This year, the fun of RADP Meets returns for another December with RADP XIV, coinciding with various holiday activities at Walt Disney World.
If you are new to RADP, you may be asking yourself, "What is a RADP?" RADP stands for rec.arts.disney.parks -- a Disney parks enthusiast newsgroup where folks all around the world share tips, stories and general information regarding the Disney park experience. We get together once a year to put a face to that poster/friend we met on newsgroup. New and renewed acquaintances abound every year.
There is no membership requirement. All of our events are free (although park admission may be required) and open to Disney fans of all ages! Everyone is most welcome to attend our events. Come and join us for a single event, a whole day or the entire time. No RSVP is required, so feel free to just show up and have some fun! We all share the common bond of a love of Disney. Come meet the friends you already have but don't know yet. The 2009 meets will run from Friday, December 4th to Monday, December 7th - rain or shine but pray for shine. ;-)
RADP is an independent group of Disney fans. RADP has no official connection with any commercial enterprise or entity nor does it endorse any. RADP is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates.
And a reminder - RADP is RSVP free! RSVPs are never required for RADP meets!
PRINTABLE VERSION: a printable version of this schedule is available here.
Friday, Dec 4 2009
NOTE: Two meets today require advanced planning!
If you want a picnic lunch for our "Fish are Friends, Not Food" picnic lunch meet, you must place your order for your picnic before 10:00am. Picnics can only be ordered by groups of 2 or more, and can be ordered at the kiosk near Island Mercantile.
Also, if you plan on riding during our Expedition Everest meet, please make sure to pick up a FastPass early in the day, with a return time of 2:00pm or earlier.
Safari So Good
Time: 9:15am
Location: Meet to the left of the ride entrance
Hosted by: Sean and Pam
To kick off our 14th annual RADP Holiday Meet, we're going on a safari through the African savannah of Disney's Animal Kingdom! Our wildlife reserve tour gathers at 9:30am, just to the left of the main entrance of Kilimanjaro Safaris. The elephants and warthogs aren't the only wildlife we're likely to see on this RADP adventure! Be prepared to reunite with old friends and make some new ones as we say "Jambo!" to our 14th annual meet!
Go with the Flow! Finding Nemo: The Musical meet
Time: 10:45am
Location: Meet across from the main entrance of the theater
Hosted by: Jan and Charlotte
There's a big, blue world out there, and there's a larger than life, colorful production of Finding Nemo: The Musical just inside the gates of Dinoland! We're meeting at 10:45am across from the main entrance of the theater so we can make sure to have great seats for the 11:15am show! Afterward, we're going to go with the flow and just keep swimming all the way to Harame for our Tree of Life group photo meet!
Tree of Life photo
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Meet across from the main ride entrance
Hosted by: Kevin
Time to look sharp! At 12:00pm on the dot, we're gathering near the drums in Harambe for a group photo...RADP style! Just enter Harambe and make a right towards Asia, and we will be on the right. Make sure to bring your camera, your Mickey ears, and your smile!
Fish are Friends, Not Food picnic lunch
Time: 12:15pm
Location: Meet in seating area behind Pizzafari
Hosted by: RADP
Fish are friends, not food, but chicken and ham are fair game at our first ever Animal Kingdom picnic lunch meet! Immediately following our Tree of Life photo meet (right around 12:15pm), we will head over to the Kusafiri Coffee Shop to pick up our tasty picnic lunches, then set up camp in the seating area behind Pizzafari. Even if you are not purchasing a picnic lunch, feel free to grab a bite wherever you like and join us for the picnic fun!
To ensure that you get a picnic lunch, please place your order before 10:00am at the kiosk near Island Mercantile.
Expedition Everest
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Meet across from the main ride entrance
Hosted by: Julie
We're headed straight to the heart of the Himalayas for a treacherous train ride and a close encounter of the yeti kind! Our trek begins at 2:00pm at RADP base camp, which is across from the main entrance of Expedition Everest. If you plan on riding during this meet, please pick up a Fastpass earlier in the day, and ensure that your return time is 2:00pm or earlier.
Jungle Jingle Mingle
Time: 3:30pm
Location: Meet at Dawa Bar
Hosted by: Kevin
Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade has Harambe decked out in it's holiday finest! So we're pausing to enjoy this people-pleasing holiday parade from just outside the Dawa Bar in Africa at 3:30pm. Anyone wanting a little additional "holiday cheer" can pick up a festive drink at the bar while enjoying this colorful Christmas caravan.
Saturday, Dec 5 2009
Soarin
Time: 9:15am
Location: Entrance to The Land Pavilion
Hosted by: Laurie
Wake up and smell the oranges! It's time for an exhilarating flight high above the trees with RADP on Soarin', one of Epcot's most popular attractions! At 9:15am, we will assemble our flight crew just outside the entrance of the pavilion, and will take flight shortly after. Just watch out for that flying golf ball!
Spaceship Earth Photo
Time: 10:30am
Location: Meet between the pin cart and the Fountain of Nations
Hosted by: Kevin
Time to look sharp! At 10:30am on the dot, we're gathering between the pin cart and the Fountain of Nations for a group photo...RADP style! Make sure to bring your camera, your Mickey ears, and your smile!
