The Hogwarts School of Youth Ministry

Bob in Spanish Wells, 1997

This post was first shared in May of 2014. I share it again on this Flashback Friday in it's original format (slightly edited) for a couple of reasons. One, I was recently asked once again how we were able to do all we did in our student ministries and this post is my favorite answer. Two, I wanted you to see the original comments. And three, I have been talking with a lot of old Kissimmee friends these past few weeks. It got me thinking about the good old days...

"Most folks these days don't have enough faith to see that God's magic is happening all around them..."

I have a dear friend named Jennifer Kuramochi. Some of you know her her Jennifer Minnigan; still others simply as Bob. You can read about her days in the youth ministries of the First United Methodist Church of Kissimmee in many posts on this site, including The Legend of Bob, which is her entry into my Hall of Fame! So anyway...Jen and I are still friends. We were talking a few weeks back and she was telling me that whenever she recounts stories from her youth group days people are often in disbelief of all that we were able to do. Her husband Jun just shakes his head in wonder at the fact that a church youth group was able to go places like Spanish Wells, New York City and Myrtle Beach- not to mention the speakers, the concerts, the mission trips and the day trips. We got a lot of that same reaction at the FUMC-K reunion last year. Jennifer told me that once when asked how we were able to do all that we did, she thought for moment and responded, "I'm not sure. I think maybe Carl was part Wizard!" 

One of my favorite places on Walt Disney World property was The Beaches and Cream Soda Shoppe. I remember not only the great meals and the oh-so-decadent banana split pictured here, but also all the times times we were there with so many old friends and youth groups. This, after all, was the home of the Disney Dash Ice Cream Bash! One of those memories concerns the time in 1993 a group of us from Springfield Friends Meeting headed over mid-afternoon one day to get an ice cream fix and wound up singing Hopelessly Devoted to the other patrons of the restaurant (click But Now for the whole story!). That memory got me thinking more about that amazing '93 trip to WDW, stories of which were told here on this blog under the label Magic Tour back in 2010- and it took me 20 posts! Each of the nearly 50 participants had a 5-day park hopper pass. We stayed at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. We ate at some of the finest restaurants on property, and saw both the Hoop-de-doo Musical Revue and Polynesian Luau dinner shows. We were special (and featured!) guests at Pleasure Island's Comedy Warehouse. Every day was amazing, and as Marilyn I sat talking on Saturday the words of Bob came ringing back to me. How did we do all that stuff? Maybe I was part Wizard...

Of course we know the truth. We were able to do all that we did and accomplish all that we accomplished because we were blessed by God to do these things in Jesus' name. All of the churches I served had the resources and gave us the freedom to dream, to be creative, and yes- to be MAGICAL with our youth ministry programming! But the adult leadership in each of those ministries deserves credit for this one thing- we believed the magic could happen! We had faith that amazing things could happen. We had the audacity to believe in the biblical directive to pray big prayers and dream big dreams. I learned early on from some brilliant mentors that youth ministry thrives when you live in the Possimpible (thank you, Barney Stinson)- that place where the possible and the impossible meet. There was no doubt in my mind that if we did those things, God could provide the supernatural- the MAGIC. I suppose you could say I attended the Hogwarts School of Youth Ministry! What I lacked in theological training I made up for in faith. I believed in what we were doing and never allowed nay-saying Muggles to steal our dreams. If I were indeed part Wizard, it was only in the sense that I never ruled anything out just because it seemed to be out of our reach or impractical. Big churches or small, we believed in trusting God to take us to places beyond our grasp- but firmly in His. There was never any doubt in my mind that God had great things in store for the churches I served a youth pastor. That's how we did great mission trips over my 28 years to places like DC, Chicago, Nashville, Tijuana and Spanish Wells. It's how we did ski trips, amazing weekend retreats, over a dozen NYC trips, took trips to see the Braves play baseball, spent weeks at Myrtle Beach and had

New York Trip in the early 1990s

amazing adventures together at WDW. It's how we hosted great bands like Spooky Tuesday, Sundry, Lost And Found and Geoff Moore & the Distance, and communicators like Curt Clonninger, Duffy Robbins, Mike Williams, Rick Bundschuh and Ted & Lee. It's how we did outrageous summer events, had awe-filled worship and built bonds that are still strong to this very day. It's how we changed lives! We didn't get everything right, and we had our share of mishaps. There were times when it became less about God's power and too much about me, and the ministry suffered. But even in the tough times, we never stopped believing in the magic of youth ministry to bring teenagers into the presence of God and into relationship with Jesus and with one another. And when our plans were filtered through a mission for Christ and magnified by God's love for us, all things were possible. 

Looking back now, I still can't explain how it all came together. I don't know how we paid for everything, I don't know how the plans came together so well, and I don't know why God blessed us in so many ways- other than we believed God would! I just know that for 28 years God kept sending waves, and instead of ducking and hiding we kept yelling SURF'S UP!!! It was indeed magical. And if that makes me part Wizard- probably more like the foul-up Mickey the Sorcerer than Harry Potter- so be it. The abiding lesson of the Hogwarts School of Youth Ministry? Never underestimate the awesome power of God to do things that are far beyond your reach. So tell me, fellow Christians- do you believe in that kind of magic? The church so often seems to be full of Muggles...

