Disney goes Goth (also: 'Bus Life' fan comments)

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This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on August 25, 2003). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

One of these days, this would be a blast to do:

For the fifth year in a row, Disneyland will be creeping with mobs of black-clad death-rocker types for what organizers officially bill as Bats Day in the Fun Park, but what most people just call Goth Day.

So why would a tribe of people largely typecast as gloomy, depressed, trench coat-wearing, Bauhaus-worshipping creatures of the night want to spend a day at the Happiest Place on Earth? The sheer irony of it all, for one thing. Plus the always welcome chance to make the eyes of non-Goths bug out: one year, Korda managed to get eight boats on the It’s a Small World ride and an entire Davy Crockett Explorer Canoe filled with Goths.

(via Wil)

Also: Thanks to the randomness of the ‘net and the first few comments that this post got, the comment thread has turned into a fun little conversation between the fans (and a few cast members, particularly Daniel Bickerdike and Ashley Jones) of a 2004 Disney (England) series of shorts called Bus Life. I found one episode of Bus Life on YouTube:

138 thoughts on “Disney goes Goth (also: 'Bus Life' fan comments)”

  1. Of course I have nothing against filipinos and asians. Most of the time, I think it’s interesting to see and hear about people from other cultures and countries. It’s great that Rick, Goth and co are getting attention from various types of girls than silly, shallow prats who don’t care about finding information on the characters and stuff.

  7. Happy birthday Rick.i thought,it’s not too late for celebrate!!!!!!

    HEY!!!!KANNAH i’m from Thailand,and i study with phillippines teacher,she’s a very good teacher,she used to teach me about phillippines too!!! and don’t worry about that.and if possible you can visit to Thailand,it’s the very beautiful country,many places to travel,first is Phitsanulok[i live there]

  8. hi kannah eh ano b ang pakialam u sa grammar q.????????bakit masama bang magkamali ang isang 7yr old girl????

  10. hey, this is supposed to be about bus life, not the philippines. anyway.
    does bus life has an imbd??

  19. hey if that’s your plan, then include Daniel Bickerdike! He’s really hot! i’ve only seen him as a goth. he’s soooo hot!! anyway, yeah. that’s a heaps good idea.

  21. Hey, that’s cool, Penny. :D Hope things are going well! I used to be pretty hyper about Daniel Bickerdike before (urgh, experience changes everyone, doesn’t it?), but it’s cool that you’re happy. I realised that Daniel Bickerdike and the head goth were two totally different people (apart from the fact of one being fictional, the other actually existing).

    To be honest, I wasn’t as hyper as I made out in the first place – I was just doing it because at the time all other fangirls were squealing and squawking and I felt like I should be behaving in the same way, to clutch onto the rush. I was kind of kidding myself. I mean, I liked him … but I felt I needed to like him even MORE to conform. Weird, I know. shakes head Did you ever see Bus Life? It was really good. I wish they would make more episodes.

    Hope things are well with y’all! waves

    N.G

  22. Sorry to post more rambling garbage, but do you guys know that ben Ward, who wrote Bus Life, wrote a short series for Disney called “Break Kids?” I never saw it, but it starred Katie Angelou (Sally) and apparently it’s in development to be rereleased on the Disney Channel.

  23. I saw Break Kids before and its cool!!! I thought I seen Katie Angelou who plays Sally on Break Kids!!!!!!

  25. urm ‘guy from therfield’ […]
    everyones gotta work somewhere and its a good job hes at dominos otherwise no one would be able to deliver […] you […] pizza!
    and you obviously didnt know dan coz hes not a twat and can imagine hes got alot further in life than you ever will
    x

  27. Hmmm ….

    “Guy from Therfield” – yeah, thanks for your “enthusiastic” input. You’ll make a great promoter in future. :P

    I always find it amusing how people try to steal less well-known/famous musicians/actors’ limelight by reporting nasty experiences with them, just to bring them down. People have done the same for Clare Thomas, who was also in Bus Life, which is just crude and nasty.

    Why do you do this – because they are working hard to do what they love most? And you are basically just sitting on your backside, in fury of their success. You really think Daniel Bickerdike was a “twat?” Let me ask you something – did he really do something that hurt you or offended you? Or are you just aggravated because people are more likely to notice him than yourself because they have worked hard enough that they ended up performing on a BAFTA-nominated TV show that won the gold medal for Best Children’s Drama at the New York Television Festival of 2005?

