coasterphil
Well-Known Member
The burnoff happened, just much later than expected. I think they finally did it around 11:40 or so, but at that point I was so tired that I had lost track of the time.
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**CELEBRATION 25 Complete and Total Coverage Thread!**
- Thread starter Figments Friend
- Start date
loweyan
New Member
Burnoff
Yes after poor Eugene (our assigned events staff member) had to explain to us that it was delayed for a 5th time, the burnoff did happen about 11:30pm. But it was a hillarious and amazing walk out of the park with everyone singing and it was only us still left inside! Ironically they had declared the park "all-clear" and they arranged a special bus for our party to take any resort guest back over to the Magic Kingdom to use the specific resort busses.
All in All, they really did take care of the celebration 25 folks!
More recap to follow when I come out of the post-celebration fog here at work lol.
~Marcus
Yes after poor Eugene (our assigned events staff member) had to explain to us that it was delayed for a 5th time, the burnoff did happen about 11:30pm. But it was a hillarious and amazing walk out of the park with everyone singing and it was only us still left inside! Ironically they had declared the park "all-clear" and they arranged a special bus for our party to take any resort guest back over to the Magic Kingdom to use the specific resort busses.
All in All, they really did take care of the celebration 25 folks!
More recap to follow when I come out of the post-celebration fog here at work lol.
~Marcus
ChrisFL
Premium Member
Me, Marcus and Marsha were singing but the actual song is quite loud so unless we were all singing at the top of our lungs it probably wouldn't have been heard.
Yes, the flooding around Mexico and Norway was ridiculous, I would have been fine with the rain if not for that.
I didn't see the frozen ice cream bars until nearly 11PM which I quickly pointed out and we all quickly realized how melted they were!
Awesome time, terrible singing walking through World Showcase after the burnoff, it was perfect! Wish I could have walked all the way to the front with everyone but I was parked at CM parking.
Gorjus
Well-Known Member
Thanks to all who organized this. Adam, is it true that Jim said WHEN and not IF you become an imagineer....?
I would venture to say that 30% of the people that were in attendance for Illuminations were cast members. All day I kept running into people I knew, but at night it was tripping over each other. It was great.
The burn off was quite late and it isn't really exciting enough to wait 2.5 hours for, but at some point we had no choice. Once the park was declared all clear, we were stuck on that bridge. They wouldn't let us leave unless we went as a group and were escorted. Thanks to Eugene whose shift ended at 11:30, but he had to extend his workday till at least 12:30 if not later.
And what you all lack in ability to sing, you make up for it with passion for singing Epcot songs.
And as for not singing in American Adventure, I think it was being respectful to those who hadn't seen it before. There was a thread a while back about how annoying it is to go through an attraction and have people recite or sing through the entire thing. They are doing it to prove they know it all and are ruining the attraction for those who want to experience it as Disney intended.
However, during the Marty Sklar presentation, we were definitely singing along when he presented a montage of the oringinal EPCOT attractions and the songs that were written for them. Marty kept looking back at us with an odd look on his face. I don't know if it was surprise or a knowing look. Of course Dreamfinder and the Imagination song got a huge ovation and the most people singing along.
And, back stage, there was a HUGE party for cast members in the World ShowPlace. It was set up for Party for the senses. And at a bunch of different stations there was food from each of the countries. A lot of it was what you would buy at the booths in the park, but it was free and you could get any size portion. They gave all Epcot CMs a t-shirt. It was the navy ones that had "21st century began on...." CircdeSoleil performed. They showed the video of the rededication ceremony. It was a great party.
It was a great day.
I would venture to say that 30% of the people that were in attendance for Illuminations were cast members. All day I kept running into people I knew, but at night it was tripping over each other. It was great.
The burn off was quite late and it isn't really exciting enough to wait 2.5 hours for, but at some point we had no choice. Once the park was declared all clear, we were stuck on that bridge. They wouldn't let us leave unless we went as a group and were escorted. Thanks to Eugene whose shift ended at 11:30, but he had to extend his workday till at least 12:30 if not later.
And what you all lack in ability to sing, you make up for it with passion for singing Epcot songs.
And as for not singing in American Adventure, I think it was being respectful to those who hadn't seen it before. There was a thread a while back about how annoying it is to go through an attraction and have people recite or sing through the entire thing. They are doing it to prove they know it all and are ruining the attraction for those who want to experience it as Disney intended.
However, during the Marty Sklar presentation, we were definitely singing along when he presented a montage of the oringinal EPCOT attractions and the songs that were written for them. Marty kept looking back at us with an odd look on his face. I don't know if it was surprise or a knowing look. Of course Dreamfinder and the Imagination song got a huge ovation and the most people singing along.
And, back stage, there was a HUGE party for cast members in the World ShowPlace. It was set up for Party for the senses. And at a bunch of different stations there was food from each of the countries. A lot of it was what you would buy at the booths in the park, but it was free and you could get any size portion. They gave all Epcot CMs a t-shirt. It was the navy ones that had "21st century began on...." CircdeSoleil performed. They showed the video of the rededication ceremony. It was a great party.
It was a great day.
Hoop Raeb
Formerly known as...
He showed up at Italy?!?! When??? I missed him.
I wish more people knew about the ice cream. I tried to tell as many people as possible. It was set down just moments before ROE started. Not the best timing to alert everyone.
