Mixed Marriage 2: The Conversion Continues..... now complete

[TwinkieMama]

So I imagine my readers that you have now fallen into 2 camps. “What the heck is she talking about? Epcot doesn’t have an afternoon parade or any parades. What is TwinkieMama smoking?” And those of you who know exactly what I am talking about and have the CD. For the first camp, Epcot had a parade for the 18 months that Disney World celebrated the new millennium which was as we have already discussed in the pre-millennial year of 2000. When I was at Epcot. Waiting for the parade which started at 5 ish or was it 7? it was definitely daylight when it began (I don’t really remember).
The whole thing was weird. It was weird looking for a “good spot” as who knew which spots should be good. It was also weird in that people didn’t begin staking out spots until right before the parade. Many people didn’t seem to realize there was a parade. CMs included. In fact at one point I began to worry because I felt the tape and string barriers should already be up and no one seemed to be doing anything. I read many reviews of the parade (the name also escapes me now) here on the DIS. Everyone was in agreement that it was The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread. Women cried and men swooned. Or was it the other way around?
I read someone’s (I have long since forgotten who-sorry) trip report about how she had scrimped and saved to take her kids to Disney and when the music started of this parade she began to cry when she realized that she Was Really Here in The Magic.

So I was ready to be impressed but I had my doubts… The parade was billed to be about the pageantry and majesty of earth, many nations cooperating, just one moon and one golden sun and a smile means friendship to everyone one, yada yada yada. Not a single princess. No mice.

I like pageantry. I like spectacle. I was however somewhat skeptical about a mouseless parade.

Is it enough to say that halfway through the parade as I sat and watched the graceful dancing and the swirling costumes and listened to the lyrics that I began to cry because Here I Was in The Magic.
DH asked what was wrong with me. I tried to explain how I felt. He just patted me on the back and smiled. But I knew that what he meant was that he felt it too and he was also glad to be here in The Magic….

 

[dee47]

TM, YOU ROCK!

First let me just say that I not only love Maelstorm, I always also watch the movie (yeah, I'm THAT kind of a person). I love the movie. I may seek treatment for it one day, but for now, I am content in my nerdy sentimentality (or sentimental nerdiness?). Or whatever you call people who watch that movie every time.

Secondly, since I'm a newbie to your trippies, I have to say there is a Bipolar Disorder book that is now slightly behind schedule because I (as a medical writer and one of its editors) found your TRs over the weekend and obsessively (I should have been editing an OCD book!) kept reading both threads, from beginning to end, instead of working on the book. And I NEVER read TRs. Ever. They usually make me twitch because those people are where I want to be and I'm NOT. So I hope you're happy (in an even, none-manic way).

Seriously, despite falling behind schedule on the book, YOU ROCK! I can't wait for the next installment!!!

 

[iwannbindisnee]

I hit the jackpot-2 TR's in a matter of minutes & I got to read them at work w/o my teen saying "are you done yet, on my computer??" (yes they totally forget who paid for the darn thing! I mean even though it says "Katie's chrismtas present", she doesn't have to take that literally, now does she?? Ah well, she is off to college in a mere 3 weeks, so I must appreciate these wonderful mom/daugher moments!)
thanks for the correct spelling of my MUAH-glad you knew what I meant! Loving the report & trying to guess when we get to hear about the twins first trip!!

 

[PrincessV]

So I imagine my readers that you have now fallen into 2 camps. “What the heck is she talking about? Epcot doesn’t have an afternoon parade or any parades. What is TwinkieMama smoking?” And those of you who know exactly what I am talking about and have the CD. For the first camp, Epcot had a parade for the 18 months that Disney World celebrated the new millennium which was as we have already discussed in the pre-millennial year of 2000. When I was at Epcot. Waiting for the parade which started at 5 ish or was it 7? it was definitely daylight when it began (I don’t really remember).

AH, but there was also a nighttime version! Wasn't it called "Tapestry of Nations"? I forgot all about that!
What happens next?!

 

[ely3857]

How many trips have you made? Are we in for many many more trippies??



Jodie

 

[SleepingBeautyDreamr]

 

[DznyLvr2005]

Must be Tapestry of Nations ? Were there wierd 'animal people' walking around? I loved the TON Parade.... It went something like this..."Hey la hey la hey la hey hey hey , blah blah blah..." Apparently it was named "Millenium Parade" because I have it downloaded on my computer from a few years ago and that's what whoever uploaded it called it.