Mission: Space
Time: 11:00am
Location: Meet between the pin cart and the Fountain of Nations
Hosted by: Catherine and Bruce
Whether you can handle Mission: Space full force, or the mere thought of it makes you green, you'll find yourself having a great time at our 11:00am Mission: Space meet! We will have two groups...one group will brave the Orange "more intense training" ride, while the rest will experience the more stomach-friendly Green "less intense training" ride. Even if you choose not to ride at all, we promise that this meet will be a BLAST!
Big Meet and Greet
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Outside the turnstiles at theInternational Gateway by the Friendship docks
Hosted by: RADP
Come on, come all! It's time for the main event! At 1:30pm, RADPers from far and wide will all come together outside the turnstiles of the International Gateway for the 14th annual RADP Big Meet and Greet! This meet is open to everyone who has ever been or will ever be in the RADP family, and is a great chance for newcomers to meet everyone! Park admission is NOT required for this meet.
American Holidays Meet
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Meet in the American Adventure rotunda
Hosted by: Jan and Sean
It's the most wonderful time of the year! And RADP is pausing to take in the special Christmas entertainment offerings in the American pavilion. At 4:00pm, we will gather in the rotunda of the American Adventure to listen to the breathtaking holiday sounds of the Voices of Liberty. Afterward, we will head inside the main theater and enjoy the inspiring and heart-warming American Adventure. Then, we will head outside and take in the festive Kwanzaa presentation out on the World Showcase promenade.
Gran Fiesta Tour staring RADP
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Meet inside the entrance of the pavilion
Hosted by: Julie
Hola Amigos! It's time for a fiesta that only RADP can throw! Bring your margaritas, maracas or just yourself as we sail through the whimsical Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico pavilion. The fiesta starts at 7:00pm, when we will all gather inside the entrance of the pavilion. As soon as all of our amigos have arrived, we'll head off for the ride, staring Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito Pistolas! Andale!
Illuminations: Reflections of RADP
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Meet in the viewing area in front of the Norway pavilion
Hosted by: RADP
At 9:00pm, RADP will end the day with a viewing of the spectacular IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Simply arrive at the viewing area against the lagoon across from the Norway pavilion between 9:00 and 9:30, and settle in for a beautiful spectacle of fireworks, lasers and music. It's a perfect ending to a perfect RADP day.
Sunday, Dec 6 2009
Main Street Bakery Breakfast Meet
Time: 9:00am
Location: Meet in the Plaza Pavilion seating area
Hosted by: RADP
Start your Sunday with a sweet treat and a RADP meet! Whether you enjoy a cheese Danish or a sticky cinnamon roll, feel free to pick up your breakfast and meet up with your RADP pals in the Plaza Pavilion seating area right around 9:15am. After waking up and smelling the coffee, we'll head off to our castle photo meet.
Castle Photo Meet
Time: 10:00am
Location: Meet near the Partners statue in the Hub
Hosted by: Kevin
Time to look sharp! At 10:00am on the dot, we're gathering out in front of Cinderella Castle for a group photo...RADP style! Make sure to bring your camera, your Mickey ears, and your smile!
13th Annual Splash and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad meet
Time: 10:30am
Location: Splash Mountain
Hosted by: Jan, Charlotte, Tracy
For the 13th year in a row, RADP will launch a full-scale takeover of both Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. At 10:30am, we'll board Splash Mountain for a trip through our laughing place, then afterward go on the wildest ride in the wilderness, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! When you arrive, make sure to pick up a Fastpass for Big Thunder first before heading over to Splash Mountain. This is traditionally a very popular meet, and would be a great chance for newcomers to meet the RADP family!
RADP Mardi Gras Cruise and Ghost Tour
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Meet on bottom deck of the Liberty Belle
Hosted by: Kevin
RADP is bringing the color and pageantry of Mardi Gras to the Magic Kingdom for our first ever Mardi Gras Riverboat Cruise! Just make your way down to the bottom deck of the Liberty Belle at 12:00pm and prepare for a river cruise that rivals the best in New Orleans! We will even supply the beads! After the cruise, we will pay tribute to New Orleans' spooky and spirited history with a ghost tour through the Haunted Mansion!
Pirates and Pineapples
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Meet at Pirates of the Caribbean entrance
Hosted by: Don
Ahoy mateys! We're taking a trip to world's end as we sail the high seas aboard the Pirates of the Caribbean! At 3:00pm, we'll encounter Jack Sparrow, a smoldering village and the infamous hairy leg! After our journey through the Caribbean, we will pause for a Dole Whip sweet treat at Aloha Isle. Dead men tell no tales, but RADpers do! So be prepared for plenty of time to mix and mingle!
2009: A Space Oddity
Time: 4:30pm
Location: Meet near the main entrance
Hosted by: Julie
RADP, this is flight safety...prepare for launch on the newly refurbished Space Mountain! Our intergalactic journey through the universe will begin at 4:30pm when we board our rockets and blast off for a spin around the galaxy! In order to ride during this meet, make sure to grab a Fastpass earlier in the day, with a return time of 4:30pm or later.
