Jenn's tale from October 1st
Sorry for the delay in finishing my dairy of my experience at the Event......i have been a bit melencholy lately.
Strange i know...i should be estastic with glee after all that happened but instead i feel a little depressed. Perhaps it's the "fall" after the "high"...?
Ah well....back to the story for those interested ....
Where did i leave off...oh yes, i had just covered Sunday's highlights. Now onto "The Big Day". October 1st began at 5:30am for me and once again i met up with Jason in front of All Star Music that morn. We stopped by MD's and picked up some breakfast snacks then headed out to EPCOT. As we drove along the road leading up to the Parking Gate, we were both amused to see a Tram being driven right there on the road heading for EPCOT! It appeared to me that they were bringing Trams over from Magic Kingdom in preperation for the big crowds expected in EPCOT that morn. Pretty cool to see that....and it was also interesting to see that this morning the Parking Gate was actually being manned from 6am on! They were READY for us! The previous morn at that same time there was not a soul about anywhere. THIS time though, they were fully staffed and even had CM's in the lots guiding the cars as you would expect normally. EPCOT's staff were totally on the ball, ready to go even at that early hour to greet the expected crowds. Later on i had overheard they were overstaffed that day as if it were one of the major holidays at the Park. Way cool to know they were prepared!
Jason and myself park and make the trek to the Registration tables. Security is already set up and checking bags ( the previous morning no one was around yet...). Again, sure signs Disney was expecting massive attendence that day. It was a nice build up as you then started to realize just how huge this thing had become.
We arrive at the tables and Adam and his folks, along with a few others, were already set up and in the thick of getting folks registered. Jason jumped in and started clearing those who needed their Dessert Party wristbands and also began the task of handing out the tickets to attend Marty Sklar's Presentation that afternoon. The tickets were stunning, and a wonderful nod to the past. They were cleverly designed to look very similar to the old "Worldpassport" Park Tickets from EPCOT's opening. Even the date was "stamped" on in red "ink" ( actually pre-printed..but it looked REAL!). These were VERY very cool. Next to the Guide Map for the day, Marty's tickets were a STUNNING addition to the festivities. I had worn my old "Junior Worldpassport" ticket that day off of my lanyard, so it was neat to actually hold up the old Park ticket to Marty's remake.
Jason handed out the Marty tickets with Adam and also finsihed passing out the wristbands for the Dessert Party. The wristbands were also themed for the Retro theme, as i noted early on they were "John Hench Purple"!! Yay!! For those who don't understand the joke, "John Hench Purple" is a certain hue of purple that was used back when EPCOT was built to color many pavillions ( namely Communicore and Imagination originally). You can read more about this in John Hench's fab book- "Designing Disney". So yeah...it was a fun in-joke that only a EPCOT freak like myself would pick up on.
We met some great folks while behind those Registration tables...everyone from early Disney PR people to folks who helped build the Park back in the day. Plenty of folks arrived in full Retro-______ regalia...which was fantastic and really added a fun element to the day. Everywhere you went you saw folks sporting their old original EPCOT shirts, new Retro-______ shirts, homemade shirts, custom jobs, pins, hats galore, you name it! If you were a collector, you were able to see some of the neat stuff that has come out over the years. Horizons fans made there presence known strongly too...i saw a LOT of GREAT Horizons shirts. Bkgnews' shirt probably took the cake though...it was a incredible custom-embroidered bowling shirt that had all the original Pavillion Logos emblazoned across the front chest, vertical to the center seam. The back had a gorgeous full sized EPCOT "flower logo" which was stunning.
Folks starting lining up at the gate early....as early as 7:30or so. Most would pick up their goods at the Registration table and immediately head for the gate to line up. Some already had there tickets out and poised directly in front of the ticket scanner so that when the moment came, they would be the first in the Park. CM's behind the gates entertained those waiting....and helped get the gathered crowd in even higher spirits. The intense feeling of what was to come was definately felt during that time period. Everyone was holding there breath waiting for the coutdown to open.
