Jyn Syko - Typing Monkeys

Jyn Syko Insta-Episodes I – V

Jen DiGiacomo — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 15:31:25 +0000

What started as a lark following a conversation with Jadeane from the Galactic Starcruiser Reservation Team whilst trying to secure a third passage aboard the Halcyon has since blossomed into a fun little narrative of Jyn Syko’s escapades prior to boarding the Starcruiser, and eventually will chronicle her canonical adventures throughout the Halcyon’s 275th Anniversary Celebration, and perhaps beyond. Please enjoy (and like!) Jyn Syko’s Insta-Episodes I through V!

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A post shared by Jyn Syko (@jynsyko)

Oh! And don’t forget to check out my new Galactic Starcruiser Pride T-shirt!

The post Jyn Syko Insta-Episodes I – V first appeared on Typing Monkeys.

Jyn Syko Insta-Episodes VI – X

Jen DiGiacomo — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:18:17 +0000

What started as a lark has since blossomed into a fun little narrative of Jyn Syko’s escapades prior to boarding the Galactic Starcruiser, and eventually will chronicle her canonical adventures throughout the Halcyon’s 275th anniversary celebration and beyond. Please enjoy (and like!) Jyn Syko’s Insta-Episodes VI through X!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jyn Syko (@jynsyko)

The post Jyn Syko Insta-Episodes VI – X first appeared on Typing Monkeys.

Catching Up with Jyn Syko and Lady H

Jen DiGiacomo — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:30:29 +0000

As follow up to my previous Galactic Starcruiser posts, I decided to to a roundup of my past posts, Facebook ramblings, and newly launched Red Bubble store. Enjoy! Jen/Jyn (jen@typingmonkeys.com)

Jen/Jyn Syko Galactic Starcruiser Sent Thank-You Emails

Jen/Jyn Galactic Starcruiser Facebook Ramblings

08 September (post 1st voyage quickie post)
09 September (post 1st voyage in shock post)
12 September (post unexpected second voyage in shock post)
13 September (CSL photos in the house from 1st voyage post)
16 September (post decompression but still in awe post)
22 September (hey more photos post)
06 October (post road trip to Orlando, Starcruiser farewell, and HotH party)
07 October (more hijinks from Batuu and HotH party)
09 October (how it started vs. how it’s going)

NEW! Jyn Syko Mini Red Bubble Store

Jyn’s Halcyon Hope/Forever/Pride T-Shirts and Other Ephemera (Red Bubble)

The post Catching Up with Jyn Syko and Lady H first appeared on Typing Monkeys.

Praise, Thanks and Tears for the Galactic Starcruiser Reservation Team

Jen DiGiacomo — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:40:07 +0000

Below is the email I wrote to the amazing Galactic Starcruiser Reservation Team after it became clear I was not going to get one last cruise aboard the Halcyon. I fear these amazing individuals, who I spent so much time chatting with, never received this missive, so if you happen to know any of them, please do forward this along. They are the unsung heroes of the Galactic Starcruiser experience, especially for all of us who called non-stop in the final few weeks hoping to snag a cabin after that mythical cancellation that sadly never happened. Ta’bu e tay!

Dear Galactic Starcruiser Reservation Team,

I write this from my hotel room in Disney Pop Century after the final voyage of the Galactic Starcruiser has departed. As background, I chose to drive down from New York City to Orlando this past weekend on the off chance I might secure passage with some kind soul who already had a cabin, or score my own by calling the Galactic Starcruiser line just as someone canceled.

Now when I booked my first voyage for September 6, I went through a friend of mine who is a Disney Travel Agent, so she could get the commission. As a result I was unaware of just how amazing the reservation team is. My second voyage on September 10 was very last minute. I happened to be in the right place at the right time on the day someone nabbed a cabin. Again, limited contact with your wonderful team.

After my second voyage, I was determined to have one last trip aboard the Halcyon and commenced calling as frequently as possible to make this a reality. And call frequently I did! To my surprise, the reservations team grew from strangers, to friends, to family. In a span of two and a half weeks, I discovered this amazing team, who had to tell hundreds of callers that there was no availability every single day, was not only friendly, upbeat, and sympathetic in the face of dire odds, but encouraging and empathetic because they knew first-hand how extraordinary and emotional the experience was.

