Please please help us to solve a mystery

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ali5

United Kingdom
33 Posts
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 14:18:34

Hi everyone and a Hapy New Year to you all :)

Can anyone help my two children, Abbie and Callum, solve the following:

My Dad holidayed in Disney in 1994 and 1995 and had his photograph taken standing next to a painted gnome. The gnome had a script in his right-hand which read 'These Rides are for Little Gnomes shorter than my arm'. His left-hand is out stretched and Dad is bending down laughing.

Now Grandad was very very special to my kids and they want to have a photo taken in the same place so they can frame the photo and hang it on their bedroom wall next to grandad's special picture. (Grandad died in 2003).

I have tried to tell them that it was a long time ago and that the chances of the gnome still being their is very remote but I said I would try to find out where it was taken. Could it be Busch as in the background there is a sign post with Koalas pointing one way, ??? House pointing the next and Cong?? ??? they other?

any help would be really appreciated. Again thanks to all

Ali

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thornton

United Kingdom
3278 Posts
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Status: online

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 14:39:58

I am sorry Ali that I cannot help you although we had been many times before 1995 but I am sure there will be someone who will be able to help you.

Jill and Brian
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2089.aspx

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ravtino

United Kingdom
1103 Posts
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 15:02:55

Can you put the picture up and then someone might remember it?

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another

United Kingdom
975 Posts
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 15:16:29

Could it have been a Dwarf instead of a Gnome?

Busch Gardens had a Dwarf Village till 1985 when it was closed and reopened as the Land of the Dragons.

quote:
Land of the Dragons
A children's section filled with scaled down versions of popular thrill rides and a massive treehouse playground. The section opened up in 1995 and replaced the Dwarf Village, a smaller kids area.

Frances

http://www.villasflorida.com/florida-vacation-rental-3257.aspx

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GrahamC

United Kingdom
3284 Posts
Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 19:54:59

If you can post the actual picture it would be a great help. We were out there then, and it may jog a few memories.

GrahamC

http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1968.aspx

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Kazzie

United Kingdom
4158 Posts
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 20:12:53

Ali,

If you "Google" dwarf village, Busch Gardens, then click on images, on the first page scroll down and there are a couple of photos of a woman named Sue. The picture is Sue with some dwarfs, does this look similar to the photo of your Dad? Sadly if it is Dwarf Village as Frances has already said this was closed and re-opened as Land of the Dragons in 1995.

Karen
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2185.aspx

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ali5

United Kingdom
33 Posts
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 21:29:02

thanks everyone for your replies.

Karen, googled and looked at images but they are not the same. Will take the photo into work on Monday and scan into computer.

Cheers everyone

Ali

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Kazzie

United Kingdom
4158 Posts
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 21:43:48

Hopefully that will be good news then Ali, when people see the photo you may get to know where exactly the photo was taken and with a bit of luck the dwarf/gnome will still be there.

quote:
Originally posted by ali5
thanks everyone for your replies.

Karen, googled and looked at images but they are not the same. Will take the photo into work on Monday and scan into computer.

Cheers everyone

Karen
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2185.aspx

Edited by - Kazzie on 05 Jan 2008 21:44:36

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dawn burley

United Kingdom
574 Posts
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 22:44:29

Ali your request really touched me, I really hope once you have scanned and posted your photo on here we can all do a bit of detective work and find out where it was taken

Dawn

http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2003.aspx

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ali5

United Kingdom
33 Posts
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Status: offline

Posted - 06 Jan 2008 : 17:03:16

Thanks Dawn.

Will post photo on Monday but am not holding my breathe - I think it will have been long removed by now.

Ali

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ali5

United Kingdom
33 Posts
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 16:52:22

Hiya - well here goes will try to attempt to insert the photo for your comments. Not holdinbg out much hope though.

Thanks everyone for all your help

Ali

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Kazzie

United Kingdom
4158 Posts
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 16:57:11

Ali, its a brilliant picture and I am sure if anybody as actually been there they will know exactly where it is/was. Good luck.

Karen
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2185.aspx

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blott

United Kingdom
21274 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 17:03:46

Great pic.

Does the beginning of the word just above the gnome's right shoulder say 'Congo' does anyone think?

