MouseFest Memories

One of the exciting things about any trip is that you have no idea what’s really in store for you.

Sure you can have an itinerary and map out all the things you want to do. But you can’t predict what events will unfold and what people you will meet along the way.

These are the parts of any trip, including MouseFest, that make the special memories.

The MouseFest cruise is really a very special time…. and when we have to leave the boat, it’s sad. I have made many dear friends over the years on the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic, people I doubt I would have ever met, even if we lived in the same neighborhood! People I now consider part of my extended family.

Sometimes you know the special memories are in the making and sometimes, you have no idea. You never know when a kind word or gesture will make someone smile or give them a special memory to hold in their hearts for a very long time.

And sometimes I am the one that get’s surprised, like the delivery of the pink bears to my Disney Wonder cabin for the Avon Breast Cancer walk, by an annomouse kind person.

The last day on the Disney Wonder, one of the couples was saying goodbye. They both had tears in their eyes thanking everyone for making it much more magical than they ever imagined! All of us who were standing there, were blown away that we played a small part in making someone’s vacation be so incredibly special. As my friend Mike Scopa says “It’s why we do, what we do.”

MouseFest memories for me include seeing people I don’t expect to see…. and yet, each year they come and find me at MouseFest and it means so much to me!!!!! You know who you all are and I thank you.

Disappointments one day can turn into surprise another! Like when I found out that the night before the MouseFest cruise, my friend Masayo was just a few doors down from me at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and we didn’t even know it!!! But then on Thursday night as I entered the Magic Kingdom I was elated to find her and her husband on Main Street awaiting the Christmas parade!!!! We got to enjoy it together.

I will remember hearing the excitement in Mike Scopa’s voice telling me he thought of a way to raise money for Lou Mongello’s (Make a Wish) and my (Avon Breast Cancer) charities. And then when I learned that over $500 was put on the table to see Matt Hochberg ride Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom in the name of these charities…WOW!. Thank you everyone!! A donation of $260 has been made to my Avon Breast Cancer fund in the name of the MouseFest 101 attendees!

I’ll remember for a very very long time, my dear friend Sue telling me how excited she was to ride Soarin’. She’s been an annual passholder for years, but Sue doesn’t do “rides”. However at the special IllumiNations Dessert Party Soarin’ ride, she got all caught up in the excitement, didn’t have time to think about it, and just said, Why Not?! WOO HOOOOO! If I only had a photo!

I had to laugh one morning when AllEars team member Linda Mac sent me this photo of someone actually NAPPING during MouseFest. There may be no crying in baseball, but there is also no napping at MouseFest. Well, unless of course, your name is Spike!

Then after returning home, the emails started to come in from folks who attended MouseFest.

Jamie & Sheila Prowse emailed me after MouseFest to say: “Just a quick note to express our gratitude for the hard work you put into Mousefest. We especially enjoyed meeting you at the Tonga Toast event and look forward to our second Mousefest in 2008. You made this visit even more magical than we expected.”

I think Gwendolyn & Rick Anderson, first time MouseFest attendees, said it best, after reading Mike Scopa’s Christmas article”

“I agree that Mousefest was the best Christmas present received. My husband & I had sailed with Disney in 2000, but this was so different. I love all the websites about Disney but meeting their creators made the sites feel “like friends” that have known each other for a long time but just hadn’t taken the time to “hangout together”.

We met new friends from all over the US and one family that I know will be a part of our circle after we met on the tram at Castaway Cay. They sent us a Christmas card and we sent them a New Year’s Card with pictures. Thank you. All of the Mousefest Organizers and Friends who thought of this project and shared it with all of us who love Disney as well. We had a wonderful time with all the activities and fun talks, meets and greets.

Thank you for our Christmas Present. It’s a present that you want to get for your friends. I can’t think of anyone that I know that would dream of “re-gifting” a Mousefest Meet.”

And with that, I wish all of you the happiest, healthiest and most magical New Year ever!