Matpez
Well-Known Member
He showed up at Italy?!?! When??? I missed him.
I wish more people knew about the ice cream. I tried to tell as many people as possible. It was set down just moments before ROE started. Not the best timing to alert everyone.
He appeared about 10 minutes after the end of the fireworks... spoke quickly to the group and was off, but it was just one more indication of the great recognition we were receiving from all the Epcot CM's.
I also didn't know about the Mickey Bars... I guess we were to busy trying to keep our video cameras dry.
ChrisFL
Premium Member
Im a CM at MK and had no idea there was that going on at showplace, so mad I missed it, but its not like I had any extra time really anyway, the day was full pretty much.
Gorjus
Well-Known Member
I'm at MK too. I didn't know about it either until another CM told me. Since my department is global, sometimes I work at Epcot. That wasn't enough to get me a t shirt and I knew one of the girls giving them out.
Figment1986
Well-Known Member
Oh well
Atleast someone knows i actually exist.
I think I saw you... I saw two people with "Epcot ears" but I couldn't intro myself since had to stay with my mom.
Hey, who had the retro figment plush... i have a great photo of it on my card and need to know who's it is if i post it...
mousermerf
Account Suspended
Didn't wear my ears - the folks who did, i saw, and they did a better job then me - i actually thought they might be for sale for a few mins.
Hoop Raeb
Formerly known as...
Figment82 and her mom had Epcot ears on. And FigmentsFriend had the retro Figment plush, natch.
Hoop Raeb
Formerly known as...
Did she tell everyone that she's never ridden the ride to see it. :ROFLOL:
Sorry kids but my cell phone ran out of battery 1/2 way though an update last night around 6:30 right as the heavens opened up.
So as everyone knows now, the 5:00 AA meet was changed to 6:00. Originally, the Marty sessions were only supposed to be 1/2 hour but I guess he had other ideas. Marty was awesome and had so many great stories, photos, concept drawings, etc. Truely an experience of a lifetime.
So we did AA at 6:00 which was great. No flags but we all tried to sit together. The show seemed 100 times better with positive Disney mojo flowing though the room. As we were letting out, they were loading up the out ramps. Later on I found out there was a wedding in the rotunda. We found out that the Dessert party was moved to Odessey because of the rain and it was to start at 7:30.
So we made our way down to China for a quick snack, when the skies opened up and poured like I haven't seen in a while, and I live here. So we waited until 7:15 and it was still coming down. So I bit the bullet, hopped over a railing to get to a shop to buy my $7 ponchos for me and the DW.
Made our way down to Odessey though the ponds in Norway and Mexico. I couldn't believe that the walkways were covered with water that was at least a foot deep in some area. Thankfully we had flip-flops on. Had to wait to get in, finally let us in around 7:45. Still raining outside.
Dessert were really good. Coffee, tea and water were included. They had a couple cheesecakes with a chocolate disk that had the 25th logo on them. Pretty neat. Will post later. Got to chill out and dry off for a little bit. We had a toast to EPCOT given by the Celebration25 team which was a nice touch. Jim McPhee was supposed to show up but couldn't make it. No BS because the DW heard one of the supervisors tell an underling to be on their best behavior because Jim may show up.
Then left in masse to Italy around 8:45. Supposedly Disney was providing us free ponchos. Not sure why they didn't hand out ponchos BEFORE we left! I got to Africa and the skies opened up again. Luckily, I got mine back on in time. I thought all the rain would have thinned out the crowds but there were a TON of people there. Diehard fans or people that were just excited to see some extra fireworks. Finally got to the island and at the base of the bridge, NOW they're handing out ponchos.
Right before ROE starts, some guy comes over with a basket and a towel over it. I see a Mickey bar sticking out of it. He says in broken english, "You from Odessey?" So I say yes. He takes the towel off and there's a basket of every kind of frozen treat imaginable. What luck! So he says have at it and sets it down on the fountain wall in front of us. Whoever provided that, THANK YOU!! Made the DW's night honestly. To eat a Mickey bar and watch ROE on the 25th was truly magical!
Fireworks tag was AWESOME. The power of it went right though you. Then the lasers on SSE was the icing on the cake. Then walking out with all the old music playing was the sprinkles on the icing on the cake! Didn't stay for the burnoff. Had to come to work today.
Again, to everyone who made this happen, THANK YOU!! Even though some things got shuffled and it was hard to find out new information, things happen. If you showed up to all the events, you found out about the next event shift (JII -> AA -> Dessert). Overall, this was very well planned and coordinated with Disney.
And thanks again to Disney and Jim McPhee for making something, anything happen yesterday. To think how far they came in a short time all because of you the fans. Truly magical!
Wow, what a great story.
Good to hear all of you had a great time, too bad I couldn't be there right along with you. CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
All you had to do Merf was walk up to one of us with the yellow lanyards and say hi. We definitely weren't avoiding you, to the contrary, we were LOOKING for you.
nibblesandbits
Well-Known Member
Yay!!!
Figment82
Well-Known Member
lilredfoxie
New Member
Does anyone have good photos of what all the attraction logos look like from the celebration, Ive only seen some of em cleary from the various photos ive seen around, I also thought it was interesting that The Land still has its 1982 logo but none of the other attractions do.
jedimaster1227
Active Member
Just thought I'd share this: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770928077.