Because of Jesus,

Throwback Thursday: Floridays 1990

Today's Throwback Thursday takes us all the way back to our 2nd trip from Springfield Friends Meeting to Walt Disney World- Floridays 1990! I wish there were more pictures to share, but we took slides for our post-trip slide show, and those slides were lost in one of my moves. Still, here are 7 things that stick out in my mind from that adventure:

1)  We had many great "performances" while at Disney. We saw Heather Beggs and Mike Mercadante dancing in front of the "Chinese Theater" that houses The Great Movie Ride. There was J.J. Carter delivering his line to David Letterman- "Hey Dave, why don't you ever do anything educational?"- at Superstar TV. But the performance of the week had to belong to Kelly Allen (pictured, on left) and her ongoing portrayal of Lucretia Soul Disney Murphy Johnson, who could never figure out "who da hat be wif" and who was constantly on the lookout for Tyrone Mouse- "cause he's a liar!" Best supporting actor awards go to Wendy Mattocks and Jennifer Woods, also pictured.

2)  Russell Farlow ran out of money on about the second day and was constantly trying to borrow from his friends. At the awards ceremony following the trip he was awarded the Brother, Can You Spare A Dime Award.

3)  Jon Moran (pictured, along with Bryan Dowling) celebrated a birthday while we were in Orlando, and we did a birthday meal at the Olive Garden. I remember it was fun and that we had a great time, but I it seems like we were there forever. There were 60 of us, and they just couldn't seem to get our food out, our drinks filled or our checks out so we could leave. Jon may have aged a year while we partied...

4)  One night, after a very long day at the parks, we arrived back at the Gold Key Inn only to find that we had lost Dana Oxendine. We were searching and getting a bit frantic when someone discovered her asleep in the back of the Suburban that Butch Moran was driving. Given that Butch had been accused of falling asleep at the wheel on occasion, it was a miracle she could sleep that soundly!

Stinky also reads the blog!

5)  I have been on a lot of youth trips in my life, and on most of them there is one room that develops a smell that is, as my friend Alan Brown used to say, "taint"-  as in, "that jus' taint natural!" The award for worst smelling room ever (mostly from very natural causes!) goes to Jamie Robinson, Danny McCorquodale, Ken Hill, Jeremy Godwin and (part-time) Todd Farlow. They blamed it all on Jeremy's stuffed animal Stinky (who still takes trips with Jeremy on occasion!). Danny took most of the credit for himself...

6)  On the afternoon we spent by the motel pool, Tim Harding (our trip pastor), Robin Thomas and I wandered across the street (Well, sprinted!  You don't wander across the Orange Blossom Trail and live to talk about it!) to an A&W Root Beer store. Those were without question the best root beer floats in history! They made them with Breyers vanilla ice cream and put them in frosted beer mugs. We had more than one that week I can promise you!

7)  The New Mickey Mouse Club was popular in 1990, and the show had produced a spin-off band called The Party. One of the guys was named Chase Hampton. He was spotted at the Magic Kingdom one day by some of our girls- Jennifer Simmons, Emily Beggs, Elizabeth Tillman and others- and was then pursued until they caught him and got his autograph on their hats. The restraining order took effect the next day...  

So there you have it- a few classic memories from Floridays 1990! There are more stories on this blog from that trip, and you can find them by searching the label below this post. Have a great Thursday and thanks for sharing in this trip down memory lane!

Because of Jesus,

A July 4th Disney MadDash!

My Grandpa Jones used to tell me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" With that in mind I once again share my very favorite July 4th story. Enjoy, and Happy Independence Day!!!

In July of 1993 my parents were spending the week of the 4th at Walt Disney World. Marilyn and I drove down from North Carolina to spend a few days with them at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. On the day of the 4th we made our way over to the Disney/MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios, at least until they change the name AGAIN) to spend the day. This being in the days before the Tower of Terror or the Rock 'N' Rollercoaster, MGM was easily the least crowded of the three existing parks (Animal Kingdom was still several years from opening) and we often went there on the most crowded days. My parents headed over to their favorite place, EPCOT, by early afternoon and so we were on our own as evening approached. Before I continue, there are a few things you need to know about my wife and I in 1993. We were much younger. We were childless. We spent most of our time hanging out with teenagers in my role as a youth pastor- so we were more than a little nuts. All of these things came into play as we hatched a plan for seeing fireworks at Walt Disney World that night. But in the end, the entire operation was contingent on our knowledge and use of the WDW transportation system. And excuse my bragging, but we knew our stuff...

We decided that we wanted to see fireworks at all 3 parks- that night! On the surface, this seemed impossible. Seeing Sorcery in the Sky (still my all-time favorite WDW fireworks show) at the Studios at 9 PM was no problem. Next would be Illuminations at EPCOT at 10 PM.  We positioned ourselves to make a quick getaway from the MGM, then caught one of the shuttle boats from there to Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort. We ran to the "back door" (International Gateway) of EPCOT and secured a place on the bridge between the United Kingdom pavilion and France. We even had a few minutes to spare. As we waited for the next show, we could look back towards the Studios and see their "extra" 4th of July fireworks. A few moments later, Illuminations began. As always it was spectacular.

That's when our quest to see fireworks at all 3 parks got interesting, and our knowledge of Disney transportation became a valuable asset. We bolted out the "back door" of EPCOT and walked briskly over the the Beach Club, where we caught a bus to the Magic Kingdom, hoping to see the midnight fireworks extravaganza there. It looked like we were going to make it with time to spare....until. The MK night parade (I believe it was SpectroMagic at the time) had just completed its 11 PM run, and thousands of people were leaving the park just as we were trying to get in. If you've ever tried to go against the flow through the MK entrance tunnels at a major departure time, then you feel my pain. If not, it is like trying to drive the wrong way on an Atlanta interstate during rush hour. We feared for our lives. Between the crush of people and the crazed, exhausted moms driving strollers full of screaming babies right over us, it's a miracle we survived. But we did. And we got out onto Main Street just in time to watch one more glorious fireworks show. Three parks. Three fireworks shows. One night. We were pretty proud of ourselves!

