Four Go Wild In Florida (Mar 2001) 7 3/4 - Reflections With Janice

[SpottyDog]

Four Go Wild In Florida

Previous drivel

1.The Plan and The Flight

2.We get off the plane

3.Discovery Cove

4."Walk this w..a...yyy!" MGM & Reflections

5.An unusually quiet day- Universal & Jungle Jim’s

6.Where's the Plan? !! (EPCOT)

7.The safe key incident

7 ½ .MGM



Four Go Wild in Florida – Day 7 ¾
Reflections with Janice

So after a quick snooze it was up, showered and heading for the Yacht and Beach Club for our rendezvous with Janice and Chris. We’d been looking forward to this for ages before our holiday, as we’ve become great friends with Janice, not only as a ‘board mate’ but as a true E Pal over the weeks as we planned the night and our respective holidays.
It was such a coincidence the way we got to be invited on the cruise with Jan and Chris. We’d done hardly any planning at all for this trip up until January. In fact, I just couldn’t ‘get into it’. We’d been in 99 and it was nice. V had badgered me into going back and I did want to but couldn’t find any enthusiasm for the preparations side of things, for some reason. She had found this new site (UKDIS) while lurking on the US boards and had ‘spoken’ to this ‘Janice’ who was a head honcho there and thoroughly bigwig! Anyway, I got to posting for one particular thread and never came off again. Within weeks we were fully-fledged members of the ‘gang’ exchanging pleasantries morning, noon and night. I became a drivel monster over night and the rest, as they say is history. We changed from ‘go with the flow’ people into planning every detail to the minute and so on. Now for the coincidence; see, I hadn’t forgotten!
We’d been humming and harring for days about doing a cruise. V wanted to and I thought it was too much money, as usual. We’d found a thread on USDIS calling for sharers for a cruise on Mar 16th – the day we arrived- and this seemed to be a perfect way to start the holiday. We despatched an E Mail to Vernon (the cruise host) telling him loads of lies about ourselves – nice quiet family etc – asking if we could join his crew. We waited for minutes for an answer. We were so excited at finally making the decision to ‘do’ the cruise, hang the expense. Another $40 or so wasn’t going to make any difference after being coerced into Discovery Cove by Mike’s report and video and then Cirque du Soliel within minutes of that sacrifice.
Then, as if by magic that lovely lady that lives in me PC said, “Dave, you have E Mail” It must be Vernon! God, we hope he’s got room. If there’s only two seats me and the boy’ll go! It was from Jan.
I opened it with heavy heart, not only was it not the confirmation that Vernon was prepared to throw all previous crew members overboard to accommodate me and me jovial family but it was from Janice, A MODERATOR! Now some might remember the coloured font fiasco quickly followed by the size and movement debacle. Despite it being all Sme’s fault, aided and abetted by Wendy and Christine, I was getting a certain amount of fallout over that issue and thought I was about to get me fingers rapped.

“Dear Dave, you are such a wonderful person we would love to ruin one night of our holiday by putting up with you on our boat for the fireworks at Epcot.
Janice and Chris
PS bring Valerie and the kids so we don’t have to talk to you all night”

