Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ok, ok, maybe community is more appropriate for the sentiments behind this thread, or playpen, but let's try it here and it can move if the mods are so inclined. This has been a touch month or so. I sadly lost 3 people I care about, have had some work issues, am actively involved in managing the horrific cuts in the public sector, and am facing two of my baby brothers going in for 10 hour operations where there is a higher risk of death and we are not sure if they will walk afterwards. To say it has been tough is an understatement. It is still nothing compared to what some other members of our community are facing however. The hardest thing so far this month though was the passing of a dear friend who was a huge lover of Disney, and my family family was privilidged to spend many vacations together at Disneyland Paris. What was great though, is in celebrating her life, most of the photos everyone had were at a Disney park. this has caused me to reflect on my life priorities, my critique of Disney (which has always been well intentioned - I am passionate I think because frankly, it is a common link when I do lose someone, it is more than just a place of fun), and on the positive, the side of Disney I always lovved was the way it reached towards optimism and the promise of the future. It is on that note that I ask for this to remain a positive thread if possible, for us to express something we have seen at Epcot that became a reality, part of a great big beutiful today. For me it is the fact that today I have communicated with people I love dearly and worry about in Japan, the US, Europe and Canada. Just like the scenes we saw in Spaceship Earth 15 years ago and though wow, that's futuristic. I am very thankful to technology, the people I have connected with, and to LP for initially making this all possible (it was LP that led to me enjoying the brief 8 years with my dearly departed friend). so, is there any other way you have been able to live the Epcot dream? Please share.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Sappy I know, but right now, it feels like we need some positive energy flowing. I know I do. I look forward to your comments when we return from our World Showcase tour in 3 weeks.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Cheerio That is my English family way off saying Hello as they return from their journey or Goodbye as they are off on another. It is a word that always reminds me of the Walt Disney Statue as his hand seems to be saying Welcome and Safe Return at the same time. My wish for you and your family... and thanks for a daily challenge to live the Epcot Dream.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer First let me say that the sentiment of your post was beautiful and thought provoking. It is interesting that for my family as well, so many pictures involve Disney. We have celebrated all of my daughters milestones at WDW and will continue to do so. As to your challenge, for me its a simple dream, one that I know probably wont happen -- I want to travel to China and Japan. My husband doesn't like to travel so in reality this will never happen, but World Showcase gives me that little glimmer of hope and also the opportunity to experience, albeit in a limited way, those countries.
Originally Posted By sih-Teacher1 I so agree! Let's keep it on the sunny side! The Zippadedooda side! The Laughing Place side! I am so sorry for the previous person' loss of family and friends! My condolences to you and yours! I am going to EPCOT in May 2011 ~ so excited! . <3 XO to all .
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 It is a little hard to see my life as in Epcot, but I'll try. I one thing that I thought would be something in the furture was talking on the computer and seeing the person you are talking to. well as we know there is Skyp. My daughter talks to her her friend that moved to Texas. I know it's not somewere overseas but still it not what I grew up doing. Next I hope to be in my furture is traveling to Europe. But for now it will be walking worldshowcase.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I live right across the street from the Plaza in KC,Mo. There are many tourists that come to this area and on my daily walks I see them with the shopping/dining maps trying to figure out their direction. It always makes me feel like I am at Disney to "help" them and to talk to them about their hometown and mine. I also enjoy hearing different languages or accents. It gives me a small reminder to hope for World Peace on a daily basis.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer First, let me say how sorry I am to hear of your losses, Dave. Second, let me say that this is a very thought provoking thread, a positive one, and I am happy you posted it. And finally, my EPCOT dream? ... I think I'm living it because of the international forum I am involved in almost every day. I go to a University that prides itself on it's reach and it's international status. With that, I'm frequently in classes with students and teachers from all places all over the globe. That's incredible, when you think about it. The world has indeed become a smaller place, and the sharing of culture, information, and personality is really something amazing. Also... technology. I have a phone sitting in my pocket that can find me information and news, and anything else I need. I'm sitting on a computer that can connect me to people across the globe, and information and products across the ages. Defiantly a Spaceship Earth moment.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer And a tad unrelated, but any time there's a Space Shuttle launch, and I sit by my computer, and phone, and TV and see the launch of SOMETHING GOING INTO SPACE, and communicate with others while doing so... Very much a uncanny and surreal moment. It's out of Horizons. It's unreal what we can do in this age.
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Originally Posted By JenniBarra >>For me it is the fact that today I have communicated with people I love dearly and worry about in Japan, the US, Europe and Canada. Just like the scenes we saw in Spaceship Earth 15 years ago and though wow, that's futuristic. I am very thankful to technology, the people I have connected with, and to LP for initially making this all possible (it was LP that led to me enjoying the brief 8 years with my dearly departed friend).<< I am still sad about the loss of the scenes that you are referring to on Spaceship Earth, particularly the boy and girl communicating between the U.S. and Japan, because it resonated so much with me. As a child, I got my first pen pal, which then turned into multiple pen pals, and now it's morphed into key palling and social networking. The world is both a big place and a small place, all at the same time.
Originally Posted By libertysquare76 Best regards Dave. I am always trying to live the Epcot Dream- whenever I am fortunate to be there it never feels like I have been away. It is easy to be cynical about how the showcase hasn't been updated much however I have a lovely memory from last July when i was celebrating my birthday sat on the fountain at the American Adventure enjoying a cold Sam Adams listening to a U2 tribute band with a beautiful Florida sunset. I consider myself very lucky to have visited once let alone a number of times, it reminds you of how great life can be and how all the work and hassle that gets you there (public service in my case) is worthwhile. My family are now spread over England and in Japan but theres a part of Epcot where we will always be. I miss Spaceship Earth circa 1994- Walter Cronkite and visions of the future. Not least to say the song.
Originally Posted By disneykid90 Sorry for all of your hard times there, Dave. It is always difficult with one loss or one surgery much less the extenuating circumstance you are in. Keep your chin up, sir. Everytime I visit EPCOT I always sit on SSE and remember the times riding it when I was young and my father (who is still with me) explaining every different thing to me in the attraction. It has made a mark on me. A lot of parents dismiss their kid's questions with great arrogance. By doing that on that attraction he taught me patience and understanding of other's wonders and how to assist them with comprehension.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper One of my grandfathers passed in 1998 and, though it seems silly, the internet was still in the early growing stages. My father had booked a cruise that week and did not give any family members information of his itinerary or even the cruise line he was on. I knew his destination and was pretty sure of his port of origin. With that information I did a search of all cruise lines departing from New York and heading to his destination. I narrowed down his possible ships to a handful and then emailed representatives from each company hoping to confirm which ship he was on. Having received the right information I then called the cruise line and asked how I could track him down. The cruise line sent a message to the ship who then contacted him and gave him the news. While he was getting the news I was able to search for possible ways to get him home from other ports of call. Again, sounds pretty simple today but it was some work back in '98. That was when I realized the full potential of the internet and how small the world was about to become. It was my real Epcot moment.
Originally Posted By Socrates Perhaps we're living it right now by having an international community of friends via the Internet? Socrates "The unexamined life is not worth living."
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I liver EPCOT every day of my work life. My 'team' at work resides in Kuala Lumpur / Dalian, China , Dublin, Ireland, Viennam Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia, London, England as well as North Carolina--LOL ! We work on global processes and interact with more countires than I could ever have imagined I woul. now if someone could only fix the timezones like they have in EPCOT. My day started at 4 AM on a conference call and will end with an 8 PM call - same day.
