Jud - January 2007

A GREAT DAY AT EPCOT
January 22 2007

MouseForLess group member, Stef of Boston sent me an e-mail a couple of weeks ago and invited me to join her for a day at Epcot. She and her family were doing a Disney Cruise, and then heading to Walt Disney World to finish off their vacation. Both mothers were on the trip, along with her husband Steve and their two children, Matthew, 16, and Rachel, 13.

On Sunday, Steve and his mother would return to Boston, as he had to work on Monday, and plans were made that I would join the remainder of the party on either Monday for Epcot, or Tuesday for MGM. I chose Epcot, and Stef called just before she departed Boston to make sure she had my correct phone number and confirm our plans. She said she would call again when she got back on land to set the final arrangements.

The day before was the day of the NFL Championship games, and I had been going back and forth all week on whether or not to head to Kissimmee on Sunday, both to be in place for what I knew would be an early start on Monday, and to have access to a TV to watch both games. I only get one channel at home so could not watch the Saints, a team I had been pulling for all year.

Eventually, what with not having heard from Stef, and a few other factors, I decided I would stay home, settle for watching the Patriots beat Peyton again, and simply face getting up at 5 am on Monday, a time much closer to my usual bed- than rising-time.

By half-time, it was clear the Patriots had forgone their usual 3- point game and were simply going to totally crush all future hopes for Peyton and his Colts, so I decided to go ahead and check my e- mail, and found a note from Stef's friend, Amy, asking for my phone number and how late Stef could call me. Shattered that I wasn't in her cell phone memory bank, I replied with my number and that I could be called at any time.

(I later learned that I had been in her cell phone, but that cell phone had whimpered and died, being buried at sea at some earlier point and not everything made it into the new phone.)

I then went back to watching the game.

Opps.

A minute later, the phone rang. I answered, "Are you back on land?"

It was Stef, as I expected, and she had caught the end of the game and thoughtfully waited until its completion to call me: what a good woman!

We discussed various options, and it was finally decided that I would meet her at POP Century, where she was staying, between 8 and 8:30, the following morning, the variable being how quickly I managed to get on the road. Sometimes, it takes me a bit longer to actually depart my house than I expect. She said she would meet me in front of POP at 8, and we left it at that.

About 1am, I went to sleep- early for me.

At 5, the alarm made a annoying beeping sound, and I got up without any hesitation, hit the shower, grabbed some things and threw them into my suitcase- still undecided if I was going for one day or two- locked up and stepped outside to the van. I looked up at the sky and was actually taken aback a bit to see that it was still very much nighttime: a clear black sky, punctuated only by hundreds of brilliant specks of starlight. It was warm, but the windows of the van were coated with condensation that didn't fully clear for several miles. I stopped to get ice for the cooler, 12 cans of Pepsi on board, and by 6:15, I was back in my van, in Inverness, well on schedule for an 8 am or better arrival time.

About half way there, on route 27, I actually saw the sunrise!

I arrived at POP just before 8, and slowly drove past the main entrance, but saw no sign of Stef. As parking is not allowed there, I drove over to the lot and walked back, pacing between the two main doors that exit the lobby at either end, hoping to catch sight of Stef, or be caught sight of by her. After a bit, I saw a sign that indicated that I might be able to buy my park ticket at the concierge desk in the lobby, so, deciding that it would save time later, that Stef was not showing at 8, and hopefully would see me in the lobby if she came down while I was there, I went inside and waited my turn at the concierge desk.

After a short wait, A Cast Member, CM, Karen, called me over. She noted immediately my Space Mountain: Mission 2 hat, and looked puzzled.

I simply said, "DLP."

Seeing that didn't take, I added, "Disneyland Paris."

She gave a slight sigh, and said, "I'm jealous," to which I replied, "Me too! A friend sent it to me!"

I asked about the discount for a Florida resident versus that given to an Annual Passholder on buying a one-day ticket, and given that both were the same, went ahead and bought my ticket there. So for the first time ever I had one of those plastic "room-key" tickets rather than the usual paper ticket!

