44 new pictures at:
http://community. webshots. com/album/ 574323220rLJynz? vhost=community
A special event took place at Walt Disney World Sunday evening that I was lucky enough to attend.
About two weeks ago, notice went out that there would be a special event at Epcot, hosted by the Disney Moms Panel, and I raced to the website to register and was one of the many accepted for invitation to the event.
The event itself was to be a dessert hosted by the Moms followed by a select set-aside area for viewing the magnificent 'Illuminations: Reflections of Earth' spectacular that closes Epcot every night and is my favorite thing in all of Disney World.
My purpose in attending this event was first to meet one of the Mom's who was an old net friend of mine, and two, to get that special viewing of Illuminations!
The day came round and despite that I was still recovering from a rather active four-day trip across the middle of the state the week before, I headed out and arrived at Epcot about 3pm.
Though the day was overcast, I never saw a drop of rain until I was actually approaching the parking lot, when three or four drops hit the windshield. More fell as I unloaded my
ECV and I covered it with my rain poncho as I sat in the car waiting out this momentary light rain.
Rain over, I headed in, passed through security and the ticket turnstiles, and headed up the hill past the Big Ball, thinking to go to Test Track, and taking a short cut through Innoventions East, but that reminded me of having seen something new in Innoventions West on last visit that I hadn't had time to check out, so I turned to head back out and over. I saw that it was raining once again, this time heavy enough that people were racing for shelter, so I pulled my poncho about my shoulders and put my plastic bag over my controls and zipped out the door, across the courtyard and into Innoventions West.
Before arriving at my target destination, I noticed the Segway demo area. This was significant because there is a backstage tour via Segway that I had recently learned about and was very interested in, in that it goes into some areas and matters that I really wanted to explore! But then I realized that even though it is motored transportation, it still requires one to stand and I simply can't stand that long. Then a friend told me they had a seated Segway for people in my situation to use, but only one, and seeing that here at the demo center, I decided to get in line and see if I could give it a try.
When I got to the front of the line I inquired of the Cast Member, CM, and he said that it was only a display model, with no motor and that they had no powered unit for use here, or on the tour! Arg! But he invited me to give the regular one a shot anyway since I was there, and I did, my second time, and it only lasts less than a minute and is interesting- I was a bit more agile on it this time, learning to keep my hips and knees locked (though they said bend the knees slightly) and lean your whole body forward or back to control the motion: that became more natural for me when I locked my hips and knees.
Ride over, I headed out and right in front of me was the colorful new pavilion I had been interested in seeing and it is the Great Piggy Bank Game sponsored by T Rowe Price, and is a fun interactive game where you carry your rather hefty piggy from kiosk to kiosk through three games and a final tally station. You don't get to keep the piggy! Drat! Rather a handsome piggy...
From there, I 'discovered' that the Velcro play station next to it actually begins on the other end with a theater, a slap-stick presentation, so I went through that and different teams from the audience were selected for each of three games showing off the wonders of hook and loop solutions to everything from building to diapering.
As I exited that, I saw a lady on the neatest looking tiny ECV I have ever seen and engaged her in conversation for some time, though I had to get the tech specs from her husband on an identical one. It is a Scootie, from Sam's Club.com I think? 700 bucks, folds up to nothing- whole thing weighs 50 pounds, (the weight of the rear end of mine alone!) and her husband's had been running for 7 years while she had gone through 3 Go Go's! Batteries were good for a full day at the park, and the frame could be extended with the turn of a ratchet for those with long legs. Just the neatest looking little thing! They could put both of them in the trunk of their sub-compact.
So then back to my original intention, Test Track! Always good for a wake-me-up, and I can generally use that pretty much any time these days. Last visit, I had been with another person on an ECV and we had been sent in the back way, which is soooo much simpler on the
scooter, so I asked the CM if I could go that way, and he said that the elevator was working today- bringing me to the realization that that was why we had been sent around last time- but I asked if I could go anyway as it is so much easier for me, and he filled out the special card and let me go.
I carefully negotiated my way through the exiting riders especially coming around the corner of the ramp- where, as is so often the case, a large party, oblivious to anyone else, had decided to hold a conference in the middle of the walkway at the most obstructive spot possible- and the loader directed me to the end car. What I didn't know, and why I will never do this again, is that when a handicapped "party" uses the back door entrance, even a party of 1, they get the whole car! Thus, the picture of me all by myself in the front seat of the car on Test Track! And I shot a vid of the whole ride- missed the very start because as soon as I turned the camera on, I got the low battery signal and had to quickly change batteries, so those of you who have never seen the seat belt check, you will simply have to go to Disney!
