| |
| |
| |
| We
are going to Disney
World!!!
Tiki and I haven't been this excited since we
were in LA visiting Tikiyaki Sr and meeting with Mr. Eyesnar from Disney. If you
aren't familiar with that you can review
the LA visit here. | |
| |
| |
| Welcome
to the Downtown Disney Market Place. This is a great place to do a bit of shopping
at the Disney stores and grab a bite of lunch.
Bob & Vicki went into
several of the stores but did not think it wise to take us from her bag inside
the stores, lest someone think they were stealing toys or something. The Lego
Store was our favorite. | |
| |
|
|
|
We had lunch at The Rainforest Cafe. While we ate we were watching for Disney
characters to be photographed with but none were around on this day. |
|
| |
| |
| It
was at this point that a frightening event happened, Vicki was approached by security
after we climbed up on these rocks. Did you know that the security at Disney walks
around with Mickey Ear hats on? Trying to blend in I guess and look like tourists.
Tiki Jr. and I immediately hid behind some plants and watched as a brief
discussion between Bob, Vicki & security took place.
After a minute
or so we heard them say, "You'll have to come with us to sort this out."
Bob & Vicki were led away. | |
| |
|
|
| We
stayed hidden behind the plants for a good 15 minutes and quickly realized that
they weren't coming back. We stood there confused for a long time before Tiki
Jr. began to panic a bit about our situation.
We realized that Vicki
had broken park rules by putting us up on the rocks in the shot above and felt
a bit like fugitives and a little guilt for getting her in trouble. |
|
| |
| |
| Where
could they have been taken?
Tiki spotted the tram in the distance so
we ran over and hopped on board. We rode around the park several times trying
to avoid everyone wearing a Mickey Ears hat. That's not as easy as it sounds.
Seems like EVERYONE in the park was wearing them. (Like
a bad fugitive movie where everywhere they look they see danger.) |
|
| |
| |
| With
Epcot Center in the background, Tiki Jr. & I put our heads together and created
a sign which read "Help Us Find Bob & Vicki!"
Everyone
seemed to be in a daze as they walked by. A few people stopped to say "Hey
aren't you that Travelocity
Roaming Gnome Guy?" To which I replied, "Nope, If you
see him let him know I am looking for him." | |
| |
| |
| Several
hours had gone by before we actually found someone able to help us find Bob &
Vicki.
Leapold of Lego Ness Lake spotted us here and told us that he
and his Lego friends had actually been searching for us all over the park. He
raised his head up about 30 feet, looked around for a minute and told us to go
talk to the Lego family who just happened to be coming around the corner. |
|
| |
| |
| Lyle
& Lisa Lego had been heading up the search party for us all afternoon. They
had just resorted to bringing out the search and rescue dogs when we appeared.
Relieved, we talked with Lyle, who told us that it had all been a huge misunderstanding
and Bob & Vicki were waiting for us at Disney World HQ. Just as Bob &
Vicki had feared, someone thought they had stolen us from a gift shop earlier
in the day.
Lisa Lego called ahead to security and let them know we were
found and in good health. | |
| |
|
|
| After
a brief reunion with Bob & Vicki we were told that a VIP at Disney wanted
to meet us. As you can see that VIP was SNOW WHITE! Even more beautiful in person
than she was on the animated feature.
I told her about our meeting with
Mr. Eyesnar in LA and how I wanted to be her #1 Gnome and appear in any future
productions with her.
She smiled and assured me that no other gnome would
ever be considered in a Disney movie she stars in in the future. Take that Disney
execs - Snow White's got the real power at Disney! (So
there.)
And we all lived...Happily Ever After!
Bud & Tiki Jr.
(Photos: Vicki
D./ Dialogue: Tony V. & Vicki D.)
(THANK
YOU SO MUCH UNCLE BOB & AUNT VICKI! I enjoyed creating the stories for their
visit with you in Florida with the great photos you took. Thanks for taking the
requested Snow White shot above. AWESOME.)
(Just as a point of clarification,
Bob & Vicki did not have any incidents with Disney security and Bud &
Tiki never left their posession. People did, however, ask if Bud was the Travelocity
Gnome on several occasions.) | |
| Next:
Participant Jim "Tikiyaki" Bacchi
Visits Hawaii |
|
 |