We continued chatting a bit, sharing Disney stories, despite the few people waiting in line behind me, and it was good to find a CM who was still a true believer. She suggested that if I liked Epcot, I ought to come down sometime when they had this thing called the Flower and Garden show. Slightly offended at being mistaken for an amateur, I told her that I had over 200 days in the parks, and in fact had done *the* photo shoot of the F&G show! A few more stories back and forth and she wished me a happy day and we parted. I returned to my vigil outside.

About 8:35, I turned and saw Stef waving at me from just outside the second set of doors as she walked towards me. We hugged, then I greeted the kids, hugged Rachel, a hearty handshake with Matthew; and then her Mom, Joyce, walked over, pushing her wheelchair- new knee- and said, "Don't I get a hug?"

I happily acquiesced!

Stef presented me with a matching T Shirt, "Good Times with Great Friends at Walt Disney World, January 2007", Mickey and the gang, all as surfers, emblazoned on it. I was thrilled! My first time in a matching T-shirt group! I am sure you have all seen these groups in the parks from time to time, but this was my first time being one of them! Very cool!

Stef then asked if I would mind if they grabbed some breakfast and I said hey! go for it, and I took her mother's wheelchair to my van, changed into my new T-shirt, then joined them in the food court inside and to the back of the merchandise store.

Again, Stef spotted me and waved. I tried to take a picture of her in the food court, but she quickly ducked to get out of the way of my shot: I scolded her on "the candid shot" and she responded by giving me "the hand".

The others were over at the register, having already gathered their choices. Joyce had a full tray; Matthew had my requested side of bacon on his tray; and Stef handed me a refillable mug to get my cuppa (hot tea). We ended up in a comfortable padded booth, and with a few more odd runs to get this or that, finally we all were sitting there, eating. Studiously looking at my watch, I jokingly told Joyce that she had 3 minutes and 27 seconds to finish her food.

Stef told me that Rachel had become quite interested in photography, so we engaged each other on that subject, while Joyce passed off parts of her food supply to everyone: I got a nice hunk of a very good cheese omelet, and Matthew got most of the roasted potatoes; a plastic bowl of grapes was closed to bring along as a later snack.

Finished, we headed out, over to my van, loaded in, us "old crippled people" in the front two seats, Stef and the kids roughing it on cushions on the floor behind us. Matthew gave me his Annual Pass to get us through the parking gate without charge, and I pulled into a spot near the front in the handicapped section of the lot. We unloaded the wheelchair for Joyce, and my ECV, and I loaded a few things in my under-seat compartment, handed out a few bags of candy and butterscotch drops, which I was told Joyce usually took care of, but had forgotten this time. So things were working out well!

It was good to see the Big Golf Ball again. Whatever else you can say about it, Epcot is a beautiful place!

The bag inspection line had been moved since my last visit, and you have to go through it now even before you get to the ticket purchase window. It looked like an airport inspection line, but moved fairly quickly. Matthew had gone through the no-bag line and we rejoined and headed for the turnstiles.

Rachel and I got through first, and while Stef and her Mom were working their way through, I directed her over to a spot for a picture in front of the Big Ball. Rachel was just looking like a model or something, just beautiful!

(I spotted as I wrote this what it was that was so striking about Rachel: she is the spitting image of Isabella Rossellini!!!)

We all headed on in and Stef announced she wanted to stop by Guest Services. On a previous day, various things had gone wrong and she had been promised a bunch of Fast Passes as a courtesy. The line was surprisingly long (I have no idea what so many people were doing at GS?) and while she waited, the kids and I looked around a bit and Mathew pointed out a neat shot of the Illuminations set up and, though it was clearly a "manufactured" photograph, I took his suggestion to take a picture of it.

Then he and Rachel discovered a notice on a side wall with the rules and prize list for the Year of a Million Dreams contest: two small poster-sized pages of fine print! We read a bit of it, but quickly tired of that.