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Tapestry of Nations!! I remember that one... it was cool and I do miss it, and it was weird trying to find a "good" spot~!

 

[dee47]

Tapestry of Nations WAS the best thing since sliced bread. And I have the CD . Its reincarnation (Tapestry of Dreams) wasn't nearly as good. I miss ToN SO MUCH! My DS got to "close" the parade on the last night it was on...we were that lucky!

 

[Fizban257]

Tapestry of Nations really was just about the best parade, EVER! We saw it about 5 or 6 times on our honeymoon and came back the next year to see it's successor, the Tapestry of Dreams.

 

[pilferk]

We got to see Tapestry of Nations on our Honeymoon...some of the first "performances" actually (remember, Disney's "millenium celebration" started a few months early...or a whole lotta months early if you subscribe to your husbands "millenial exacting". . It WAS, as others have attested and you yourself witnessed, the best thing since sliced bread. We caught the late version, which went on just prior to the Millenium version of Illuminations. It was just unreal.

 

[princesslibby]

We rode the Epcot version if It’s a small world. I love that pavilion- just being inside it is so cool. After the great entrance you really are expecting something a little, I don’t know, MORE from the ride- I mean the market area is awesome. The exhibits of art and artifacts rival any museum and then you get in line for……. Dancing Puppets? Anyway that autograph book entry was “Welcome to Mexico, land of the tacos and piñatas.”

Soon, it was time to find a good spot for the afternoon parade….

Yes. I know what you mean. I too have great expectations for IASW Mexico. But they have tacos. All is not lost.


Everyone loves a parade. I'm sorry I didn't get to see that one.

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

OH NO!! I have reached the end, you are a very entertaining writer Twinkie Mama...and I to am a nerd who like Maelstrom (i do not think the wait times warrent a fastpass, but I do LOVE the ride)! Keep on writing!

 

[Keokagal]

Ok, so subbing doesn't mean you are a substitute teacher? Took me long enough to figure that out! I just subscribed "subbed" to this wicked cool thread.
Makin me smile a lot girl.
Eating my salad. Have been reading since I got to work this am. Substitute school nurse for the summer! Extra money for trips to the world dontcha know.

 

[shiregirl]

Twinkers (do you mind total strangers giving you nicknames right off? I feel like I know you already), I love your TRs. Thank you so much for writing them!

I am a newbie to TRs. In fact, havn't seen much of the DIS yet other than the VMK section, which is why I joined, but you've got me hooked.

I've only been to WDW once, being a west coast girl, but I have officially joined the ranks of you who can comfortably drive to WDW in a day, and am really looking forward to planning a WDW trip with my soon-to-be-hubby.

You've got me way-over-the-top excited about it.

I am inspired to keep notes (haven't got a memory like you) and write my own TR.

Keep it up girl, can't wait to hear more about your wonderful trip.

 

[sorul82?]

Twinkers (do you mind total strangers giving you nicknames right off? I feel like I know you already), I love your TRs. Thank you so much for writing them!

I am a newbie to TRs. In fact, havn't seen much of the DIS yet other than the VMK section, which is why I joined, but you've got me hooked.

I've only been to WDW once, being a west coast girl, but I have officially joined the ranks of you who can comfortably drive to WDW in a day, and am really looking forward to planning a WDW trip with my soon-to-be-hubby.

You've got me way-over-the-top excited about it.

I am inspired to keep notes (haven't got a memory like you) and write my own TR.

Keep it up girl, can't wait to hear more about your wonderful trip.

Where ranks as a comfortable one-day drive to WDW?

 

[TwinkieMama]

Where ranks as a comfortable one-day drive to WDW?

um, Raleigh certainly does-
get out your lime green beanie, put in on and drive to WDW! If you leave first thing tomorrow morning you could have dinner in the World.....

 

[scrap4u]

um, Raleigh certainly does-
get out your lime green beanie, put in on and drive to WDW! If you leave first thing tomorrow morning you could have dinner in the World.....

Richmond VA does too. We do it in about 12 hours and that is stopping to change drivers every 2 hours and have lunch at Cracker Barrell. DH wanted to leave drive down last Friday night and drive back all night Sunday night. I told him I'm not 21 anymore--I need some sleep, even at Disney!