So that's my story. I'm glad we did it- mostly so we don't have to do anything like that ever again! But it did make for one amazing night. Happy Independence Day to all. Tonight I will be taking a nap so I will have the energy to walk out my front door and watch the neighbors shoot off Roman Candles.  Yeah...getting old...

"Enjoy every sandwich"

Floridays 1990 Flashback: A Rough Start

Today we step into the Wayback Machine and celebrate Flashback Friday with a look back at the inauspicious first day of our second trip from Springfield Friends Meeting to Walt Disney World, June 9-15, 1990. Over 60 youth and adults caravaned together in five vehicles. Included in this adventure was our friend Jeff Byrd (that's Jeff in the glasses, with Rich Hughes at The Florida Mall ), the youth dude at Archdale Friends Meeting, and around 10 of his group. The trip had tripled in size since our first WDW outing only three years before, and there was great excitement. We were staying at the Gold Key Inn, once again out on Orange Blossom Trail (OBT) in Orlando. We would have four days at the Disney parks, including the brand new Disney/MGM Studios. We couldn't wait to get there.

Getting there turned out to be a bit of an issue, however. One of the Suburbans we were using for transportation, owned by Judy Rees and driven for most of the trip by Robin Thomas, took the wrong exit at one point. This was before the days of cell phones, but we did have some walkie-talkie type radios, and we were able to correct the mistake with minor damage to our trip time. We discovered later those radios didn't have much range. 

We made it into the Orlando area and were cruising down I-4 looking for the OBT exit, all of our vehicles together in single file formation. I was driving the lead vehicle and keeping us in the center lane of traffic when I came to the exit and realized a bit too late that we would be exiting to the left, not the right as one would suppose. I signaled and pulled over, and Butch Moran and my wife Marilyn did the same, blocking the lane and allowing our other vehicles to move over as well. We took the left exit and headed for the motel, thinking all was well. We were wrong! Somehow (and to this day I don't know how) the Archdale van driven by Jeff Byrd did not take the exit with us. They had been in the middle of the caravan, but somehow had continued on down I-4! We tried the radios, but could not reach them. We continued on to the Gold Key Inn, confident that Jeff had the address of the motel and would find it. We should have been more worried. In the years that have followed I have lived in central Florida and spent much time in Orlando, and I have NEVER been able to figure out exactly where Jeff went after we lost him. Apparently he exited on to a toll road (the Florida  Turnpike or the East-West?) and then could not get anyplace he wanted to go. He traveled up and down the highway until finally figuring something out and making his way to the motel, a good hour after the rest of us had checked in. It was a joyful reunion.

After checking-in and unpacking we were all really hungry and ready to hit the food court at The Florida Mall and end this first, very long day. We prepared to cram back into our vehicles when we encountered a slight delay. It seemed that someone (Robin Thomas got all the blame at the time!) had locked the keys in Judy Rees' Suburban. The spare key was safe and secure- in North Carolina! We wandered around the motel and explored out motel while we waited for a locksmith, who eventually showed up and rescued the keys. We were now more ready than ever to make the short drive to the mall, so we once again gathered the troops and loaded up the vehicles. We had a standard operating procedure for making sure we had everyone. Each person was to ride in the same vehicle everywhere we went that week. Each vehicle would count their own passengers, and then I would go from van to van and total our numbers. It was a very safe system- usually.

On this particular night, as I began to go from vehicle to vehicle to make the final count, Jill Gilbreth (that's her in the stripes, at Archdale Friends Meeting at a pre-trip car wash! Behind her are Emily Beggs, Mary Mercadante, Dana Oxendine, Stacy Gilbreth & Beth Brown.) left her vehicle AFTER I had already made sure everyone in it was accounted for. When I finished my rounds, we had the right numbers. Jill, however, was still in the motel getting her money for dinner. Her driver (I don't remember who) didn't realize she was gone, and her friends somehow failed to mention this to anyone. I guess they were just that hungry! So off we went. We arrived at the food court and were sitting down eating, when suddenly Jillybean came running up to our table, looking rather panicked. She told us the story of how she had been left behind at the motel.  She had gone inside, freaked out and crying, and told the motel employees that her group had left her. She must have appeared to be totally panicked, because the motel gave her a ride to the mall AND gave her $5 for supper. She forgave us- sometime around 1993!  And we never failed to remind her that the Gold Key Inn was so anxious to be rid of her that they paid her off!

It's so hard to believe we are coming up on the 25th anniversary of this great trip. Floridays 1990 began with us losing a van, keys, and Jill all on the first day. The next day we would make it to Walt Disney World and things would improve greatly. It was a wonderful trip full of memories. But that first day was a doozy...

Because of Jesus,

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Yesterday I wrote that Marilyn, Will & Michelle were going to spend the day at EPCOT and take in the annual Candlelight Processional. As it turns out, not everyone is familiar with the Candlelight Processional. So think of today's post as a PSA to those who may not know the wonders of this event!