Well, we danced round the room and jumped for joy – as you do. What about Vernon? If he’s in the process of accepting our kind offer to spoil his cruise would we have to pay?! As soon as I’d sent off the reply to Jan – “yes,yes,yes,please!” We had a transatlantic grovelling apology winging it’s way to Vernon “ Got a better offer, hope your boat doesn’t sink.”
We never did hear from Vernon but did notice later that he posted a ‘ship full’ notice on his thread so didn’t feel we’d let him down by taking up the better (for us) offer.
Second coincidence (then, yes, we’ll get back to the report) was who was on Vernon’s cruise – our own Astrid, David, Bryn and Carys. Now that would have been a coincidence if we’d all been on that trip together.
So off we trouped for the bus to meet MY Janice. It had all started as V’s board and her chat group but I’d hardly been off the PC for three months and tonight was going to be a special one – meeting Jan and Chris and watching me favourite show Reflections of Earth from the best seats in the park.
We stopped for our traditional cheese burger and chips at the foodcourt coz there wouldn’t be time to have anything to eat at Y&B and got the bus to DTD and from there on to Y&B. We’d agreed to meet at the Cape May lounge bar between 6.30 and 7. It took forever. We’d only ever gone from resort to park on the buses before and no journey took longer than 15 minutes. Both buses took scenic routes and we didn’t get to Y&B until 6.35. We jumped off at the first stop at Y&B, not knowing which ‘end’ we were at, figuring we could run faster once we got our bearings and raced through the very nice, posh resort foyer – I still don’t know which one we ran through. A nice pretty CM spooked me by saying ‘good evening’ – they don’t say anything to you at ASMu – so I just mumbled, “Y’all right, pet” and hurried past feeling like an intruder. I was so pleased I decided to put me proper shoes and trousers on; I’d have felt so out of place in me shorts in this place. I stopped at the end of the gardens to wait for V and the kids to catch up. I hoped they’d seen which doors I’d rushed through in me panic to get away from all the rich people! “So, Valerie. Where’s the Cape May lounge bar?” She didn’t know. “But you’re the one that reads all the books. Have you not got a map?” She didn’t. Well one things for certain, I wasn’t going back in there so we’ll just have to see if it’s along this path. I hadn’t felt this stressed since we set off from Spennymoor. Half way along the path there was a lady selling something or other and V suggested we should ask her for directions. Typical, always me that’s got to go up and talk to strangers and look a complete idiot. Have you noticed how us lads would rather wander round and round when lost rather than approach a stranger and ask for directions? No? Well maybe it’s just me and this was no exception – I made V go! Thanks to my keen sense of direction we were soon there and heading for the lounge bar. Well, all right I led us into the restaurant (which looked very nice) but we found the lounge bar quite soon after entering the Y or B Club.
In best UKDis tradition, I’d worn me lime green ribbon discreetly (yes, ME) pinned to me lapel with me ALS pin (only Mike and Shelagh will know what that is). There were a couple of people standing at the bar and another couple sitting in the corner. The pretty lady in the corner’s smiling at me. Of course this happens all the time so isn’t really a clue. Now the man with the pretty lady is smiling at me – it’s either Janice and Chris or I’ve pulled twice! We exchanged hugs etc, as you do, and made inane small chat all at the same time while we calmed down. Beers ordered and we were getting comfy with each other after, oh? two minutes. Jan and Chris were great company and we had a couple of beers while we swapped holiday stories so far. Chris, who’s an enthusiastic fisherman, was proudly telling me how he’d taken the bull by the horns and dragged poor Jan all over this massive fishing tackle shop on I Drive. He felt quite guilty that he’d indulged himself by buying a lot of kit and spent more time, never mind money, than he’d intended to. It was only when I got blinded by the glint in Jan’s eye that it dawned on me. Poor Chris had led himself into the best-laid trap I’ve ever seen. The Queen of transatlantic shopping had only suckered him into “You do what you want today, Love. We can do what I want another day!” For another read every other! This was going to cost Chris big time.
He changed the subject. “Your team did well on Saturday, Dave.” Sunderland had beaten Chelsea on Saturday, and I knew Chris to be a Blue, so I wasn’t going to say anything! Well I was delighted to tell him everything I’d read about the game in the Sunday papers – he looked very interested.
Talking of our magnificent win at Chelsea. I was going to add this to me MGM report on Day 3 but Shirley was away on holiday when I did that report and, knowing how she enjoys me footy stories, I thought I’d wait ‘till she got back before sharing it with you. When you play away to Chelsea in the sort of form we were in at the time, you don’t hurry to the paper shop the next day to get the results. Nor, do you wear your stripes around WDW for fear of someone rubbing it in. I needed something from the shop that morning, milk I think, so had to go past the papers anyway. I slipped the paper round and it fell open at the scores (as they tend to do!) and saw it. Chelsea 2 Sunderland 4! I couldn’t get back to the room and get me stripes on fast enough! I walked round MGM with a smugger than usual expression waiting for people to ask if I knew what the score had been (you just do if you see a shirt). An extra way to enjoy the day, I got to speak to 4 groups of fellow Mackems and was graceful in victory to two sets of stunned Chelsea fans. Sorry to put that in here, but I knew Shirley would want to know.
It was nearing time to get the boat and Janice surprised us by handing our Julie a lovely set of pins from the Disney Shop in London to commemorate our night together. Julie was over the moon. We’d seen the pins around WDW and had a complimentary pin each to collect as an ASMu guest. This was just the start J needed and I could see her charge card straining to get loose as she showed us the set. Thanks to Jan, she ended up with quite a collection. But that’s for another report.
We had a pressie for Jan too, a Doc beanie. I’d read in her trip report that she had collected all the dwarfs on her last trip but had somehow lost Doc on the journey home. So we gave J the task of scouring every Disney shop we came across in the vain hope of finding a Doc. It was a tough job but she stuck at it. She even went as far to make purchases in every shop she went in, in the hope she could ingratiate herself with the staff to get inside information. You should have heard the shout of “I’ve got one!” in the Disney store at Crossroads (the night we met up with Astrid). Then you should have seen the look on J’s face as we prized it from her to give to Jan! We didn’t know if it was the right one and Jan was too polite to say if it wasn’t. Pressies exchanged and everyone looking suitably embarrassed – the way you do when you’ve got an ‘awkward’ moment over- we headed off to the boat. Oh, yes. We will be going on cruise tonight!

