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 Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint).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)”

  2. i know the head goth. his name’s daniel bickerdike and ive been in loads of shows with him for years. we’re part of the same drama group (centre stage). he’s soooooo funny !

    roz

  4. Ohmigawd! 0_0 You KNOW Daniel Bickerdike?! Praise the Lord! I’m not that religious, by the way Plz tell him I love his work, and I simply think the head goth is, like, the cutest guy on the planet! And is he a goth in real life? I doubt it, but a friend told me he was.

  6. No worries, Nina — though it’s not me (that is, the owner of this website) that knows Daniel, but someone else who left a comment here. ‘Fraid there’s not much I can do to help you out.

  7. I know you don’t know him, it’s okay! I was just replying to the other girl who replied. I’d just love to tell Daniel how much I love him to bits runs and hugs Daniel Well, bye then!

  8. this page is fuckin waste of time. just get a life! u’ve probably scared the poor dude or whoever ur talkin about away.

  9. nina G r u still on here ??? if you are let me know sorry i haven’t told him you love him yet but i will when i next see him.

  10. Yeah, I’m still here. Look, I’ve ended up sounding like a complete and utter moron, so I’m sorry. Too much PDA, I s’ppose …. is all upset I still like D.B’s acting and hope to see another series of Bus Life, if that’s okay. :)

  11. oh my god u actually know him ???!!!! that is the coolest thing ever !!! (i know i may sound like a crazy moron but i don’t care)i love him sooo much – more than u nina G and more than anyone. i think he’s a great actor and sooo fit as a goth. roz can u please pass a message on to him saying that i love him and if possible – get him to come on here himself and say hi ??? thnx love shea shea

  12. lol Hey, I’m still here, yeh know. Sheana, check out this webpage I made, it’s got a loada pictures of him: Gallery of Gelfin Cora

    PS: “i love him sooo much – more than u nina G” Hah! Right! Nah, just jokin’. Hope we can see him acting in more stuff, I loved him as the goth.

    And to ****in stupid: if this page is so pointless, why waste your time on it? ;P

  13. Roz i hope you’re still on here coz i wanna no more !! u r soo lucky actually knowing him coz i am such a big fan ! can you please tell me what shows you have been in with him and the roles he’s played and stuff coz i’d really like to know more. thnx love shea shea

    oh yeah and just to say i agree with n.g about the f***ing stupid guy xx

  14. lol ok well the last time i saw him he was a pirate in ‘the pirates of penzance'(though i wasn’t actually in that show i just watched it)and i was in ‘les miserables’ with him where he was different characters and when i was about 8 and he was 12 or something we did the show ‘oliver’and he played oliver, and theres just been so many shows i forget now but he’s always been a great actor and really funny.

    he’s not a goth in real life by the way.

  15. Hey, Sheana, you checked out my webpage I sent? It’s got a load of pictures of the head goth if you like him so much. Got them from B.O.Y.S (Boys on your screen). Feel free to look around. :)

    I know that sounds kinda rude to ask, but if you like him so much, check it out.

  16. Yeah, Roz, I know he’s not a Goth, but he still seems like a cool guy. Is there going to be a new Bus Life series, or is that it? What did he look like as the pirate?

  17. he looked so funny as a pirate but i dont know if theres goin to be another series or not. i haven’t seen him in ages

  18. All righty, then. That’s okay! But I’d love to know if there’d be another series. The goth guy rules over, man.

  19. who was it asking about Daniel Bickerdike because i have been best friends for about 15 years now and if there is anything that you wanna know then i will know it

  21. hey – just thought i’d let you know, daniel bickerdike has just starred in this play called ‘return to the forbidden planet’ in one of our local theatres. i didnt see the play but apparently it was really good and i saw a poster up for it and he looks sooo funny. just thought i’d tell you xx

  22. no theres not going to be another bus life as far as dan knows, and the show that he was in the return to the forbidden planet has just finished last week im afraid.

  24. Cool about the new play he’s in, Roz, though (still upset to lack of Bus Life-ness). Do you have any information about it? That’d be lovely, thanks. :)

  26. Hey guys, its Dan. My m8s told me about this site and I
    had to check it out. Pretty flatterd I must say, lol. Oh and hay roz, hoz it goin? U doing anything for centre stage at da mo? Where abouts are you from shea? dnt think theres gonna be another bus life, write a letter to the director! Anywho catch ya l8r Head Goth x

  27. When am I gonna get a websight dedicated to me? :(

    P.S. Dans Number is [removed by request – MH] (ring him all the time please he gets lonely and loves obsessive women)

    Ha Ha

  28. This is reeeeeeaaaaaaaaally interesting! (sorry, I am a nut). But anyway, nice hearing from you, Dan. Yeah, I liked Bus Life a lot, but it’s a shame there won’t be a new series. Hopefully, you’ll get more roles in film and TV, so I’ll be looking forward to it! :)

    To Tom Bickerdike, yeah …. hehe. I pretty much understand how you feel …. like I would if there was a webpage dedicated to my sister …. hey, maybe I better check that out! lol, joking

    Anyways, thanks for the info, dudes. To JohnvBean – if we’re so crazy, why’re you here too? Maybe you’re crazy aswell. :P

  29. hi Dan & Tom – its Mike ur cous! Dan – am in awe mate of your famousity (IS THAT A WORD)must be so cool having ur own website any way HI!!!

