The View from Scopa Towers

Continuing with some insights from a recent trip to WDW...
(In cast you missed Part 1)

Toy Story Midway Mania continues to be the hottest attraction in Walt Disney World. I waited for at least 75 minutes for this attraction, and yet right afterwards I was able to walk right on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror...absolutely no wait.

I remember not so long ago seeing the same long queues for TZTOT. Could it be that TSM is one of those attractions which Walt longed for? You know, one designed so that the whole family could ride together?

It's simple, those attractions for which the whole family can ride will usually have longer queues than those thrill rides which appeal to a subset of the family.

The TZTOT is not for everyone, but it sure seems that TSM is for the whole gang; hence the difference.

The American Idol Experience attraction strikes me as one of those attractions to take in for a nice respite from the hot Florida Sun and I expect that the crowds this summer will be fairly substantial. After all it is this attraction's first summer and should enjoy a healthy number of guests.

Not sure I get the judges….there seems to be a large Randy Jackson clone, a Paula Abdul type female judge and a Simon Cowell wannabe. The show I attended had some pretty talented people perrforming. I have heard from many locals that it is best to wait for the finale show. I believe the finale show is at 7 P.M. and it's a more robust show. I'm planning on doing that the next time I am in Hollywood Studios.

I must be doing something wrong. Every time I go on Everest I never feel I’ve gotten a good look at the Yeti. Maybe next time. Up until this last trip I had never ridden Expedition Everest up front. How did I do it? Well, it wasn't me who did it but my fellow AllEars colleague Michelle Scribner-MacLean who knew when to ask about riding up front.

As you go onto the loading dock you walk down to the right. At that point ask the loading Cast Member if you could ride up front and you will be directed to the up front queue...I kid you not.

One word of caution: it is not for the faint of heart. Hey maybe that's why I didn't catch a good glimpse of that nasty Yeti.

I will be the first to admit that I cannot get enough of Finding Nemo: The Musical. The puppetry for this attraction is outstanding and I am totally convinced that the performers are having the time of their lives putting on the show.

Staying with Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park I noticed, on this trip, a difference in the Festival of the Lion King. At the end of the performance I attended the audience was told to remain in their seats until ALL the floats left the theater.

So I was thinking, "Why the change?" and I came up with two possible reasons. The first reason is that perhaps the crowd can clear the theater faster if they do not have to manuever around the huge floats.

An even more interesting theory is that maybe a guest was injured walking around the remaining floats thus the show directors felt it wise to do whatever possible to prevent that from happening again.

While on this trip I tried a few restaurants I had yet to experience….and here is my $.50 review on all of them.

Let me preface all these quickie reviews with a caveat that says regardless of what I or anyone else may say regarding a restaurant, our words should never deter you from trying it yourself. After all, why deny yourself a wonderful dining experience just because my taste may be different from yours?

Being an adventurous diner I like to try new experiences and restaurants all the time. One restaurant I had my eyes set on was Sanaa at Kidani Village. If you are into a combination of African and Indian cuisines then you should definitely take time to sample what Sanaa has to offer.

When it comes to Indian food I'm a tough marker. Sanaa came close for me but fell short in some areas. However I need to give Sanaa a Pass because I love spicy food and it would not behoove any restaurant to spice up their entrees too much. Sanaa is worth a try …make sure you park in the Rafiki parking lot of Kidani Village otherwise you will walk for ages looking for the restaurant.

For two years I have been meaning to try Animal Kingdom's Yak and Yeti. If I had known then what Iknow now I would have dined there first chance. The menu selections are, to say the least, very interesting. I ordered an appetizer and a very simple entree and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and the portion. the portion size was just right...not too much...and not too litle.

Take note that, at least on this day, this restauant was not accepting Disney Dining Experience or Tables of Wonderland or whatever we are calling it these days but is on the Dining Plan …go figure.

I discovered something this month and that is that one WDW resort at times, based on room bookings, will alter its restaurant's operating hours.

The one I am aware of that does that right now is the Swan and Dolphin Hotels. This past trip in speaking with the managers of both the Garden Grove (Swan) and Mediterranean Fresh (Dolphin) restaurants I found out that the hotels discovered that if their room bookings have a large percentage of families and a lesser number of business people then it makes sense to limit or even eliminate lunch at a restaurant or two in the resort. This decision I feel is based on at least one and perhaps two theories.

If you are a family and are out and about in the theme park would you really come back to your hotel for lunch? Probably not.

Businesses which book conventions at the Swan and Dolphin hotels often have working lunches in which food is brought to the conference room.

So you see, it makes good business sense to study the habits of your guests as those habits will make you a better business person.

I point this out because if you have made ADRs for your upcoming WDW vacation you should confirm this ADR no closer than a week before your vacation...regardless of the ADR location...theme park or hotel.

It had been almost eight years since I had enjoyed an Illuminations Cruise and I had forgotten how unique a perspective one gets from watching Illuminations from the water’s level.

The experience will spoil you and will have you wanting to do it again and again. The boat is docked under the bridge that spans the United Kingdom and France pavilion in EPCOT. Consider splitting the cost of the experience with friends and you will have the time of your life.

I've done the cruise several times and each time I say to myself, "Why don't I do this more often?" think of it. Where else can you and nine of your friends enjoy Illuminations in a private comfortable setting?

I need to throw out a special shout out to Skipper Mike and Skipper "Nats" for a wonderful eperience, and to thank them for convincing Mother Nature to not rain on my Illuminations Parade.

As always the trip was too short. I always say to myself, "Well you didn't get to do this but you will next time."

I need to stop listening to myself.

Do you know what happened?

I kept putting off tasting that new orange-flavored Dole Whip. That's at the top of my list for my next trip.

You can be sure I will be MINDFUL of that.

On a recent trip to Orlando a few thoughts followed me home and I'd like to share these thoughts with you.

