Third TR's the Charm! (aka "Data goes backstage") (11-22-08)

[PirateTinkerbell]

Is the pipe I saw the one on the side of the haunted mansion ride building?

[Jordiekins]

AP's???

pffffft. i just get passed in.

[Datameister]

Originally Posted by PirateTinkerbell

Is the pipe I saw the one on the side of the haunted mansion ride building?

No, there aren't any visible pipes that I know of on any side of HM. The one I'm talking about is just on the backside of Splash Mountain. Not on the actual show building in back, but the backside of the front building. Actually, you can see my model of it in this slightly outdated render I did:

Originally Posted by Jordiekins

AP's???

pffffft. i just get passed in.

That is, of course, ideal. I've only had that happen once so far, though. (If you happen to be reading this, thanks again!)

[PirateTinkerbell]

Yep, those look like the pipes!! We definetly went outside then under the lift. I was so excited because it was my first evac ever!! In the probably hundreds of trips to the park I've only been evacuated once at the age of 20

[DVkid07]

Originally Posted by Mojave

I always wonder what CM's, who are working when Tony Baxter, think when they see him. Do they all know him or is it just us geeks?

Also, I assume he pulls out his Disney ID when he pays - does he get everything free or just the usual discount?

Can't speak much to Tony's recognition while in park, but I remember working at Kilimanjaro Safaris on the day before the AK 10th when Joe Rohde walked through. One of our managers walked up to me (I was at Fastpass merge) with a couple of suits behind him each sporting Disney nametags. Behind them, engrossed in conversation with a fellow driver was Joe Rohde himself. I freaked! He shook my hand and all I could stammer out was "Welcome back to Harambe Mr. Rohde!" He smiled and moved thanked me and I was in a trance for a solid thirty seconds before the man behind them snapped me out of it by waving his FastPass in my face.

That was a really great day!

[Datameister]

Haha, that's great. Yeah, Joe Rohde is really something, too.

[DVkid07]

Originally Posted by Datameister

Haha, that's great. Yeah, Joe Rohde is really something, too.

And probably easier to recognize, thanks to the hugenormous ear-sculpture-thingy.

[Datameister]

Haha, yeah, it certainly is a sight.

[Cuddles McHenry]

Originally Posted by DVkid07

Can't speak much to Tony's recognition while in park, but I remember working at Kilimanjaro Safaris on the day before the AK 10th when Joe Rohde walked through. One of our managers walked up to me (I was at Fastpass merge) with a couple of suits behind him each sporting Disney nametags. Behind them, engrossed in conversation with a fellow driver was Joe Rohde himself. I freaked! He shook my hand and all I could stammer out was "Welcome back to Harambe Mr. Rohde!" He smiled and moved thanked me and I was in a trance for a solid thirty seconds before the man behind them snapped me out of it by waving his FastPass in my face.

That was a really great day!

I love stories like that!

[DVkid07]

Originally Posted by Cuddles McHenry

I love stories like that!

I've got a couple "Ohmagosh did you see who that was?" stories from the Safari, as it seemed every person that came to Animal Kingdom came by our attraction. But I have to say (and am prepared for the nerd points on this one) that Joe Rohde was by far my favorite. I also had the chance to see him speak the next day at the Nemo theater. He gave a really cool retrospective on how crazy the idea for a Disney animal park seemed when they first set out and how the idea had molded so much during development. Also a great chance to see some rare concept artwork. Come to think of it, I wrote a piece for Kevin on the whole day (including the introduction by Jane Goodall) and it never made it to the site. Wonder what happened to that...

[One_Rev]

Getting passed in is the greatest. I have been an AP holder for 6 years and this last year we didn't renew, then this year my son went to work on 3rd shift. He just meets us at the front gate when he gets off and we chat for a bit till the gate opens and he passes us in then he goes home and sleeps. Sometimes he and his girlfriend (who also works for Disney) come later and join us.
I always enjoy his "backstage" stories. He ran into Tony in front of the imagineering building once and they had a nice little chat just between the two of them about a few things dear to my sons heart about Disneyland. Nice guy in my opinion.


Mike
Backstage in Lakeside