We commiserated over our shared experiences, laughed about our common obsessions, and got misty eyed over the poignant moments aboard the Halcyon. I shared personal details with people I had never met, because they are that personable, that caring, and amazing human beings.

As the final voyages drew to a close, I found myself calling from my hotel room, first to find passage, then to talk with these extraordinary people one more time, and finally to share the sadness that their jobs at Galactic Starcruiser, the best jobs many of them had ever had, were coming to close.

This is the best team of people I’ve ever interacted with as a consumer, day in and day out. These are, well words fail me, that’s how brilliant they are, and I find myself literally unable to call tonight because I fear I will break down in tears on the phone, an unintelligible sobbing mess in response to any of them merely answering the phone. All the feels.

Allow me to share individual praise to so many folks who I felt like I went on a voyage with for the past two and a half weeks:

Pierre, who is one of the loveliest people I have ever chatted with.
Mayette, who was kind enough to direct me to a dinner location at Hollywood Studios during a driving rainstorm when I kept losing my way.
Jadeane, who encouraged me to start an Instagram for my character — in character — as seen here: https://www.instagram.com/jynsyko/
Marnie, who shares my love of Mustangs!

Tony, who is the only person I have ever met who knows more about X-Men comics than I do!
Grant, who was equally kind enough to redirect me back to my hotel room when I turned the wrong way multiple times coming off the Skyliner.
Rupert, who taught me to grasp how the booking and reservation system worked for the Starcruiser.
Netta, who kept encouraging us when we were ready to give — nothing yet!
Nell, who was always a joy to talk to and brightened my spirits after every call.
Kevin, who kept me laughing when I felt like giving up.
Myles, who was always so lovely and supportive and caring during all our calls.
Austin, who was always such a sweetheart!
Wanda, who always laughed at my jokes!
Samantha Nicole, who always took the briefest of pauses before saying her name!
And Ardis, who I didn’t realize I did go on voyage with, on 9/10!

There are so many amazing folks I’ve spoken with, it all blurs together, so forgive me getting the above details wrong or for leaving anyone out!

Seriously, this is an amazing team. And it breaks my heart that their time together is coming to a close. Believe me when I say I don’t usually write such long, emotional emails. But the Galactic Starcruiser teams have received two of those in short order — and I haven’t even started my love letter to the imagineers who conceived of this masterclass in immersive experience.

Much love to everyone and may the stars light your way!

Jen DiGiacomo/Jyn Syko

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Galactic Starcruiser Fam: Thank You!

Jen DiGiacomo — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:58:00 +0000

If you arrived via Jyn Syko’s QR code, welcome! I would love to connect with as many of you as possible (Jyn’s Instagram; Jen’s Facebook | Instagram)! Below is the e-mail I sent to the galacticstarcruiserteam@disneyworld.com as heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in bringing life to the Halcyon. And thank YOU for being a part of an experience that has meant so much to me. Ta’bu e tay!

Dear Galactic Starcruiser Family,

Now that I’ve had some time to decompress following two September voyages aboard the Galactic Starcruiser in quick succession, I’ve finally been able to process why the experience has had such a profound effect on me, why I was so close to full body sobs on so many occasions, not only aboard the Halcyon, but afterwards whilst explaining my adventures to friends or merely replaying events in my head for the trillionth time (an unfortunate hazard of ADHD).

Unlike so many others in attendance, I was not a Star Wars fanatic when I boarded. Sure I saw the first film countless times when it came out, counted the seconds until the Holiday Special aired on CBS, collected the card sets for the first two films, even saw the Return of the Jedi at the very first showing. But ultimately, I found the franchise to be, IMHO, fatally flawed in how the force worked so disproportionately, first in young Anakin, then in Rey. Truth be told, I only really loved three or four of the films (IV, V, Rogue One and maybe Solo). But I always returned. Sharing it with my kids, collecting cool tchotkes, hunting down first-run versions of the original trilogy. The Mandalorian absolutely recaptured my interest (“I want to see the baby”), and I always knew I would eventually make it aboard the Galactic Starcruiser.

