[d.]

please don't overthink this...yes, it works, just pull up on the gearshift lever and when it pops, push it forward, toward the dash, out of the way.
Really, that's all there is to it, no big deal, no damage.
When you get ready to resume using the car for what it was built to do (i.e. drive down the road), just flick the gearshift lever back towards center and it will snap back into place, and off you go.