    I don’t care whether you find Bus Life crap or not – that’s your opinion – but insulting someone on a page where fans and friends clearly flock to just to insult an actor personally is just out of order. Clearly you have hurt people like Penny, who is Daniel Bickerdike’s girlfriend, by such flippant remarks. And this happens often – when I look for bands I like, or performers, there’s always some nasty spoilsport ready to crash the party and make a horrid remark like: “Oh, I know the lead singer of that band, he’s a prick, he did insert assault here and said ____insert insult here___” just to put everyone else off. If you really don’t like a band or performer, just get off the site and leave them alone, for God’s sake!

    I know that I’m posting a tediously long comment, which many will probably skim and find ridiculous. Hell, I know it might be. But to the love of God, why do people who hate someone so much even bother to post crude comments about them? They must have a morbid obsession with them, if that’s the case. I know you might think of me as a stupid slob who posts on these websites daily, but I’m posting because Bus Life was a great, successful TV show and that sadly failed to make a second series, but gained a tight fanbase. The actors of the show have kindly kept in touch with the fanbase and that if you yourself want to get the same success, this is what I recommend you do:

    Get a life and try doing what you want to do so badly.

  28. Wow! Hey this is Rick! I believe I left a comment a while ago saying how much I love all of you guys! To even wish me happy Birthday!! That’s insane! Um, I’m aware most of u are American, and over there Ashley is indeed considered a girls name, but Ash sounds cool…
    Anyways, came across this site agian and thought I’d tell you all again how greatful I am for your following, even 4 years on!!
    Muchos Luvos, Ashley Cavender-Jones AKA Rick

  30. Going OK in terms of acting thanks, not much pro stuff goin down as of the moment, just studying drama at University in Newcastle at the moment but other than that nothing to report I’m afraid! Glad to hear you all still like (or at least talk about!) the Bus! Thanks again for all your support! ACJ

  32. Hey guys. I’ve been one of dan bickerdike’s best friends since we were wee tiny babies. I have to tell u he is a really nice guy. He’s really funny and not a prick at all. apart from when he’s gaying off on me. he loves animals and flowers and that sort of thing. and is a mad keane drummer. honestly though he is a top top bloke. will do anything to make anyone happy and, yes ladies, he is still buff as buff can be. u have your work cut out for you though if you fancy him as he is going out with penny and is very much into that relationship!!!! he doesnt stop talking about her…! (once again apart from when he’s gaying off on me.) anyways, he’s cool. Guy from therfield, ur a nob and u obviously never knew dan.
    see u soon
    mincey

  33. Aah, well, that’s great for you, Ash. Hehe, nice to how that Daniel Bickerdike’s life is going well. Good luck to his future, and good luck to him and his girlfriend. :)

  34. Firstly I want to say sorry for all the bad language in my comment I left for “guy from Therfield” I did try to delete it but I dont know how to, I was just angry. Anyway thank you to everyone that wished Dan and I good luck, weve been together over a year now and were very happy.

    Dans way cool everyone, we all love him! xxxx

  35. No worries, Penny. I edited your post a little bit (I’m the guy that runs this weblog). Thanks for the apology, though, many people wouldn’t bother to do that!

    Glad things are going well for you and Dan. While I’ve never seen Bus Life myself, it’s a lot of fun for me to watch all of the fans talking about it here, and I think it’s great that Dan and Ash have been stopping by from time to time. You all seem like good people to me, and everyone gets a little ticked off from time to time. :)

  37. omg!!! Ashley Cavender-Jones is soooo grool and handsome….
    but i don’t think that Bus Life will air back in Disney Channel Asia….. by the way, AShley,, ahhhhhhh,, I Love You….
    you’re just 3 years and 10 months older than me.. we can be together,,,hahaahah,, joke,, lolz

  38. Hi I’ve known dan since he was 3 and been best mates with him since. I have no idea what all this is about cos bus life was rubbish! Dan forced me to watch all the episodes in a row (how vain!) and i fell asleep! just wanna say hello to vince, ally, penny, tommy B (who was in a specsavers advert no less) and the guy from Therfield (who didnt leave a name). To all the ladies that say hes hot, Dan is rather desperate now so ur more than likely to get his interest. But despite all this he is a great bloke! really wanna revive this fan site cos reading all that was hilarious! Dan’s clean too! real straight shooter! x

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