Getting from there to here

Less than a year ago, I took my solo trips to Walt Disney World to a new level when I specifically went to attend Lou Mongello's WDW Radio 24-hour show/meet and Illuminations Dessert Party Event. I can trace so much of my Disney happiness to this point in the space time continuum. (yeah, that was scifi).

I have been a Disney Parks fan for decades now, yeah I'm that old (and I know someone who loves that fact). But there were was a friendship that was forged that weekend which was the "start of something new." In fact, he's a cabin mate of mine next week on the WDW Radio Disney Dream Cruise. Imagine this, I arrive at the Studios as soon as i get off the plane and tweet "anyone here?" That first night I get a reply from @disdug71 (Doug) that he was with others watching and streaming Fantasmic with Beci Mahnken and Matt Hochberg. Well, the rest is history.

As I mentioned, I am sailing on the Disney Dream with the group from WDW Radio next week. Doug, Kristen, and I are cabin mates for this high seas adventure. I just wanted to pause and reflect on the point in history that has made this and many other things magical this year.

What to buy at WDW? Retro EPCOT Center attire!

Does anyone else do this?  I am just days away from departing for Walt Disney World and I am already trying to keep a level head as to what I am going to spend on WDW swag while I am there.  Let me explain:

I would say that 60-70% of my wardrobe comes courtesy of Walt Disney World (and some from Disneyland).  Plenty of T-shirts, but I need to consider a few new ones.  Polo shirts are a weakness since I can wear them in casual and business casual environments.  I have but two regrets of clothing purchases I didn't make.  Both are jackets.  One was the leather jacket from the Millennium Celebration era.  It was all four parks on the sleeves.  The other jacket was the limited edition Main Street Electrical fiber optic denim jacket.  Ahh,  woulda coulda shoulda.

BUT, back to today- EPCOT Center (yes, I typed it that way- the right way) retro shirts will easily make it into a package delivery run to Disney's Old Key West this trip.  I have three as it is now, but one is sooo worn out.  I love the designs and look of the original icon-based system of pavilion and attraction identification.  It will be great to build more of that into my wardrobe :)

Moral of the story is this:  If you know me, you know my clothing selections are usually influenced by Disney.  Love it or hate it, it is a representation of me and my tastes. :)

My goal... a post a day until the August WDW Trip.

SO- I have been awful, just awful about keeping my blog fresh. I recall a certain Betamouse podcast episode that says if you want to be relevant, keep it coming. Well I think I am getting in the zone! I am just 7 days to the arrival of 5 days of fun and I am feeling inspired. SO, I will be trying something new: Quick thoughts I am having in the days leading up to departure.

Tonight, I am realizing that the amount of sleep I get will be limited. Yep, that Mickey towel left on the bed by housekeeping may very well be there well into the night before it is even touched.  I think my sleep will not just limited due to my usual all-out maximizing of time in the parks... But that I will be so excited to be spending time with new, known, and unknown Disney friends and Tweeps. I will admit, I enjoy taking part in the discussions and interactions we share about the World. There is something magical that happens when it becomes real when we go further into the community that we are all a part of. I mean if you are reading this, you are so a part of it.

Have you felt this kind of excitement? Are you old hat at this whole "I'm going to Disney World" thing? Are you going next weekend? Don't be shy... Stop on by, below or in person!

See you tomorrow... When it is only 6 days to arrival!

Driving Disney...

How many of you believe your car is an extension of your personality? Well, I am a firm believer of this. And so this explains why I own… Wait for it… A 2001 Pontiac Aztek. That’s right. The car created as part of a General Motors experiment gone horribly wrong: part 4-door sedan, part minivan, part SUV and all unique. Also referred to by many as one of the top 5 ugliest cars ever made, a poor man’s Honda Element, and As$pick. No matter what- all mine for the last 4 years (and will be until I go back to green, I had a Prius before it). BUT- back to the Disney angle of this. I first saw this car after exiting Test Track. It was a featured GM vehicle at the time and it was love at first sight.



The car is named Bravo Two-Two-Niner (if you are unsure where this comes from, I will share in my next post- or you can share in comments below).

B229 is also adorned with a few Disney items: On the front of the car is a DVC Member plate that I have transferred from car-to-car for years. I am a proud member who knows the best kept secret ;) Then on the back, a WDW license plate border that tells ya where I am always trying to drive B229 back to.










Then, there is the Spaceship Earth antenna topper. This is a replacement for the Sorcerer topper I had originally that was defaced by having the ears removed. YEAH! Who does that?!?

SO- What do you drive? Is it your personality? Or more importantly- how have you Disney-ized your car? Have you Disney Pimped Your Ride? I am curious… and I know many others are too! Please share and comment below.

Tweet you real soon!
WDWStevieB

May Meet Means So Much More... a First Timer

A funny thing happened to me last weekend... I had an amazing time at Disney World. I know, shocker! BUT- it was a weekend enjoyed not as a solo, but as part of something greater. Many of us have been Tweeting, commenting, blogging and posting with each other for days, weeks, months, and even years. We share stories, thoughts, challenges, triumphs, and so many things Disney that bring us closer as a community. (OK, enough of the lists Steve and get to the point).

You know that smile you get when someone comments on something you said? Or, when you read a posting and think "exactly" and you become friends? Multiply that feeling to infinity and beyond and you will begin to know what it is like to be around Walt Disney World with these folks.

This is not a trip report of my weekend. I think of this as an expression of gratitude and appreciation for those I met along the way and the interactions we shared, both in person and virtually.

