A little prelude:
Yesterday I went to UCSF because my GJ tube broke. It actually happened on Sunday at church when I was in the bathroom with my friend Laura. She caught it and pushed it back in. Every other time the tube has broken at home. The ironic thing is that the tube always breaks during a holiday. Thankfully the tube was still in the correct position and the change in Interventional Radiology went very well! Minimal pain and I got to visit with several people from the hospital. I am telling this because I wrote this update last night (yes, I do procrastinate-but almost always get it done!).
Anyway back to July 19, 2006
We have just had a pretty good day at Magic Kingdom. A Magical Entrance, fun attractions, and caught the pin trading fever albeit a looooong lunch.
Now we are off to SpectroMagic.
We headed to the wheelchair parking by the partner’s statue. I sat between Mom and Danielle with a little extra space on both sides so Dad could get to my trach to suction and put on the vent. I was very impressed with the cast member directing the seating. She was really on top of things. A couple people tried to sneak into the wheelchair seating.
“Who are you with?”
(point)
“Is this person with your party?”
“No”
“This area is reserved for people in wheelchairs and their party only. You need to find another seat.”
The wheelchair seating has two rows. She made sure that the people in wheelchairs in the second row didn’t have people standing in front of them. Dad had to be by me so he crouched or sat on the ground. The cast member directed small children to sit in front of the wheelchairs. An adult tried to sneak up and she made her move to the back. The cast member watched the children carefully and made sure they stayed seated and didn’t bother others. I wish I could remember her name…
Spectromagic was wonderful!! “On this magic night a million stars will play beside us, Cast a spell of light, glimmering, shimmering, carousel-ling. 'Round the world tonight, a symphony in SpectroMagic. Pure enchantment lights our way!” The spell was soon woven as one of the butterfly’s came up to
me,
“Thank you for coming to our show, princess, I hope you enjoy it.”
Danielle was eating the corn dogs from Casey’s when Peter Pan came up to her.
“Ooh, can I have some?”
“Sure.”
I think her answer surprised him, but staying in character, “What is it?”
“Corn dogs.”
“Nah, thanks-I’m in the mood for chicken.”
“Music surrounds us, laughter that found us, twirling around this carousel of light and laughter! We shall remember this moment together. Let this night forever live in our dreams!”
I gazed enchanted at each float: Pinocchio who made a heart and pointed at me,
Chip and Dale on the piano,
Ariel looking at all the humans,
Genie,
Cinderella and Prince charming in the carriage,
the wicked stepmother from Snow White glaring sinisterly,
the seven dwarves dancing along,
Mary Poppins,
the big bad wolf,
Goofy, Chernabog, and of course Minnie and Mickey
I just smiled and felt the magic swell within. What an awesome parade!
The Cast Member was keeping the area roped off for wheelchair seating for Wishes. Pretty cool because there is usually no wheelchair seating. So we deviated from “the plan” and stayed for Wishes. Oh, it was so good!!! From the moment I heard that little girls pure voice:
“Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish, I wish tonight. We'll make a wish, and do as dreamers do, and all our wishes (all our wishes), will come true.” My eyes began to swell with tears because, oh, how I wanted my dreams to come true! And right now I was experiencing a dream-to be here at Walt Disney World. “Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and sees you through. When you wish upon a star, your dreams...come true.”
Shooting star fireworks flew over the castle and Tinker Bell flew down as the music swelled: “If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme”
Then we were taken through a dazzling display of different dreams. As “I Can Go the Distance” played I smiled and thought-we went the distance! I loved the Sorcerer Mickey scene where the fireworks were seamlessly synced to the music.
The evil queen from Snow White tried to corrupt the magic of wishes but was beaten. Isn’t it great to be in a world where good always prevails?
The finale all to quickly approached:
“…And the best part is, you'll never run out of wishes. They're shining deep down inside of you. 'Cause that my friends is where the magic lives.”
Wishes=hope. Something to strive for –to believe in. A dream. A goal for the future. A purpose. We all need a purpose…we all have a purpose…
Fireworks magnificently burst forth in every direction while the song erupted in all its glory:
“Wishes! Dream a dream (fate is kind)
Wishes! Set it free (she brings to those who love)
Wishes! Trust your heart (the sweet fulfilment of)
Just Believe (their secret longing)
Just Believe (just believe)
Like a bolt out of the blue,fate steps in and sees you through.
When you wish upon a star, your dreams...come...true
Make a wish, and do as dreamers do (just do as dreamers do)
Make a wish!
(Wishes!) Dream a dream!
(Wishes!) Cross your heart!
And your wish...will...come...true!”
Wow.
Everything was worth it-just for this…
But there was the manner of exiting. I tried to keep that wonderfully happy and magical feeling in a bubble while traversing the crowd. Vital that I am not separated. Careful and concentrated driving to dodge people who stop abruptly or almost walk into me and always observing little children in case they tried to make a mad dash.
We were almost out of the park and the traffic had thinned out so I relaxed the space between Mom’s chair to about two feet. I see this lady about 4 feet away on my right look at the distance between our two chairs twice, three times- calculating. Briefly looks me in the eye and then in a split second grabs her daughters hand and runs between Mom and I. I am in cruise mode, traveling at a steady rate-Mom isn’t. At that same instant someone cut in front of Mom so she slowed rapidly. I had to turn quickly to the right to avoid hitting the woman’s daughter-almost losing Mom but missing the child.
The lady turned and gave me the vilest look. That really hurt.
I mean she calculated that move and ran. I narrowly missed them and in the effort nearly got separated from Mom who was carrying my suction bag. My heart was racing. I was so concerned about accidentally hurting someone and losing my family. Both had nearly happened.
I calmed myself with the happy memories of the night. On the monorail ride back the magical song played in my head, making me smile:
“Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish, I wish tonight. Oh, a world of wishes. A world where dreams come true. So make a wish, see it through. Dare to do what dreamers do. Wishes, dream a dream. Wishes, set it free. Wishes, trust your heart. Just believe.
We're all just children, reaching for our dreams. There shining high above us, and even though it seems, so far (so far). We put our faith and hope on a shooting star. Wishes, dream a dream. Wishes, set it free. Wishes, trust your heart. Just believe (oh, believe).
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight. We'll make a wish, and do as dreamers do. And all our wishes (all our wishes), all our wishes…will come true.
Oh, wishes…Wishes.”
Just typing and reflecting on this makes my heart smile.
This night has lived forever in my dreams.
Next Installment: World Showcase: Take One- Thursday, June 7
Thanks for reading!
Epcot: Take 2, World Showcase- Page 18, Post #266--Christamae
. The former attraction, "Alien", was soooo much better.
no wonder you were raring to go! Great choice with the pin it's really cute. I love how you laugh about losing your family I think I'd have got cross 
Can't wait until Wednesday 
can't wait to read your next installment.
(and disfan has a GREAT idea/solution for that!) but I am FLOORED that somebody would look into the eyes of a family with special needs and actually say that. I'm nauseous now.
My current pin Holy Grail is:
You haven't seen Spectromagic and Wishes!! You must see them!!
Disney World is the best with accessibility-keeps us coming.
Cool avatar
but reminded myself that I was at the happiest place on earth and "there's always tomorrow... "
. I even told my sister all about your trip
! I can not believe how rude people have been! You are so patient with them
. Keep up the good reporting and I plan to keep on reading!