First, despite the fact that the Year of a Million Dreams has come and gone, there are still some magical things happening in the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Last week I had a long conversation with two Celebration Greeters Valerie and Mark
who told me that part of their job is to find guests and deliver a magical moment here and there.

The problem is that when approached by a cast member, most guests will run for the hills because they feel they will be tied up answering survey questions or will be asked if they would like a photo package with Mickey that will cost them somewhere in the vicinity of a mortgage payment.

This is not the case. When a cast member approaches you in any Walt Disney World theme park you should welcome them with open arms.

Want an example? One of my friends was standing near Splash Mountain the when a cast member approached her and gave her a box of popcorn…and then handed 12 Fast Passes to my other friend.…that’s right TWELVE Fast Passes for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

So although the Year of a Million Dreams is long gone the magic is still around…but you can’t deliver a dream or a magical moment unless there is someone to receive it so think about this the next time a cast member approaches you on Main Street USA.

You may even get some private time with Cinderella. Here I am with Cinderella and my friends Amy and All Ears colleague Michelle Scribner-Maclean.

I noticed a new Stitch attraction in the Magic Kingdom. It takes place in Tomorrowland and it involves Stitch on a big screen talking to park guests. The technology used in the attraction seems to be very much as how Crush talks to guests in EPCOT's Turtle Talk. The attraction is relatively new and involves what could be best described as dancing "Go-Go Girls" from the future as well as dancing "Power Rangers"…all moving to the sounds of the music of the 60s and 70s.

I don’t know why this keeps happening to me but every time I go on Splash Mountain I find myself on the front right seat. Now I know for some of you this is a dream come true. In this dream, however, be prepared to get wet...very wet. You won’t find me on Splash Mountain between Thanksgiving and Easter or anytime when the temperature is less than 80 degrees Farenheit…don’t want to freeze.

Please remember that there are two queues lines for Pirates of the Caribbean. The next time you are entering this attraction pay attention to which side seems to be drawing the most guests….and then use the other side.

I’ve ridden “It’s a Small World” about three or four gazillion times…..so this time when I rode I decided to count the number of animated dolls, animals, and objects in the attraction. Next time you get a chance tally them up for me. Let me know your total count.

I noticed a nice touch at the Tea Cups…a leaf dedicated to Randy Pausch, author of "The Last Lecture". The quote makes you think.

As much as I love Fast Passes I actually prefer going through the stand by queues at Expedition Everest and Soarin'….especially Soarin’ because of those interactive kiosks.

That’s right; you are actually entertained while waiting to get on the attraction. While waiting to soar over America,you can build lands, fly balloons, guide birds through the forest, and do all sorts of things.

I am convinced that it's easier to ride up front on the monorail if you a) ask during the early or mid-afternoon and b) if you are going from the Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT. I have ridden the monorail three times over the past two trips to Walt Disney World and I think my success is based on those two factors.

Here's a photo of our driver Weston. He did very well...no collisions.

I think I’ve mentioned this many times before but was reminded by some friends who had forgotten this tidbit of advice.

When watching Illuminations at EPCOT’s World Showcase you need to avoid gazing at the video globe between The Rose and Crown Restaurant and where Off Kilter perform…unless of course you’re into fireworks smoke and debris.

Masayo, my good friend from Japan, had asked me to try the Kakigori treat in Japan’s pavilion. It was great. It’s sort of like shaved ice but it’s much finer and softer and more tasty. I had rainbow and it was out of this world. Kakigori is a more pricey than Dole Whip but ii hits the spot on a hot day.

More mindful thoughts next time.

We are pleased, honored, and excited to announce the formation of the AllEars® Running Team.

This team will be co-captained by AllEars® feature writer Michelle Scribner and yours truly who together have combined to participate in over a dozen Walt Disney World sponsored races including four half-marathons.

Our Goals

So what is the goal for the AllEars® Running Team?

It’s very simple. We all care about having good health…right?

We know that exercise goes hand in hand with developing good health…right?

We also know that having the support of others helps us reach our goals….right?

Thus it occurred to us that we can do all those and more by putting together a team to encourage our readers to start moving, get healthy, and improve the quality of their everyday life.

Another important goal is to help those who are considering taking up running and reaching for that ultimate goal of running in either the Walt Disney World half or full marathon…and we want to help.

Remember, we are not running experts nor are we medical professionals…but with over 40 years of running experience between us we can call upon our experiences to pass along to our team members what seems to work to help you get the most out of your training.

We also know where to go to get help…advice…training tools…almost anything you need.

How to Join

For you to join the 2010 AE Running Team you need to be registered for the 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon or Half-Marathon.

We will be focusing on helping everyone train for that weekend and we are excited for those who are planning to do either race for the first time as well as those returning.

If you would like to join the AllEars Running Team, please note that for 2010 we are limiting the number of participants. At this time we do not know what our participation limit will be.

If you would like to become a member of the AllEars Running team please send an email to Michelle at michelle@allears.net and tell her why you want to be on the team and how you hope the team can help you.

We are striving to help not just our team members reach a specific goal but also looking to help others in need and so we are asking all who become members to work towards raising $500 towards Deb’s Avon Breast Cancer Fund.

Our initial AllEars Running Team newsletter will contain more details on this fundraising effort. More on the team newsletter follows.

Member Benefits

Team members will receive official AllEars Running Team Newsletters that will feature special articles along with some tips and hints on preparing for the big race.

Team members will be encouraged and welcomed to contribute to the team newsletter with questions regarding training and to share their success stories.

All team members will be invited to a special team meet the night before the 2010 Walt Disney World Half-Marathon. Time and venue is TBD.

We may also be holding a special post-race celebratory meeting in January….but we are getting ahead of ourselves here.

We are working on other surprises for team members…surprises we will announce in upcoming team newsletters.

Co-Captains Mike and Michelle

Oh and in case you were wondering, we are both registered to participate in the 2010 Walt Disney World Half-Marathon and are feverishly training.

Again, if you are interested in becoming a member of the AllEars Running Team send an email to Michelle at michelle@allears.net today.