Monday, Dec 7, 2009
Toy Story Mania Fastpass
Time: 9:00am
Location: Toy Story Mania
Hosted by: RADP
Make sure to pick up a Toy Story Mania Fastpass! These are a hot commodity, so be sure to grab yours before heading off for our Rock N Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror meet! You'll need it later!
11th Annual Rock N Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror Meet
Time: 9:30am
Location: Rock N' Roller Coaster Courtyard
Hosted by: Jan, Charlotte, Tracy
It's time to wake up and smell the thrill! We're going 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds, then freefalling faster than gravity in this eye opening set of meets! For the 11th year in a row, we will all assemble in the Rock N Roller Coaster courtyard at 9:30am. Once everyone has arrived, we will take a plunge into the Twilight Zone on the Tower of Terror! Afterward, we will race through Hollywood toward an Aerosmith concert aboard the Rock N Roller Coaster. Whether you ride or not, this meet will be a scream!
Sorceror Hat group photo
Time: 11:00am
Location: Meet at the fountain at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset
Hosted by: Kevin
Time to look sharp! At 11:00am on the dot, we're gathering at the fountain near the corner of Hollywood and Sunset for a group photo...RADP style! Make sure to bring your camera, your Mickey ears, and your smile!
American Idol Experience
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Meet at the Betty White bust
Hosted by: RADP
RADP is making our bid for stardom as we visit the all new American Idol Experience! We'll be reliving all the suspense, joy and anticipation of the television experience as we hear hopeful park goers sing for their chance at superstardom! We will be meeting at 1:30pm at the bust of the amazing Ms. Betty White, in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame!
RADP Refuel Pit Stop
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Meet in either Backlot Canteen or Writer's Stop depending on your drink preference
Hosted by: Catherine
After 3 1/2 days of exciting RADP meets, we're cooling off our engines and making a pit stop at 3:00pm for some tasty drinks. For those who want a "high octane" pit stop (meaning ALCOHOLIC!), gather at the Backlot Canteen, near the Studio Catering Company. And for those who want a "low octane" pit stop (meaning NON-ALCOHOLIC!), meet up with the group at the Writer's Stop on the Streets of America. Once you've cooled your pistons, don't be late for our Toy Story Mania meet!
Toy Story RADP Mania
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Meet at the Speak and Spell across from the entrance
Hosted by: Julie
It's time to see who's got the steadiest hand in the toy box! For our 4:00pm Toy Story Midway Mania meet, we will assemble into groups of 2 and participate in this playful shootout! But be sure to snap a photo of your score because there will be prizes awarded to those with the highest scores! Arrive with your game face on, but please, no angry eyes!
In order to ride during this meet, please ensure that you have a FastPass with a return time of 4:00pm or earlier.
Fantasia Gardens Minigolf meet
Time: 08:30pm
Location: Fantasia Gardens - Meet at the main entrance
Hosted by: Sean and Pam
With the 14th annual RADP Holiday Meet coming to a close, our final hurrah will be a rousing round of mini golf at Fantasia Gardens! The fun begins at 8:30pm at the entrance of Fantasia Gardens mini golf course, which is located between the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts. We'll chip, put and laugh our way through 18 holes of mini golf themed to Disney's classic film Fantasia. People of all ages and golfing abilities will have a great time during this mini golfing adventure meet!
Host a Meet!
If you would like to host a RADP meet, we would love to add you to the schedule. No experience is necessary. Most meets will practically run themselves. You can opt to host any meet you see on the schedule that doesn't already have a host or you can come up with your very own idea for a meet. There are many rides and attractions at Walt Disney World and our schedule only touches on a small handful. If we don't have a meet at your favorite place, then host one and we'll add it to our schedule. Many of our RADP friends will attend it as well. Just send the relevant info to holidaymeet07@radp.org. It's a great way to get to meet lots of fellow RADPers.
If you have any questions about a particular scheduled meet, please feel free to email the meet host directly.
Got a Suggestion or Idea?
We are always looking for fun new things to do as a group at Walt Disney World. If you have any suggestions or ideas to share with us, send them along to holidaymeet07@radp.org.
Get You Own RADP Pin!
RADP pins look exactly like the red circle logo at the right. The only difference is you can have your name added to the bottom of the pin if you would like. Pins cost $3 shipped and can be ordered from http://meets.radp.org/radppins.htm Please allow at least 3 weeks when ordering.
Make your plans to join us now!
Print out our schedule and stop by and say hi to your fellow RADPers this December. Put a face to the name you read and have a great time with a great group of people who do this year after year.
Come chat about your plans!
On Wednesday and Sunday evenings, starting around 9:30pm Eastern Time, join us for RADP-friends chat. Use any IRC chat client to join in the fun! Instructions are available on the radp.org site, or use our Java IRC chat program.
Can't join us for the RADP-14 Meet?
Mark your calendar now for RADP XV: December 10-13, 2010!