In the meantime, EPCOT had a wonderful surprise for all of us. Around 7am they turned on the background music for the Entrance Plaza. I will always remember the moment as Lou was interviewing me for his WDWRadio Podcast when all of a sudden the familiar tune of the ORIGINAL EPCOT theme music wafted through the air. I was in awe...and totally forgot what Lou had just asked me! I had to apologize...for hearing the music totally sucked me out of reality for a moment and i did'nt quite catch the question. I was THRILLED at the realization that this was happening: Park Ops was playing all the old classic attraction songs and theme music in a wonderful custom complied loop. This brought a tear to many a fans' eye that morning when they approached the Park, i am certain. It made you feel as though you were swept back in time and were about to visit EPCOT back in it's early days. Huge thanks to whoever made the decision to play this music....it proved that Disney DOES "understand"...and DOES listen to the fans. It was a wonderful nod to the accomplishments of EPCOT's past.
Heather was out Event Coordinator for the day, and much like Brent, was wonderful and extremely helpful to us. Anything we asked for or inquired about she delivered for us. She kindly let a small group of us handling the Registration tables be escorted to Mouse Gear so we could insure each of us would be able to purchase some of the Limited Edition merch. There was concerns that by the time myself, Adam, and Jason reached the shop after Registration closed there would be nothing left. Heather brought us in and we all bought a assortment of itmes. I sent most of it back to my Resort through Disney's free Resort Delivery service...which was smart as it enabled me to keep the precious Retro Guide Maps issued that day from getting crushed or bent.
The Entrance Gates had a nice little countdown to annouce their opening, which was fun...and a big cheer went up when the first few fans passed through.
As for the Registration group, we were being escorted into Mouse Gear, where outside we all saw the HUGE lines at the Pin Station and the large crowd gathered at the rope across Innoventions Plaza. Several CM's were out and about greeting people as Event goers entered the Park, many passing out the coveted Retro Guide Maps and 25th Buttons as you passed through the turnstiles. As you made your way to the rope, i saw a group of happy Custodial CM's playing a fun game with a ball and clean waste can. As you walked by towards the rope, they would toss a small ball to you and encourage you to try and toss it into the bucket. Doing so, they would break into a rousing "Hooray"!!! Everyone was getting into it....even the Guest Services CM's were out there to catch all the action as droves arrived in the Plaza.
Back at the Registration tables, things were wrapping up. People were anxious to get in the Park and take up their positions before the Fountain Stage. Everything was packed up, and we all queued up and headed inside. CM's handed us the very nicely made Guide Map and a Time Schedule...all done up handsomely in 25th Anniversary style. It looked so good...you wished EPCOT had as nice a map every day! The cover screamed "Classic EPCOT" and the added plus of having it folks out into a reprinted replica on the original "Wheel" Guide from 82' was a treat. Later that day at the presentation i attended of Marty Sklars', he also took note of the neat Guide Map and gave it a high mark.
We also recieved a nice large button pin upon entering, which was a welcome surprise, and everyone pretty much wore it throughout there stay i think. I still saw people wearing them up until Wednesday ( my last day in the area). These were nicely appreciated, so thanks go out to Disney for that fun perk for the Guests that day.
Rope Drop brought it's own assortment of fun memories....i was not there to witness it but later on i heard about it. Some attendees were selected to be EPCOT's "Family of the Day" because they impressed CM's by singing along with a certain Pavillions old theme song being broadcast over the sound systems in the Plaza. They had the pleasure of riding in a free-rolling Test Track vehicle as Mickey and his pals entertained the crowd lined up behind the rope. Word is Goofy went nuts and in keeping with the early 80's Reto feel for the day, did some bonifide "Break Dancing" moves for the gathered with hilarious results.
Finally the time came and the rope was dropped, and folks made a direct beeline to the Fountain of Nations stage. You could totally tell who was here for the EPCOT Event(s) and who was just a Day Guest. Soon there was a decent sized group parked in the front line in front of the stage....all chomping at the bit to get in the perfect spot to not only watch it with their own eyes, but to capture it with electronic ones. I can't remember the last time i saw SO many cameras! Wow! It was something.....like someone said a while back in the original Celebration 25 thread: "Every man, women, child, and animal will probably be filmed from 8 different angles that day..". Whoever said that was not far off the mark!