For those of you who know me well…and you know who you are…you are probably aware that I have an unbelievable crush on a certain Disney princess.

I get kidded about it a lot…and I mean A LOT.

What amazes me is that although I get kidded by tens…no hundreds of my friends I have never been asked the question, “Why Belle?”

So I thought it was about time I asked this question myself and let in on why this particular Disney Princess has captured my attention.

As a young boy, I was exposed to Disney on film, Disney on television, and Disney on records.
As I watched each film, enjoyed every television program, and listened to every record my mind was formulating certain profiles.

For instance, when watching my boyhood hero Zorro I learned about good and evil; I learned the difference between right and wrong and how important it was to help those in need.

Like all of you, I did not realize that I was receiving life lessons while watching Guy Williams (he played Zorro….don‘t give me this Antonio Banderas nonsense…Guy Williams was the first and only Zorro) was saving the poor people of “Cal-LEE-fornee-a” from tyranny.

While watching the Mickey Mouse Club I sat in front of my 10 inch black and white and watched shows like “Annette” and “Spin and Marty” and “The Hardy Boys” and witnessed what relationships were all about and saw how they can work in a positive way…as well as a negative way,

I remember listened to Dennis O’Connor sing “The World is Good to Me” on my old Johnny Appleseed album and thinking about how Johnny Appleseed had a good attitude….always smiling….doing good deeds…and he was so happy.

It made sense to me…if you help people and always have a smile on your face then you will be happy.

Life lessons.

Now when it came to the Disney princesses…things became a bit more complicated.

There weren’t that many Disney princesses around for me back then.

Oh sure there was Snow White, and Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty…but that was it.

I was into comic books at the time…especially Superman so I had female models like Lois Lane, Lana Lang, and for those of you who are real comic book fanatics a very special female figure named Lori Lemeris who to this day has always struck me as the most positive figure ever to grace the pages of a comic book.

Anyway, with the three princesses named above, I found myself looking at them and seeing no difference whatsoever and I began to think that all princesses were alike…very pretty…but sort of naive and at times helpless. Don’t blame me…blame the animators…or better yet…the storytellers.

Anyways, as we got into the 80’s and 90’s, I believe Michael Eisner dubbed the 90’s the “Disney Decade” we saw Disney pump out a lot of films…films with princesses or princess like figures.

I’m talking about Ariel from the Little Mermaid, “Belle of course from Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas from “Pocahontas, Jasmine from Aladdin, Mulan, and Esmeralda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

If I missed one or two don’t worry….I’m sure I’ll hear about it and pass it along to you.

Anyway, with these princesses came some individuality and I applaud Disney for finally doing so…albeit late.

Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” was very much the first princess to be somewhat of a free spirit. I really see her as being a very carefree and loving figure…willing to sacrifice everything for love.

She was the first I felt to break the mold.

Jasmine I cannot figure out. There are times when I see her as being just another princess born with a silver spoon in her mouth and the next minute she’s like the girl next door. She is very confusing to me.

Pocahontas is of course a very strong woman and seems to have no flaws…she struck me as being unrealistic.

I really like Mulan. I think her appeal is her courage and her loyalty to her family, especially dear old Dad. But there is something lacking there….cannot put my finger on it.

Now is you ask any of my male friends to use one word to describe Esmeralda from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” I believe that the three letter word “hot” would be part of the discussion.

It is true that of all the Disney princesses it is Esmeralda who many would say is possibly the princess who you would like to be with because of so many things….she’s funny…she’s very beautiful…she is smart….and she is quite the catch.

For me….nope…..maybe it’s the gypsy thing…I don’t know…just not sure that Esmeralda would be the type of girl I would take home to Mom…maybe to Dad… but not to Mom.

And now we get to Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”

I admit that the first time I saw the film I was more in tune with the animation than the characters and storyline.

I think it was about a year or two later while watching the film that I noticed I took special interest in Belle.

She seemed quite different from any other Disney heroine I could remember.

Where do I start?

Well, she was smart. Her nose was always in a book. She loved to read. She loved to dream.
That said volumes about her personality…makes me see her as having an open mind. Who wouldn’t want to be around anyone with an open mind?

She shows she likes to have fun…witness the snowball fight she had with Beast.

She’s very elegant….for peasant girl…she seemed to show all kinds of elegance when she had that golden gown on and danced with Beast.

She is a dedicated daughter and very brave…look at what she risked for her father….then she comes back to see Beast before he potentially dies…be still my heart.

She’s not a pushover for sure…not helpless like the original three princesses I mentioned earlier in this blog.

I’m still not sure I totally buy the fact that Belle was in love with Beast. I guess that’s where the phrase “willful suspension of disbelief” really comes into play here.

Okay, so why of my obsession with Belle?

It’s very simple.

First….she is not a real princess…which means she appreciates everything and is probably very humble.

Humility is very appealing to me.

Her loyalty to both her father and to beast…wow…loyalty works for me.

Intelligence….hey….smart is sexy. need I say more?

Courage…she shows it throughout the film…not helpless in the least

She is not shallow at all….shows it in her approach to Beast.

When I have thought of all the princesses…..I looked at which one seemed most realistic while at the same time represented all that could be admired in a young woman.

Hands down she possesses more positive character traits than any other Disney princess.
Think about all the princesses and think about which one you would like to spend a day with at Walt Disney World.

That’s easy.

It’s Belle.

It’s not Belle who I am so obsessed with as much as what she represents…and that is all that is most positive and what we all look for in everyone.

Yes…I’m a big Belle fan…

…and as a tribute to Paul Harvey let me say….

….”now you know the rest of the story.”

Day 4 – Saturday

Saturday was an early call.

I got up early and met Michelle at the 50’s pool and we headed off to the Yacht and Beach Club.