Sorry TwinkieMama, didn't mean to hijack your thread! Loving the report though!

 

[TwinkieMama]

Shiregirl- thanks for the lovely post and the nickname- in real life I don't have any nicknames, in fact something about me resists nicknaming- they just don't stick so it is kind of nice to go to a place where everybody knows your name and feels free to shorten it, mix it up, whatever-
I'll look forward to reading your trip reports.

Keokagal and Ltl Mermaid-thanks to you too!
Good to see you again Princess Libby! Your spelling alwaz sims feyen too mi.

Dee47- I knew someone had the CD! how amazing is it that your DS got to close the parade- I am sure you will never forget that. It was fantabulous I am sure.

And everyone else in the 'Best Thing Since Sliced Bread' group- thanks for help- I don't know why I blanked on the name. DH wasn't around when I wrote it and when I checked your posts this am he was like "Duh- of course it was Tapestry of Nations!"

 

[TwinkieMama]

Yes! Tapestry of Nations! Quasi animals on stilts! Men on stilts! Handsome men in capes with no shirts on stilts!!! This is why women swoon and men burst into tears (Or was it the other way around?)- Thank you fellow Disney fans for giving my memory a jog. The music was good. And it was definitely light when the parade started and dusk when it ended. We decided to go see Ellen’s Energy Adventure because I wanted to stay close to the World Showcase because it wasn’t long until time for Illuminations. We enjoyed sitting down for the movie. DS got a little concerned when we entered into the land of the prehistoric dinosaurs- remember, it was only that morning that he had experienced Countdown to Extinction- but I held him tight and promised that they wouldn’t jump at him. We all enjoyed it and now it was almost time for spot hunting for Illuminations. I have no idea what we did next- maybe take another whirl on IASW-Mexico? It seems likely because I know we staked out our spots for Illuminations in front of Mexico. The night was warm and we were excited. I remembered how much I loved Illuminations and I just knew that DH was going to love it too. I got a spot right near a speaker. We watched the lighting of the torches. It seemed like a long time but I kept promising them that it would be worth it.

At one point DS wanted to go over to the carts (do they pop out from underground? It is amazing how poof! They appear right before parades and fireworks) and price the very exciting electric glowing whirling things. He went over, confident in his solvency and the thrill of his own Disney dollars. He came back kind of glum and said he thought he could do better elsewhere. We explained that if he wanted that toy he would find the prices the same all over the World but if he thought his money would be better spent on something else then he should wait. While we sat and waited, he dwelled on this and decided that he didn’t want to spend any money until we got to the Magic Kingdom but he still wanted the spinney toy pretty badly. We told him that we were proud of him and that if he later decided that it was the best souvenir we could find one tomorrow or the next day. "But then I won't have it now." he replied. The unanswerable logic of a 6 year old.

I think Illuminations is the perfect end to an Epcot day- it, like Epcot, is so completely different than the Magic Kingdom counterpart and so completely satisfying in a totally different day. It is stirring and seeing the World Showcase at night gives you such a feeling of brotherhood and the beauty that mankind can choose to create. DH loved it as well- I think it was a little over the head of DS but he enjoyed it even without a glow necklace or whirly toy. DH congratulated me on picking our spot when we noticed the absolute throngs making way for the International Gateway. It wasn’t so crowded on our side though as we made way to the bus stop the crowds seemed to increase exponentially.

And this is the great dichotomy that is an evening at Epcot- we are all blinking back tears at the thought of the great world man has shaped with his talents and creative spark, we long for peace and cross cultural understanding, true brotherhood- until we are in line pressed against mankind and realize that as a race we are hot, sweaty, cranky, and not so sweet smelling. We have to wait for two whole busloads. Children are crying. Children are whining. Babies are sleeping in strollers. Mothers are loaded with packages. Teens complain about how lame Epcot is and how there aren’t any cool rides. Sisters hit their brothers with their brand new spinney glow-in-the-dark toys. Brothers grab the toys and chase the sisters around the jam packed line. Toys break. More whining and crying ensues. At one point we wish to cover DS’s ears to protect him from some unDisney expressions our fellow earthlings are using. At last we are loaded, like so many cattle, onto the bus, to endure the ride home.