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Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:25 am
by EmptyCinema
I just returned from a week down at the World (yay for being there, boo for being back) and wanted to say thanks to Big Wallaby. My fiance (we just got engaged there) and I were taking the express monorail over to Magic Kingdom and asked to ride in the front.

Once we were on the monorail and the pilot was being very talkative (and having fun) I was really getting into it, and I asked him how long he'd been on Monorails: "6 months". At this point I had a tiny hint of suspicion, so I asked him if he'd been working elsewhere in the parks... "I started about 2 years ago as a bus driver, and then worked at Kilimanjaro Safaris." When he said this, my jaw probably fell so far that it hit the monorail beam! I went "you're Big Wallaby!" and sure enough, it was the marsupial in person!

So hats off for one of the most entertaining and exciting parts of my trip. I only wish it had been a run longer than express!

(On another monorail run, the pilot showed us how to get the monorail up to 45 and then come into the TTC at 25... that was kindof interesting too, but I'm wondering how legal it is...)

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:29 am
by EmptyCinema
Oh, one other thing... she and I are about 90% certain you were our safari driver in May... you were on Safaris in May, right? Why did you leave Safaris anyway? I know MIMS helped you decide to leave Transport...

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:30 am
by BRWombat
EmptyCinema wrote:I just returned from a week down at the World (yay for being there, boo for being back) and wanted to say thanks to Big Wallaby. My fiance (we just got engaged there) and I were taking the express monorail over to Magic Kingdom and asked to ride in the front.

Once we were on the monorail and the pilot was being very talkative (and having fun) I was really getting into it, and I asked him how long he'd been on Monorails: "6 months". At this point I had a tiny hint of suspicion, so I asked him if he'd been working elsewhere in the parks... "I started about 2 years ago as a bus driver, and then worked at Kilimanjaro Safaris." When he said this, my jaw probably fell so far that it hit the monorail beam! I went "you're Big Wallaby!" and sure enough, it was the marsupial in person!...
Wow, how cool is that! It's one thing to plan a meet, but to randomly encounter the Monorail Marsupial himself in his native environment -- priceless!

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:00 am
by EmptyCinema
BRWombat wrote:Wow, how cool is that! It's one thing to plan a meet, but to randomly encounter the Monorail Marsupial himself in his native environment -- priceless!
It was actually really amazing. I was going to go harass Zazu as well after a Chef Mickey's breakfast, but things were quite busy down at the contemporary... did see him working though.

On one of my trips I want to make a concerted effort to meet CMs from here... gotta think of that. At least this time I was wearing an SGT button (on my backpack anyway).

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:57 am
by Zazu
EmptyCinema wrote:I was going to go harass Zazu as well after a Chef Mickey's breakfast, but things were quite busy down at the contemporary... did see him working though.
Next time, don't be so shy. Come on over an demand to talk to me!

Or just invite me to join you for a meal. I'll bring my discount card!

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:46 am
by EmptyCinema
Zazu wrote:Next time, don't be so shy. Come on over an demand to talk to me!

Or just invite me to join you for a meal. I'll bring my discount card!
Sorry. :) Just figured I'd do my part to keeping the lines down and the guests somewhat less unhappy. And I am a fairly quiet person anyway.

I may try to arrange something in late April... I'd love to get together with some of the CMs from here. We're tentatively going to be there the weekend of the 25th for my birthday, but that all depends on the economy and my job hunt. :)

I hope BW sees this thread :)

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:34 am
by kurtisnelson
Zazu wrote:Next time, don't be so shy. Come on over an demand to talk to me!

Or just invite me to join you for a meal. I'll bring my discount card!
I have attempted to find you but never have. Probably because I was there on a Saturday afternoon.

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:36 am
by Big Wallaby
EmptyCinema wrote:Oh, one other thing... she and I are about 90% certain you were our safari driver in May... you were on Safaris in May, right? Why did you leave Safaris anyway? I know MIMS helped you decide to leave Transport...
I knew within a week that Safari was not a long-term area, but that I wanted to be able to pick up shifts as I transferred into something else... like Monorails. I still love Safari, always will. I left early, before it became old, to make sure it never became stale.

I figure I have another couple years here before I move on to the next adventure... I believe working at Disney is like being the actor who plays the Doctor. They can change you out every so often, and I want to never overstay my welcome in an area. I want to look back with awesome memories at everything I do. Buses are a mix of both awesome and awful... depending on whether I spieled.

I'm just sorry you didn't get to hear my holding spiel.
BRWombat wrote:Wow, how cool is that! It's one thing to plan a meet, but to randomly encounter the Monorail Marsupial himself in his native environment -- priceless!
Kinda like an Okapi, except that I've been photographed many times.
EmptyCinema wrote:Sorry. :) Just figured I'd do my part to keeping the lines down and the guests somewhat less unhappy. And I am a fairly quiet person anyway.

I may try to arrange something in late April... I'd love to get together with some of the CMs from here. We're tentatively going to be there the weekend of the 25th for my birthday, but that all depends on the economy and my job hunt. :)

I hope BW sees this thread :)
Yep, I'm here, and my birthday is one day before yours. I'm seeing a big party in our future...

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:07 am
by EmptyCinema
Big Wallaby wrote: Yep, I'm here, and my birthday is one day before yours. I'm seeing a big party in our future...
Well, in that case, there definitely needs to be something going on!

Thanks again for the experience... next time I need to hunt you down when you're on Epcot so it's a bit longer. :)

Re: Thanks Big Wallaby!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:51 am
by jerlove
Happy Birthday to the two of you. I hope you both have a great party.