I know she’s going to give me a “look” when she reads this but I need to say here and now how much I appreciated my MouseFest buddy Michelle Scribner-MacLean for always seeming to know what is needed to do… knowing I would probably not make time to take care of myself Michelle had taken the time to get up early and grab some breakfast for me…yes…Michelle is as my wife says one of my wonderful “Disney wives”…each one of them being a special person.

Well the Mega Mouse Meet was pretty special. If I had not seen everyone by this day I knew I was sure to finally meet up with them. Seems the Mega Mouse Meet is the only time I get to talk with people such as Kevin Yee, among others.

I was pretty excited to sit with former Walt Disney World Vice-President of Operations, Lee Cockerell as he welcomed guests and signed his book.

Once again I was thrilled with the number of people who took the time and effort to come and say hello.

The Disney internet community is made up of some wonderful folks and it is at the MMM that the glow from these people shine the brightest.

I would love to give a shout out to each and every one of you who spoke with me at the Mega Mouse Meet…but I would hate to overlook anyone.

But I must share a story with all of you…and I find myself wiping tears as I relate this story.

Back at MouseFest 101, after Mark Goldhaber and I had finished and Dave Marx had delivered his Chairman’s kickoff speech, I met a lot of people and made sure I respected everyone’s time and talked with everyone.

One of those with whom I talked was a young man who had several questions. We had a pleasant conversation and afterwards he thanked me for spending the time and answering his questions.

Two days later towards the end of the Mega Mouse Meet a woman came up to me and said, “Hi Mike. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated you spending the time and helping my son the other day.”

“Your son?” I asked.

“Yes, at MouseFest 101. He waited to speak with you and you took the time to talk and answer his questions. You helped him tremendously and I can’t begin to thank you.”

Okay…I was kind of stunned. I had not done anything differently with her son than I had with any of the other folks in line. I was obviously missing something.

She looked at me and was obviously holding back tears.

All of a sudden it was if everyone and everything else in that huge ballroom had vanished and I became focused on this woman’s face. I was hoping she would explain more…and she did.

“You see Mike,” and her lower lip kind of quivered a bit, “My son has Autism.”

How could I have missed that? My wife has worked with children with Autism for years so I am not a stranger to children with this condition.

She went on to say that after he had spoken to me that she had seen a difference in him.

I was dumbfounded…did not know what to say.

I thought she was going to burst into tears as she said, “I can’t thank you enough from the bottom of my heart as to what you have done for him. It’s as if someone flipped a switch.”

So…I’m searching for words and fumbled around in my mind what would be appropriate to say. I don’t recall exactly what I said but I think the gist was that I told her that her son was a fine young man and that I had enjoyed talking with him.

I don’t remember if I hugged her…if not I wish I had.

I was touched.

It made all those days, weeks, and months of planning all so worthwhile.

That’s just one example of why a lot of us do what we do.

Every once in a while when we least expect it a moment like that takes We don’t get paid for all the hours and effort it takes to do our “thing” but when moments like those occur, it just fills me with so much joy knowing that I never know when somehow, somewhere, I can touch someone’s life, in a positive way…and it’s just from doing what my personal philosophy tells me to do …treat others as I would like to be treated.

After the MMM it was off for a quick change and then to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I strolled through The Osborne Dancing lights with several thousand people.

I noticed something unusual in one of the windows. Take a look at this photo and tell me if “A Christmas Story” comes to mind.

From the Osborne lights I headed over to Sunset Blvd. for the Fantasmic Dessert Party.

Following the dessert party we were faced with a decision….enjoy a private ride on the Tower of Terror or scoot over to see the Osborne lights one more time.

Michelle and I looked at each other and almost at the same time said, “We can ride the Tower all year long…the Osborne’s are once a year.”

It was a good move because the finale was just about to start and you haven't experienced the Osborne's until you see them dance to the sounds of the Transiberian Orchestra.

After the Osborne finale we slowly made our way to the exit…stopping off at Star Tours….hoping to hear Ewok chatter…they must have been asleep.

The park was emptying out…and so was our energy…it was a long day but very much filled with joy.

Day 5 – Sunday

No rest for the weary. Sunday was to start off early…just like the last two days. I got up early and headed over to host a breakfast meet at the Kona Café and gave away a few goodies…always so much fun.

This is the morning that starts the good-byes and after breakfast there were some sad hugs.

I escorted several friends over to Luau Cove to check out the Scopa family brick and then moved on to see the Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian Lobby.

Sunday late morning and early afternoon was wonderful as I got to sit and talk with some of my most favorite people in the world and you know who you are.

Nothing beats sitting on a WDW bench anywhere…park or resort….and chit chatting with a friend who you just don’t get to see enough during the year. So when MouseFest offers that opportunity to me you can bet I will go for it.

The Capture the Magic Meet was held that afternoon. I did not participate but ran around and took pictures of the AllEars team who probably had more fun than any other team in the competition.

I noticed something during Capture the Magic. Stroller parking is becoming a huge issue at the theme parks.

I wonder if strollers were in mind during the design phases of WDW's Magic Kingdom.

MouseFest always brings with it impromptu meetings and Sunday afternoon was no exception as certain matters were discussed before heading off to Epcot for a nice dinner with friends and then taking in a very traditional viewing of Illuminations while enjoying a dessert party at the Rose and Crown Patio.

Anyone who knows me understands what Illuminations does to me, especially when the song “We Go On” is heard around the World Showcase Lagoon.

As that song was being played I looked around at my friends who were there enjoying the night and the atmosphere and I yearned to hold them all close…it was the last full day and night of MouseFest and I knew it would be sometime before I would again be in their company…it was a bittersweet moment.

Following Illuminations we were treated to a private party at Soarin’…one last attraction ride together.

As we took off I suddenly realized that I had landed in Orlando some 110 hours go and this was my first attraction of the trip.

Following Soarin’ reality had started to hit me and I knew that as other MouseFest Sundays it was time to seek out those friends who would be flying out on the morning and to bid them goodbye.

The goodbyes in the morning were difficult enough but the ones on Sunday following Illuminations are ten times as difficult for me.