The Candlelight Processional, it is one of the most spectacular celebrations of the birth of Jesus you will find anywhere. A full orchestra, 400+ voices from local high school choirs, the Walt Disney World Choir, The Voices of Liberty (an amazing acapella group that performs regularly at the American Pavilion at EPCOT) and brilliant trumpeters present traditional faith-based Christmas music. Mixed in with the songs (Joy To the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Hallelujah Chorus and more) are readings from scripture, shared by a celebrity narrator. Yesterday my family got to hear Neil Patrick Harris (the 2nd time they have heard NPH) read from the Gospel of Luke. Over the years we have heard many different narrators, including Steven Curtis Chapman, the lat Dan Urich, Whoopi Goldberg and my personal favorite, Robert Guillaume (Benson & the voice of Rafiki). It has been a very important part of our Christmas tradition for many years now.

People (mostly inside the church) are often quick to divide the world into two parts:  secular and holy. The concept of secular does not exist in scripture. God created everything; it is only when His creations are misused that we get in to trouble. We are told that "all good and perfect gifts come from God." Secular certainly does not exist at the Candlelight Processional. The event takes place 3 times each day from Thanksgiving until the end of the year in a large outdoor amphitheater. Each performance is packed, with many turned away for lack of space. That means that during this holiday season over 300,000 people will hear the birth story of Jesus from the good people of Walt Disney World. It also takes place at Disneyland- so multiply that number! It's a truly amazing thing that has been going on for years. God is not and cannot be confined to the church. 

One of the songs they perform each year is the classic Do You Hear What I Hear? It is performed by the mass choir and orchestra of the Processional on one of several albums that are available. The one I have features narration by Lou Gossett (another favorite with an amazing voice). I have loved this song since hearing a church choir sing it when I was a little boy. For me, it captures the wonder of that holy night so many years ago. I hope it will inspire you as well. It's time to get ready- after all there's only 22 more sleeps 'til Christmas...

My Deliverer is Coming...

Reimagining EPCOT's World Showcase

Given my persona non grata status with Walt Disney World you may wonder why I care about it anymore. The truth is I care because with this, as with most things in my life, I am very protective of my favorite memories. So I felt a little bit of snark was justified...

It was big news on social media, in the press and here in central Florida last week when Disney made the formal and long-expected announcement that they were shutting down the Maelstrom ride in the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT to make way for an attraction based on the hit movie Frozen. Reaction has been loud and very mixed. I loved the movie, and understand why Disney execs have rushed to get something Frozen related in every park. However...I do have some questions. Although putting a ride in Norway is certainly the easy way out, it was not the only EPCOT option. The former Wonders of Life (long live Buzzy!) building still sits empty in Future World, begging for something new and exciting. And it seems to me that by making such a change at Norway, the company is throwing the the entire future of World Showcase up for grabs. And that scares me.

I have long loved World Showcase. My memory goes back to a time when everyone spelled EPCOT with all caps, there were no Disney characters there at all, dining reservations HAD to be made the day of and when IMAX movies were a technological marvel. I love the restaurants. I love the cultural aspects, the street performers and the fact that it is so different from the rest of WDW. There have already been changes over the years that no one bothered to run past me, such as changing the opening hours so we couldn't take a stroll in a nearly empty World Showcase early in the morning or changing the  menu at Alfredo's & The San Angel Inn. But change happens and you move on. But this feels much more significant. This feels like a real game changer. So today I have allowed my mind to wander. What if putting a Frozen attraction in Norway sets a precedent? What if every country in World Showcase were to become just another opportunity for Disney corporate synergy? There have long been crossover character events outside the Pavilions (think Mary Poppins at the UK, Beast at France)- but this seems different to me. In my nightmares, World Showcase would start to look like this...

• The China Pavilion - The movie on the cultural history of the country would be replaced with The Making of Mulan, narrated by Eddie Murphy. A simulator ride could take us through the battle to save the Emperor, as we fight side-by-side with Mulan, Cricky, Mushu and Captain Li Shang. And the Nine Dragons restaurant is replaced by Mulan's Delight, a counter-service place featuring chicken chow mien and other dishes USAmericans think are Chinese.
• The France Pavilion - So many movies to promote, so little time. The Boulangerie Pâtisserie would become Hunchback Croissants- because Quasimodo is shaped like one! The main restaurants would have a Ratatouille theme, with giant rat-costumed servers bringing you the daily specials and making jokes about how they are not Mickey. And instead of Impressions de France the movie theater is not showing a 10 minute blooper real from Beauty & the Beast. Just think of the merchandising possibilities with all of those movies to choose from! Oh...and the Eiffel Tower too...
• The Italy Pavilion - Lady & the Tramp once ate spaghetti. Therefore they must be Italian. I'll let you figure out the details!
• The Morocco Pavilion - There would be magical appearances by the Genie, and the flying carpet ride could be moved over from the MK. And a kissing booth with Jasmine. Actually, all of those things would be an improvement to this Pavilion. Never mind.
• The UK Pavilion - Again, there are so many movies to choose from, but I'm partial to Robin Hood. The Friar Tuck Pub could serve Long John Silver's fish and chips and really cheap beer. There could be live archery tournaments. Throw in the Spoonful of Sugar Bakery (Mary Poppins), the Winnie the Pooh petting zoo (with live hephalumps, woozles and Tiggers) and bring back Mr. Toad! Then you're all set for a big adventure!

