SHARING THE MAGIC

Meets with Deb Wills and Team

MagicMeets.com

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Picture Perfect
MouseFest 2006
Snapshots

MouseFest 2006 Cruise
--Sail Away & Tree Lighting
--Cove Cafe Cawfee Talk
--Parasailing at Castaway Cay
--Pirate Night

Still More to come

MouseFest 2006 Land
THURSDAY
--MVMCP
FRIDAY
--Kilimanjaro Safari
--Expedition Everest
--Podfest
--Raglan Road Shandy Meet
SATURDAY
--Magic in Pixels Epcot
--MEGAMOUSE MEET

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Close Your Eyes and
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Lend Us a Hand!

Another notable pair at the event was Rick and Carol Koster! They have been members of RADP and RAD for what seems like ages... I call them the "elderstates(wo)men" of RADP!
Carol shares her thoughts about the day.....

"... my husband Rich Koster, my 23 month old son Michael and I were at the r.a.d.parks December 6th 'net meet. We've been around r.a.d. since July 1992, some might recall we started posting Disneyana Convention trip reports on r.a.d. and eventually we became Future Disney Cabinet (FDC), Trimobios Disney Cabinet (TDC) and EntertainMUCK (EMuck) Mickey,
Minnie, Meecelet and Meeces (family online moniker).

We've attended r.a.d. meets (back before the newsgroup split) at WDW before. In September 1994 there was a really terrific meet, about 30 people showed up at some time during the day, one came from Scotland.

I expected "several people" on December 6th but how many actually showed up blew me away! Not only that, but the luminaries of not just r.a.d.parks but as well one person from alt.disney.disneyland (Sue) were there.

As it was, it was a spectacular meeting! The hugeness was apparent when the Group Photo session was trying to be organized. Barb aka gardenia kept trying to marshal everyone into Group Photo organization, shouting to everyone to bunch up, get organized, a scene a little reminiscent of the Green Army Men in "Toy Story". ;-)

There were also little prizes awarded, pins and some "WDW For Adults, and Families Too!" Rita Aero coupons ("The infamous $50 coupon!" as it was proclaimed.) given away in a drawing Deb recruited me and pressed me into public service as recording secretary for some of this.

I urged some who were within earshot to sing "Happy Birthday" to Walt Disney, his birthday having been the previous day (December 5th) and some did, which was a fitting tribute to the man who really made this r.a.d.parks meet possible.

I met a lot of people who remembered my husband and I from r.a.d. days or other 'net.meets, or people who had read some of our posts. But the gracious warmth extended to my husband and I by so many wonderful people at the event was a triple blessing, not just for the camaraderie of the newsgroup but for the Holidays and that the 'net.meet fell coincidentally on our 17th wedding anniversary and while we were celebrating a few weeks early my son turning two years old and me turning older than dirt.

Thank you, r.a.d.parks and those members of the newsgroup attending that day, for a lovely and fun time. Folks who "lurk" (read only, they don't post) on r.a.d./r.a.d.parks and who came up to my husband and I to say hello, and to _all_ who were there -- I bow to you (as I did there, actually more like falling to one knee in tribute ;-)) and hug all of you! Thank you for a lovely time. Much happiness to you at Christmas, Hanukkah and for the 1998 New Year and beyond!

The meet's success is also a tribute to r.a.d.parks itself. It has
evolved into a terrific newsgroup since the 1995 split, filled with so much spirit and genuine helpfulness that a WDW guidebook author, Rita Aero, mentions it in her book prominently. This is an outstanding quality in a newsgroup. All of you are quite stellar. When times don't go so well in the day-to-day posts, keep this in mind, it will give you hope and a positive outlook on what is actually a fleeting situation that is typical of Usenet newsgroups. r.a.d.parks today, at it's best, is comparable to the best of rec.arts.disney at it's peak in 1994 before the group split, the happiest place on the Internet. Hip hip hooray x 3 for r.a.d.parks! All of you have much to be proud of. :-D

PPS: If you've never attended a 'net.meet, don't be shy or feel
intimidated. As large as this December 6th group was, it was warm,
friendly and intimate. Something about this meet was very special that it attracted so many. But it was like we all knew each other, even though few of us had ever actually met. Having Disney fanship and r.a.d.* in common is enough to bring folks together in mutual respect and friendship. So consider "going for it" when/if the opportunity to attend one presents itself. :-D

From New Orleans, and rarin' to go back to WDW ASAP!


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