Celebrating Epcot's 25th on 10/1?

[carolina_yankee]

Any Mouseowners or Epcot fans want to celebrate Epcot's 25th Birthday on October 1st? I'm posting this because it's a semi-official Disney-approved event, even though folks on WDWMagic cooked it up. Besides, we're going, and would be nice to hang out with familiar faces among a lot of strangers.

Anyway, Adam Roth, a 16 y.o enthusiast and podcaster in Orlando with major Disney contacts has planned an event called Celebration 25 with Disney's blessing. Registered members will have special access to several events during the day. Registration is free, and will cut off on August 31st. They are currently nearing 550 people.

From what I understand, the main event will include special access to Epcot's official rededication ceremony around 10 am, with other events to be announced later (probably this weekend). Lou Mongello has gotten involved, so there's some major Disney fan involvement behind this.

There's also a ticketed Illuminations Dessert Party on the island by Itlay that evening, with a registration cap of 200 by August 28. Cost is $45 per person. Details can be found on this website:

http://www.free webs dot com/zmanatr/codenamecelebration25.htm

Sorry about spelling out the domain name. You'll have to clean up and put the URL in your browser yourself. A lot of spammers use that domain, but it's a legit, Disney recognized gathering.

You can also find registration links from the signature of the OP on this planning thread at WDWMagic is here:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=143151

The dessert party registration site is here:
http://home.comcast.net/~jasondiff/epcot.html

Anyway, if anyone wants to be a part of this, go ahead and register, and then post here so we can make plans to meet.

Dirk

[DisneyLove1012]

if i could i totally would , sounds like it would be fun :flowerfor

[Colorado Belle]

There's a little minnie meet planned, kinda by accident only, on that very day.
Fortunately, it's a LATE minnie meet in the jacuzzi at BWV AFTER Illuminations.
Those of us already doing it (and why haven't you signed up already cuz I know you like my margartas) were actually already thinking of going over to Illuminations as a group. So it seems that now we have an option to go 'all the way' and do the Italian Dessert thingie too. Or, we can just do our own secret spot watching of Illuminations....How big do you think the dessert option will get and isn't it limited in number?

As for stuff in the daytime to celebrate 25 years...I'd for sure be interested in doing something and will just plan on Epcot that day (maybe AK for early morning tho I've yet to get up that early!).

So I will look up the sites you mentioned and then post back.
And do consider the jacuzzi minnie meet at the BW after Illuminations!

[carolina_yankee]

The Illuminations Dessert Party is capped at 200 with a registration deadline of August 28. Right now, they are at about 105. Wine will be availalbe, not sure of cost.

Once Adam posts the schedule for the day, I'll copy it over here. It looks like Disney's highlight will be a rededication ceremony with several original Imagineers present, including Marty Sklar, probably at 10 am near the Fountain. Registered participants will get special viewing.

Remember, there are two registrations. One is free for the day's celebrations. They other is for the dessert party for a fee. Registering for one does not register for the other.

I'll think about the jacuzzi bit. We'll be at BCV, so not far away. I've shied away from working up any minniemeets because I wante to see what the Epcot day would be like.

Dirk

[kathyseb]

Dirk,

Thanks for the info. I just registered (or so I think) Ron, my sister and myself for the free portion of the celebration.

We are staying at BW so will be walking in from IG. I did ask if there was any consideration of having a second registration table for those that are coming in from the back.

If not, we can walked through the park, exit and reenter.

Am excited. EPCOT is actually Ron and my favorite park.

[carolina_yankee]

Kathy, we'll be staying at the BCV with a car. Unless they work out some sort of alternative registration, we were planning on driving to the front. Alas - we have a compact and it sounds like with your party and us, it will be 5 (we are renting a compact) - but we can work something out if it's better to be at the main entrance. I think we'll know more once the agenda is posted.

Dirk

[nbodyhome]

I did register last week (for the free event at this point) I'm really looking forward to it! :)

Denise

[carolina_yankee]

Cool - perhaps we can all gather together at the entry? I'm hoping there will be some sort of hoopla at gate opening . . .

Dirk

[kathyseb]

Dirk,
I asked about an alternative for those walking in for IG.

CB actually spoke via phone or email to someone and they thought thy might let us pick up our wristbands somewhere Sunday night. That would be great.

We only registered for the free portion.
All I had to do was give a person's name that would pick up our wristbands, an email address and the number in our party.

Was there supposed to be more to it than that?

I am almost betting CB, who will be staying at BW also, will have a car, as we will we.

[carolina_yankee]

I think registration is that easy - at least it was for me. They're sending out confirmations every couple of days, now. If we can arrange a Sunday night pick up, then perhaps we can all go in through the IG together?

So far it looks like it might be
Carolina Yankee and DP
Kathyseb and family
Colorado Belle (and family??)
Nbodyhome

Dirk

[kathyseb]

Dirk,
I got my confirmation today. So I yep, I guess registration was pretty darn easy!

[carolina_yankee]

That's exiciting!

Tonight is the deadline for registering for the Illuminations dessert party on the island in front of Italy. It starts at 8 pm and costs $45 per person.

Details can be found here:
http://home.comcast.net/~jasondiff/epcot.html

Attendnace is capped at 200, but so far they have around 125. Plenty of room for everyone. Cash bar in addition to a huge supply of tasty desserts.

Registration for the free events ends Friday night, August 31.

http://www.free webs dot com/zmanatr/codenamecelebration25.htm

Sorry about spelling out the domain name. You'll have to clean up and put the URL in your browser yourself. A lot of spammers use that domain, but it's a legit, Disney recognized gathering.

You can also find registration links from the signature of the OP on this planning thread at WDWMagic is here:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=143151

They are nearing in on 900 registered. There will be special events, meets, tours on Sunday 9/30 and Monday 10/1. The schedule is still being finalized.

Dirk

[nbodyhome]

I didn't realize there was so much more being planned then on 10/1, but I do plan to be there for the evening that day. :) We may be moving into a rental house, so I didn't splurge on the dessert party.

Denise