I grabbed a shot of Rachel while she sat on the bench waiting, then I noticed Stef was at the counter. Everything was going fine, a note had been made in the computer, and the lady behind the counter was preparing her special certificate. I scooted over and asked her if it also noted the night's stay for her party in the Castle, but alas, she didn't buy it.

We left armed with 3 FastPasses for each of a party of 5. These would certainly come in handy during the day whenever we ran into a line queue that was too long. We actually ended up only using them twice, but at those times they were indeed a big break.

Outside, Stefanie reached into her bag of tricks and pulled out some large buttons for everyone, a new Honorary Citizen of Walt Disney World Resort! Very cool! Then she said she had another one just for me, and handed me a new WDW Happy Birthday button with my name on it!

At first, I thought she had just thought to grab one for my collection, and I thought that was neat, but then she said, "Wendy told me to make sure I got you one," and I realized, oh ya, it's my birthday this week!

Our first priority on the agenda was a call for Soarin', a visit to Innoventions, and from me, the new Nemo ride at Living Seas. Checking the times board and seeing only a 5 minute wait for the Nemo ride, we headed to that.

On the way over, Stef spotted the new facade for Ice Station Cool, now Club Cool, and we noted that for a visit later in the day.

At Living Seas, we marched right on up the long, empty line queue for Nemo, Rachel stopping momentarily to check out if she could move the pointer on a theme piece. We were taken aside to park the wheelchairs and then loaded. I tried to grab a picture of the gang in their "shell" ride vehicle, but after waiting for the flash to charge and snapping it, I discovered that I had left the lens cap on! Another first!

As the end of the loading ramp was fast approaching, I had to quickly jump into my own shell with Matthew.

This ride is more typical of the traditional Epcot attraction, a quiet ride-through display meant to entertain and educate rather than replace a cup of coffee such as Test Trak or Mission Space.

The first section is various vignettes based on the movie, very colorful and some quite creative! The section where you travel through the jellyfish-infested seas is very effective, and then you move into the EAC, the Eastern Australian Current, with Crush and the gang. That was a wonderful effect: a long dark room, reminiscent of the tunnel in If I Had Wings, later DreamFlight, and now Buzz Lightyear; quite different technically, but creating a similar sensation of movement. I wouldn't have minded if that section had gone on for a lot longer!

Then we were moving past the thick glass windows of real tanks, in which somehow- Disney Magic- the movie characters were also swimming about, while they continued to chat with the riders. And that ends the ride.

Stef, Rachel, and I did a second pass and the live section was much better than on the first run, for while passing one tank, a large shark swam through, and in the next section, just as we passed, a dolphin raced up preparing to leap out of the surface above!

As we exited, the CM suggested- as part of his standard patter- that we step over a few feet to see Turtle Talk with Crush, which we did, and that was delightful! Again, through the magic of Disney, as the crowd sits in a darkened theater in front of the large "glass wall", Crush pulls out of the EAC and comes to the "window" to talk with the people in the "Human Tank". He is very animated and funny, and spoke personally with several of the guests. I struggled to come up with some good question for Rachel to ask so she could get in on it, but between the enjoyment of what was going on with other guests, and just an overall mind blank from the early rising of the day, I got nothing. Just after the show ended and the lights came up, Rachel excitedly turned to me and told me that she had just come up with the perfect question! Naturally, she wanted to do the show again so she could ask it, but the wait would have been too long, and despite it having been a fantastic question, that only she could have asked at the time, we had to leave.

On the way out, Rachel and I stopped briefly to grab a shot with Bruce. Rachel chose a rather unique pose.