  31. Oh that is such a pity. Him being an average person that is. Thank god I haven’t reached the point ‘Obsession’ like Nina.G obviously have. He’s seriously hot stuff…as a goth.

    Sure, he’s cute…but there really is no point going all ‘I LOVE YOU!’ when you don’t even know him. ‘GIMME A SMOOCH’ when you know it’s gonna fade away (unless you don’t wash your face). And worst of all ‘MARRY ME!’ when he’s seventeen and you’re what, 14-19 years old (that’s what I think your ages are…cuz if you’re older/younger than that…excuse me while I find my barf bag)

  32. i wish there are more bus life episode….
    cus i love to watch it…
    the head goth – Daniel Bickerdike – He’s off da’ hook man!!!

  34. i really really think that rick is so cute.. not being obessed or anything but i really love him! please tell me his birthday and his real name!!

  35. The actor who plays Rick is called Ashley Cavender-Jones. Dunno his birthday, but he described his character as a, “bit of a ladies’ man” and said that if he weren’t Rick he’d like to play Eddie (because he’s a bit of a troublemaker) or one of the Goths. He’s rather cool. I think he starred in Wondrous Obliviation as a blonde boy (I’ve never seen it though), but it was only a very minor role. :( Hopefully, he’ll perform more in future.

  37. The guy’s called ASHLEY?! No friggin’ way! I don’t judge people by their names buuuut…a guy with a girls’ name’s a li’l overboard…

  42. No idea about her birthday or her age, but I assume she’s 12-15, something around. I don’t know, sorry. But I know she starred in Bleak House as Charley Neckett, Emma in Butterfly World and Diana Leach in Trial and Retribution.

  45. i could swear that sallys like 16 or something by now. when we filmed it she was like 13/14 (?). o btw i was a goth in bus life, the crappy one with the fringe :P. i dont know much but if you wanna u can ask me some stuff about it.

  46. Hannah – hey, I remember you! Nah, you were cool. Sixteen? Hmm, Sally looked really young for her age in Bus Life, though … 11/12, shockingly! Yeah, sadly, I’ve heard that there are no plans for a new series but they are making an American pilot entitled “Bus Life” based on the UK series. But yeah, I’m thinking the people here are probably wanting to know stuff like Ash’s age, the cast backstage and stuff like that. And if they have any other plans.

    But yeah, I think I read your Bus Life review on Smart girl. Someone has left a question for you there, I think. Something like “What was the goth like backstage? Was he nice to you?” But yeah, I find it cool that the Bus Life cast can have time to talk to fans and stuff

  47. hey, its good to talk to people here. can i ask who are you? not meaning to b rude or anything. lol i remember david backstage, when he broke the light during breakfast and had to go 2 hospital, classic. and remember curtus? o i loved him so much! 30mins of make up at 6:30 in the morning!
    i really do wish they did another UK version, it was so much fun. well i’ll talk to you later
    bye

  48. Umm, I’m a fan of Bus Life, not one of the cast or anything. Who was David? I’ve read the Bus Life cast list, but never seen a character played by David. Did he help produce the show?

    And wasn’t Curtis the kid who got on the bus who got on their bus and didn’t go to school? That was a pretty funny episode, though the four main characters were rather harsh on the poor kid.

    6:30am make-up? Eek! o.O. Yeah, I seen the making-of Bus Life, and you all seemed to be enjoying it well. Sometimes I wish I’d been in the show, but then I’d of understood it too much to appreciate it the way I do now.

    Yeah, it was a great little show. I wish they would continue it, but it’s a little too late now. :( But I hope you do well in your acting career.

  49. david? o david, sorry i think i ment daniel… oops. yh curtis was, jeez u know more than i do…
    lol it was so fun when we filmed the making of it. they did a close up of a really bad picture of me during make-up, im so glad they didnt put it on! phew.
    where do you find out all of this stuff? cos i wud love to know, ive forgotten alot of this stuff…

  50. Oh, I’ve been researching Bus Life on the web for a while. I know pretty much a lot about it. Hehe, so it was Daniel who broke a light? Aww, poor guy …

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