I was inspired to post this throwback for two reasons. 1) I just returned from a trip much like I did nine years ago when I wrote this post when The Phil Factor was in it’s infancy, and 2) Just the other day the poetic Marissa of Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth wrote a great poem about vacationing with your kids.
Skinheads of the Caribbean 5/23/2005
For the most part I enjoyed all the rides at Disney World and most of the people who rode them with me and my family were well behaved and considerate. I was a little disturbed by the 40-ish woman who went on Splash Mountain alone, sat next to me, and seemed to chuckle at every thing the robotic cartoon characters did.
In 1976 when my parents took me to Disney World they, for some unknown reason, elected not to take me on Pirates of The Caribbean. Maybe they were fearful I’d run off to join the merry hooligans as they wreaked havoc upon the seven seas. Or maybe they, like most parents, didn’t give a rats ass what their kids want towards the end of 10 hours walking around Disney and just wanted to get back to the hotel bar for a beer. Either way, I’ve spent the last 25 years feeling cheated that I missed out on that ride.
I felt that finally justice would be served as I proudly marched my kids into line for Pirates of The Caribbean. Then I noticed 4 young adults in line in front of me. They were “skinheads.” I say this not just because the three young men had shaved heads. It wasn’t the knee high leather boots they were all wearing that gave away their political leanings. Using my brilliant powers of deductive reasoning I concluded that they were “skinheads” because one of them had a tattoo on the back of his neck. It said, “skinhead.” I’m thinking that you’d better be pretty damn sure about your political affiliation to have it tattooed on your neck. What if in ten years he decides to be a Republican? Nevermind, bad example, the tattoo would still fit. I just never imagined that skinheads would choose Disney World for vacation. Don’t you think they would want to visit Alcatraz or perhaps the jail cell that Mr. Howell locked the Brady’s in when their Grand Canyon trip went awry? Although I don’t agree with the skinheads’ political and social beliefs I do have to say that this group was polite and well behaved, unlike my friend from Pittsburgh.
To read the reference to “my friend from Pittsburgh”, read: The Drunk that Saved Pittsburgh in it’s natural habitat on the original Phil Factor blog. I was reminded of that particular post on my recent train ride from Paris to London when two drunk forty year olds sat near me. One was so drunk that he was unable to get himself out of his sweatshirt, so the other completely drunk guy tried to help and the next several minutes were amusing to say the least.
Have a great Thursday! ~Phil
Thanks so much for mentioning me in this hilarious blog. You made my day. Skinheads and Disneyland are definitely an odd match, although I did once see Mickey Mouse in Doc Martens and a flight jacket.
Do you have a picture of that Mickey? Was he working at Disneyland or did you just see him at a gas station or something?
Unfortunately I can not disclose his whereabouts. He was with a young gang of hooligans who identified themselves as Minnie, Donald and Goofy. They seemed most threatening and swore me to secrecy.
I feel sorry for you. I really do. As a kid that was, by far, my favorite ride. It gave me my career ambition, (to be a pirate), and I also found it oddly relaxing. I was almost always asleep by the end. Maybe it was watching all of those pirates guzzle that rum.