Given our location, we decided to go to The Land Pavilion for Soarin' next, and seeing the wait-time, Stef decided to use one of her group FastPass certificates for this. First, we all got regular FastPasses from the machines for a second run- these were good for about two hours later- and then we headed down the long walkway to the entrance. Joyce, now "Bubbe", wanting to work her new knee a bit, and wanting to make sure we could get the front row (which my ECV might prevent) gave me her wheelchair, and Stef pushed me- well, raced me- along the walkway. As some will know, when pushing a wheelchair up an incline, it is often easier to run it than walk it. Fine with me! But I did call a stop at one point to get a photo, then Stef called for another shot of one of the big images on the wall, and then we were to the end and joined the combined line for the last bit.

We chatted happily among ourselves and the wait went by quickly. We did request, and indeed got the first row, but in the left section. Stef insisted that I take the middle-most seat of the five we got, and she would take the end seat, which was so kind of her!

The front row, as veterans of this ride know, is a vastly superior ride compared to the last row, but this time the whole thing also seemed to move much faster than I remembered. Maybe it was because I was not centered- off to one side a bit- and while this didn't diminish the view at all, it may have made it seem that we were flying a lot faster.

And what a flight! The main reason this attraction works is because the movie is good in the first place. The flying seats are just a bonus.

A little way in, I leaned forward in my seat to add the lower sections of the screen to my field of view and this added tremendously to the experience. I suggested this to Rachel next to me, she hesitated a moment, then tried it, and then we were all sitting forward and getting a much better show! Exhilarating! Thrilling! Great show! Great Experience! Whew!

Oh! Before it started the fellow next to me took a flash picture and this brought a CM right down and she declared, "No photography in this show."

This was a disappointment, because I was going to shoot, knowing better than to use flash, but now all photography had been prohibited because some dummies don't know enough not to use flash, despite the many signs so stating all over the place! I was on Revenge of the Mummy over at Universal a few months ago when they stopped the whole thing because some guy in the front row of the ride vehicle I was in, didn't put away his camera despite three separate announcements over the PA after the ride had been stopped! They eventually turned on the lights and a staff member came out into the track and had to personally take it from him. Some people! Arggggg!

On the other hand, not having any attention on shooting left me free to totally enjoy the ride!

Leaving, we ended up back in the Land Pavilion, right at the exit of the boat ride through the test botanical gardens, so I called out to a CM and asked if they had special handicapped loading and was told that we should go straight through the FastPass line, so given that, we decided to do it.

The ride has been modified and there is no longer a ride-along host, but an overhead speaker system, which is much clearer, and for the first time I could actually hear the whole story. I also saw a few things of interest I hadn't noted before, not knowing if they were there or not. One was simply a cotton plant with big puffy blooms showing, looking very much like the bagged cotton balls in the supermarket; another was a tomato tree; another, a nine-pound lemon! And then the secret of the "Mickey Pumpkin", though strangely enough, it was called the "Cinderella pumpkin"! The secret is, the young growing pumpkin is enclosed in a plastic form that forces its shape!

I was also impressed with a growing system that has the roots of the plant hanging below the suspended plant and being sprayed with water and nutrients as they move through a special walled space on an overhead track.

Leaving The Land, we decided to head over for a visit with Figment at the beautiful glass pyramid Imagination Pavilion. We had to wait for five trains before the special wheelchair accessible ride vehicle arrived, so there was a bit of a delay, and then we were off on this fairly simple but fun and colorful ride.

As we entered the sound demonstration space, Rachel, next to me, put her fingers in her ears, sensitive to loud noise. As we entered the next demo area, smells, she continued to hold them there for which we naturally lambasted her in good humor; but, she countered that she was protecting herself from a possible loud smell: use your imagination!

As we entered the next section, Figment's upside down house, I called out that there was a newly list-announced hidden Mickey and Stef and Rachel spotted it. I was trying to get a photo of it so didn't see it- and the photo didn't come out.

The ride exited us out to the Kodak ImageWorks, where we watched a brief demonstration of the amazing digital camera (???) by a Kodak representative, who was campy and fun to listen to. Matthew and Rachel got their picture taken with the big camera, then posed with the CM.

