bedroom really is off limits. The minute you step into his bedroom, loud alarms sound and Disney cast members come running to see what all the commotion is about. They then will discover you standing there half in the room, half out of the room without your clothes on and they will not be PLEASED at all.
It is a far better idea to take your “naked” photos in Minnie Mouse’s house, which is right next-door. While there are loads of very small children traipsing through, there are no alarms and thus you have a far better chance of actually getting naked, having your niece snap a quick photo, and moving along to the next attraction without creating a spectacle!

OK - would really love to hear what Disney staff said to you when alarms sounded in Mickey's room.
Posted by: Dianne | 07 June 2005 at 11:23 AM
Okay, you had a LOT more fun at Disneyland than I ever did with my sulky ex-boyfriend.
I also think that your niece is clever enough to enough scholarships to make up for the blown college fund.
Posted by: audrey | 07 June 2005 at 09:24 PM
What a great story. That was quite daring of you; worthy of a free plastic gift from Mickey. Please proceed to the exit where you will be greated by Mickey himself for your choice of any our lovely plastic crap in the gift shop. oh...and have a nice day. :-)
Posted by: hbd | 08 June 2005 at 01:01 PM
Oh my Goddess. I have never in my lifetime EVER wanted to go to Disney anything until now. With you. You ROCK!
Posted by: chasmyn | 09 June 2005 at 01:59 AM
Why is the sun shining only on you in Minnie's room? Can we say Photoshop?
Posted by: curious | 09 June 2005 at 07:23 AM
Fab!
Posted by: Blue Witch | 09 June 2005 at 10:02 AM
If you look at the table in the background, the sun is shining on the legs from the right. On your body it's from the left. Unless this is the Disney World on Tatooine, Chasmyn called it right: Photoshop! Still, it's a funny concept -- you should do it for real sometime!
Posted by: Mick | 10 June 2005 at 10:20 AM
(Sorry, "Curious" called it right.)
Posted by: Mick | 10 June 2005 at 10:22 AM
(sorry, "Curious" called it right)
Posted by: Mick | 10 June 2005 at 10:22 AM
Selfish freak. The no-flash rule is so that everyone else can actually enjoy (to whatever extent possible) the ride. Besides, having been one of the parents who have hocked the farm in order to bring their rugrats to Disney, and then spent hours upon hours in lines with the little darlings, a flash just might send me into a crazed epilleptic-like seizure. There would be foaming at the mouth, convulsions and other non-appealing things that would most likely taint the children's experience.
So please. No flash.
BTW, poor photochop.
Posted by: Ed Tapanes | 10 June 2005 at 10:36 AM
Cool, you're on Boing Boing. I already stop by sometimes via GraceD, but this is very cool. Best nakedjen pic yet!
Posted by: Michelle | 10 June 2005 at 11:00 AM
If its your birthday (or if you tell them it is) you can go to the mayors office and get a call from goofy. Then you get a sticker that says its your birthday and every freaking employee tells you happy birthday.
Posted by: jonathan | 10 June 2005 at 11:00 AM
Actually, I had my pic taken in some of those Mickey/Minnie Mouse houses several years ago -- they have strong spotlights in the ceiling that point towards various points in the room, so that effect acually *could* happen there.
Posted by: M | 10 June 2005 at 11:07 AM
"they have strong spotlights in the ceiling that point towards various points in the room, so that effect acually *could* happen there."
Maybe. But if you look at the blowup of the photo you can clearly see artifacts from where the the naked girl was cutout. Look at the fingers and look at her right arm. Either it's a poor photoshop or her right arm has some crazy bump up by the elbow.
Posted by: d_e | 10 June 2005 at 11:25 AM
Even when there are no alarms, there are cameras every in disneyworld/land. Even night cameras in the dark areas. I lived not far from Disneyland in Anaheim, and my friends and I tried to get away with all kinds of stuff. Almost all was caught.
The above picture, as has already been pointed out, is a photoshop. I think most of the members of Fark could do a better job in fact.
Posted by: seth | 10 June 2005 at 11:31 AM