I was beginning to realize all too soon that MouseFest was indeed in the homestretch.

I had been a part of MouseFest from the start….from way back in 2003…I had experienced many MouseFest Sunday nights over the years…but nothing…nothing could have prepared me for the deep feelings that would drape over me on this evening.

Of all the MouseFest Sundays I have no doubt that MouseFest Sunday 2008 will stand out as the most memorable Sunday evening of them all.

Monday – The Finale

Monday would continue to bring MouseFest to a gradual end.

My day started off with wonderful breakfast company in Deb Wills, Linda Eckwerth, and Michelle. This breakfast, at Fresh at the Dolphin, was followed by the traditional “I don’t want to let you go” hug that always seems to befall me when I say goodbye to Deb and Linda.

After we said goodbye to Deb and Linda, Michelle and I walked over to International Gateway and made our way over to the Canadian pavilion to meet up with some friends to have a bit of fun on this last day.

The fun is called “Sip and Snack” in which a number of my friends and I walk around World Showcase and attempt to eat or drink something that is unique to each of the 11 pavilions.

It’s not as easy as it seems.

I took one photo all day. Here it is. this is Annette Owens contemplating the thought of starting off Sip and Snack by downing a small bottle of Maple Syrup.

This four to five hour commitment will find me making all kinds of decisions…decisions which all play a factor into whether or not I can actually complete the challenge.

But the point that I want to make here is that it’s not the challenge but the camaraderie that makes this so much fun. There is a lot of mini challenges between all of us that arise over the course of the day and these in conjunction with the friendly kidding makes “Sip and Snack” a wildly different experience each time I do it.

We recorded our experience that day and you can hear all the fun on the WDWTODAY Podcast

As the afternoon Sun settled we all knew that the final goodbyes were close at hand…well for most of us.

One unexpected tough goodbye occurred for me late afternoon and early evening.

This farewell was to my fellow New Hampshire buddy Michelle.

Michelle was flying home that evening; I was to fly home the next morning.

Throughout the week Michelle had been my best buddy. We supported each other knowing the hardship our families were going through back home.

As a result of the worse ice storm in state history our families were going on five straight days without power.

We watched over each other although she did far more for me than I had done for her.

Michelle remained true to her pledge to my wife Carol, and made sure that MouseFest matters did not cause me to wear myself out and not forget to eat.

I have learned never to stop learning and I learned this MouseFest how important it is to have your own personal “buddy system” at MouseFest.
For MouseFest 2008 Michelle was my buddy.

I know my MouseFest would have been far less enjoyable without my buddy there to kid with me and to show me what friendship is all about.

Thanks Michelle.

After saying good-bye to Michelle I headed over to meet some friends for dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse.

During dinner Carol calls.

"Hi Honey…power on yet?"

"No…I'm staying over Holly's (our daughter) place until it does."

"Good. At least you’re warm."

"Where are you?"

"Oh just having dinner?"

"Where?"

"Oh just a restaurant?"

"Which one?"

"Ehhh…Yachtsman Steakhouse?!?!?"

"Aaaacckkkkkk!"

"So I'll see you tomorrow late morning okay honey?"

"Hmmmm….yes come to Holly's. Have a nice meal."

Talk about guilt.

After dinner I skipped through Cape May Café and found Mary Waring of Mousesavers and Bob Sehlinger of the unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World having dinner.

After exchanging pleasantries I sped off to pack for my 6:30 A.M. flight.

When I got to my room I sort of just collapsed and sat for a long time thinking about the week I had just experienced.

Thoughts on MouseFest 2008

This was the 6th MouseFest. I had been to all of them.

I have seen this annual event grow beyond my wildest dreams and exceed all my expectations.

As much as I have given to the event it has given me so much more in return…thrills….smiles….tears of joy…wonderful friends….random acts of kindness… and the understanding that life is too short NOT to stop and smell the roses.

I think that some in the Disney International Community look at each MouseFest and say "Wow I wonder how much bigger and better MouseFest will be next year?”

I don't look at it like that al all.

I recognize that each MouseFest has a personality…and that each year there are many MouseFest stories that take place…magical stories filled with good times and fond memories.

MouseFest doesn't have to be bigger or better for me…it just has to be there…or at least some vehicle has to be there…that draws all my friends from around the world to a place that we all love.

That's what counts….because it's those friends that make it so special…it's those friends who make me smile…it's those friends who help write my MouseFest story every December.

The story does not have to be bigger, or better, or brighter….it just has to be there…and that makes my December every year not just a month that brings snow and cold winds but friends who being warm smiles.

Is it a wonder to you as to why December is one of my favorite months?

By now most of the trip reports have been written, most of the colds have passed (I hope), but the memories still linger from just an extraordinary MouseFest 2008.

I thought about delivering a blow-by-blow description of how my MouseFest 2008 experience went but it would take forever for me to bring you each and every detail.

So my purpose here is to bring you my fondest memories of MouseFest 2008 and a perspective as to what it all meant to me.

Day 1 – Wednesday

I flew down on Wednesday morning of MouseFest week with fellow AllEars colleague Michelle Scribner MacLean.

As the day moved along we gradually ran into more and more familiar faces followed by warm embraces and quips of “How are ya?” and “How long you stayin’?”

Highlights of the day included a visit to see what T-Rex was all about (this restaurant opened earlier this year at Downtown Disney)...

...a gathering of about 60 friends at Trail's End at Fort Wilderness for a pre-MouseFest dinner...

; and an end to my first day with a viewing of Holiday Illuminations at EPCOT.

I love MouseFest Wednesday because it is essentially the only real flexible day of the week and one in which a schedule does not dictate where I should be and for how long.

That flexibility allows me to spend time with friends who I may not be able to see as much once the official land portion of MouseFest begins.

Day 2 – Thursday

Thursday morning I woke up, stared at the ceiling and said to myself, "This will be a long but fun-filled day."