There are many more possibilities (like Pinocchio in Germany or The Three Caballeros in Mexico), but I think I have made my point. Obviously my ranting is over-the-top and ridiculous...I hope. But the truth is that World Showcase was designed to be "a place apart" from the rest of WDW. In my humble (and totally unsolicited) opinion, adding a Frozen attraction is a step in a very dangerous direction. And a final warning: if anything ever happens to Voices of Liberty or The American Adventure over at the U.S. Pavilion, I cannot be held responsible for my actions. Just sayin'...

Because of Walt,

A Total Blast!

Last Saturday my wife Marilyn and I took at trip to Disney's Hollywood Studios for the first Star Wars Weekend of 2014. We had a blast (as was mentioned here this past Wednesday) and especially enjoyed seeing the new late night fireworks show, Symphony in the Stars. Th sky over the Studios was filled with amazing pyrotechnics dancing to the most familiar music from the original Star Wars score. It was far and away my favorite fireworks show at the parks since they discontinued Sorcery in the Sky at the Studios so many years ago. It was a perfect way to finish the day.

We returned home and told our son Will about the wonders of the show and rest of Stars Wars Weekend, and he quickly declared that we had to go back. And so yesterday, we did! Will is 18 now, but he grew up on Disney fireworks. He has seen Illuminations at Epcot dozens of time, and the same for a wide variety of shows at the Magic Kingdom. It would be very possible for him to be a little jaded about their wonder at this point in his life. But I thought Symphony in the Stars would absolutely blow him away. And I was right. He was totally WOW'd, and when the final round of explosions literally shook the entire park, he was grinning from ear to ear. Throw in some great rides and shows and another fantastic lunch at The Beaches and Cream Soda Shoppe and we had a wonderful family day at the park.

For those of you who think that I am rubbing it in that we went back to the Walt Disney World parks yet again (third time in the last month), well...you are right! I hadn't been in 7 years, so cut me some slack and let me gloat just a bit. And I should warn you it is only going to get worse. I am now an annual passholder once again. I'm going to be writing a regular monthly post for a WDW fan website. There are exciting times ahead! So prepare yourselves for a little more of my #DisneySide on the pages of this blog. And if you have a chance to get out to a Star Wars Weekend before they are gone for another year...GO!!!!! 

I hope you all have a safe and happy Memorial Day, and do take a moment to pause and reflect on those who have given their lives in service to their country, their God or their friends. Be blessed!

10 Things I Can't Wait To Do Again at WDW

Now that I am officially settling into my new freedom and my availability for trips and such, it is really dawning on me that Walt Disney World is just a little over an hour away! Going last Sunday with the Hanbery clan to the Magic Kingdom and to eat at the Kona Cafe was a blast- but that just wet my appetite for so much more that I have been missing. And in many cases, it is literally my appetite, because about half of this list involves food! There are new adventures (New Fantasyland, updated Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, etc.) I have yet to experience for the first time, and those things excite me too. You should also know that I did Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion last week or they would certainly be on this list. But as I gaze into the near future, here are 10 things I cannot wait to do again!

1) Walk Down Main Street After Dark- There are very few things that make me more content than walking down Main Street USA after twilight, with the park all lit up and in its full glory. There is just something about the look, the atmosphere and even the smells that take me back to a simpler place and time in my own life, and remind of how I came to love WDW in the first place. Really looking forward to taking that stroll soon...

2) The Hoop-de-doo Musical Review- I miss the music, the terrible puns, the fried chicken and the strawberry shortcake. Plus, Will has never been since he was old enough to remember it and it is right up his alley. So Pioneer Hall, here we come!

3) The Great Movie Ride- I have so many amazing memories attached to this ride, now 25 years old. We rode it the first summer the Disney/MGM Studios were open. We rode it Will was little, even as he hid from the Alien. We were trapped in the Casablanca scene for almost an hour one time listening to Bogart over and over again. At one point I pretty much had it all memorized. I'm looking forward to a refresher course.

4) Breakfast at The Cape May Cafe- This restaurant located in the lobby of Disney's Beach Club Resort offers an amazing all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, with everything from great fresh fruit to Mickey waffles. There are characters, including our family favorite, Admiral Goofy. You can drink coffee, OJ and chocolate milk all at the same time. I mean how great is that? There are other good character breakfasts too, but this one will always be my favorite! And I love that I have been able to share it with so many of you!

5) Spaceship Earth- While I confess to never quite getting over them taking out Walter Cronkite as the narrator, there is still something magical about traveling through time inside the giant golf ball that is the symbol of Epcot. I hear they have made changes since I was last there. They'd better be good ones...

6) Ohana's- More food, this time at Disney's Polynesian Resort. Unless it has changed there are great veggies, chocolate fondue and fresh fruit for dessert and other goodies- but mostly, there is meat. Skewers of grilled meat. And it's all-you-can-eat. I have been many times in the past and never been disappointed. I look forward to testing them again.

7) Splash Mountain- I remember watching impatiently as they built it. I remember standing in huge lines in the heat of summer to ride, and riding it over and over again as midnight approached and there were no lines. I remember my first time down the big hill and the rush, the splash and the soaking that were part of it. And still are. I can't wait!

8) The Epcot Christmas Candlelight Processional- I have missed this amazing telling of the birth of Jesus so much, and when December 2014 arrives you can look for me at the American Gardens Theater along with the full orchestra, the mass choir and the celebrity narrator. Maybe I should be the celebrity narrator?!?! Except for not being a celebrity I'm perfect!

