| Kent Slocum's Official Newsletter |

 

October 2019

Falling in to Fun

     

Dear Reader,

    Fall has officially arrived in Anaheim, but you wouldn't really know it from the weather. With daily temperatures in the '80s (degrees Fahrenheit for those of you who don't use degrees Celsius), extremely dry conditions, and a multitude of wildfires nearby, it feels only slightly cooler than summertime. However, the lower temperatures in the mornings and evenings (due to the shorter hours of daylight) make it possible to do a lot more in a single day without heat exhaustion. Since weather in Southern California is more predictable than in my home state of Oregon, I have been able to make better plans regarding my days off. Therefore, the month of October was quite a bit of fun! In this edition of my monthly newsletter, I describe some of the fun activities that kept me very busy this past month.

 

Have fun!

-Kent

"Life is about not knowing and doing something anyway."

 

- Mark Manson -

Fun at Knott's Berry Farm

     Walter Knott was a huge fan of history--particularly American History. While Disney has successfully replicated nostalgic Americana by theming an entire land in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom to colonial times (called "Independence Square"), Walter decided to go one step further and do more than simply imitation.

      Walter carefully studied Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and ended up building an exact replica of the structure on a piece of Buena Park property just outside of his berry farm-turned amusement park. The building is accurate down to the very last brick.

     Even without taking an official tour, visiting Knott's copy of Independence Hall is awe-inspiring and remarkably patriotic.

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."

 

- Leonardo Da Vinci -

     Of course, a visit to Knott's Berry Farm wouldn't be complete without a corresponding visit to Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant! After perusing the menu and seriously considering my choices, I eventually settled upon ordering the famous, original entree: Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner. While I can personally vouch that the "Chicken" part of the Chicken Dinner is delicious (along with the mashed potatoes and sweet corn), I'm not so sure I can recommend the home-style biscuits or hearty chicken soup.

     Either way, it's not too hard to see why the Knott family managed to become such a success, back before KFC even existed.

"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't, you will see obstacles."

 

- Wayne Dyer -

     Of course, Knott's Berry Farm started with a small Ghost Town, and the "ghostly" theme has only grown every year. Now, the theme park is transformed into Knott's Scary Farm each evening during the Fall, delighting adult fans with horrifying monsters, terrifying shows, and all manners of life-threatening thrills and chills.

     I chose to play it safe and visit Knott's Berry Farm during the daytime, which turned out to be a wise idea. The roller coasters are certainly scary enough during the day, without the added horror of darkness and ghoulish music!

     Seeing how seriously scary Knott's can be, however, makes me grateful to be at Disney.

"We know what a person thinks not when they tell us what they think, but by their actions."

 

- Isaac Bashevis Singer -

     After the Ferris Wheel, wooden coasters are perhaps the most iconic part of amusement parks. In recent years, however, very few wooden coasters are still standing. Partly due to expensive maintenance costs and horrible safety records, wooden coasters have seen a steep decline in recent years.

     The GhostRider coaster at Knott's Berry Farm is the longest, tallest, and fastest wooden coaster on the West Coast, and probably also the most dangerous. Despite these intimidating facts, I decided to defy the statistics during my visit to Knott's Berry Farm and risk life and limb by riding the record-breaking GhostRider roller coaster. I am proud to say that I survived the sheer terror of the bone-rattling experience!

"Vision is not enough. It must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs."

 

- Vaclav Havel -

     Despite the fact that Knott's Berry Farm is now an amusement park and not a working agricultural center, it still sells a staggering amount of berry-based products emblazoned with its iconic label. Now that I think about it, I'm not really sure where the fruit for the jam in Knott's shortbread cookies comes from, but I picked up a package anyway, just to say I did.

     The only thing more mystifying than the origin of Knott's fruit products is the remarkable speed with which the shortbread cookies I purchased disappeared! It seems that in a matter of days, an entire box of apricot-jam treats had completely vanished! The mystery may never be solved.

"Never put an age limit on your dream."

 

- Dara Torres -

    The smiles that you see in these photographs can be easily explained: they are from a time before I actually rode any of the coasters that I was standing in front of. My bright, innocent smiles soon gave way to looks of sheer terror and abject horror as I experienced some of my very first serious roller coasters.

     For example, Hang Time is a pleasant coaster that politely dangles you 150 feet above a beyond-vertical 96-degree drop before releasing you to the whims of the five gravity-defying inversions and mid-air suspensions.

     If that coaster is too tame for you, Xcelerator The Ride gently pushes you from 0-82 miles per hour in 2.3 seconds. No prob!

