The Disneyland Quest

by Matt Ainsworth

  Chapter 9

  The crowd on Main Street was massive. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder and space was becoming more difficult to come by.

  “I think we’ll just head off into the store for a while,” Steve said shouting over the crowd. “A few too many people for my liking.”

  “Good idea,” Michelle said. “Ana, stay close to your brother. And remember Travis, you have my cell phone number. Call or text me if you boys need anything.”

  They exchanged goodbyes and Michelle and Steve disappeared into the crowd. Dizzy squeezed Ana’s hand tightly, not wanting to lose her in the sea of people.

  “The time has come,” Mr. Pegg continued, “for you all to receive your first clues. But I must first issue a few ground rules.”

  The huge crowd of people became eerily silent.

  “Rule number one, be safe. Anyone participating in the Quest caught breaking rule number one will automatically be removed from the park. Disneyland expects all competitors to show kindness and respect to your opponents and any un-Disneylike behavior will not be tolerated. Do I make myself clear on rule number one?”

  Mr. Pegg looked over the crowd, reinforcing the seriousness of what he was saying.

  “Rule number two, the Disneyland Quest takes place within the boundaries of Disneyland park. For the guests that would like a less crowded Disney experience, you will find California Adventure has been opened early this morning to accommodate you.”

  Many people began heading back through the crowd toward the exit. Not everyone in the park was there for the Quest and they were quickly taking Mr. Pegg’s advice to head toward the much less crowded California Adventure.

  “And rule number three, all clues will be located in areas accessible to all Disneyland guests. There will be no need to go hunting in restricted areas. One might say that they are all hidden in plain sight.” He stretched his arms out to his sides, as if to put all of Disneyland on display.

  Travis began to take in the scene in front of him. Thousands of people, crammed together on Main Street. He pictured the Cast Members at the end of Main Street holding the rope, guests pushing up against it waiting for the drop. It was at that moment Travis had an idea.

  “We have to get out of here,” he said to Dizzy, looking for a way out of the crowd.

  “What? Are you crazy? He’s just about to tell us the first clue.”

  “Listen to me. As soon as he says the clue and the rope drops, there are going to be thousands of people running like mad. It will be like the stampede from the line outside, but fifty times worse. We are going to get trampled and we have to get out of the way.”

  Dizzy agreed, and the two boys grabbed Ana’s hand and began making their way through the crowd. As they squeezed in between strollers and wheelchairs, Dizzy took the occasional glance at the pins being worn by the guests.

  “879!” Dizzy screamed to Travis.

  “What?”

  “Never mind.”

  “This is just like The Lion King,” Ana said, weaving in and out of people with her brother and Travis. “When Simba is caught up in the stampede.” She began her Scar impression. “Mufasa, quick. Stampede...in the gorge. Simba’s down there!”

  “That’s exactly right sis,” Dizzy said. “Let’s head up there.” He pointed toward Main Street Station, sitting high above Town Square and Main Street. “The crowd should head down Main Street after the rope drop. We will be safe up there.”

  The three children climbed the steps which were crowded with people enjoying the scene below them. Travis, Dizzy, and Ana found an open spot along the railing. Dizzy checked his watch.

  “Just about 9:00. Here we go.”

  “And now,” Mr. Pegg began again. “The moment you all have been waiting for. Here are your first clues!”

  There was a loud explosion, as thousands of strips of confetti erupted from the rooftops along Main Street. The confetti rained down on the crowd of people like snowflakes, getting caught in trees and awnings along Main Street. The confetti was sticking out of people’s hair and clinging to the back of t-shirts. Dizzy could see the rope had dropped at the end of Main Street, and like he predicted there was a huge rush of people streaming out toward the park.

  “That was the first clue?” Travis asked.

  Dizzy reached up to catch one of the fluttering pieces of confetti drifting down from the sky, ignoring the pile of them that had built up at his feet. He grabbed one and flattened one out in his hand.

  “You bet,” said Dizzy.

  Written on the strip of paper was a short poem. The writing was extremely small, and the three kids huddled around to get a closer look.

  Dizzy read the first clue out loud,

  Distant brothers point the way.

  A floating ride will rock and sway.

  A place that’s quiet, dark, and bleak.

  Carvings in stone show what you seek.

  Dizzy read it again, hoping to find some meaning to the first clue. Travis and Ana looked up at him, waiting for the answer.

  “Well,” Travis asked excitedly. “Which way Diz?”

  The groups below had begun picking up the strips of confetti. Some took off running instantly, certain they knew the answer. Others huddled up to discuss the clue privately. Dizzy read the clue over and over in his head, hoping something would come to him. He lost track of time and expected the entire Quest to have already ended the next time he looked up. Dizzy was embarrassed and couldn’t look Ana or Travis in the eyes.

  He had no idea where to go.