9) Night Time Shows & Fireworks- Okay, so this is a cop out, but I can't possibly choose which one I have missed the most. The Main Street Electrical Parade at the MK. Illuminations at Epcot. Fantasmic at the Hollywood Studios. And honestly any other parade or fireworks show they have to offer! I love the parks after dark!

10) The San Angel Inn- This restaurant in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot has been the site of many of a great dinner and celebration with so many friends from over the years. They may have changed the menu, but the amazing atmosphere is still the same. And there is just something wonderfully romantic about eating under the stars at a table overlooking the river- indoors. Now if they would just bring back the chocolate mousse kahlua pie...

I could go on and one. The Safari and Dinosaurs at Animal Kingdom. Norway, Canada, Imagination and Soarin' at Epcot. Muppets & Mama Melrose's at the Studios. The rest of the Magic Kingdom's mountains. But for now, this is a great list to start with. And I look forward to starting soon. Who's going with me?

Things I Miss (Walt Disney World Edition)

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not one of those old farts who doesn't like change. I enjoy change. I seek out change. I thrive on chaos. After all, I was a youth pastor for all those years! So this is not one of those grumpy old man, "Get off my lawn!" kinds of a post. But there are things that would be better off left alone. It doesn't mean that new is not good, but in some cases old was just better. I still love New York City, but it was better when Oh-La-La was still serving the world's best hot chocolate. I look froward to going back to my old stomping grounds of Myrtle Beach someday, but not as much as I would if the Pavilion was still there. And then there is Walt Disney World.

My love affair with WDW really began on our honeymoon in 1986, and from 1991 -2006 I was an annual passholder (my wife and son still are). It was our second home, a place where we often spent days with my parents, a place where my son grew up, a place where we enjoyed many great youth group experiences and a place that for us really was the "happiest place on earth." But we also witnessed many changes. Attractions, restaurants and shows that came and went. Special things that we enjoyed because we felt like they were "our secrets." So today I want to share (from a list of about 50) 10 things that it saddens me to say are no longer part of the WDW experience. In no particular order, here we go...

* Breakfast at Tony's Town Square Restaurant - Tony's (located just inside the entrance to the Magic Kingdom) still exists, but it has now been many years since they served breakfast. Back in the old days you could make reservations, arrive at the MK an hour before actual park opening, and have a magnificent start to your days at Tony's. We made a habit of this, primarily because they served the best cinnamon rolls ever! It's not too late to bring this one back, oh high and mighty keepers of all things Disney!

* Sorcery In the Sky - For many years this end-of-the-night fireworks spectacular at the Disney/MGM Studios (which will ALWAYS be the name of the Hollywood Studios to me!) was our favorite in all of WDW. Perfectly choreographed to some of the greatest movie music of all time and narrated by the great Vincent Price, the show would light up the sky over The Great Movie Ride. And for the grand finale, set to the music of Fantasia, a giant inflatable Mickey the Sorcerer would rise from the roof of the Chinese Theater and shoot fireworks out of his finger. Absolutely EPIC!!!

* Superstar TV - Located in the theater that now houses the American Idol experience, this was a great audience participation show centered around classic television shows. Through the magic of a split screen, pre-chosen audience members would appear alongside some of their favorite characters, including Lucille Ball, David Letterman and Ed Sullivan. We also got to read lines off of a teleprompter. I myself was chosen to be play the part of Dave Garroway on the first ever episode of Today on 4 different occasions, and to have drinks with the guys at the bar in Cheers. Lots of fun, and no talent required!

* Early Mornings At EPCOT - When we lived in Kissimmee in the the 90s, we would often start our days at EPCOT in a way that is now completely out of the question, but was totally wonderful. We would park at the Beach Club Resort early in the morning (in those days there was no parking lot security to speak of) and enter EPCOT through the International Gateway (the "backdoor"). This was a time when the World Showcase opened at the same time as Future World, instead of 2 hours later as it does now. E would usually grab breakfast at the bakery in the French Pavilion. While the multitudes were entering at the main entrance, we would stroll around, often having the countries literally to ourselves for the first hour or so. And many times we would see characters roaming around waiting to greet us. Good times...

* Ariel's Restaurant - Almost every time we celebrate a special occasion at my house that involves my wife- our anniversary, her birthday, Arbor Day or whatever- and I ask her where she wants to go for dinner, the answer will always be Ariel's. Unfortunately it's been closed (and for no good reason) for over a decade now. Ariel's was a very high-end seafood establishment located in the Beach Club Resort. We ate there so often the wait staff and chefs knew us, and knew that when Marilyn ordered her scallops blackened she meant BLACKENED!!! We were there for many special occasions, including the night we told my parents that Marilyn was pregnant with Will, The really hard part about this one is that even all these years later the space is still empty, used only as a special occasion banquet room. And that's just painful.

* Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - This classic Magic Kingdom attraction is still missed by millions each year. I loved it, if for no other reason than the night in 1990 when Jeremy Godwin and I rode it over and over again just before park closing while we waited on the rest of the youth group to gather behind the Castle. Jeremy was a large man. I was larger. The 2 of us crammed in a car for the wild ride brought many smiles to cast members working that night. And to us!

* Walter Cronkite's Voice on Spaceship Earth - Other voices narrating our trips through the history of communication have been just fine, including the wonderful Jeremy Irons. But nobody beats Uncle Walter. He will always be the voice of Spaceship Earth to me. I can still hear his words "Behold the majesty of the Sistine Chapel" ringing in my ears...