So there we all are...hundreds of people gathered in a enthusiastic mass awaiting the start of the Re-Dedication Ceremony. In the meantime, we chat, swap stories, contemplate what it about to happen...and maybe even squeeze in a few interviews. The Retro theme music continues to play all around us in the Plaza...and it does not take long for several spontaneous "sing-alongs" to begin. Yep....imagine several hundred people singing outloud in the Center of EPCOT songs like "Listen to the Land", "The Universe of Energy" and "One Little Spark". It was SURREAL...and added a lot to the wonderful sense of community we were experiencing. When i think about this aspect of the Event, it confirms to me that Walt's dream of having a unified communtiy of tomorrow really did become a reality. This Event we pulled off brought folks from around the nation ( and the world) together to celebrate that place that has brought us together, EPCOT Center. This Park was ment to bring people together, for a better tomorrow....and in a way i think out Event brought that to some people's attention. So EPCOT has indeed lived up to it's original mission i think....and you could clearly feel this during that special day.
After a few nice singalongs....the Re-Dedication officially begins. I won't get into the details about what exactly happened, as there are already several video links about where you can watch what went on. To cover it in breif, several folks came onstage and said a lot of nice things about EPCOT....Jim MacPhee graced the stage and said even more nice things about EPCOT...Original EPCOT CM's who have been there since Day 1 were then honored....and then Marty arrived with his personal escorts Mickey and Minnie. Marty added a lot to the ceremony, and when he announced how nice it would be to once again add waters from the nations to the Plaze Fountain, my mouth fell agape at the realization of what it about to take place.
As reported already in other posts, CM's from all the World Showcase countries paraded across the stage holding idigeous countainers filled with water from their own country. It was a homage to EPCOT's original Opening Day Ceremony, where a similar deed was performed. I thought this was fantastic...and it added a lot of emotion to the production as well. I know several fans in the crowd up close were having tears streaming out of their eyes as all the countries and their water vessels were introduced. I know i was awash in emotion....it was a great moment.
Once the waters were returned to the Fountain, more rousing music put those on the brink of emotion into overload...and the crowd went nuts in a positive way. This was a crowd of not just Celebration 25 Attendees, but many die-hard EPCOT enthusiests from all over as well as many CMs both past and current. I met several CM's who opened the Park...and they were thoroughly enjoying this special day. It was a great "gift" to all of us really...the entire days' experiences.
After the Re-Dedication Jim macPhee and others came around to shake hands and meet with several of the gathered. Both park Ambassadors were about, as well as many members of the press. Photos were taken, handshakes enjoyed, and small talk ensured. Then it was time to arrange our massive gathering of Celebration 25 attendees into some sort of form to enable us to get a good Group Photo of all of us.
We posed in front of the stage, with fabulous SSE in the background. I was sitting front and center, and placed my orignal Figment plush directly in front of me. Jim and the Park Ambassadors also posed in the photo with our group, which was a very kind gesture. I have yet to have seen this picture....anyone here have a shot??
After the Group Photo it was time to hit the EPCOT 25 Gallery inside Innoventions West. The previous night i was lucky to see the signage being installed and get a small peek inside the main room. I was happy to see the "missing" SSE model from MGM's "One Man's Dream" tucked in there....as i assumed that is where it was now. The Gallery was a wonderful sight....a EPCOT Fans' dream come true. If this is the "Year of Million Dreams" then this room is certainly one Fans' dream come true for sure. Folks lined up to be able to get inside, and Disney actually had to have crowd control there were so many of us waiting to get in. Of the few photos i did take that day, i shot several of the long lines waiting to get inside the Gallery. Good times! I was happy to see this, as it will show Disney that this sort of addition is very welcome. I hope they make it permanent in some form...perhaps maybe even expanding it if WDI is keen on the notion of lending more props and models for display. The Gallery was awesome...and a very VERY appreciated effort. I loved it.
More to come....
