DIS Unplugged 10th Anniversary Mega Meet - Pictures/Mini DIS Meet report

[bamacmac]

Hello all! I promised to share some of my pictures from the Mega Meet. So here they are! I was at WDW for 8 days and plan to do a big trip report soon, but here's a mini report on the DIS part of my trip. This will be in several parts, due to the 10 picture limit per post.

Part 1: Friday, July 22

Stopped by the Boardwalk to pick up our credentials!


Didn't have time to stay there long. Briefly said hi to everyone, glanced at some of the auction items, and then had to head out to get to the Grand Floridian for tea with my Mom, Oliver, Madeline, Michael, Carol and a few other DISers! (Loved meeting @Lisann and @NeuroCindy at this too!)

My sweet Mom was on this trip with me and was part of our group!





Yum! I had never experienced afternoon tea at the GF. It was so wonderful!


It was such a pleasure to meet Pete's wonderful mother, Madeline! Such a sweet, lovely lady!


So great to meet Oliver and get the chance to talk with him some! What a genuinely nice guy...and so friendly and easy to talk to! Loved getting to know him a little bit.


I first met Michael and Carol briefly in Diagon Alley back in December during DISapalooza, but this was so much better...I actually had the chance to talk with them some and felt like I got to know them a little bit over the course of the weekend. I can't say enough good things about them...such kind, warm people.

 

[bamacmac]

Part 2: Friday, July 22 continued

From the Grand Floridian we headed over to the Polynesian for Dole Whips for Bob and to watch Wishes from the beach.



I also briefly met Ryno at DISapalooza in December, but didn't get the chance to talk to him much. I am so glad I was able talk to him more during this weekend...he is even more awesome than I thought he was! SO nice. SO friendly. SO funny. Love him.



Why I didn't take more pictures with people that night I don't know! Ugh! I had a great time hanging out with @j2thomason and @debsters41 that night...and it was also great to see @disneysteve again and to meet his family! Next time I am going to be that annoying person who won't stop taking pictures with everyone. I saw Pete and got to introduce him to my Mom and talk to him for a bit...always a pleasure to speak with him! We also got to meet Diana Varley...it was so nice to meet her and talk with her some! Saw Craig and got to talk to him briefly, too.

I first met Pete and Craig last year at the Richmond meet. Then saw them both again in December. It's nice to be recognized!

After talking for awhile with some folks it was time to head down to the beach for Wishes. It was a gorgeous night on Seven Seas Lagoon!




This was my first time watching Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant from the Poly beach. I can't even describe how much I loved it. If you've never done it...do it! You can thank me later.






We decided to stop by Trader Sam's, as we knew many DISers had headed that way. I had been in Trader Sam's once before, but hadn't stayed long and hadn't ordered anything. (It was crazy crowded last summer when I tried to go.)

So my Mom and I each ordered a pearl. Much to my surprise (and much to the chagrin of @*NikkiBell* ) I got a black pearl on my very first attempt! I think she might finally be over it. Maybe.


Some of the DIS folks there that night!

 

[rteetz]

Awesome!!! Some really awesome meet ups! I hope some day I get to meet the team and some of you guys!

 

[bamacmac]

Part 3: Saturday, July 23rd

Saturday morning I headed to the Boardwalk for 5 Life Lessons with Pete. I loved this event! It was a treat to hear Pete talk about some of the things that went into getting this whole thing started and what he has learned over the years because of The DIS.



I had to leave a few minutes early (but thankfully it was during the question and answer part and not during his main talk!) to get to Epcot in time to ride Figment with Kathy! Ah!

It was a BEAUTIFUL Epcot day!!!



Time to visit Figment with his biggest fan!




Picture WITH Kathy (@safetymom) in front of Journey into Imagination. Perfection.


And not ONLY did I get this great picture...I THEN got to actually ride it WITH her and get a picture on the ride with her! I'm a dork. I know.

Fun to meet @NeuroCindy at the tea on Friday and then hang out with her again throughout the weekend! And I spy @j2thomason! Ha. (How did I still not get a pic with you? I think I may have gotten one during the podcast show....maybe.)



Not gonna lie y'all, kinda feel like my life is complete now.

Our fun group! This meet up was made even better by the fact that Michael and Carol were there...and Michael gave us a history of the attraction after we rode it. That was so very cool!!!



My next DIS event that day would be Vlogging around the World with Ryno and Tom. So this was guaranteed to be a good time.


Our awesome group!


Getting ready to commence vlogging.


This was so fun and soooooo hot. We started in Canada and stopped in each country to see if anyone wanted to try a beverage. I waited until France to try one I have been hearing a lot about lately. The amazing Grand Marnier Orange Slush. Y'all. So. Good.