Rachel moved on and was working one of the photo stations, and after she and Matthew tested out several variations, we decided to send the un-retouched shot to Wendy, whose e-mail address we all knew! We were intending to send her a group movie clip from Innoventions later, so we didn't do a group shot at this time, though I snuck in on Rachel's picture.

We decided it was now time to head over to Innoventions as the kids really wanted to see that. We took a short rest break on the way. While we waited, Rachel checked out Bubbe's wheelchair; I had a ciggie; Matthew sat and rested.

At Innoventions West, we came across a big game station, and the kids and I decided to play. Rachel and I were also very happy when they announced that we be sure to pick up stickers on the way out after the game. It was some sort of a race game, and grabbing bonus items earned points, with extra bonuses for getting an IBM ThinkPad or really big points for finding the patent, a large piece of paper. Matthew called out excitedly at one point that he had found the patent! I think he won the game for our round.

On the way out, I was confronted with a staircase, and though I offered to make the jump in my ECV, the CM refused the attempt and guided me around and back down the entry ramp. It was only much later I realized we had forgotten the stickers!

There was also a beautiful fire truck on display as part of the Liberty Mutual fire safety exhibition, and as Rachel walked in front of it, I snapped a shot and was surprised to note the color match between her hair and the truck.

Then Stef thought to check her priority seating time for the Biergarten Restaurant in the German Pavilion and discovered that it was earlier than she thought, and in fact, was now! She asked me the most direct route to Germany and off we went! We were seated immediately, but I stopped outside to plug in my ECV into an outlet to recharge while we ate, then went in to join the party.

Our table was the very first one upon entering, and a waitress was going over some items with Stef as I sat down.

This was my first time inside this restaurant. It is themed as a German village at Oktoberfest. The interior is on several semi- circular levels centered about a small stage and dance floor. The outer walls are themed as Bavarian houses and shops. Around the upper most level are the buffet offerings.

I ordered an iced tea, while Stef and Joyce tried different beers, and we all headed up for our first sampling of the food. The buffet featured bratwurst, weinkraut, rotisserie chicken, roasted pork and a variety of German salads. I had the very good rotisserie chicken and several small samples of the rather unique salads: potato, tomato, and cucumber, all very good, but very sharp! I also tried the pork, but wasn't impressed with that.

At the desert counter, there was a tiny dollop of vanilla pudding sitting in a dark chocolate cup. It was a bite-sized thing, and I popped one in my mouth on the spot and it was heavenly! I grabbed two more and headed back to the table. There, I told Stef to open up, and put one in her mouth. She was as delighted as I had been!

At the time I entered, and continuing as I returned to out table with my filled plate, a band was playing on the stage with great enthusiasm. A few variations included several songs played remarkably well with cowbells, including Beethoven's 5th. I asked Bubbe what movie that was from. She was puzzled and I told her it was from the Beatles movie, HELP! "Famous Beethoven's Famous Fifth Symphony!" was a running gag throughout the movie.

After the cowbells, one of the players worked an Alpine horn and while he was standing on the stage, the horn rested on the dance floor a considerable distance in front of him. (During the second show, there were two!)

We took our time at our late lunch, and at one point I noticed that we had indeed, entered a new state, enveloped in the environment, disconnected from The World outside the door. A reminder of that world seemed a bit surprising at one point, emphasizing how well the atmosphere inside had been, and was being, created.

We had the pleasure of a second performance of the band before we finished our several refills- have to know how to get your money's worth out of a buffet- and finally made our way back out to discover that there had been a light rain while we ate. Meanwhile, I quickly diverted into one of the German shops to once again try to get a good shot of that carving high on the wall. I used the flash this time, holding the camera high over my head, only to be surprised by a voice behind me suddenly asking, "How tall are you?" It was Rachel: she had followed me in to see what I was so interested in. She said it was good.

