2002 SuperSoap Week
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Throughout the weekend, the buzzword was interactivity as each star pounded the flesh and took every opportunity to talk, shake hands and even cuddle the guests. Several even took cell phones from guests, chatting away to the caller like a long-lost friend. ABC-TV camera crews were also on hand to interview fans ahead of the intriguing Fan February, asking them for their ideal plotlines, as many will be filmed and air on the four soaps in 2003.

The remainder of the weekend consisted of the usual events such as the special editions of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? hosted by Meredith Vieria. Audience members were given the opportunity to share the “hot seat�? with a pair of ABC Daytime celebrities and play for exclusive soap prizes. One Life to Live’s Linda Dano was responsible for an informal chat show held in the ABC TV Theater, which is currently empty. At each show, up to eight soap stars talked extensively about their characters, script and more importantly for soap fans, their future in the fragile ecosystem of the soap with exclusive previews of upcoming episodes. The evening concluded with the Colgate Total Street Jam where a unique celebrity lineup of ABC Daytime's talented musical sensations was showcased, with a dazzling fireworks finale, a rare treat at the Studios who quietly retired their nighttime display several years ago.

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I have always found theses non-Disney events to be wildly entertaining and a great opportunity to see people realising their dreams and meeting their soap idols. It is easy to scoff at the obsessive nature of these fans; many were crying, screaming and distressed at various stages throughout the day. However, I realised that in fact, I share a great deal in common with these soap fans, albeit for a different subject entirely. The majority of the attendees would no doubt be oblivious to the fact that they were actually at Walt Disney World. For all they could care, it was being held in a concrete, faceless convention centre in Des Moines. It was not the location, but the event that made these people fly from all over the 50 states to worship at this soap shrine. I am certain that they would also be amused if they attended a Disneyana Convention or another Disney enthusiast event with me.