* Horizons - I understand that EPCOT, by its very nature, was meant to be constantly evolving. There are many additions that have been made over the years that are truly great, including Soaring, Test Track and Mission: Space. That said, I wish they could have left Horizons for future generations to experience. That trip into the future was, like so many things at EPCOT, both fun and educational. And getting to choose which future you wanted to be part of made you feel special. I see petitions to bring this attraction back floating around the internet all the time. It is missed my many!

* Same Day Meal Reservations - The internet, thousands of people who are "experts" on WDW and the sheer growth of the place have made it nearly impossible to get meal reservations if you decide to just go over for a day. There was a time when you could stop at City Hall in the MK and make a reservation for later that day without a hitch. Now, for the really good restaurants, you often need to plan 6 months in advance. And if you go far enough back, there was a time when dining reservations at EPCOT could only be made at the park on the day you wanted to eat there. In 1993 on a youth trip I made nearly 60 reservations at 5 different restaurants one morning for THAT day using a computer at Communicore. Now they are even taking advance reservations at our beloved Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, where we have eaten probably a hundred times on the spur of the moment. Spontaneous dining (other than fast food) is rapidly becoming a thing of the past at WDW. Sigh...

* Cranium Command - The loss of the entire Wonders of Life Pavilion (still sitting empty) is a travesty, but Cranium Command will always hold a special place in our hearts. This journey through the day of a teenage boy (Buzzy..or was it Scuzzy?) was filled with with amazing character voices. It never failed to crack me me up as General Knowledge (the brain) tried to take control of his emotions and his body functions. My personal favorites were Hans & Franz pumping us up as Buzzy's heart. Again, a true loss for future generation- and all because a corporate sponsor pulled out. Ugh.

So there's my list. My friends Lisa and Amy suggested 20, 00 Leagues Under the Sea, an often missed classic at the MK. The live Hunchback of Notre Dame show at the Studios was a family favorite of ours. And as cool as it is to have Captain EO back at EPCOT, I loved Honey I Shrunk the Audience. There are so many wonderful new things to enjoy. And so many wonderful old things that will always be missed. What's on your list? Have a magical day!

Magic Moments: Last Ones Out!

Part of our crew!

Welcome to the world Zoie Chan! Born Tuesday evening after a day of adventure, she, and mom Jennifer Gastler Chan are doing well. and dad Will along with grandparents Hal & Joanne are ecstatic! Aunt Christine seems to be a bit excited as well...

In the summer of 1987 I took a small group of youth and adults from Springfield Friends Meeting (High Point, NC) to Walt Disney World. The trip was designed to stir up new interest in our student ministry at that small church, and it certainly did just that. The entire trip was wonderful, but today I want to share with you a one-of-a-kind Magic Moment on this Throwback Thursday. By the way, I know in the beginning I said I would share 10 Magic Moments. Looks like the list will be considerably longer. So sue me...

The last full day of our 1987 stay in central Florida we were headed to EPCOT for the first part of the day, and then planned to finish our Disney time at the Magic Kingdom that night. We parked our Chevy Suburban and our rented van in the EPCOT lot. At the time, I was a Disney novice. In later years I would have laughed and made fun of people for making the mistake I made. EPCOT was closing at 9 PM, while we would be at the MK until around midnight. This would come back to haunt us! We had a great time at EPCOT, then took the monorail over to spend our final hours with Mickey.

Everything was fine until we met for the last time at midnight to begin the journey back to our motel. It seems that Jennifer Welch had become ill and was at the First Aid Station getting some attention (In case you are wondering, First Aid is located between Casey's Corner and the entrance to Adventureland.  We try to be a full service blog!). In hindsight, we were lucky it was just Jennifer- many of the youth had decided not to eat because they were running short on cash. In any case, by the time Jennifer was released, it was nearly 1 AM.  The monorail to EPCOT and our vehicles was no longer running. It appeared we were stuck at the MK. After much asking, we were finally told we could catch a bus from the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) that could drop us at EPCOT. This bus stopped everywhere, including a whole lot of places we had never seen before. In fact, as Marilyn and I became true Disney Freaks over the years, there were some places we stopped that night that we never managed to find again! The bus finally dropped us at the EPCOT bus stop area. If you know that park, then you may know how far away for our cars we still were. We still had to cross to the entrance and then make our way across the ENTIRE parking lot to our vehicles. The good news was they were going to be easy to spot- we were the only ones left! It was around 2 AM when some guys driving trams and picking up trash gave some of our group a ride to the van. All in all it was quite a night. It gave that group a shared history that helped bond us together. It's not very often you can be the last ones out at Walt Disney World! I took a couple of pics of our lonely vehicles, but I no longer know where they are. They would be classics! But even without the pictures, we still have great memories of a Magic Moment. And we have them all to ourselves. :)

Because of Jesus,

Magic Moments: Christmas at The Grand Floridian

You can take the kids out of the youth room...

As we continue to get into the spirit of Christmas and some great memories of years gone by, today's youth ministry Magic Moment comes from my years in Kissimmee.  There are few parings in life that seem less likely than a youth group full of wacky teenagers and the ultimate Walt Disney World luxury resort, The Grand Floridian. Yet through a series of wonderfully strange circumstances, we wound up having a wonderful youth group Christmas party in one of ballrooms at the GF in 1997. This is the story of that evening. Enjoy this Throwback Thursday memory!