Now wanting to head back to explore Inoventions East, Stef spotted the boat coming into the dock next door in Italy. Joyce was a bit upset as the boat's mate and Captain resisted putting down the ramp for her wheelchair and told her to wheel on without it! I was shocked when she told me this, as not only was it rude and thoughtless, it is also- as far as I know- absolutely contrary to Disney policy! She said they had actually gotten rather testy with her. (I assure you, there is no reason to get testy with Joyce! She is a very fun-loving happy person!) Not to mention that the ramp was going to have to be put down for my ECV anyway.

When the mate did put it down, he seemed unskilled in its proper use and it flipped up once Joyce's chair got to the boat side. I instructed the mate how to place it properly before I rode over it, and the Captain interrupted my loading to tell me to do it another way, but I ignored him and proceeded successfully.

I learned of the mate and Captains behavior toward Joyce only later.

Once underway, I noticed a detail on the shore we were leaving and grabbed a shot of that, then noticing Italy showing nicely off the stern, directed Rachel to move over and posed her for the "Italian Diva" shot.

We landed, and headed over towards FutureWorld and I called out for a stop for a shot of the family with Spaceship Earth in the background. The degree of co-operation is evident in the image... I also grabbed a shot of a detail on a lamppost.

Before we got to our destination, we spotted and diverted to Club Cool. The new exterior is much more fitting to the surrounding environment, though hardly as interesting as the former facade, and the new interior is much more visually exciting. As I shot pictures, Stef had her Mom down by the drink fountains to test the various offerings and Rachel was with me. After the shots, we all rejoined down at the fountains. Joyce had declared her disinterest in trying any of the sodas, so I thought that was over, but as I had some of the nice Chinese watermelon, Stef filled a sample cup with the infamous Beverly and handed it to her Mom, who downed it in a gulp.

Oh, the look on her face! Gosh, I need a faster camera! I have seen looks before, but this was the most defining look ever seen! It could have been the poster-look for product rejection! No doubt, no question, no possibility of a marketing breakthrough- just complete utter primal rejection!

We all cracked up!

…except Joyce who was still trying to work the taste out of her mouth.

We headed on over to Innoventions East, and traversed the "roadway" that wends its way through the large floor space. I suddenly remembered that we had forgotten our stickers at the earlier visit to the West building and I ECV'd over to pick some up. Rachel was pleased. She was doing some group computer game and Matthew was doing a screen game. I inquired as to where the video postcard kiosk was, but was told it was no longer there, so we didn't get to do our video greeting to Wendy.

Stef spotted an exhibit where Disney Visa holders could get a free family picture, and got in line for that, calling to me to join her as a memento of the day. As we waited in line, I popped out to check out the plastics demo area I spotted, consisting of a brief intro, a computer race and a chance to make and keep your own plastic robot! I have always loved plastic so I wanted to do this and Matthew and Rachel agreed to join me (once I located the once-again wondering Rachel...) and we went in. After listening to the lecture on the wonders of plastics, with examples of the varied uses of one, polyester, from 70's clothing, to modern engine headers, to those silver helium balloons, (polyester with aluminum added), we moved over to the competition area.

This was a race, controlled at 12 computer stations around a large central screen, with individual screens at each station. The first step was to "build" your own robot on the computer screen by selecting various parts- head, torso, legs arms- and additional characteristics, forcing choices between heat and cold resistance, strength and flexibility, jumping ability versus wind resistance, and others. After each station player completed his construct, the entire group voted on the best looking one. The results were to be announced at the end of the race. Interestingly enough, Rachel and I, two stations apart and completely out of view of each other, built the exact same robot, differing only in color!

Then it was race time! The virtual robot racer was controlled by running in place on a sensor mat, stepping over to each side to move to him to left and right to get around barriers, and stepping on a forward sensor to jump. I was leaning on the console and supporting myself that way while I rapidly stepped my feet to run my robot through the course. Still, it was a bit strenuous and I fell back in my seat the moment it was over. But when the results were in, I had taken second place; third was grabbed by Rachel, and first place went to Matthew: a sweep for Team Stef!!! And then the design results were posted, and Matthew had taken second!!! A very good showing we made!