We found the jetty and me and Chris stood around looking at the water, the boats, the sky – anything rather than have to ask which was our boat and what do we do? We let Jan get on with it – well, she’d booked the trip, after all! Scott was our captain and he seemed a nice man. He became a mate for life when he asked if anyone was staying on site? “I’ll get you a $20 discount then.” Top Lad !
The cruise was booked for 8pm and all the books tell you that there is no guarantee to see the show, as they had to be back for other cruises. At 7.50, Scott asked if we’d like to go. We must all have had the same thought together coz even me and Chris joined in the chorus of “will we still stay out to see the show?” We all thought Scott was angling for an early night! No need to worry, he was the best guide we could have wished for. He took us round the Boardwalk bay, pointing out the sights and then past the Swan and Dolphin and onto MGM jetties. He was very informative and told us as much about the buildings and surrounding area as he could think of. If this was a spiel, he didn’t make it seem so. He was genuinely nice to talk to and we spent a good 45 minutes cruising.
We were the first to tie up under the International Gateway bridge and could see immediately that the view of the lagoon and where the Earth would stop would be second to none. The kids were happy sitting in the front of the boat and we four sat in the back chatting away. It was a great night.
At 8.55 there was an announcement that there would be a delay, but not how long. Again, we all had the same thought at once. “How long would Scott wait?” I don’t think we need of worried. I get the impression Scott wouldn’t have taken us home until the show was finished anyway.
The show was announced and we settled down to watch. The girls joined the kids at the front of the boat and Chris and me stayed at the back, as the view from there was just as good. I didn’t actually ‘watch’ the show coz I had me VC up to me face the whole time. For other shows, I kept the camera at shoulder height so I could watch and get a general overview of the event but this was too important and I didn’t want to miss a single bit of the drama that was about to unfold. Mike’s video had helped immensely, as I knew the format of the show and fireworks and I’d checked me timings for high and long shots on the bridge on Night 3. Thanks Mike, I might have ‘missed’ the live show but I’ve got it forever at home thanks to your help.


For those who’ve not seen the show, you might prefer to skip forward a few pages now coz I’m going to try to describe it. This is by far the most moving performance I’ve ever seen. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched it and it still has the same uplifting effect on me every time. So this is me own soo self-indulgent tribute to the show, coz I think it deserves it. If you are staying with me and have the CD or a video you might like to play it as we go through the show together.

“We’ve gathered here tonight around the fire, as people from all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands of years before us, to share the light and to share the story. An amazing story, as old as time itself…
Reflections of Earth…”

The drum beats, slowly, slowly then a little faster and faster until it rolls and the rocket is flying through the sky like the first meteor.
BOOM it explodes into a prism of colour and the orchestra and pyrotechnics begin their battle in synchronicity. Crash after crash is met with a burst in the sky and the brass and string sections depict the creation. Soaring and swooping, the music races through the chemical reactions from where we all came. Faster and faster the orchestra urge on the fireworks.

The quiet piece in the middle as the strings and timpani let the others have a rest then …. Whoosh… and they’re off again.

As fast as it started it finishes with the Big Bang and all is still.



The Earth glides serenely across the lagoon, like the planet lost in a massive dark universe, as it moves into it’s final resting place. The 7th Day? As the strings and woodwind pick out the haunting melody it really does seem like the Earth is just floating in space.

Percussion takes the lead and the story, proper begins.

As the strings swell the lighted fountains dance all around the globe. The images become apparent around the Earth.

The panpipes herald the start of life on earth. First the animals, then tribes. As the music swells, the images show movement of herds and people.

The score picks up pace again and you truly get the feel of movement around the world.

The illuminated fountains dance and the strings head towards one of my favourite phrases, which is so uplifting and ‘hopeful’ (it reminds me of a phrase in A Whole New World).

