[spike]

I know a lot of DC Members did not care for the TOD, but I have to share some magic that I experienced 1st hand from my last weeks trip to WDW.
We made the last TOD Parade on 3/1/03, my wife, three kids and I went to Italy about 30 minuets before the parade to get a good spot. We parked the strollers and reveled to the fact that we made it, after arriving to WDW that day from New Orleans. We were relaxing and crowd watching when a large group of 30 young adults (twenty something’s) gathered right next to us. They were yelling whooping and having a great time, they appeared to be spring breakers. I told my wife we left New Orleans to get away from Mardi Gras and it followed us here. I then notice Disney Security guards walk over a start talking to them, it looked like the security officers were going to quiet them down, but they just got louder. Then I notice other CM’s that came over to chit chat with the group. I also saw some CM Suits taking pictures from the 2nd floors of the Italian Pavilions across the street from the group, then I realized that all of these kids were off duty CM’s . Of course I struck up a conversation with some and yes they were all off duty CM’s of Disney most were from EPCOT and were in the TOD at some point. They told me that tonight was the last TOD Parade never to be seen again. I told them this is why I am here. Then the parade started, and of course all of the kids new all the words to the songs as well as knowing everyone in the parade. The parade participants put on quite a show for their friends by dancing, singing, jumping, and crying. I got goose bumps just watching what was going on. The parade had ended and there was a lot of crying, and I asked one of the kids where they were going to be for the 7:30pm parade she told me that the were going to be in Morocco, but the it was not going to be pretty. After a ride on test track we got back to Morocco where that TOD would end for good and the crowd was four or five people deep. I saw most of the CM’s that were at the earlier parade and a lot more. I could not get a good spot so I just stood in back and watched, much of the same went on as at the first parade, with the drummers throwing their sticks into the crowd as the paraded turned behind Morocco for the last time. As the last Parade participants cleared WS, they were followed by a huge crowd of CM’s holding signs that said DREAM ON! As you can tell I am not a writer, and I wish I could describe the parade in more detail, all I can say is what I saw that night was Magical.

Dream On!

[brumcg]

Spike,

That was very cool! :)

Thanks for giving us the first hand report...

Bruce

[mattomouseman]

Spike,
Ah sometimes the simpelest prose can give the best description! You did a wonderful job describing the beauty of the moment! I only wish we coul dhave been there to share the magic with you and all those CM's who gave so much magic and pleasure to so many people!:)

[JSkellington]

I'll personally miss TOD very much...:cry: oh well...

[BDavis932]

Your story actually made me tear up! :cry: I hate to see anything "end" at WDW (although, I know, I know, the show must go on...)

Anyway, your story put me right there! Thanks for sharing it with us. I'm really glad you did. I enjoyed that parade.

[MickeyMac]

Spike - cool timing - I have my Millenium cd in, and reading your report listening to it brought tears to my eyes.

One thing Disney does really well is hiring - the entertainers are sooo supportative of each other. I wish I were there, whooping and hollering with them.

[dlashe4977]

Great job spike your description was fine. :D

[KarenWDWCP]

Thanks for the recap, Spike! I wish I could have been there for the last TOD. I have to admit that I did like Tapestry of Nations MUCH more than Tapestry of Dreams, but I would definitely take TOD over nothing at all! Tapestry was the perfect parade for EPCOT. I will be upset if they replace it with some kind of character filled parade. I love the characters but it was nice to have a different kind of parade at one of the parks and EPCOT was the best place for it.

One of my roommates on the College Program was in Tapestry of Nations and I know all those CMs were totally a tight knit group - I really enjoyed reading about all the CMs that came out for the last parade.

Karen

[mickaholic4077]

I may not have liked TOD,but your account of the last parade made me feel bad for all those who acted in it.

[WDWNutCase]

*SIGH*

I know a lot of people didn't like TOD but it really touched me. I know that sounds a little corny, but I teared up watching it for my last time on October 26th. I wish I'd gotten back to see it on the 28th...

I used to perform with a professional group and I remember our very last performance. Ack! It was an emotional nightmare! We barely got through the last song because our staff had handed out sparklers to the ENTIRE audience to light for the last song! OMG! I really sympathize with the entertainers in TOD. It's tought to end something like that.