We moved to the next room, where we gathered and assembled pre-cast parts in various colors of our choice, to make our keeper robot. Again, interesting choices, Rachel going with a primarily bronze robot with a green back of head, and Matthew doing a two-toned robot, while I did a multi mix of strong primary colors.

While we were doing the plastic and robot stuff, Stef and Joyce had gone off, having told us they would be at the Fountain or in the MouseWorks store, and when we finished, we went outside to find them. They were sitting in the seating area outside the restaurant adjoining Innoventions and called out to us as we passed. We joined them and showed off our robots.

Test Trak was our next stop, and again Joyce used her special FastPass to get us in quickly. Once inside, the CM's took our wheelchairs and another took a group shot of us as we waited momentarily for our ride. Joyce had a bit of trouble stepping down into the car- which is a challenging step even without a newly installed knee- but with me and Stef standing by as back up, she made it. She confessed after the ride that she was a bit nervous, as she had never done this ride, and she suspected we might be sneaking her onto a roller coaster! But she loved it, and when she could speak again, gave the oft quoted "whew", as many first-timers do. It is quite an exhilarating ride experience!

Finished with that, we moved over to Mission Space, where, after the rush of Test Trak, and despite her earlier declaration to do the Orange Team- having done and loved the Green team the day before- Joyce decided to repeat the milder non-spinning Green side. Stef joined her, while Matthew, Rachel, and I opted for the Orange Team.

We regrouped in the after-ride area, and Rachel and I headed in for another pass. We had two newbies with us this time, and Rachel was chattering away non-stop advising them on various matters pertaining to surviving this trip to Mars! She was clearly enjoying herself and it was fun doing the ride with such a lively companion.

This time when we got out, Matthew had just started the Mission Control group game in the after-ride area, and while we waited for that to complete, Rachel went off to play the one-player video game rescuing stranded astronauts. When Matthew finished and we were heading out, I joined Rachel who had just advanced onto the medium level, and I watched as she finished, doing remarkably well and completing with 47 seconds to spare!

Then we headed out and the group was once again reassembled. We decided to head on over to World Showcase, but we moved out, it started sprinkling lightly and when we stopped at the rest rooms behind MouseWorks, it got heavier. Matthew and I were waiting outside and I checked my under-seat compartment for a poncho but discovered I had left it in the van. By the time the ladies rejoined us, we were both pretty wet and we all retreated under the covered passageway through Innoventions East and discussed what to do. I went off to find a CM to inquire as to the status of Illuminations and came back with the news that it would go on as planned unless there was actually lightning, which was not in the forecast. Nevertheless, Joyce and Matthew were ready to call it a day and head back to the hotel. The rest of us wanted to stay and visit World Showcase and see Illuminations.

Meanwhile, Stef had gone into MouseWorks and came back with Mickey Mouse rain ponchos for each of us! My first MM Poncho!

Joyce and Matthew stuck with their decision to depart, and we all hugged and said good-bye, and then we hearty souls headed over to World Showcase. Stef wanted to hit Japan, and asked me which way was the shortest- the Canadian side- and we boldly and briskly set forth.

Gabbing all the way, we soon reached Morocco where Stef stopped to grab a drink of water. I pulled out my bag of jellybeans and Rachel and I gobbled those, but she coughed and said the aftertaste was horrible!!! Stef came back and we moved onto Japan, heading straight to the back and the candy and food store there. Stef had promised to get some rice candy for someone, and while there, Rachel bought a box of candy with some neat anime graphics on it for a friend. As we exited I led us up to one side to show the ladies the beautiful waterfalls and river and fishpond that create the environment on one side of the Japan Pavilion.

Rachel said she wanted to ride Maelstrom over in Norway so we headed in that direction, again yapping all the way. The park had become noticeably less crowded, many of the guests having left with the rain, and the rain itself had now slowed to almost nothing. Stef shared her realization that she could do magic, and could stop the rain anytime by buying ponchos!