When news broke that the Halcyon would be sent to dry dock, I enlisted a dear friend and Disney travel agent extraordinaire (Andrea Mayo) to book my journey. 14 hours on hold, she finally got me a cabin, and I was thrilled to gift her a Halcyon lightsaber and shield as thank you. Countless friends declined the opportunity to join me primarily due to the recent laws in Florida, including my youngest who is gender fluid. Even when I offered free passage, the well remained dry. Two fellow Doctor Who fans finally took me up on my offer, Abie Eke and Christina Nicholls, and away we went, gathering at Galaxy’s Edge to fashion lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop the night before.

The trip itself was unforgettable. One truly experienced the feeling of being elsewhere after taking a shuttle to the Starcruiser. I even opted to buy a few things in the gift shop lest they sell out since we were so far from resupplying in port. The cast members, all of them, were amazing. I mean, spectacularly amazing. Engaging, funny, so good at making sure everyone felt included. This was a top-notch experience — the best immersive adventure I have ever been a part of — and this is from someone who has written and run two LARPS — and been a part of, I don’t know, more than 20 LARPS, and other similar escapades.

I would be remiss to not shout out our photographer who was brilliant and quickly gave us all nicknames that matched our personalities to a T. I was, of course, Troublemaker, Trouble and Boss. The Sublight Lounge folks were brilliant, too — as were all the blue-clad cast members.

As day two drew to a close, there was a moment in the late dinner that took my breath away. Lt. Croy was speaking to Captain Keevan and said something to the effect that she was a very good captain, for a Pantoran. The entire audience gasped at that one line. My friend Abie who is black and myself who is transgender looked at each other, held hands and in that moment, I could no longer roleplay indifference to those supporting the First Order. This was no longer simply an immersive game, this was a parable, an analogy of what so many of us are facing in the real world, right outside of Disneyworld.

As the narrative of our journey came to a close, and others chatted about this and that, I looked for those with red-rimmed eyes to commiserate with. I found quite a few and we tried desperately not to lose it in front of everyone. A woman in a wheelchair who was incorporated into the storyline for the first time in her life — to hide a piece of luggage from the stormtroopers. Introverts finding themselves suddenly part of a community. So many of us so moved by all of this, hugging and trying not to ramble on with the cast about how transformative and emotional this experience really was. This emotion and this community formed over 40 some hours was a joy to behold. I do not exaggerate when I say we have online support groups — and every journey a private Facebook group to stay connected.

But it wasn’t until the next day, and a second journey, that everything crystallized. Why I love Star Wars so much. Why I am desperate to talk my way on board the Halcyon one more time. Why I am about to embark on a rewatch of everything Star Wars in chronological order. Because ultimately, Star Wars has a heart at the center of its narrative. A heart that isn’t so much about good over evil, but about hope. A New Hope, if you will, in the darkest of times, an allegory of *our* times, not merely a long time ago and far, far away, but today, much, much closer to home.

Please thank everyone on my behalf. I was the scoundrel known as Jyn on both voyages and every single cast member aboard made this an unforgettable and deeply emotional journey. Lenka Mok was… wow. We cried together after both voyages. And both Riathe Koles were absolute highlights. I include a few photos to show just how emotional it really was, for all of us. I even got a hug from Chewie! And not photographed was my wonderful interaction with Rey on the 9/6 voyage that moved me so much I find myself envisaging *her* as the humble, inspirational representation of the Resistance.

I’m still hoping for one more cruise to make sure I can spend time with all the cast members one more time and truly appreciate every second on board. Regardless of the outcome, I will be in Batuu for the final day trip on 9/29 — and the party on Saturday night. Please let everyone I would love one last hug if they are in attendance.

Jennifer DiGiacomo aka Jyn
Jyn Instagram; Jen’s Facebook | Instagram

The post Galactic Starcruiser Fam: Thank You! first appeared on Typing Monkeys.