EPCOT!!!

Tiffany, my 32 year old child, hatched a summer plan. " Mom, let's take the Kids to Disney World! Then Naples, then to Universal and after two weeks go home!"

So, after planning, deliberations and the assorted other roadblocks and strategizing logistics, we were off.  I will not make all of my readers jealous by sharing the ride with the trio, their occasionally cranky Mom, for two days, one night on the road listening in stereo to the chorus from the back seat of the normal "Ride with Children" album which has sold at least 100,000,000 copies since Henry Ford came up with that "Machine".

Long story- short...we are for three nights, four days into the beginning of our journey at the Rosen Hotel (Luxury to the Max) roughly a nano second from the gates to THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD!

"Mom, let's take the kids to EPCOT first to "get it out of the way" and so that our last night for this stretch will be the best - THE MAGIC KINGDOM!!!!"

I am a self porclaimed "Disney Junkie".  When Disney World first opened in Lake Bueno Vista, Florida, I was recently graduated from college and a brand new ART teacher in Wayne, New Jersey (home).  My sister is ten and a half years younger than I.  So, during "Winter Break" that first winter of the "Mouse" taking up residence in Florida, I decided that the two of us would go to Disney.  Only THE MAGIC KINGDOM  was magestically standing. At the time, only four hotels in the "Village" were opened along with "The Contemporary" and "The Polynesian Village"  My recollection of the journey was all good and fun, except for the cold!  I was four years old on that trip (or so,it seemed).

Two years later, with a lighting designer,  I returned, stayed at the Contemporary, drank Pina Colodas during the extreme heat of the day (August) poolside, took out a little boat in the Seven Seas Lagoon, soaked up the MAGIC KINGDOM.  I was six years old on that trip (or so it seemed).

After we had our children, we were frequent "Disney" fliers.  Our son's first ice cream cone   was one that Dad bought on Main Street USA, Magic Kingdom.  Two years later, we heard the news of John XXIII being shot while staying at the Polynesian. That year, the Macy's and the Scillieri's ALL met (from Ohio and New Jersey) at the Polynesian for a stay.  Remind me to tell you some funny stories involving towel disposal and trash disposal and how some extremely intelligent, wealthy, successful men can confuse the two.  EPCOT was there by then.  There is a photo of my Mom pushing me in Tiff's stroller around the World Showcase.  Steve did look good in a Hula Skirt, I must admit.  He wore a hat while leading our "troops" through the park with the command, "Follow the Hat!" as if he were waging a major campaign in a battle!  I usually pulled up the rear.  I was eight years old on that trip (or so it seemed).

We returned with the my best friend and her family.  I lost my earrings at the Grand Floridian. Jillian and I got stuck on the Momorail and almost missed our plane because I agreed to go with her to say Good Bye to Mickey and Minnie one last time.  I was ten on that trip (or so it seemed).

We returned one January, just Nick, Tiff and I.  It was soooooo much fun.    MGM sprouted up. The Magic Kingdom was still my favorite, Epcot, both enjoyed at ages 18 and 20. I was twelve on that trip,( or so it seemed).

For Chirstmas, one year, one child married with a step daughter, one engaged, my gift- A week at Disney World during Allie's spring break.  We saw Animal Kingdom for the first time.  I was fourteen on that trip, (or so it seemed).

I am sitting at a Luxurious Hotel, The Rosen, typing.   I spent yesterday at Epcot with three grandchildren and my daughter.  She took the lead with her map (really, we could do all four kingdoms without a map).She took long strides, took charge.  The Macy parade line up was: Tiff, Todd (8), Tess (7), Tanner (5).  I was in the rear with a deja vu of her Dad and his hat.  I swear that I saw that "hat"..."Follow the hat"  I've been following someone's back for years.  For a moment, I was eight years old again (or so it seemed).

 "Come on, follow me, let's move so that  we do everything!"  I watched her long stride. She was Steve! "Come on Meme!  Jump in my car, hurry!" screeched Todd as his clam shell was moving along a moving walkway!  Tiff, Tess and Tanner had hopped into one and he wanted one right next to them!  I ran and jumped in right before the clam shell closed!  "Come on Meme! Hurry, hop in here!" as we were launched in Spaceship Earth!  We sang and danced with the performers on a "street". We oooooed and ahhhhhed at the ILLUMINATIONS!  I think that I'm hanging on to ten years old (or so it seems).

As we left EPCOT, the "cast members" were lined up waving good-bye to us!  They were saying "Thank you for visiting" and "Come back soon"!  To enter EPCOT is exciting, leaving EPCOT is happy and inviting (go figure).  At one point, at the exit, the last two people that we saw were two uniformed police men.  They were conversing, not really paying much attention to the exiting crowd.  After the trio, Tiff and I waved for what seemed like miles returning "good byes", Tess, whose wave was not returned, said, "Hey, Meme!  What's wrong with the police cops?"  I, rather confused, asked, "Why Tess, what's up?"  Tess: "Don't they have hands?  They didn't wave to me!"

Excuse me...have to run!  I want to starch and iron my grass skirt and lei...LUAU tonight! I'll give you a full report (you know that I will)