GDP Special Report: Trade City U.S.A. Early Registration

This afternoon/evening I headed over to Early Registration for Trade City USA at the Yacht and Beach Club Convention Center, when I got there, it was about 2:00pm, it was still busy, it took about 50 minutes from entering into the room, until leaving the room (all checked in). This year they did something different, you have to wait in 2 lines. Line #1 is for Registration and Merchandise, while Line #2 is for gifts (shirt, etc)

 

Trading Area for Event Guests (from 12:00pm until 7:00pm).

Line to Check-In

Line #2, you picked up your Early Registration Pin, Shirt, and Gift ‘Boxed Set’

Overall, I feel that this gift was a good idea, but it kind of MAKES YOU NEED to get all of the road signs. (The Front)

The Inside of the Book (featuring Trade City Statistics and all the road signs)

‘Page 2’ where you can put your backs of the pins that you place in book.

Back of Book.

The T-Shirt received was surprisingly nice, the logo is on the left hand corner of the chest area, and on the back is…

A collage of the bumper stickers!!!

The Early Registration Pin! (Though, I don't understand why a plain card? They normally don’t have a card)

Onto the Vinylmations! Here is a look at the ‘Logo’ Vinylmation (Item #1—The card, 3in Figure, and Pin) AND the gift, a Vinylmation Jr (on keychain) as a replica of the 3in Figure. The one thing I CAN NOT figure out is why they gave us TWO of the same Vinylmation Jrs as a gift (everyone got 2 of the same Vinylmation jrs)

Overall, the registration ran smoothly, and pretty organized, though Line #2 was kind of pointless, but by the time I got there, it was relatively short. I can’t wait for the event to begin tomorrow and see what else we get. Be sure to follow on Twitter or Facebook on all the latest news and information from event!

GDP Park Report: Magic Kingdom—August 22, 2010

Today I took a quick trip to the Magic Kingdom for a look at what’s closed, and walled off, many things are still walled off, including most of Main Street, U.S.A. We’ll have some pictures of Main Street facade painting, and other Fantasyland attractions getting facade re-dos. Do you want to see Fantasyland Construction Pictures?? I know you do, who doesn’t like giant mounds of dirt, you’ll have to wait until our next Fantasyland Friday, in the beginning of September, but to hold you over, check out our Fantasyland Expansion picture set on Flickr.

Here are a few pictures from the trip, be sure to check out the rest of the pictures here, or look at the Slideshow at the end of the report.

  

GDP Park Report: Epcot—August 21, 2010

This is the first of an ongoing series (now that I’m a local, i.e. 25 minutes from Walt Disney World), from my various adventures, I’m trying to get to the parks several times a week (but we will see).

Here is today’s quick report from my Epcot trip in through the rain, posted on WDW News Today. Hope You Enjoy!

GDP Blogging Announcement

    

The Global Disney Pinvestigation Blog is not scheduled to be updated until late August for Trade City, U.S.A. Reports and a Fantasyland Friday. We are taking a break from blogging for about 7 days due to starting school, and a Trip To Trade City. Be sure to follow me on Twitter, GDPinvestigator and FantasyLFriday and Friend me on Facebook for any breaking news, and information.

Beginning on August 26th, I’ll be tweeting directly from Trade City, USA at the Walt Disney World Resort with News, Information, and Pictures from the event, be sure to follow us. Following the three day event (featuring Pins and Vinylmations) we will have a full wrap up and report of the festivities and previews.   

Mouse of Zen: Disney Inspired, Mouse-Sized Poetry

There have been many Disney themed books published over the last decade, from Theme Park Guides to Imagineering histories, Disney Legend Biographies, and more, Mouse of Zen is a different kind of Disney book. Self-published, Mouse of Zen: Disney Inspired, Mouse-Sized Poetry is a great addition to a anything-Disney lover’s library. Written by J.B. Conway, Mouse of Zen is a Disney-themed haiku book. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry which is formatted by 5 syllables used in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 again in the third and last line of the poem, it is a strict format and not many people can pull off. If written correctly, a haiku will create a vivid image in your head, and bring back memories of the past Disney experiences, J.B. Conway’s Mouse of Zen definitely does that.

I’ve followed J.B. Conway on Twitter since he began and have enjoyed all of his pieces he has posted, so I was eager to read this compilation of many of his haikus.  Not many people are fans of poetry, one reason being that it really is hard to understand, and with haikus being very short, they’re even harder to get a sense of meaning, but with these Disney themed haikus, a Disney fan will reminisce of old childhood memories, or if never experienced it, they will be able to vividly picture the area of which if being described.

One of my favorite haikus of the book is one that I can picture perfectly, and a feeling, exactly how I feel when I step foot into a Disney Theme Park:

wrapped in fantasy
step by step, inching closer
to this one man's dream

Not only does J.B. describe theme park feelings and areas, but also vivid pictures of classic Disney films, like this one from Beauty & the Beast, another one of my favorite haikus in the book:

counting rose petals
his face, a worn battlefield
beastly casualty

And finally, this one describes a picturesque scene in one of my favorite areas in Disney Theme Parks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Asia:

bridge over asia
birds melt into a sunset
over a mountain

Out of 350 haikus featured in this book there were very few pieces that I couldn’t picture or get a true feeling of, most of which might have been based on items that I’ve never seen or heard of.  Overall, this book is truly a great addition to any Disney fan’s library of books and information, this definitely has a personal touch that most Disney fans will be able to feel. If you’d like to purchase this book, be sure to check out the publisher’s official site for more information.

All poetry in this post © J.B. Conway
Cover Art Copyright Knell Studio Works