The first order of business was to co-host MouseFest 101 with Mouseplanet staffer Mark Goldhaber. We addressed about 300 plus people at the Contemporary Resort with over 100 of them coming to MouseFest for the first time.

The highlight of MouseFest 101 for me was handing tickets for the Sunday night Illuminations Dessert Party to David and Nancy Dunkowski. I had wandered about the hall prior to starting MouseFest 101 and talked with several folks…looking for some first-timers. David and Nancy seemed most deserving.

After MF101 I was overwhelmed by the number of first-timers who stood in line to talk with me. Their patience fueled me into making sure I talked with every person in line and meeting all those wonderful people for the first time was one of my overall highlights of MouseFest 101. Imagine, I made over 100 new friends in an hour…awesome.

I remember afterwards rushing over to the Dole Whip meet with Beci Mahnken of Mei/Mouse Fan Travel right afterwards and running into my friend Val who works at Magic Kingdom’s Guest Relations.

When I saw Val I sort of shrugged my shoulders and asked, “Val is it too crowded at Aloha Isle?"

"No Mike” she sort of chuckled,”It’s fine…go enjoy your meet and have a Dole Whip."

I did.

Other memories for Thursday center on Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the Wishes Meet in the upper Rose Garden. I co-hosted that meet with Michelle and with Mike Newell of MouseWorldRadio.

That meet, along with MouseFest 101 and the Dole Whip Meet was an unbelievable way for me to kickoff MouseFest.

Those three meets always bring me into the spirit of what MouseFest was all about because they are designed to encourage the greeting of both old and new friends from all the MouseFest Communities.

Way back early in the morning I should have realized that this day would be special. You see, Michelle and I rode up front in the monorail en route to the Contemporary.

But it gets even better; to finish off the day we rode up front in the monorail from The Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Center.

Meeting old friends; making new friends; eating Dole Whip; and riding up front in the monorail twice in one day. That sounds like a formula for making Day 1 of MouseFest 2008 a day to remember.

Day 3 - Friday

MouseFest Friday started out early with everyone heading to Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The All Ears meet in Africa at the Harambe Fort was very successful and that too was an opportunity to meet up with old friends and make even more new acquaintances.

MouseFest Friday is a split day and that means two parks.

At mid-day international MouseFest icon Masayo Kano and I drove from Disney’s Animal Kingdom to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

We both had commitments and split up immediately after rushing through the turnstiles.

I walked over to the Brown Derby to find Michelle, Deb Wills, Deb Koma, and Linda Eckwerth enjoying a quiet lunch.

Now here is where I tell you how blessed I am. My wife Carol is a big supporter of all the Disney “stuff” I do and one reason she doesn’t worry about me is because she knows that when she is not with me at Walt Disney World that I am surrounded by those who she calls my “Disney wives.”

The week before MouseFest Carol had asked Michelle, who lives but 10 miles from us, to make sure that I ate at MouseFest.

It’s true…I have all these rules about MouseFest yet I always find them difficult to follow.

Once I walked into the Brown Derby and found these ladies I was immediately “convinced” by them to sit down and eat something…or else. I never want to find out what “or else” means so I gladly sat down and had a bite to eat.

This day was to have two major highlights for me.

The first highlight was the celebration of the 500th WDWTODAY podcast held at the Studios Prop Shop. If you’re wondering what the Prop Shop is, it used to be part of the old animation tour…it was the room in which guests watched how Disney Magic was used in the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” movie.

We recorded two shows with a live audience and had a blast being able to have folks not just only hear us but to see us as well.

What made that memory even sweeter was the fact that we were able to use that milestone show to raise funds for Deb's Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

The other Friday highlight was the wonderful AllEars team get-together at the Gaylord Palms Resort for a memorable dinner...

...and afterwards the touring of "Ice" which is an amazing display of ice sculpture.

MouseFest for me is usually scrambling from one place to the next….sometimes having no time to eat.

However, on this night I got to spend five, count' em, five hours with some very special people, look into their eyes, enjoy great conversation, and realize just how fortunate I am.

Thanks Deb.

Next Time: Saturday thru Monday

I know I've been late with my recap of my Mousefest adventures and I promise to get on the stick and tell you about them this week.

While i continue to gather my Mousefest notes please let me discuss a more important matter with you.

I'm sure this blog entry will get me in trouble....so let's keep it between us...just you and me.

For the first time since Marathon weekend 2006 I will not be running in either the Walt Disney World Half or Full Marathon.

This is due to orders from my doctors to sort of take a year off, which I have reluctantly agreed to do....but I'm back on that horse in 2009.

What I have not stepped back from is giving support to all of you who have elected to go on the adventure of training for the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon.

Some of you have contacted me with questions and comments and I hope I have helped you prepare for a wonderful and rewarding experience.

I honestly must admit that I will have a difficult time next weekend as my heart will be with all my friends who are down in Orlando, carbo-loading the night before their respective race, going to bed early, getting up around 2 A.M. and somehow making their way to EPCOT at around 3:30 A.M. on race day.

I wish everyone the best of luck...you are all winners...and my special support goes to those of you who are first timers for this event. I'm sure you will all be sporting some "bling" next week.

So why will this blog get me in trouble?

Well, you see of all those who are running the 2009 Half-Marathon this year I have a special affection for one first time runner and that is my All Ears Colleague Michelle Scribner-MacLean.

Michelle has been down in WDW in the past during the Marathon Weekends and after last year's trip she decided she would give it a whirl for 2009.

Michelle is one of those people who would get you out of breath just from showing you her schedule.

I won't tell you about her full-time job as a College Professor who instructs her students on how to be the best teachers possible, or mention how she is involved in her sons' activities, or donates hours of her time towards professional development in her sons' school district, her piano lessons, tennis schedule...and all that.

Her husband Andrew, and sons Evan and Liam will all attest that Michelle is a busy person yet always finds the time to give them whatever they need as a wife and mom.

Still with all that she does Michelle has found the time to train for this 13.1 mile event...even though she's never run before in her life.