    Of course, since I work as a Retail Cast Member at the Disneyland Resort, I had to check out the retail offerings of Knott's Berry Farm. Allow me to state that I was astounded by the impressive volume and variety of merchandise available for sale virtually everywhere. It was a relief to see Snoopy and Friends on T-shirts (instead of Mickey Mouse), but Knott's has pretty much every other knick-knack, brick-a-brack, do-hickey, and thing-a-ma-bob imaginable for sale, as well. Unlike Disneyland, in which the same items are sold across its different stores, Knott's seemed to have infinite variety. In fact, I began to feel that I was at a  department store, rather than a theme park!

"To persist with a goal, you must treasure the dream more than the costs of sacrifice to attain it."

 

- Richelle F. Goodrich -

Fun at Disneyland

    In order to make ends meet, I usually work six days a week. This, of course, is not as bad as it sounds, because I usually only work 5-6 hours per shift. However, this leaves precious little time to do anything except sleep, eat, and exercise.

     Therefore, on a recent day off, I headed out to spend the morning as a guest in Disneyland. One of my goals for the morning was simply to take life slow and soak in the atmosphere. I sat on a bench on Main Street, watching the people rush by. I witnessed the sun cast its first rays upon the top of the Castle, which has been recently redecorated with snow and icicles for the holiday season. I also took a selfie with a very busy rabbit.

     It is truly spectacular how much I was able to do in the space of just a few hours, simply by arriving at the crack of dawn. The gates open sometimes as early as a half-hour before the official opening time, leaving me plenty of time to wander around Main Street before the "rope drop." The early-morning crowds quickly dissipate throughout the park, leaving nearly every single attraction with no wait times whatsoever for the first hour or so. In the space of a single hour, I rode Alice in Wonderland, the Flying Teacups, Roger Rabbit's ToonTown Spin, Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, and Star Tours. I also rode Space Mountain three times, once with the entire train all to myself, because why not?

"Dream the biggest dream for yourself. Hold the highest vision of life for yourself."

 

- Oprah Winfrey -

     Now that Halloween has come and gone, it's hard to believe that the Disneyland Resort literally celebrated the spookiest season of the year for two straight months. However, that's exactly what they did. Some changes were clever and unique, like the Cozy Cone Motel redecoration in Cars Land. The simple application of black stickers to the iconic cones transformed the entire feel of Route 66.

     Other changes were far more fearsome, like the nightly transformation of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout into Monsters After Dark. This frightening drop ride completely immersed guests in a terrifying adventure to rescue little Groot.

"You just have to be yourself and go full with confidence and be courageous."

 

- Gabby Douglas -

     Disneyland in general can be expensive. However, there are some things that are certainly worth the price. Every single time I have eaten at the French Market in New Orleans Square, I have found myself surprised at the portion size I received. Also, the coin presses around the park are the most cost-effective way to make and preserve memories that will last a long time.

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

 

- Walt Disney -

    Even though there's barely an alien or droid to be seen in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, there certainly is plenty of beautiful scenery to admire! The soaring spires, exotic architecture, and colorful plants make the land feel alive and breathing with energy.

     I took advantage of the crystal-clear, sunny skies and thin crowds to take some photos from my smartphone's camera. This, of course, is something that I take for granted on two levels: First, the very fact that I have a smartphone that takes pictures of remarkable quality is something unthinkable just a decade ago. Second, the very fact that I am standing on a planet in a galaxy far, far away is also unthinkable!

     Despite being a remarkably obvious marketing ploy, the furry little creatures from the new Star Wars trilogy have been remarkably successful. The flightless species of bird is called "Porg," and the wide-eyed birds have invaded every inch of retail space. They've begun showing up on t-shirts, on baseball caps, in action figure playsets, as stuffed animals, and even as poseable puppets. However, my favorite iteration is by far a small Porg that sit on your shoulder. I adopted one to add to my Galaxy's Edge costume, although it's a little strange to even think about dressing up for Halloween, since I already dress up in a costume and pretend Porgs are real creatures every single day!

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."

 

- Albert Einstein -

     On my day off, I decided to branch out and explore some aspects of Disneyland that many people miss in their hurry to get a FastPass for the next attraction. First, I tried a Dole Whip Swirl of both Raspberry and Pineapple--delicious! Then, I visited each one of the little characters working hard at the popcorn stands around the park. These miniature people turn popcorn all day long.

"We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life."

 

- Sir William Osler -

     I recently decided to take a stroll through Mickey's ToonTown, just to see what was happening. The answer: Christmas! With wreaths, garlands, and sweatshirts everywhere, this corner of Disneyland Park is already bracing for the winter holiday season. Not only are some of the Cast Members already wearing red stocking caps, but Christmas merchandise has completely replaced any vestiges of Halloween products.

"If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless."