If so, Congo River Rapids are at Busch Gardens...

And does the second one down say 'Sere....'?

If so, that's also at Busch Gardens...

Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx

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florida4sun

United Kingdom
6525 Posts
Joined: 16 Feb 2002
Status: online

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 17:07:05

It is is definitely Busch Gardens, I am pretty sure this was replaced a few years back sorry.

quote:
Originally posted by blott
Great pic.

Does the beginning of the word just above the gnome's right shoulder say 'Congo' does anyone think?

If so, Congo River Rapids are at Busch Gardens...

And does the second one down say 'Sere....'?

If so, that's also at Busch Gardens...

Martin
Resident Ticket Guru
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Edited by - florida4sun on 08 Jan 2008 17:09:45

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brizzle

United Kingdom
1127 Posts
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 17:08:59

Looking a a Busch Gardens map, there is an area called 'Land of Dragons' which has a macimum height restriction on all rides of 56 inches.
Up the path from there are the 'Stanleyville' and 'Congo' areas.

On the map just the other way is a restaurant called 'Hospitality House Pizza' which may also explain the '...house' signage too.

My guess purely looking at the map on their site is that this was taken at the entrance to 'Land of Dragons' in Busch Gardens.

Edited by - brizzle on 08 Jan 2008 17:10:49

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Jules

United Kingdom
1851 Posts
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 17:09:47

Hi Ali,

Looking at the sign behind your Dad it looks as though it is/was at Busch Gardens because there are rides there called Stanley Falls and Congo River rapids and it looks as though they are listed on the signpost. Whether or not the gnome is still there I'm afraid I don't know I hope it is because it would be lovely for your children to get their own photo.

Julie
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1510.aspx

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ravtino

United Kingdom
1103 Posts
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 17:37:38

Oh what good detectives you would all make, i just love it when we can help one another.

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Nina A

United Kingdom
1178 Posts
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 17:50:05

Hi Ali, Would you mind if I sent the picture to the authors I know of a Florida guide? They will know the people at Bush Gardens and would I'm sure make enquiries for you. This is such a lovely story and Busch Gardens would probably be keen to help. Even if the area has been revamped they may still have the gnome in storage somewhere or at least you may still be able to stand in the same place. You might have to agree to some publicity though, as it's just the kind of story they like for the local paper or tv news.

Just DM me if you'd like me to send the picture.

Nina
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-3217.aspx
http://www.orlandovillarental.com/florida-vacation-rental-3219.aspx
http://www.orlandovillarental.com/florida-vacation-rental-3302.aspx

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lewisp

United Kingdom
496 Posts
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 18:12:33

I too think its Busch Gardens from the signs behind the gnome but I was there recently and afraid I didnt see this gnome there. I think the area was probably dug up for the new ride "Sheekra" which is quite close to the Stanleyville station area. They have redeveloped Busch gardens quite extensively since 1995 and currently they are getting rid of the area where the white tigers were. Its so sad to see the old place becoming unrecognisable but thats progress I suppose. Gill

http://www.onlinefloridavillas.com/Villas/1971.aspx

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ali5

United Kingdom
33 Posts
Joined: 26 Aug 2007
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 19:00:06

Wow - so much help from everyone. Thank you, thank you all for your help and advice.

Nina tried to DM you but don't think it would let me - you have my full permission to forward the photo to anyone who may help.

As you can all see this is a special picture to my family and the childrens idea of having their photo taken really taken in the same place really bought a tear to my eyes.

Thank you all again and a big thank you from Callum and Abbie.

Ali

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Nina A

United Kingdom
1178 Posts
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Status: offline

Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 21:26:13

quote:
Originally posted by ali5
Wow - so much help from everyone. Thank you, thank you all for your help and advice.

Nina tried to DM you but don't think it would let me - you have my full permission to forward the photo to anyone who may help.

As you can all see this is a special picture to my family and the childrens idea of having their photo taken really taken in the same place really bought a tear to my eyes.

Thank you all again and a big thank you from Callum and Abbie.

Ali you are very welcome. I'll let you know when I hear anything. I do hope something can be worked out for you, it's such a lovely idea and obviously means a great deal to Callum and Abbie.

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