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 Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint).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. u shud’ve seen his face, priceless. it was one of those long ones and he thought it was a bar. in the end he had to go to hospital, he was fine though, just a few glass shards in his hair. very entertaining for the rest of us lol

  3. My dear fans. U guys rock. Glad to know u like Bus life. For those of u who wanted to know. I am 17 on the 4th of July. Luv u guys. Rick

  4. Awww, poor Dan. Hehe! But yeah, everyone makes mistakes, don’t they? Btw, hi Ash. Cool you check out sites like this. Yeah, you were very good in Bus Life, ‘specially in the episode “Bad Hair Day.” Liked the doctor suit, hehe! But yeah, you were cool. Hope you do more stuff in future.

  5. hey ash, remember me? as soon as i got to school after the filming my friend was dying for your autograph :) how hv u been lately?

  6. i want to know about Rick,so i find it ,but i can’t find it.Because it’s doesn’t have.Who can tell me about rick? I know only his full name and last name.But I want to know about his life!!!!!
    I think Rick is a very handsome boy. I love him!!!!

  7. hi im katie i was sally, hello every1 im 15 now, hi dan and ash how ave you been?? have u heard from nancy and james recently? i had a relly good tym on set. do u rememer the fuseball table lol and the big white tents and when i dropped my phone down the toilets lol im such an idiot i did and said alot of stupid and annoying things :S anyway nice hearin from u all xxx n im glad lots of ppl liked the show coz it was wkd to make xxxxx

  10. i just wanted to say i love this show. i used to stay up til 1.30am just to try and watch it between shows coz you never know when its gonna be on. haha lame i know, but i liked it. i don’t think they show it in australia anymore. does anyone know how many episodes/seaons there are? i reckon ashley cavender-jones is hell fine. but anyways i love the show, reminds me of my bus haha. much love. Xx han

  11. i think rick is fit. but i also think the skater boy with the blue cap is really fit as well. does anybody know anything about the skater dude- like his real name/age, etc?

  12. um,,, rick is cute… i HAD i crsh on him… the sk8r gril is pretty btw.. but, kevin clark is still the cutest guy in my world… (i know scul of rock is so like, 3 years ago)

  13. Woohoo, this is great! Bus Life fanatics, reunite! Hopefully, we will persuade the writers and producers of the show to make another series. cackles evilly It’s only JUST the beginning ….

  14. Hey, wow this blog is pretty juicy!
    yeah, um Well im Nisha, im 12 i hate my email add i like made it wheni was 9 so don’t mind that lol.
    Yeah u guys are right rick is pretty hot! too bad hes 17
    more question, where do u live? i’m not gonna stock u r anything jus curious. hey do u have a younger brother or something???one o
    LOL d[-_-]b listening to music rite now
    hope u were younger rick!
    goodbye, nish

  16. ..rick is so handsome..any got pics? haha.i’ve been tryin to find one.but i cant…wah!!! for those who has pics plis tell me..thank you.:)

  17. Hey!! Bus Life rockzz!!! good make-up on the goth guy by the way!! but what really caought my eye was rick… not obvious, I know!!! (hahaha) i just can’t find pics on the guy!!! darn!!! He is soooooooo cute!!! any girl would fall for him!!! (hahaha)… if anyone has pics on the dude please post the website!!!! (hahaha) even though if his real name is ashley… (hahaha)

  20. (Quick note from me, the guy whose weblog you all are on — I’m not convinced that this last commenter is actually Dan. The last time Dan commented here, he at least capitalized his own name correctly…and used a different e-mail address.

    That said, I can’t be completely positive, so I’m not deleting ‘dan’s’ declaration of love for toni. Just keep in mind that on the ‘net, it’s easy to pretend to be someone else.)