After TT, I headed over to the smoking area outside the exit for a break a bit of a rest and a ciggie of course, then decided to head on over to World Showcase and at least scout out where our viewing area and reception was going to be. Disney has a regular paid event at both Epcot and at The Magic Kingdom of dessert and a set aside viewing area for the closing shows and I had heard one horror story of those guests getting a terrible location for their viewing. As our scheduled check in point was in the near perfect viewing area, I had hopes that we would fare better but wanted to settle the matter in my mind.
I scooted along the walkway between the worlds, Future and Showcase, and directly to the already present special event CM's, who seeing me coming took positions and attitudes to wave me off, but I zoomed right up and said "I'm a MOM!"
They told me they weren't checking anyone in yet- it was an hour and half to check in time- and told me that the dessert had been moved because of rain to the World Show PLACE building.
Huh?
I have over 250 days in the parks and I never heard of anything called World Show Place!
I was told that this was in fact a special "tent" building set up back at the turn of the century to house a special millennium exhibition featuring 25 additional countries! It was never intended to be permanent but had not been taken down and was now used of various events and functions, and could easily seat 2000 people for dinner! We were a mere 1300, but that was still a lot more than they had expected to respond to the invite. I was told I could head over there now and check in if I wished, and that it was located just past the coffee booth just past Canada.
I made my way past Canada, past the great racket of Off Kilter, blasting very loudly, rock and roll along with bagpipes... and over to the Big Gate set back between Canada and England. There was a young female cast member in the path and I approached her and she knew nothing about checking in now, and sent me to the older man back at the gate, and he told me that I couldnt check in now, but this was the place and I could check in there later. We chatted a bit, and then I headed over to England to catch The British Invasion and have some chips while I waited out the next hour.
I scooted up to the window at the Fish and Chips hut on the outskirts of England and called out for a side of really really really really really really well done chips, and moments later a counter man brought me an order- I told him he hadn't heard the order- I said well done! Burn them! Chips are thick fries and cooked normally, there remains uncooked (enough) potato in the center and I hate that! I waited a long time now, long enough that I was getting nervous that they really were burning them, but eventually they came and they were great! This is one of the bargains in food service, a big helping of tasty fires for about 2.50. And they are cooked in an exclusive fryolator, so no worries about cross-contamination with breaded products.
I also inquired of this British subject what a guinea was, if that was slang for a pound- as this had come up in a movie recently. Turns out it is about 12 pence, and not a pound, though exactly what part of a pound I never learned for he could say only that it was old currency.
While I was waiting, a family came to the window and the little girl had one of those marvelous candy creations the lady in Japan makes! I congratulated her and she grinned from ear to ear! It was an elephant and quite marvelous! This is something every guest should see, though few (including me!) are lucky enough to actually get a finished piece.
I took my chips and headed over to the park behind at the back of England to watch and listen to the British Invasion, a Beatles tribute band that has been playing for years and that I always enjoy!
Alas! They changed it!!! Now, they open with a Beatles song, and close with a Beatles song, but in between they do other songs by other groups! Arggggggg! It just ain't the same!!! Not to mention the woman who quite deliberately walked right in front of my camera as I was video'ing. I was at the very front. She pretended to bend down, then stood up and walked right in front of me! Arggggggg! If it wouldn't have ruined the sound I might have said something... ah well... there are plenty of good takes on
YouTube... I just wanted one with a steady camera.
After the show, I scooted further back in the park to have a ciggie break and saw that family again as they came out of the back door from the Pooh and friends meet and greet! Remembering my own experience, I went over to them and told her to go ahead and eat her candy creation as it will melt over a few days! They don't last! Mine ended up a flat puddle of colored goo on my kitchen counter...
Back to my break station and another lady said- as she approached from behind me- "Either you have it tucked up under your hat, or you got a haircut!"
I had no idea who this was, but I do talk to a lot of people in the parks so there are more people who know me than vice versa, so I laughed while trying to place her and we conversed for a while. From that conversation, I figured that she had been at the Bay lakes Tower preview event a few weeks before.
