WalleandEve
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- May 11, 2013
- Messages
- 74
Someday I should sit down and relate the story of how rapidly my wonderful wife Terri went from - "I don't do Disney, I don't do cruises, and I definitely don't do Disney cruises" - to the Fish Extender making, Castle watching, Penny Crushing, Pin Trading woman she is today.
But that is for another time. This portion of the tale begins on the day that we used our first ever annual passes, barely two years ago, at Hollywood Studios. Technically, we started the day at the Magic Kingdom, and in the afternoon headed out to the Studios. We made our way through the park and at this time had just emerged from the Star Tours ride. It was getting a little late, and we were still a little tired from traveling the day before. Our plans were to return home to our balcony at the Animal Kingdom Lodge to enjoy the giraffes through our night vision goggles. The bulk of the crowd at this time was headed towards the back of the park, and someone mentioned that we should come along and take a look. When in Rome....
As we walked up to the amazing display of twinkling colors, I wouldn't want to have tried to describe the joy that welled up inside of me when I first saw the look of wonder that encompassed the woman I love. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights was one of the most stunning displays we had ever seen. For those of you who are lucky enough to have experienced this show, you know. If you have not, GET THERE SOON! This alone helped seal the deal on whether is was worthwhile to purchase an annual pass for someone who lives well over one thousand miles away. We spent a large portion of our evenings just enjoying the lights, and listening to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (how I still miss Savatage) do their thing.
Forward one year, and we arranged for an extravagant birthday party for Terri. Reserving a Grand Villa at Jambo House for a week (I wonder if we'll ever get to do that again), we pulled some teeth, finagled when we had to, and downright coerced family members until we able to ensure that four generations from two families gathered together for the celebration. Again, we spent quite a bit of time under the lights, and the video of Great-Grammy and our granddaughter Amelia dancing to the music all along the Streets of America will be cherished for decades to come.
While we had heard rumors even two years ago concerning the end of the run for the light show Jennings Osborne cultivated over many years, when the word officially came down on September 11th of this year, it was a blow. Originally we did not think we would be able to pull off another vacation of any sorts in the near future. Terri has spent much of the past seven months convalescing, having had both knees replaced, and at two separate times. Time away from work was at a premium.
As is turns out, she was able to get off the two days before Veterans day, which will give us one hundred and twenty-eight hours to drive down to WDW, enjoy the Osborne lights one more time, say goodbye and return home. It's about an eighteen hour drive each way.
While I am happy as hell we will be able to pull this off, there is no doubt that as we leave the park on Tuesday November 10th, there will be a lingering melancholy, and a regret that we arrived at the party too late. That we were only able to enjoy three of the twenty-one years of its existence feels like a petty thing to stick in our craws, but hey, we're human and when we find a good thing we want more of it. It does not look like there will be any other home at Disney for the lights, and who else could pull displaying the lights off, especially fiscally. I know progress must move forward, or die, and all that entropy crap, but this is visceral. And it's not a small, passe, or redundant thing to schedule for extinction. It was a highlight, a star player, even if not a real money-maker. A favorite friend that will be sorely missed.
Losing the display did ease the decision of whether to renew our annual passes. They expire a few days after we leave, and when we plan another big trip, we'll revisit whether to go that route again. We are talking about doing Universal together for the first time if we can get away in February. It would be nice if they offered DVC members the Silver pass option, but that is for another thread, one that could go on for hundreds of pages.
In the meantime....
I'll cherish ever smile, every twinkle in her eye, and every time she shakes her butt to 'I'm gettin nuttin for Christmas". We hope to see you there.
But that is for another time. This portion of the tale begins on the day that we used our first ever annual passes, barely two years ago, at Hollywood Studios. Technically, we started the day at the Magic Kingdom, and in the afternoon headed out to the Studios. We made our way through the park and at this time had just emerged from the Star Tours ride. It was getting a little late, and we were still a little tired from traveling the day before. Our plans were to return home to our balcony at the Animal Kingdom Lodge to enjoy the giraffes through our night vision goggles. The bulk of the crowd at this time was headed towards the back of the park, and someone mentioned that we should come along and take a look. When in Rome....
As we walked up to the amazing display of twinkling colors, I wouldn't want to have tried to describe the joy that welled up inside of me when I first saw the look of wonder that encompassed the woman I love. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights was one of the most stunning displays we had ever seen. For those of you who are lucky enough to have experienced this show, you know. If you have not, GET THERE SOON! This alone helped seal the deal on whether is was worthwhile to purchase an annual pass for someone who lives well over one thousand miles away. We spent a large portion of our evenings just enjoying the lights, and listening to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (how I still miss Savatage) do their thing.
Forward one year, and we arranged for an extravagant birthday party for Terri. Reserving a Grand Villa at Jambo House for a week (I wonder if we'll ever get to do that again), we pulled some teeth, finagled when we had to, and downright coerced family members until we able to ensure that four generations from two families gathered together for the celebration. Again, we spent quite a bit of time under the lights, and the video of Great-Grammy and our granddaughter Amelia dancing to the music all along the Streets of America will be cherished for decades to come.
While we had heard rumors even two years ago concerning the end of the run for the light show Jennings Osborne cultivated over many years, when the word officially came down on September 11th of this year, it was a blow. Originally we did not think we would be able to pull off another vacation of any sorts in the near future. Terri has spent much of the past seven months convalescing, having had both knees replaced, and at two separate times. Time away from work was at a premium.
As is turns out, she was able to get off the two days before Veterans day, which will give us one hundred and twenty-eight hours to drive down to WDW, enjoy the Osborne lights one more time, say goodbye and return home. It's about an eighteen hour drive each way.
While I am happy as hell we will be able to pull this off, there is no doubt that as we leave the park on Tuesday November 10th, there will be a lingering melancholy, and a regret that we arrived at the party too late. That we were only able to enjoy three of the twenty-one years of its existence feels like a petty thing to stick in our craws, but hey, we're human and when we find a good thing we want more of it. It does not look like there will be any other home at Disney for the lights, and who else could pull displaying the lights off, especially fiscally. I know progress must move forward, or die, and all that entropy crap, but this is visceral. And it's not a small, passe, or redundant thing to schedule for extinction. It was a highlight, a star player, even if not a real money-maker. A favorite friend that will be sorely missed.
Losing the display did ease the decision of whether to renew our annual passes. They expire a few days after we leave, and when we plan another big trip, we'll revisit whether to go that route again. We are talking about doing Universal together for the first time if we can get away in February. It would be nice if they offered DVC members the Silver pass option, but that is for another thread, one that could go on for hundreds of pages.
In the meantime....
I'll cherish ever smile, every twinkle in her eye, and every time she shakes her butt to 'I'm gettin nuttin for Christmas". We hope to see you there.