And even better when enjoyed with friends!




Had a blast hanging out with @*NikkiBell* so much over the weekend! She's another one I met at DISapalooza but didn't really talk to much. (DISapalooza was a huge, crazy, quick night and it was hard to really talk to people you didn't already know!)

She's awesome though and tons of fun...yay for new friends! Also so fun to hang out with her BFF, Christianne who came with her!


Unfortunately that is all I have from this event though. I had to head out when we got to America....had dinner reservations with Mom that night and other plans with her.

As we all tried drinks, Ryno would do a quick video with us about the drinks. Almost hoping that one never sees the light of day....I was a serious hot mess by the time we got to France! Ha!

 

[bamacmac]

To be continued...

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I love your report so far and the pictures.

 

[JJZMgailey]

So fun! Loving your report so far!

 

[disneysteve]

Great report so far. Of course, it was great to see you and meet your mom. And I'm glad you got to meet Flatty Jes, too.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

great report - and you got to so many events, that's awesome!

Kinda bummed that on Friday night the DISers were split up with the group I was with on the beach near the luau area and the rest where you were - but oh well, next time!

That's really cool you got to ride with Kathy on Figment and that Micheal was telling the history of the attraction

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Had so much fun with you, girlie! Can't wait for the next time!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

What exactly were Petes life lessons? I'm actually upset that wasn't filmed as I love listening to that man talk.

 

[bamacmac]

Part 4: Sunday, July 24th

Mom had to fly home early Sunday morning, so I headed to Magic Kingdom early. I had a great morning and got so much in! But I was just counting down the minutes until what would be the highlight of the day...Connecting with Walt on Main Street U.S.A.!

Our group (led by Michael, Tom and Craig) met near the flag pole at 2pm that afternoon. We had the challenge of getting down Main Street before the 3pm parade and it was slightly hot in the middle of the afternoon out in the direct sun, but it was still so great to listen to Michael tell so many great stories behind the windows as we walked, as well as some other bits of history about Town Square and other parts of the park. At this point in my trip, I had been there for 7 days and my legs were about done, so it was hard for me to stand in one spot for very long...it's much easier for me to keep moving. That may have come across as boredom or disinterest, but that wasn't the case at all. I love Disney history and am basically amazed every time Michael speaks.

These group pictures were taken at the end of our meet up, but I want to include those first.





We started over in this corner of Town Square.


Ron Miller and Dick Nunis windows


Walt's Window


Next we headed towards Carousel of Progress....SO fun to experience this with a group! (Especially fun to sing Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow with everyone during the attraction! Ha!)



Love the new paint job!

Then it was off to the PeopleMover! (Also fun to do this one as a group!)





More fun pics!

With Michael.

And Tom.


More pics from this event in next post...

 

[bamacmac]

Part 4: Sunday, July 24th

More Connecting with Walt

We're cute! @*NikkiBell*



Castle pic with Craig? Yes please! We're cute too. Ha.


Tom is too funny....awesome photobomb.


A few more random pics!

 

[bamacmac]

Part 5: More Sunday, July 24th

By the time I left Connecting with Walt, I had been at Magic Kingdom for almost 9 hours. (I had a PPO breakfast at BOG) I was so tired. I was so hot. So hot I almost felt sick...my fault though, I hadn't been drinking enough water. I was supposed to head to Epcot to Sip (and snack? ha) around the World Showcase with Corey and Julie (which I was REALLY looking forward to!!). But I just couldn't do it. I just needed to lay down and cool off for awhile. I hated to miss an event, especially when someone else could have had my spot, but I didn't have a choice really. (I of course still made my donation for that event! )

I headed back to Beach Club and after an hour nap and a big dose of AC and drinking some gatorade...I felt so much better. At the last possible minute I decided I could make the Ice Cream Social with Kathy and Teresa, especially since it was just a quick boat ride across Crescent Lake to the Boardwalk/Ample Hills Creamery. And I was certain that ice cream would really help me feel even better. Right? Right.

This was my 2nd visit to Ample Hills during my trip. Love this place! They will let you try as many flavors as you want, which is great because some I didn't care for. But there were a few that were so good.

It was a great meet up! Fun group of people. Always fun to do anything with Kathy and Teresa (@safetymom and @newmouse2008), and Ryno joined us too! It was also great to meet Kathy's daughter, Katie! Enjoyed hanging out with people I was really getting to know at this point...especially @j2thomason! And it was great to get to talk to @Lisann more, too! And I'm pretty sure @debsters41 was there too? Got to see Richard Bunt again (a fellow Alabama DISer I met in Richmond), and got to meet Ashley and Jason and their little guy...so fun to meet them! What a sweet little family. I know I talked to many more of you that evening as well...I think I was still somewhat not feeling well because a lot of this evening is a blur. So I apologize if I am leaving anyone out! (I'm certain I am!)