The flowing build up of strings and timpani carry us on our journey and gradually builds to a crescendo at which point the lights come on in certain countries to add to the spectacle.

The music soars louder and louder to its first ‘We go on’ passage and that closes that movement with a cloudburst.

The show becomes more rhythmic as the drums pick out the tempo. You can really feel that you’re on a journey and heading for somewhere good. I won’t even try to describe the fireworks. If you’ve been you’ll ‘see’ them in your mind’s eye. One by one, the bursts rise higher and higher in the sky as the orchestra chases after them ever faster.

Shooting stars end in a marvellous cloudburst and the strings swoop into the ‘whole new world’ passage again.

The big ‘We Go On’ dramatic phrase – music, cloudbursts and tears in perfect harmony matching each other at every climax.

Just when you think it’s over, the score moves you to the next level. The party begins and the up tempo rhythm is just right. There are far too many fireworks going on now to take them all in. The overall feel of this section (for me) is that of a rodeo with the shooting star rockets as the jumping horses.

Cloudbursts fill the sky and the colours are amazing, especially the golden ones that seem to come straight for you. Just when you think you could watch this all night, it ends in a massive hail of light and sound.

The globe relights and the anthem begins ….

“ With the stillness of the night
there comes a time to understand.
To reach out and touch tomorrow,
take the future in our hands.
We can see a new horizon,
built on all that we have done.
And our dreams begin another
thousand circles round the sun.

WE GO ON….”

As the chorus swells, the globe opens and the torch is lit.

“MOVING ON….”

The image of the open flower flanked by coloured fountains is beautiful.

“WE GO ON…”

The fanfare calls for one last effort by the pyrotechnics and they don’t disappoint. The fans of flame reach higher and higher into the sky and the anthem builds towards its climactic finale. As the choir let go and hold that final tear jerking note the whole sky is flooded with white light and the fanfare becomes a bell peeling celebration. The Roman Candles filling the air with twinkling white stars. As they fall to the lagoon the orchestra brings the show to it’s close and it’s gone.

What a show!

We sat and applauded then just sat. It had been a wonderful experience and I’d recommend everyone to get to see the show this way. We had just as good a view on the bridge on Night 3 but this whole experience was special – the meeting beforehand and the trip round the lagoon.

As Scott headed back to base, we decided it would make the night ‘flat’ to split up now and agreed to head back to the bar for hot chocolate. We were all freezing. It had been very cold tonight. Back in the warmth of the Cape May lounge bar we strutted to our seats in the corner like regulars. Quickly ordered 5 chocolates and a beer (I don’t ‘do’ hot drinks in a pub) and sat recounting the show’s main highlights – that’s all of it! We were all tired by now and this last drink had just finished the night off nicely. Julie was looking particularly weary and could hardly keep her eyes open.
“You tired, Julie?” Janice asked. “N..” and the little angel’s head plunged to her chest and she’d gone!
Back to the bus stop, we exchanged hugs etc and wished each other good hols and we got on the bus for home. I glanced back to watch Jan and Chris as they headed into the car park. Chris looked so content as they walked together in the moonlight. Poor lad obviously had no idea of the extent of Janice’s shopping plans for the rest of the holiday!
On the bus back to DTD me and J quickly found our nodding rhythm and it was a shame to have to wake her to switch buses. On the ASMu bus I made the mistake of letting J pick the bench seats for us (the ones that run lengthways). It was a real struggle trying to keep her on the seat once she’d gone back to her deep sleep and once I went there was no-one to hold on to either of us! Apparently we entertained the passengers once or twice as we slid perilously close to falling off on a couple of bends!
We got to bed around 11ish and just managed to agree to no alarms before we got into full on snoring mode.

Good nigh……ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz z z z .

Summary

The boy lost the safe key but I saved the day by getting them to fit a whole new door.
The boy made us late for our H&V PSs but I saved the day by rescheduling.
The boy’s previous errors had made it difficult to get to Seaworld and fit everything in so I saved the day by totally rescheduling both today and tomorrow.
I chose not to watch Leeds v Lazio on telly in case it spoilt V’s holiday.
I managed to get them to eat in our foodcourt before we went to meet J & C in case the prices at Cape May were too offensive to me sense of thrift.
Saw some nice fireworks and there was some music playing somewhere in the background which was nice too.

 

[udnylad]

Dave

As always you trip reports leave us with big
Brilliant, looking forward to the next.

Morven

 

[Tartan Tigger]

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for sharing - Your a riot!!!!