Farewell to Tapestry of Dreams
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Some might say it was luck. Others will call it "Disney's magic". But tonight, even with the threat of rain, the Tapestry of Dreams walked on to the World Showcase for the last time. And I was there. On any given Saturday, you might find a good sized audience for this parade, but this one... you'd think it was 4th of July in the back countries of the Showcase. The last spot of rain had come only 3 hours before the first show time. But, as evening drew near, the sky grew clear and the winds disappeared. It was warm and muggy, much like a summer evening.

The last 2 parades were scheduled for 6:10 and 7:45. I didn't want to chance the rains, so I decided to see both. I though I would be alone, but it was not the case. I met two performers on the cast bus to Morocco. For them it was bittersweet as they normally didn't work on Saturdays, so they could only watch as the last parades went by.

From the bus stop to the cast door leading to the promenade I had time to look at the floats. They sat in order of each other. I passed so close, for a moment I wanted to touch them. Over to my right stood a building shaped like large half circular tube of stamped steel . Inside the performers were getting ready. I don't know why, but I was expecting to hear crying. Maybe I wasn't close enough to hear it, maybe it hadn't really sunk in in that this was Tapestry's last night, maybe they were far too professional to cry, and maybe, all of them cried in their own way.

I walked out a side door next to the big ones that opened for the parade itself. I walked over to an empty spot straight across and waited. So many cameras were on to record this event. Minutes to go, the pre-show announcement was made. Though I was surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands of people, I felt alone. All those I knew who wanted to come to this show, couldn't because of schedule conflicts or sheer distance. It was then I remembered a good friend in Texas who loved the parade. I dialed her number from my cell phone, but only got her voicemail. The music was so loud, I didn't really hear the beep. I just let it run as the music began. I kept it going as the doors opened and the first float came out. All in all, I think the message was about 5 minutes long, but at least my friend would get to hear it when she checked her messages.

I won't take the credit for that idea. A few months ago, two of my dearest friends called me from Disneyland on the last night Barrage would play together with their "main line up". Lucky for me I was there and got to listen to it live. My friend in Texas... well would at least get to hear Tapestry later.

As the parade rolled out, I was amazed how poised...no .... I was amazed how energized the cast was. They threw themselves into their dances. They had smiles that were tinged with both sadness and relief. I couldn't believe it, but it was if I was watching this parade for the first time. In other words, it was wondrous.

I followed the parade on its long journey to Germany. With each step, more and more people joined us. I could tell many were Cast Members and performers. I knew that all of them had come to say goodbye to parade. They cheered, they cried, they called out to performers in the parade to let them know, they were there. A large group of Cast Members were in Italy by the gondola docks. They were the most vocal. The last float went backstage and the Dream Catcher stood out for a moment to "say his last words". And then it was over. The weather only improved as the night went on. By 7, any thought of rain was gone. I got to a spot looking directly across from the doors. Luckily I was entertained by fellow cast Members as it seemed no one around me was a real "guest". Well there was one man who knew who we worked for and asked, "So, if this is the last parade, where are they going to next?"

The little evil voice in me popped out and replied "They're going to Walt Disney World ... sorry, heh heh heh, couldn't help myself." A more responsible Cast Member told him that most of them would end up in the other parades in the other parks for the time being.

7:45 came and went. There was no announcement that the show was canceled. So everyone stood their ground and waited. I decided to call my friend in Texas again. I expected to leave her another voice mail, but lo and behold, she was at home. She knew she couldn't be there for the actual parade, but I think it was nice to let her at least hear it on more time and know that it was live. Then at about 7:50, voices backs stage in unison called out "10, 9. 8, 7, 6 ..." the rest was drowned out by the sound of music. Then, right when the word "zero" would have been uttered, the doors swung open, and I saw them. ALL of them. I could see the whole parade staged up and ready to roll out onto the promenade.I lifted up my phone towards the nearest speaker, only to drop it once in a while to tell my friend what was coming out.

When the last float made it out, the "Dream Team" stood in their usual spots right behind the float. Their eyes cast skyward, their bodies still and ridged. But...my God... their eyes. I could tell they were choking back tears. I think it finally hit these three at that very moment. that this would be the end, and this would be the last time they would be doing this. I and a everyone around me began the slow march behind the float. The farther we went, the more we dropped behind as more and more people began joining us. I said my goodbye to my friend, as I wanted to leave another message for a friend in California. When that last float got to the doors of Morocco, everyone started to clap in unison.

And then, it was over...

I looked about. I was surrounded by thousands of guests and Cast Members. The managers stood a side door to check ID's of the cast going backstage. There were so many people around there, I couldn't tell if they were letting anyone back there.

"I'd give anything to be back there right now" a guest told me, "You can, how come you don't?" "Because," I answered, "It's THEIR time now to say goodbye to each other. I'd be in the way."

And so the curtains closes....