Michelle lives but 10 miles from me; among hills that would make Expedition Everest jealous. It's not easy training on those hills.

What most people don't know about Michelle is that she is one of the most giving people in the world. The AllEars team has had the luxury of seeing Michelle in action.

I have marvelled at her uncanny ability to know when someone needs anything...and that does not just include a hand for helping but also an ear for listening.

Michelle cannot walk by a Salvation Army bowl during Christmas time without tossing a few dollars in the pot.

She will be angry at me for saying this but over the past two Mousefests I've seen her treat many people who she felt were on tight budgets to a meal ....keeping it quiet...not saying a word. She's not one to accept pats on the back for what she calls, "just doing what's right."

This past Mousefest was the same. This woman was always quick to volunteer at any of the Mousefest events and was quick to shy away from any accolades.

What she IS is a giver...a very subtle giver.

You may have seen a recent article by her entitled, "The Reluctant Runner" in which she discusses her year long adventure and dream of running in the 2009 Half-Marathon.

What Michelle is reluctant to mention most of the time is that what pushes her...inspires her to get up every morning to run...and it's cold up here in NH from October to January.

What motivates her is the memory of her late mother Marlene Scribner, who served as a nurse at Boston's Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

Spaulding Hospital is a special place. It is the largest provider of rehabilitation medicine in New England and provides countless hours of rehabilitation services.

Michele's mom Marlene, is somewhat of a legend at Spaulding Hospital. Marlene served Spaulding for 29 wonderful years and to this day those who knew and loved her have in them a piece of Marlene...a special positive attitude and approach to life that uplifted every patient and co-worker who was blessed to have known this woman.

Marlene's legacy also includes a very comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and effective anti-coagulation program that is now the standard for all SRH patients.

Marlene's greatest legacy however, may be her daughter Michelle who every day lives life as her mother would want her to...giving of herself....unselfish...caring...the model of how we all should lead our lives.

So it just so happens that there is a Marlene Scribner Award that is awarded to a deserving registered nurse every year to help send that nurse to the Annual Regstered Nurse Conference.

This award constantly reminds everyone of how dedicted Marlene Scribner was to the mentoring and development of new nurses...who in turn would better serve the patients of Spaulding Hospital.

Well, quietly Michelle has dedicated her training to her mother and this award but because this fundraising stuff is relatively new to her, she has only told a few close friends and colleagues.

Well, I'm about to get in trouble with Michelle because I'm here telling everyone that of all the wonderful causes and fund raising efforts that go with the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon, nothing touches my heart more this year than Michelle's effort to raise funds for her mom's award.

Yes Michelle and I are dear friends and I plead guilty to wanting my friend to achieve her goal but it's more than that.

When Michelle talks of her mom and her life work her eyes light up and a big smile comes across her face. She misses her mom dearly and this is how she pays respect to her mom and her legacy.

A daughter's love for her mother always hits home for me.

I try very hard not to show favorites when there are so many wonderful causes out there.

Many of them get lots of PR..and support.

Very few, if any, have the dedication and love of a daughter for her mother and the chance to continue the wonderful work and legacy that has helped so many people.

So if there are any of you out there who I have helped to work towards this goal of stepping up to the starting line of the WDW Half-Marathon and you are looking to help someone who I feel is running for a most worthy cause please join me in helping Michelle raise funds for her mom's award by going to Michelle's donation page .

Thank you for helping my friend Michelle but please don't tell her I told you about this...I'll be in big trouble.

God bless Marlene Scribner and God bless Michelle Scribner-MacLean next weekend.

Shhhh....not a word to her....promise?

Well the day started real early...like 1:58 A.M.

The overnight attempt to get some sleep was eerily familiar to the difficulty one has trying to sleep before doing the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon.

At least today I didn't have to run 13.1 miles.

I got to my airport around 4:30 and took off with fellow staffer Michelle Scribner-McClean at around 6:30.

The flight was smooth...landing about 9:45.

First task at hand was to hit Down Town Disney to do shome shopping, meet some friends, and try T-Rex.

From there we all checked into our respective resorts before heading off to Trail's End for a nice pre-Mousefest meal with about 54 of our closest friends from Tagrel.

From there a few of us drove over to EPCOT to enjoy a little bit of Holidays Around the World and Holiday Illuminations of which I did not even have the energy to take out my camera.

Egad, it was closing in on 11 P.M. and I just realized I had been up for at least 20 straight hours.

i returned to my resort....fighting fatigue and thinking, "Hope I finish writing about Day 1 before I fall off to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Well with less than a week to go before heading to Mousefest it’s time for me to go through the first of my annual pre-trip rituals and that is to compile my sanity lists.

My sanity lists are my packing lists and my to-do lists.

The packing list is self-explanatory…it’s everything I need or want to take to Mousefest. I’m sure everyone at one time or another will put together a packing list for an impending Walt Disney World vacation.

I used to make these lists for every trip…not so any more….the list has been ingrained in my head…well the regular list…but not the Mousefest list.

As Mousefest adjusts every year the list also adjusts.

The items I had on my Mousefest 2003 list are certainly not the same as I have for the Mousefest 2008 list.

Why?

Well, with every Mousefest comes changes in the forms of meets I may host or co-host and with that comes the need to bring some trinkets to the meet to handout or give as prizes. So the “treasures” I may have brought a year or two ago are far different than those making the trip this year.

Also, depending upon my schedule I may need to bring something other than jeans or shorts which are my basic code of dress for any WDW trip. I may need to pack some business casual wear one year but not the next.

So how do I compile this year’s packing list? The easiest way for me is to sit back and say, “Okay, what do I need to bring for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and so on. To me that breaks it down real easily and as I go through each day of Mousefest I will be checking off my needs for that day.

Of course there is the general WDW trip packing list that includes the basics…camera…batteries…laptop…toiletries…and all that jazz.

The to-do list is my baby however.

On this list I write down everything I need to do prior to my leaving for the airport and I take it one step further…I assign not just a task but when to complete it.