 

- Moliere -

     Even though Disneyland has been shrinking the size of planters in order to make more room for crowds, the horticulture team makes excellent use of the space they have been given. This time of year, each and every inch of plantable space is absolutely popping with Fall colors! The hanging baskets, in particular, have caught my eye with their deep purples and oranges.

"Have a vision. It is the ability to see the invisible. If you can see the invisible, you can achieve the impossible."

 

- Shiv Khera -

      Although it may be easy to find fault with the entertainment and interactivity offering in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, it is difficult to fault the choice of flora and fauna that blooms everywhere! The otherworldly plants are abundant, growing in the most strangely-shaped planters throughout the land. These provide excellent opportunities to take pictures and catch some shade.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."

 

- Shunryu Suzuki -

Fun in Other Places

"Once you know who you are, you don't have to worry anymore."

 

- Nikki Giovanni -

     The world of food is full of surprisingly clever inventions, and baking mixes continue to take the cake (pun intended). Speaking of cake, my family sent me recently sent me a miraculous chocolate cake mix, with a minimum of effort required. I simply empty a small packet into a ceramic mug, add water, and microwave it. Two minutes later, I have instant chocolate cake!

"Where there is no vision, there is no hope."

 

- George Washington Carver -

     Unlike a job in an office environment, working at the Resort requires a lot more use of one's hands and feet. Because my hands tend to become very dry and scraped up by the end of the day, I decided to invest in some bandages designed for active use. Coincidentally, ever since I started carrying a first-aid kit with me at work, I haven't had a single injury! Hope the trend continues...

"The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world."

 

- Malcolm Gladwell -

     My apartment complex has a continuous roster of activities and events for residents. Most recently, a festive contest was held in honor of the harvest season. The winner of the competition was the apartment with the best Halloween decorations outside their door. I was impressed by my hallway neighbor, who carved a pumpkin with Tinker Bell, and added a cheerful doormat.

"We are all gifted. It is our inheritance."

 

- Ethel Waters -

     I enjoy sending physical postcards and packages, because the investment of time and effort is worth the joy it brings to others. "Good things come to those who wait" when the anticipation of waiting for a package, letter, or postcard to arrive in the mail increases the enjoyment of that delivery. Recently, I was the recipient of a thoughtful apartment-warming gift: two hand towels!

"People crave comfort, people crave connection, people crave community."

 

- Marianne Williamson -

     Despite the enjoyment inherent in sending physical media, there is certainly one advantage that email has over snail mail: low cost. Namely, email is free!

      When I discovered that I had run out of postage stamps for my postcards, I had to make a stop by the local post office branch (which is, amazingly, only one block away!). To my joy, they had a gorgeous sheet of stamps commemorating the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Since Disneyland just turned 64 years old with its very own railroad, it can be hard to believe that such a historic milestone is only a little over twice as old as a theme park! My, how time flies!

"Commit yourself to a mighty purpose."

 

- H. Jackson Brown, Jr. -

     As part of my continuing efforts to improve my apartment, I purchased some affordable Disney artwork for my bedroom walls. However, they did not come with frames, so I made a trip to a local Goodwill in search of something stylish and correctly-sized in which to place the art.

     This quickly escalated into a long string of other home-improvement purchases, including a hammer, crafting blade, bubble level, screws, nails, hanging wire, and superglue. This project has quickly escalated, especially when factoring in the time it has taken me to clean the frames,  trim the artwork to fit the frames, replace the backing, and buy batteries for the stud-finder. And the art still isn't on the wall!

"Create the things you wish existed."

 

- Unknown -

     The end of October means that I have officially been bicycling to work for a full month! This has had a ripple effect throughout my life, impacting almost every part of my daily routine. To begin with, I can now get to work a whole lot faster. Now that I am not dependent upon the bus schedule, I can leave the apartment at any time and get to work in less than 20 minutes (depending upon traffic signals at intersections). Also, I have been using muscles that weren't used at all for eight months. Of course, I didn't forget how to bike, but being without a bicycle for three-quarters of the year resulted in my body being rather sore once I started biking again. However, the human body is remarkably resilient--it only took a week for my body to get used to the new type of physical activity.

     In addition to the new form of exercise, biking to work has had a significant impact on my finances, too. With so much debris on Anaheim streets and sidewalks, I quickly punctured both of my bike's tires within a week. Acting on a recommendation from a fellow cast member, I took my bicycle north to the city of Brea, where the friendly and knowledgeable mechanics at a reputable bike shop named Two Wheeler Dealer completely overhauled my tires. They replaced the rim tape, tubes, and treads, while also adding an extra layer of protection between the treads and tubes.

    Although I received a cast member discount on the bicycle parts, you can probably imagine that this work was expensive. However, the resort provides additional incentives for cast members who bicycle to work. Within just a few months, my bicycle repairs will pay for themselves!

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

 

- James Baldwin -

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