It was our habit in those days (1994-2000) at FUMC-Kissimmee to have very formal Christmas parties. Everyone dressed up and we would have the event catered. For a number of years the party had been held at one of the lakefront homes of some of our wealthier members, in houses so large that the over 100 youth in attendance were barely noticeable. In 1997, none of our very generous hosts were available on the dates we wanted, and I began to search for other options. Our church was loaded with folks who had WDW connections, so I began to explore those channels as well. A church member who was also in management with Disney (I believe his name was Jeff) suggested that if we could find an unbooked conference room or other meeting space at one of the resort hotels that we might could get a decent price- and so he began to look for such a location. The only thing available was one of the grand ballrooms at The Mouse's most exclusive resort. I assumed it would be cost prohibitive. but Jeff got us a great deal, and we decided to go for it. As you can tell from the picture, this is not a quaint little hideaway; this was the big time!  Princess Diana, Michael Jackson and almost every celebrity you could name had stayed there; and now the youth ministry of First Methodist Kissimmee would party there!  Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction...

OK...so maybe the karaoke wasn't PERFECT...

Youth Ministry is always full of surprises and adventures that you cannot predict and never expected, but there were very few events in my career as surreal to me as having our church vans valet parked at the GF!!! And that was only the beginning. Disney does everything with excellence, even if it is for a local youth group paying bargain prices. It was a great night; the catering, the service, the karaoke and the elegance were perfect. The students, many of whom had grown up in the shadow of The Mouse and were thus a bit immune to the normal Disney magic, were totally WOWED by the treatment we received and the beauty of the location. It was a truly magical night and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Yep...it's the people!

I have written before that it's not the location, the food, the gifts or the service that make a youth group Christmas party great- it's being with people you love and care about and celebrating life together. And that is so very true. But for this one night and this one very special memory, maybe it was a little bit about all that other stuff too! :) I don't know how many student ministries have ever been blessed to have their Christmas parties at WDW, especially at the GF. But I am so glad to have my name on that short list. Be blessed, my friends!

Jesus- the only hope for me is you...and YOU alone!

Mythbusting: Outgrowing Disney

Marilyn and I were married in 1986, and our honeymoon cruise took us to the Bahamas and then included a stay at Walt Disney World. Were were quickly addicted. By 1992 we were annual passholders and so were my parents. We spent many a day there with my youth groups, and many special occasions there as a family.  It never occurred to us that we were supposed to have children to really enjoy the place.  It was simply our favorite place.

Our son Will was born in July of 1995 while we were living in Kissimmee, Florida. If you are not familiar with central Florida, Kissimmee is the town you enter when you head east from Walt Disney World. While it is actually in neither place, it is far more accurate to say that WDW is in Kissimmee than it is to say it is in Orlando. So between his grandparents, his parents and his place of birth, Will never had a chance. He was an ultimate Disney baby!

My parents lived about an hour a way from us in those early years, and they would come over pretty much every Tuesday and take Will to "the parks."  I say that parenthetically because until we moved to Illinois in 2000, Will thought "park" meant WDW. He was there as an infant, seeing the characters and taking naps in his stroller. As a toddler he was there so often that some of the costumed characters seemed to recognize him. He developed his own favorite places to eat, his own favorite attractions, and his own places to play and act out scenes from his favorite Disney films- especially Beauty & the Beast. We often went as a family as well and developed our own traditions. He had seen the Christmas Candlelight Processional at EPCOT before he was 4 years old. And over and over again we heard from well-meaning friends about how much we needed to enjoy these years- because there would come a day when Will would outgrow WDW. In fact, we all would. The rides would become boring, the characters passe, and hanging out with family a thing of the past. We spent a number of years with this widely accepted myth hanging over our heads. I have to admit I was always a doubter, having taken youth groups from NC for a week on 3 different occasions and knowing that those teenagers had absolutely had the times of their lives - but the myth was still there. So we enjoyed, we waited...and we watched for signs.

After a brief stay in Chicagoland, we moved to Tampa in 2001 and quickly renewed our annual passes. WDW was once again our favorite getaway, even if it was just for a birthday dinner or to see the fireworks.  And Will was always first in line to go,often with his Gigi and Pawpaw joining in the family fun. As he got older he got to go with friends and with my youth groups, experiencing Night Of Joy and some of the other special events. As he headed into his teen years his excitement actually grew as he explored new rides and new adventures. He also began to develop a taste for the more expensive restaurants and often pushed to make sure we made reservations. Even after I gave up my pass in 2007, Will and Marilyn have continued to maintain theirs. They still go as often as they can on great mother/son days, choosing a park (or park-hopping) and spending great days together. They were at EPCOT just this past Sunday, and once again came home tired, but excited- which is how you know you had a great day at WDW!

So what's my point? Just this- as long as you keep your childlike spirit and believe in the magic of PLAY, you will never outgrow Walt Disney World. Or Disney movies. Or spending time together as a family.  Marilyn, my parents and I came to love the place as adults. We loved staying on property; we loved discovering new restaurants and returning to old favorites; and we always rode Pirates of the Caribbean first upon entering the Magic Kingdom. Will has now reached adulthood himself, and he has never been through an "anti-Disney" phase. In fact, because his girlfriend Michelle loves Disney movies so much, he may be in deeper than ever! The magic of WDW is what it does to your heart. I am sure for some it is easy to focus on the cost, the crowds and the commercialism.But if you truly get it, it never fails to light up your face and put a spring on your step. It is a constant reminder that growing older is inevitable- but growing up is optional. I am 54 years old now. If I am ever going to outgrow Disney World, I need to hurry.  :)  MYTH BUSTED!!!