My strongest memory is the absolute sense of ache, aching to be on the ride, begging my dad or mom to ride it. People say that the wait for the Autopia was the longest at the time, but that part didn’t bother me. What is “Tomorrow” about the Autopia? Its was engines and gasoline of the current time, but yes…the absolute desire to ride it was my strongest memory.

And did you know that Autopia opens this summer in Hong Kong Disneyland? With electric vehicles, to boot! And there is a point in the middle of the ride for an Operator to stand and watch out for traffic problems. (Don’t know what the costume will be, but I doubt that it will look the same as in your picture.) Operations in the Hong Kong park wanted the “Observation Point” because much of the “ride path” is not in view of the Station Area, and lots of the Chinese guests may never have driven a car. Even the adults!

This slide proved to be a toughie for me today because I already spent my “auto etiquette” coin last week. Therefore, I decided to get inventive and turn to my favorite “health and personal development” textbook for seventh graders, _You’re Growing Up_ (1950). Such a helpful tome! You can learn everything from how your body changes to what to do when polio strikes to how milk is made safe for consumption.

I thought that I would project myself into the minds of the young boys driving those snappy little cars in Autopia. What would they be thinking? I mean, when they let down their guards and really dug deep into their psyches? Perhaps they would be wondering if good grooming would help get that cute girl a few cars ahead to notice them. Hence, advice from the chapter entitled, “Some helpful hints for boys”:

“Boys your age are not very much interested in keeping neat and clean [...] However, by the time you boys are in high school you will probably be as much interested in your appearance as the girls are.

But right now, your main problem is usually not concern with improving your looks. More often it is a question of how to settle some of the arugments that go on at home about being neat and clean.

If this is your problem, here are a few suggestions that may help you. First of all, remember that your parents have a good reason for wanting you to look your best. What do you think their reason is?

Second, being neat and well groomed doesn’t mean a fellow is a sissy. If this were true, some of your favorite athletes could be called sissies!

Remember, too, that no one expects you to be spotlessly neat and clean all the time. What are some of the situations in which wearing old bue jeans and a rumpled sports shirt might be alright?”

Hmmm. Well, that last one is a trick question, of course. Because it’s never appropriate to be rumpled! Not even at Disneyland! It’s always good to be neat and clean and that way your parents will love you and will buy you a hot dog and a new transistor radio and the girls will adore you and do your homework for you and someone will mistake you for a famous sports star because you’re so dressed so clean and tidy.

Who knew Autopia could tap into the subconscious? Wow! It’s more than just attendants and turquoise cars. It’s like visiting Freud, but with wheels!

xoxo!
Miss Sharon