Maelstrom was walk-on and Rachel especially was excited about this one. She pointed out a troll I had never noticed before that sets up the disastrous backward trip over the falls: it rises up from under bush it is hiding beneath! And as we left, both Stef and Rachel pointed out where you could actually see the ride at that decisive point, exposed through a break in the stone landscaping next to the building outside: again, something I had never noticed before!

Leaving there, Stef decided it was time to stake out a spot for Illuminations and our first thought was to head for the front prime spot, but as we passed Mexico, I remembered an earlier viewing from the outside seating at the waterside restaurant there and suggested we give it a look. We quickly found a good spot. There was a table with a lady sitting at it and the space inside of that was open. As long as she remained seated, we would have a good view, myself even remaining seated on my ECV. Stef and Rachel sat on the large planter next to me, and our position was pretty well protected from crowding. After a few moments, her husband arrived with a small child but he sat and put the child in his lap so our view was not compromised.

We introduced ourselves to the couple at the table while we waited and chatted a bit. They were from Venezuela, though at first I thought he said Minnesota and was wondering why he thought it was cold! He told me that there were two seasons in his sub-tropical country: rainy and not rainy: rainy lasted three months.

The show began a few minutes later and the view was clear, unobstructed, and it turned out to be closer to the big globe than I had ever experienced! In fact, this was the best viewing of the water level effects I had ever had in scores of viewings! And the night was perfect, just enough breeze to keep the air clear, but not enough to disrupt the flight of shells. The light-outlined buildings were more brilliant than I had ever seen them, and were just dazzling! It was magnificent! Always a moving experience, but this night, particularly so!

At the end, Stef pointed out that the new sponsor, Siemens, had their name lit up on the base of the now darkened globe, to which I replied that if I spent $50,000 a night to put on a show like this, I would put my name there too!

Rachel chimed in as if reading such a sign, "Jud! Read my book!"

I like that girl!

After the show, I suggested we hang out for a while rather than fight the exiting crowds and we found a now empty table next to the rails and sat and just enjoyed the place. The music was still going, the crowds were leaving, and it was just so beautiful and peaceful. The theme from Tapestry of Nations was playing, a magnificent piece of music, and so fitting for the place and the moment.

After a while, a cleaner was picking up trash and clearing tables, and I suddenly realized we might be holding him up so suggested we move along. We left and continued on to the front and the exit, making a brief stop at the restrooms under Space Ship Earth.

As we were walking down the last path before the parking lot itself, I noticed a burst of fireworks off in the distance, just under the monorail track in our frame of reference. I guided us over to one side of the path and stopped and we watched as it continued, guessing which park it was, as the timing was off- it was 9:45. After a bit, a particular shell went off that Rachel identified as an Magic Kingdom- specific burst, so we agreed that that was it, but then there were a series of multiple bursts that we knew were circling the park. There were several of these, and the show was going on for an extended time, se we were wondering what special event might be taking place. Then I remembered a post on the MFL list the day before mentioning a CM preview of the new Pirate and Princess Celebration with Johnny Depp attending! I declared that this must be what it was! It was one heck of a show: I have seen Wishes, the Halloween and the Christmas shows, and this beat them all! It was great!

[note: later posts on MFL confirmed that the fireworks were part of the new show; and that Johnny Depp had had to postpone so was not there that evening]

I had readily- happily- agreed to drive Stef and Rachel back to their actual building at POP, as opposed to the main lobby, so when we got there, I continued on for another mile or so around to the back to their building, The 80's. This was a convenience to them, but also led to an amazing discovery.

I finally know where POP is! For, as I got out of the van to assist their departure, I saw a lighted sign through the trees on the west side of the parking lot, and upon taking a closer look, recognized it as the WDW main entrance roadway sign! Pop is right next to the main entrance to The World from 192!!! Its right there!!!

We hugged and made sure all belongings got properly redistributed and I watched as the girls headed on into the hotel, then I got back in the van and headed home, arriving about 12:30.

What a great day!