WALK DIZZY AT EPCOT

The Disney Corp. was a major part of my childhood. The 1st movie I saw in a theatre was the Disney flick, Lady and the Tramp. My 1st set of books all featured Disney characters; a favorite was Donald Duck and the Witch. My 1st set of records all featured songs from Disney movies and TV specials. I used to swagger around the house bellowing out The Ballad of Davy Crocket. Fess Parker really was all that!

And at 4:00 PM every afternoon I was right there in front of my TV singing along with the Mouseketeers! They were the coolest, happiest, luckiest  kids on the planet! My favorite was Karen. I even named my cat after her. She was the closest to my age and had that long silky blond hair I coveted. My mother adamantly refused to let mine grow long!

Every Friday the show featured a western theme. Karen & Cubby the youngest of the group were always led out atop a pony. And every Friday I always watched wearing that turquoise & brown Indian dress my father bought for me at the Seminole village.

And the Wonderful World of Disney was the highlight of my Sunday nights at 7:00 PM! It was not an exaggeration to say I had a Disney childhood.

Walt Disney loomed large in my life. As a toddler I called him "Walk Dizzy" thinking that was his actual name. I considered him to be a family member, only more so! To me, he was a combination of a beloved uncle and superman. After all he created a magic kingdom. I was certain he dwelled inside the magnificent castle there.

The last Disney movie I saw at the theater was Summer Magic in 1964. And I was sure some Disney sorcery was involved. How else could such a homely little girl like Hayley Mills have become a full-fledged beauty in her teens.

I eagerly visited Disney World in Orlando shortly after it opened. I was impressed and enjoyed lots of fun, but I left with a been -there, done- that feeling. I was in my early 20's now and more focused on seeing Europe and the world.

When Epcot, Disney's other attraction opened, I barely shrugged. I'd been to the Moulin Rouge in Paris and the Kasbah in Tangier among many other fabulous places. Epcot just seemed like kiddie stuff.

In 2009 my (then) boyfriend Hank was a frequent visitor with his large family and others. He insisted I see it and wanted to take me in May. As Florida residents we received a discount for a 2 day visit.

We spent the first day enjoying the sights, the rides and the food! Happily there were no long lines because this was off season plus the temperature had yet to become sweltering. I'd have preferred we'd left earlier because I didn't trust Hank's driving in the dark.  -- I've never driven in the dark plus I was unfamiliar with the area. He insisted we remain for the closing fireworks which I must admit were quite spectacular.

Leaving, we were swept along by a fast moving ocean of people all heading toward the parking lot. Hank was pulling me by the hand. His head and chest seemed to be moving faster than his body. I told him to slow down. Suddenly he tumbled forward onto the concrete pulling me down with him! I was only scratched, but Hank was bleeding badly. Waves of people almost literally stepped over us without stopping.

As I was helping Hank to his feet a young man with a heavy French accent hurried over and took his opposite arm. "Over there!" The man pointed toward a bench. Afterward he ran to get help.

I commented to Hank it was sad that among that tremendous group of people, (probably fellow Floridians) only a foreigner came to our aid. Most of the tourists and snowbirds had gone back north.

The young man returned with a nurse who led Hank & me to a medical center. She cleaned and bandaged him. Afterward, Hank phoned his son. They decided we should take a cab to his house. We were given permission by Epcot to leave the car there overnight.

Everyone in the house was in bed asleep but Hank's son. The home was nothing short of palatial, a two-story with 2 wide swirling sets of stairs facing each other. I was given the only bedroom downstairs and it was off the kitchen area. The builder had probably designed for the maid. I would not have minded as long as it was clean. It was NOT!!!

I had to brush the dirt from my feet before getting under the sheets.  And those were absolutely filthy, pieces from other people's bodies clung to mine. (Use your imagination!)It almost made me vomit! Yet the rest of the house was so tidy!

I have two schools of thought on this. Either it was a deliberate attempt to make me feel unwelcome, or one of the kids in this huge Catholic family didn't follow thru on their chores. I was told they had a chore list for each. However, if I was expecting a guest I would have made damn sure the room was clean! The next morning I pulled off those disgusting sheets and pilled them in the center of the bed!

Hank & I went back to enjoy our 2nd day at Epcot. We lunched a Danish cafe. It was open on 3 sides overlooking the water. Tiny birds flew in and around us. Often times we laughed as they stole food right from our hands. It felt like being in the middle of a Disney movie! This was my happiest and favorite memory of Epcot. The one I cherish!

Hank wanted to buy me a souvenir. I told him this was unnecessary, everything there was so expensive! At the China pavilion he spotted beautiful lace fans for $10. This seemed a good value so I chose an azure blue one. I wrapped its plastic bag around it to protect it.

Late afternoon, we left for our return trip. This ensured we'd arrive back in Vero Beach before dark since Hank was at the wheel.

After he dropped me off at home, the first thing I did was to pull off my clothes! Along with my nightgown, I threw everything into the washing machine! Then I took a shower to wash the filth from that room from my body!

Epcot was now a memory and soon Hank would be too.

Several years later I was going thru a drawer and came across that azure blue fan. I unfolded the plastic and removed it from the bag. Despite lack of use the thread was unraveling and it was coming apart. I have 2 other fans I brought in Spain way back in 1977, one in Madrid and the other outside the Alhambra. Both remain in perfect condition.

Recently, I watched the first episode of that new TV show Whiskey Cavalier; I enjoyed it but at the same time didn't care if I ever saw it again. I feel the same about Epcot.