Hundreds of people joyously watch eclipse in downtown Orlando

The front lawn of the Dr. Phillips Center in downtown Orlando was full of joy on Monday afternoon during the total solar eclipse of 2017.

Hundreds of people, friends and family came out for an afternoon of food, ice cream and deep eclipse appreciation.

The excitement came to a peak just as the eclipse did shortly before 3 p.m.

(Mobile users click here to see video of peak excitement)

Many people forgot to bring glasses ahead of time.  People who ran the event, such as Laura Harland of the Orlando Science Center handed out hundreds, but it still wasn’t enough.

“It has been extremely busy,” Harland said.  “There were lines up and down the park.”

Event organizers announced to the crowd that they should share glasses with people who didn't have, and there didn't seem to be a problem after that.  People were passing their glasses around to others who didn't have them.
"It was really cool," said one woman afterwards.  "I definitely want to go see it in totality next time."

Her friend agreed: “My goal is to see it in totality.  I will travel to see it.”