The Disneyland Quest
Page 25
Chapter 24
Dizzy inspected the sign closely. He was certain the last number of the combination would be on it. His heart was racing, knowing he had only a few minutes to get the number and return to Main Street. He squinted as he pressed his face inches away from the sign. He was beginning to worry this was another dead end when he noticed a small engraving along the edge of the sign.
He tilted his head sideways to get a closer look. It was another riddle. He read it quietly to himself:
Enter the combination,
At the vault’s true location.
Where Walt’s fascination,
Meets Lillian’s representation.
Dizzy smiled. For the first time all day a clue had made perfect sense to him. He checked his watch. It was 6:57. He knew where he had to go. He just hoped he would make it.
He sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him back the way he came. He moved like an NFL running back, finding holes in the crowds ahead of him and moving through before they closed up. He turned right onto Main Street and heard Mr. Pegg calling out another combination from the speakers overhead. Dizzy didn’t bother listening to the numbers. He knew the vault wouldn’t open.
He ran harder, his legs beginning to burn. He saw Travis and Ana in the front of the line at the stage. They had been letting the people behind them pass while they waited for Dizzy’s return. Their faces lit up as Dizzy ran closer, but he didn’t slow down. The smiles on their faces drained as Dizzy sprinted past the stage and vault entirely and continued up the steps to Main Street Station.
Dizzy knew he only had seconds remaining before 7:00. A sense of calm came over him as he leapt through the turnstile and entered the station. There in the middle of the room was a glass case holding a model train of Walt Disney’s tribute to his wife Lillian.
The Lilly Belle.
Dizzy approached the glass case and ran his fingers along the top. He then bent down and touched the plaque on the front of the case. It moved slightly at his touch. He rotated the plaque clockwise, revealing three number dials.
He carefully spun the dials with the tips of his finger.
“55....13....33,” he said quietly. He replaced the plaque and stepped back, not knowing what to expect.
He checked his watch. It was now 7:00. The Quest was over.
For a few moments he stood staring at the train. Am I too late, he asked himself. Are the numbers wrong? Suddenly, the miniature lights on the train lit up. The engine gave out a faint whistle and a tiny puff of steam came out of the top.
A huge explosion erupted behind him and Dizzy was almost blown off his feet. Fireworks were shooting out of the top of Main Street Station and a giant spotlight shone through the doors. Celebratory music began playing over the loudspeakers on Main Street as fireworks continued to explode in the air above him. Dizzy slowly walked out of the station onto the platform outside. He saw Mr. Pegg running up the steps toward him, a wireless microphone in his hand.
“Ladies and Gentlemen!” he screamed into the microphone excitedly. “Disneyland is proud to present to you, the winner of the Disneyland Quest,” he put his hand over the microphone and Dizzy told him his name. “Mr. Dizzy Walker!!!”
Another round of fireworks exploded overhead. Deafening cheers were coming from the huge crowd on Main Street that had now begun gathering in front of the station.
Dizzy looked down and saw Travis and Ana racing up the steps. Two Disneyland security guards stepped in front of them, blocking their path.
“They’re with me!” Dizzy shouted. Mr. Pegg motioned for the security guards to step aside, and Ana and Travis continued up the steps. The three of them met with a huge hug, setting off another round of enormous cheers from the crowd below.
Dizzy and Travis each grabbed one of Ana’s hands and they faced the crowd, raising their arms triumphantly, lifting her off her feet. More fireworks and cheering followed and Mr. Pegg shook each child’s hands in congratulations.
“How about a few words with our winners,” he said facing the crowd. “Tell us how you are feeling.” He held the microphone in front of Dizzy. Dizzy was speechless.
“We feel great!” Travis said, grabbing the microphone. “We did it!” Travis let out a loud victory roar, setting off more cheers from the crowd below. Ana treated the crowd to an extended version of her victory dance. The crowd clapped and cheered her on.
Michelle began running up the steps. She was half smiling, half crying. She hugged Dizzy and Ana, and reached out to pull Travis in as well.
Mr. Pegg realized a post victory interview was not going to happen, so he turned his attention back to the crowd.
“Disneyland would like to thank all 1,114 groups that signed up for the Disneyland Quest. It was a magical day and one that hopefully none of you ever forget.” He watched as Michelle smothered Dizzy with kisses. Ana had both arms wrapped around Travis, squeezing him in a miniature bear hug. “Ladies and gentlemen. One more time, let’s hear it for our Quest winners!”
More fireworks exploded in the sky above them, and the crowd responded with a final ovation.
“I can’t believe we won,” Dizzy shouted over the fireworks. “We really did it!”
“How did you know to come up here?” Travis asked. “We thought you had lost your mind.”
“I’ll explain later,” Dizzy said. “I think we owe someone an ice cream cone.” He smiled at his sister.
“Oh yeah!” Ana said, breaking into her victory dance once again.