By:Mary Ellen Zangara
Boy is it good to be back in Manville! For the past 10 days we have been traveling south down the East Coast.
Our journey began after school May 4. Our home for the next few days would be Disney’s All Star Sports Resort. It was a huge football field with goal posts, two giant helmets on Astroturf.
The Millennium Dreamers Global Village was set up in the middle of the parking lot. A hospitality and registration tent were among the rest and activities tents.
A deejay blasted music as McDonald’s had a trailer set up serving their famous french fries as a snack. Inside the hospitality tent were sofas, chairs, soda, and snacks where the ambassadors could mingle. This was a place to meet others from all around the world.
Disney and McDonald’s went all-out for this event. Each of the ambassadors was given a backpack filled with many gifts. They were also given shirts with “Millennium Dreamers” on the front to wear each day. The event was a first-class celebration for the youngsters.
Monday was the start of the celebration. All the international ambassadors participated in the kick off welcome ceremony at the Magic Kingdom.
Ronald McDonald and Michael Eisner were among those to welcome these young people. The day was free to enjoy the sights at the Magic Kingdom.
Walking down Main Street, USA, and watching the faces of those who were never here before was priceless. Jason was 3 when we were here last. As for Matthew and Michael, this was their first time.
We met our host for the event. Tomika was a New Jersey native, having grown up in East Brunswick. She now lives in Florida and works in a Disney resort. Jason, along with five other ambassadors from New Jersey, met and stayed together.
Looking for the characters was a task as we participated in the festivities. As nighttime darkened the sky, the dreamers had an exclusive firework display behind Cinderella’s castle and a private party in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
The rides were open just for them, with refreshments, music and dancing. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a special showing of the Electrical Parade.
The first night of celebration was over around midnight. Michael had the right idea as he fell fast asleep before the parade. We were exhausted as we headed back to the hotel.
The next day, Tuesday, was the most important day of the trip. This was the big recognition ceremony for the dreamers at Epcot. All the honorees left the hotel early and the buses of parents and families followed later.
All 2,000 special young people sat in a riser facing us as all the parents proudly looked on. Each dressed in a dark blue, light blue or green shirt and hat together formed the earth representing the whole world. Everyone received a gold medal for their accomplishments.
After listening to Jack Greenberg, McDonald’s chief executive officer, everyone had the privilege to have keynote speaker Christopher Reeve. Reeve congratulated and praised all the dreamers for their accomplishments. His speech was so moving that he had us all in tears.
When all the speeches were finished, fireworks filled the sky and confetti was thrown from above. Now everyone was free to enjoy all the countries in Epcot.
Our group had dinner together in a German restaurant. The music and food were good and a pleasant way to spend the early evening especially after one of Florida’s famous rain showers.
The last day was spent between the Animal Kingdom in the early morning and MGM Studios at night. A short time in the morning with breakfast at the Animal Kingdom we saw little of this new park. Jason had to go back for a behind-the-scenes workshop called The Living Seas at Epcot. He went to learn about underwater life.
At 5 p.m. it was time to go over to MGM and party. We met up with Tomika and the group and she gave each of the dreamers a set of Mouse ears and a certificate with all the characters’ autographs on it. Tomika took them on the Tower of Terror. Some of us didn’t even attempt that one.
Now we were ready for the last night of celebration. This was a private party for 5,000 people on the backlot tour streets. Disney blocked off the streets and filled it with tables, food stations, and live entertainment.
A special sight was the Hollywood Walk of Fame with 2,000 stars representing all the dreamers. You walked down the street to find your star and were able to peel it up and take it home.
Thursday was the day everyone was leaving. We spent the early morning at a character breakfast at the Contemporary Resort Chef Mickey’s. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Chip and Dale greeted us as we ate. Of course they posed for photos and videos.
We spent a few hours in the Magic Kingdom seeing the last sights. Having lunch with Winnie the Pooh and friends Tigger, Eyeore and Piglet, was the highlight of Michael’s trip. All of his favorites at one place.
Now it was time to say goodbye to the Magic Kingdom. A few photos and it was back on the road to Georgia. Another ride back to my sisters.
We arrived at 10:45 p.m. on Thursday and spent the night. Friday was a day to relax and tell all about our Disney trip. We left Saturday morning and decided to drive straight through back to New Jersey, hitting heavy rain and hail in Virginia all the way home.
As we pulled into the front of our house at 11:30 p.m., it felt great to be back in Manville. We had an exciting, busy, tiring 10 days and Jason will have the memories of this honor for years to come.
Mary Ellen Zangara is a lifelong resident of Manville.