Besides the Tweets below, I know there are many more folks I met. If I didn't mention you by Twitter handle or by name... It's because I was so overwhelmed that I got lost in my Tweets and conversations. Well, that and I drove home on Sunday all day. Please, please, please feel free to comment to remind me so I am following/friending you. Heck, even if you weren't there I invite you to share your meet up thoughts. Have you done a meet before? Are you going to? Are you "unsure"? Again, my sincere thanks to my brothers and sisters in Disney for making this a Community of Tomorrow ;)

WDWStevieB


From my Twitter timeline's perspective:
Friday, May 21
My goals were to simply fly to Orlando and get to Studios on time to catch Fantasmic. It turned out to be a great first time meeting of new friends. Beci Mahnken and Matt Hochberg were streaming the Fantasmic 10:30 show and Doug Uhlig was right there with them. Through the magic of Twitter and their openness to meet someone new, I was honored to join them. Listening to Beci and Matt do a commentary of the show felt like this: I watch Glee on TV and love it, but I got to see it live and it was just as good if not better!

WDWStevieB
I have just touched down in Orlando and I hope I make some new Disney friends this weekend #confessfriday
7:40 PM May 21st via Osfoora from Southwest Orange, FL

disdug71
Waiting for Fantasmic with @studiocentral @Beci_mousefan @wdwstevieb :)
10:21 PM May 21st via Osfoora

WDWStevieB
Being w/ @studiocentral @Beci_mousefan for the Ustream of Fantasmic was like seeing Glee live on stage. The show is great. In person-Magic!
11:30 PM May 21st via Osfoora



Saturday, May 22
My plans were to take advantage of EMH at Studios (Toy Story Midway Mania, Coaster, and Tower), go to AK and hit Everest, then back to DHS to enjoy the WDW Radio/Lou Mongello 24-hour broadcast May Meet of the Month, participate in the Studios Central ABC Commissary meet up, and then head over to Epcot for the Illuminations Dessert party to end the day. Nice right? It was so much more. I gained great friends (special early awakening thanks to Doug for the ride along company and the use of the iPhone charger), and lost a backpack. A personal thank you to everyone who was part of the search party, including Lou Mongello himself for trying to find it. (yeah, still no word). A full day of meeting friends and making connections.

disdug71
Thanks for being my ride buddy! RT @WDWStevieB: Thanks for the EMH fun @disdug71 - see ya this afternoon!
10:12 AM May 22nd via Osfoora

JL_Davis
@heavensent30 @WDWStevieB i'm on my way to see ya'll!
1:33 PM May 22nd via UberTwitter in reply to heavensent30

lady_aurora
@wdwstevieb hey! You are on the box! I see you!!
3:42 PM May 22nd via txt

jjzmgailey
Just saw @marcmantoo & @WDWStevieB too! Very fun @LouMongello!!! :) Lovin this live from HS thing!!
3:44 PM May 22nd via TweetDeck

WDWStevieB
RT don't forget to score big! @Bixie23: The ever-awesome @WDWStevieB gave me & DD fastpasses for Toy Story Mania!!!!! Thank you SO MUCH!
3:51 PM May 22nd via Osfoora

bigdsp
@WDWStevieB Lous said a kid turned it in to studio catering company lost and found

marcmantoo
@WDWStevieB Steve a little kid found it and brought it to lost and found before we could apprehend it.
4:30 PM May 22nd via TweetDeck

WDWStevieB
I want to thank @loumongello and everyone in and out of the "box" for helping with the elusive bag. Going to keep moving forward ;-)
5:50 PM May 22nd via Osfoora

jeff_chaney
Ditto RT @bigdsp: @wdwstevieb I hear you talking to Beci right now!
8:49 PM May 22nd via TweetDeck






Sunday May 23
The great $10 drive home (see previous blog post for details). Plan was to pick up the car, shop at Character Premiere, and hit the road. Well, I popped into the Beach Club Resort to see how the 24 hour folks were holding up. It was here I had more "OMG- It's you in real life moments" with NDM#1 JL, and Disney Mom @wifeandmomuniv Andi (thanks for the photo shoot to you and to Jorge). I saw Marc again and met the gentleman who dropped everything to go to the D23 Event last year, following seeing Lou's live coverage.

Counting down...

Planning leads to anticipation. Anticipation leads to excitement. Excitement builds to the crescendo that is your next trip to Disney. Seeing as how I am in full-on countdown mode for my short May 21-23 weekend at the Studios and Epcot, I thought I would put it out there to see what others do in anticipation of their trip.

I am going as a solo to the May Meet of the Month with the WDW Radio 24-hour broadcast hosted by the man who would be king, Lou Mongello. Then, I will enjoy the viewing party for Illuminations at the Dream Team event Saturday night. As an excited single traveler with a ton of enthusiasm about this, I need an outlet. Like many others who have Tweeted before me, I am going to share my countdown with my Disney brothers and sisters on Twitter (and to a muted extent, on Facebook). Yes, I am going to be one of those Tweeting about my “days to go” and “who’s with me” and “I’m going to do…” You know you do it too. In addition, I have a widget counting down on my Mac desktop, a widget in my iGoogle home page, and an icon on my iPhone reminding me of my arrival Friday evening at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I am curious about what others do to anticipate their trips. Families? Couples? Other solos or singles? Please feel free to share!

OH- and if you are going to be there, this is my first real “meet up” and I invite you to feel free to comment or follow/mention to me on Twitter too :)

See you real soon!
WDWStevieB