We got our ice cream and then sat near the water as the sunset and talked. It was so fun!

Heading over to the Boardwalk....gorgeous Disney evening!



Our group!



Love Ample Hills!



Beautiful views




Not many things are better than Sunset from the Boardwalk.



Such a fun night!!

 

[bamacmac]

Part 6: Monday, July 25th

IT'S PODCAST DAY!!!! Happy Anniversary DIS Unplugged!

I got to Disney Springs around 11:30 and headed to the Cirque du Soleil theater. We had to wait quite awhile before we could get in, but luckily I saw some of my new friends immediately and we stood around chatting which made the time pass quickly. We were finally let into the theater and were able to get great seats!

Pete waving to his people.



Stage



Crowd (sorry...a little blurry!)



Production nook




Fun to hang out with @Lisann and @debsters41 some more!


And @j2thomason and Abby!


And it begins! Pete gave wonderful introductions of the whole team.


More pictures in next post...

 

[bamacmac]

Part 7: More Monday, July 25th - PODCAST DAY!

John, Pete, Kevin and Corey


Michael, Tom, Teresa, John, Pete



Pete, Kevin, Corey, Julie, Kathy




The show was great, as you have all seen by now. It seemed to go by so quickly! Before we knew it was time to leave. But I was happy to get a few more pics with some of the podcast team!

My first picture with John and Kevin. My cheesy grin says it all! I met them in December at DISapalooza, but didn't get a picture with them. Love them!



I met Jackie in December also, she is so great to talk to!! Love her!



And last but not least, Pete! Love!

 

[bamacmac]

Part 8: More Monday, July 25th

Epcot Private IllumiNations Dessert Party

This final DIS event was originally supposed to happen in that little lower area between France and the UK, but we received information that afternoon that due to potential weather issues, the party would be moved inside. So we were to report to the Odyssey restaurant area. I had never been in this building so that was really neat to me! (And it was nice to have some AC for a bit!)

I had never done any kind of dessert party in the parks. I loved it! Yummy treats and drinks and a great group of folks!




I got to talk to tons of people. I'd never had a chance to talk to Craig's wife, Kylie...and was excited to learn that our hometowns are about an hour apart! She is so, so sweet. So fun to talk to both of them and Ashley and Jason for most of the night!

Also awesome to meet @TiggerTrigger in person after a year of fun podcast live chat!

I only wish it could have lasted longer! It seemed that all too quickly it was time to head out to the original planned location to watch IllumiNations.

I completely love IllumiNations...and I really loved getting it to see it from such a great location!




After the fireworks, a lot of folks lingered around for awhile. It was a lot of fun, but then became scary when Pete's Mom suffered from a bit of heat exhaustion and had to be taken to the hospital. Standing around talking became standing around to make sure that Madeline was ok! She seemed to be perking up a bit by the time they took her out, and it seemed that she would be ok once she was able to cool down and rest. Unfortunate way to end the evening! I was very glad to hear on this past weeks show that she is completely fine and doing well.

I finally left and started heading back to Beach Club. I got a message that a lot of folks had gone to Trader Sam's and I wanted to go so badly...but with a 9 hour drive home ahead of me the next day, I just didn't think it was possible. I needed to get to bed! I was sad to miss out on some Trader Sam's time with DISers though! Next time!


So the weekend was a huge success. With over $70K raised for GKTW, with so much great time with old and new friends and the podcast team (who now feel like friends!), with fun events, the podcast recording, wonderful food, time in the parks, etc....the Mega Meet couldn't have possibly been any better! I'm so very thankful I could be a part of it all!

Thank you SO MUCH Pete, John, Kevin, Corey, Craig, Kylie, Teresa, Julie, Kathy, Michael, Carol, Tom, Ryno, Oliver, Jackie, Katie, Leah, Madeline...and many more who put so much time and effort into making this weekend such an amazing one for all of us! You were all so kind, gracious and fun to be around.

Congrats DIS Unplugged on 10 great years and an epic Mega Meet weekend!

I can't wait for The DIS 20th in June!! See you there (if not sooner!).

 

[disneysteve]

Great report, Christy. You made me feel like I was there. Oh, wait a sec....

Seriously, I think it is more fun to read reports by friends of events that I attended than it is to read some random trip report from someone I don't know.

Hopefully June will work for us. DW and I are tossing around the idea of flying down for a long weekend in October, something we've never done, but we really want to get back there on our own (without DD) so we'll see if we can make that happen.

 

[bamacmac]

I love your report so far and the pictures.

Thank you!!

 

[bamacmac]

So fun! Loving your report so far!

Thanks so much Jackie!