  21. haha!! lol…ive read all your messages…
    it was all funny…
    hehe…well…nice to know that rick and dan post here in this site :)
    btw.. hi! im tinkerbell…im kinda new here…

    :D

  24. Well, welcome Tinkerbell. :D Hopefully we’ll all be able to build up a Bus Life website … and encourgae the directors to make another series …. grrrrr … if only they would read this page. We shout chant something like:

    WE WANT BUS LIFE! WE WANT BUS LIFE!

    Haha, lol That would be real cool ….

  26. Yeah, let’s rock! WE WANT BUS LIFE, WE WANT BUS LIFE, WE WANT BUS LIFE … THE UK ONE, GUYS!!!

    lol We’re great, Tinkerbell, we really are …

  32. Aaah, not much. Made a cool collage at home and stuff. Have you checked out the imdb (Internet Movie Database) site for Bus Life, Tinkerbell?

  34. kewl, ashley’s been here.. :p

    @girl: yeah…we talk about the other people on bus life, but forgot jesse and eddie..

    anyone knows stuff about ’em?

  35. Eddie’s real name is James Bird and he’s starred in The Bill (haven’t seen episode). Jess’s real name is Nancy Wallinger, and she’s starred in STUPID. There’s an agency website which gives information about her – she’s only about 5’0, and she also does jazz, ballet and tap-dancing … I think?

  38. honestly, i can’t stand to watch bus life coz its kinda.. kids stuff.. you know.. im just watching it because of ash.. wahehehe…

  41. hi ash how r u now?u know wat i am 1 of ur fan in the philippines!!!!!!!!!!!!
    i wish that you have some photo!!!!!and u alwayz open this website……….love you……..muaaaaaaaa

  42. im 1 of ur biggest fan in bus life……i like the episode of breakdown………r u still artist????????????r u still single??????????or in relationship???????????plz.answer my question………c this website…………!!!!!!!!!!!i love you………..muaaaaaaaaa

  43. Breakdown was a good episode, wasn’t it? You got to see a part of everyone’s character, basically! I found that cool. And I liked the way they built up the relationship between Sally and Rick.

    What next? This board has went from the head goth, to Rick, to Sally, to Jess & Eddie. Who else does anyone adore? The skater chick? The skater boy with the blue cap? The brainy kid? Bruiser?! lol We should really make this an official keith English/Ben Ward/John Marley board (director and writers of Bus Life). So when they see their names on this site, they’ll be interested, and hell, who knows, something might happen …

  44. hi to everyone who always open this website???????????i want to ask some question about ashley…….is he still artist???????????

  45. You meant an actor? I’m not sure if he is … maybe he’s still performing in theatres and stuff. We’ll find out if he ever reads this again, I s’ppose.

  46. hehe…sorry…i wasn’t on for ages! hehe…btw..hi angelou smith…im from the philippines too!! weeeee
    i love rick…he is so frikin hot…wa…heheheg2g

  47. HI!!! do u know is there any website about Ashley?

    i like the songs in High school musical,it’s nice

  48. No, not at the moment there aren’t any websites about Ashley Cavender-Jones himself … or at least I can’t find any … it would be cool to find out about his other acting debuts, info on Bus Life and personal interests.

  49. pambihira ka naman angel smith tignan mo naman grammar mo! pambihira tong anak ng bakang baog oh.. nakakahiya sa mga taga ibang bansa! ish!

    sorry N.G. if i used philippine language in talking to angel smith.. i have i question.. hope you dont mind.. do you think we filipinos are weird? im just wondering because almost all americans and british dudes discriminate us like we dont belong anywhere.. and it really pisses me off.. hope you can answer my question as soon as possible.. and if you have lots of time, would you mind asking the same question to your friends? coz’ i really wanna’ know what other people think about us.. the so called “freaky asian”

                from : kannah "the curious freaky dude"

  50. and everyone is free to answer my question.. its totally okei if you hate filipinos.. i mean its your opinion.. please please mr. michael handscom, please post my comments coz i really really wanna know what other people think

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