For instance….for Mousefest I always make sure that my outside holiday decorations are all set up with timers and all that jazz. I live in a State in which I’ve seen it snow as early as October 20th and as late as May 15th so I need to be ready.

Of course that also means making sure the interior of the house is all decorated for Christmas as well.

I use a wood pellet stove to heat my house and so prior to leaving for WDW and Mousefest I make sure there is a good supply of wood pellet bags in my back porch…easier for my wife Carol to feed the stove. Also, starting two weeks before I leave I feed the stove half-bags and save the other half for Carol. That way she does not have to lift a 40-50 pound bag of pellets while I’m gone but instead a 25 pound bag.

I also need to give the snow thrower a test drive to make sure that thing is ready to rock ‘n’ roll with Old Man Winter says, “It…is….TIME!”

So the to-do list includes a lot of winterizing tasks to complete before I step onto that plane.
Of course there are things like charging all my batteries, maybe getting a haircut, and other basic trip preparedness tasks to handle but the fact that Mousefest takes place in December makes for more pre-trip work.

So the ritual has begun…my lists have been made.

Once the lists have been compiled I then take the next step which is to dig out the luggage.
In the past I’ve shipped stuff down to MF rather than take it with me on the plane.
This year I plan to bring a second, but smaller piece of luggage with me…for the trinkets and extra stuff.

So….without further ado…I must get started and bring out the luggage because, just as Rafiki and Old Man Winter….I too must say, “It…is….TIME!”

There’s been a lot on the news lately about transition of power in the U.S Government and one day while watching the latest reports on this activity I wondered what would have happened had Mickey Mouse run for president and had won.

Who would be in his transition team/cabinet if he were elected?

Well here are my choices:

Vice-President: It stands to reason that Minnie would be Mickey’s Vice-President.

I know, you were expecting her to be the first lady mouse but last I checked Mickey and Minnie were not sporting wedding bands. So Minnie would serve well as Mickey’s VP because we all know that behind every great mouse...erhhh…let’s move on.

Secretary of Defense: This one’s easy. It’s Donald Duck.

His convincing resume would be filled with countless film evidence of his temper when dealing with those rascals Chip and Dale. Imagine a foreign country watching one of those cartoons and seeing Donald seething and doing some drastic things. Who would even dare to get Donald or the United States the least bit upset knowing Donald was Secretary of Defense?

Secretary of the Treasury : There’s been a lot on the news recently about the Treasury Secretary and so this one comes to mind right away. Also, keeping with the duck theme a bit let’s look at Scrooge McDuck as our Treasury Secretary.

Why? Well, he’s got a lot of money, all of which I know nothing as to where it came from…but he has a lot and in this day of bailouts we need a lot of money so I figure he knows how to generate the kind of capital we need to survive so Scrooge is in.

Ah yes…more fowl appointments….I’d like to see Professor Ludwig Von Drake appointed the Secretary of Education because let’s face it, those cartoons with Prof Von Drake telling us how things worked always were informative and at the same time very enjoyable.

You might say they were….wait for it….a journey in….wait for it….edutainment. Hmmm, I’m learning something and being entertained. That to me is a great makeup for a Secretary of Education.

Secretary of State: Another easy one. It’s Belle.

Why? Well she seems to be the person who has that ability to see the good in everyone and I think she knows how to bring out that good and to help everyone live in harmony. She will not pull any punches but at the same time knows exactly which buttons to push on which people to get everyone to see each other’s point.

Attorney General: This is a key post. To me it was a tossup between Chernabog and Jiminy Cricket but I decided to give it to Jiminy because he just looks the part.

Also, with his mantra “Let your conscience be your guide” I was thinking that he’s level headed and thinks things through before making any decisions. Jiminy is my man…erhh cricket.

Secretary of Agriculture: Another easy post to fill. Without question it would have to be Johnny Appleseed.

Let’s face it; no other Disney Character has had more of an impact on our land than Johnny with his planting of a gazillion apple trees. So he’s my choice….it would be nice to hear him singing in his office.

Department of Labor: Finally a spot for Goofy.

I don’t know of any other Disney character that has had as many different jobs as Goofy so my thought is that he understands what it takes for labor to be successful and he brings all those experiences to the position of Secretary of Labor.

Secretary of Health and Human Services: This one took a while but I finally figured it out. My candidate would be Doc from the Seven Dwarfs.

Let’s face it, you have to know what you’re doing to be able to keep six of your friends healthy (except for Sneezy…allergies) healthy and you also must have some idea as to what human services are essential and how to get those services to folks….especially when you have eight living under one roof.

Secretary of Housing and urban Development: Boy this is a no-brainer. It would have to be the Little Pig who built the brick house…you know the one the wolf could not blow down. I ‘d tell you his name but when I looked it up I found three different answers…although I like the name Practical Pig. He plays a mean piano too.

This pig had the foresight to understand what materials to use and in the meantime made could use of his time and money by buying the right materials; building a structure that was strong...and also will last. He should advise all who those who seek to build.

Transportation Secretary: Although he’s young, I have to think that Dash Incredible would be the right person for the job.

He’s fast; he’s always thinking; and he’s open-minded so he would always be able to key in on what the country needed, infrastructure wise and so on, so that roads and bridges and everything involves in transportation works as fast and efficiently as possible.

Department of Energy: Ned Brainard of course. What? Don’t you know who that is? I could just leave you hanging and make you Google the guy but one word will enlighten you…Flubber. That’s right, he’s the guy who invented Flubber….no...not Robin Williams but the original Ned Brainard...Fred MacMurray. What? You would if you recall the television show "My Three Sons."

Imagine what he could do if he were in place to lead the Department of Energy….talk about independence from Middle East oil.

So there’s my cabinet ideas for Mickey.

Now if you would excuse me…for the next several weeks I need to focus on a little event known as Mousefest....so be sure to check here for Mousefest updates...before...during...and after Mousefest.