After finishing my break, I checked my watch, and seeing as it was about 20 minutes to official check in time, I decided to head on over only to see a couple of dozen people lining the wall sitting, waiting apparently for the event. I noticed they had name tags. I rode right up to the CM I had seen earlier and he sent me to the female CM to check in and I waited for her to approach as she was heading toward me.
Meanwhile I heard some voices behind me muttering, "is that him or not???" and it was Deb and Tony and daughters Melanie and Michelle. Gee- get a little hair cut off and no one knows you?
The CM got there as we greeted each other and held out her clipboard and asked for my email addy and I told her she should know me and we went back and forth and I finally pointed it out to her and she said of course, and then left. I had no name tag! Knowing I would need that to get into the special viewing area later, I zoomed over right at her and kudos to her, she stood her ground! Never even flinched a muscle! I turned aside at the last second! She said that since I had the $300 fancy name tag, she didn't figure I needed one of the paper sticky ones. I told her of course I did, but to do my name really good! She went off to get me one.
I went back and chatted with Deb and Tony and the girls and moved us a bit closer to the front anticipating the rush that would come once the Big Gate opened and a few minutes later, newly tagged, they did and we headed on in- though without the big rush- that was nice! Just a big group of people casually and calmly walking in! How refreshing!
Though this was a canvas building, it had very real solid doors, and the center ones were automatic and we moved in to the giant interior. Even though half the space was blocked off to better fit our group and event, merely snacks, it was still quite an impressive space! All about were carts set up each featuring a different snack selection or drink choices, or ice cream bar choices... a few tall tables were set up about the place, and some lights were projected upon the darkened walls for decoration and atmosphere.
I wondered a bit if there was going to be any formal proceedings, but it quickly became apparent that it was just a snack and mill about sort of thing. I headed over to grab a strawberry fruit bar and as I was doing so a rather imposing figure was trying to find a Mickey bar on the other side. I helped him- the open boxes were all empty, and I pointed him to an unopened box- and then noticed him more closely and asked if he were the one?
He was!
This was David and he had a very bold tattoo upon both the front and back of his leg! I asked if I could shoot it and he said fine and there ya go! We chatted a bit, and then shortly thereafter, a Mom approached me!
It was Anna! My net friend from the Disney fan group and this was the first time we had met in real life! Joanne, another Mom was with her, and then Carol and we all met and their daughters and then Michelle came over and I told them that was my daughter- well, borrowed from time to time- and then Deb and Melanie and we all introduced all around again, and Anna and I chatted a while and I got a picture and then the Moms had to go circulate.
We went back to the table Deb had staked out and there she had met another lady and her daughter who was giving Michelle a run for her money as young entertainer of the day, and soon we all started to head over to the viewing area.
Now this was the great part! They had roped off and reserved for our group the entire front center section of the viewing area!!!
Illumination is an incredible show, and while it is incredible from any point in the park, there is in fact a "front view", and man, we had it! And at this particular point on the World Showcase walkway, it is a little closer to the center of the show so it plays higher and bigger! And the conditions tonight were near perfect and we had one heck of a presentation! Imagine having the perfect location, a limited access area, no one trying to crowd in on you at the last minute, and no big crowd for that matter for there was plenty of room for our group! It could not have been better!
As far as I am concerned, this show alone is worth the trip to the parks on a normal night, with normal viewing opportunities, but this night, well, that's as good as it gets!
After the show, I usually hang back and listen to the music- Tapestry of Dreams Theme- and wait for the crowds to clear, a very special time at Epcot, but they were waiting to clear out our special area and we were the end of it, so we started to the 'exit'. There, one final surprise and treat, a little token memento! there were four different things, and at first I got a Mickey Mom's Magnet- good, I collect magnets- but then I saw the notepad Melanie had gotten and it was just what I wanted: no lines on the paper and plastic covers! I went back and traded! I did however borrow Deb's magnet for a shot of it stuck on the front of my scooter! I headed to the exit with Deb and Fam and out and home!
Jud
The Continuing Adventures of Jud at
http://iJud.blogspot.com
Videos by Jud at
http://www.YouTube.com/ejud2001
Books by Jud at
http://lulu.com/JudPub
Write for free eBook version of Haltia and the Third Planet
Disney, Travel, Woodcarving Photos at
http://webshots.com/user/ejud2001
http://webshots.com/user/djh004
Worth rereading though, as we approach the opening of the application process.
