I have been to DL a few times but have never noticed anything as a spicail opening the park celebration. I have friends who were chosen to open the MK park in DW this winter and it sounded awesome. They won it through the millions dreams thing. Is it a much bigger deal in DW than in DL?

The few times I have been there for park opening, they have had Main Street roped off, and they had Walt's opening day speech over the loud speakers and then dropped the rope. Nothing huge, but something.

Back in 2005 they used to pick a family to count-down the gates opening. The band would be in front of the train station, the family in front of them and a CM telling everyone waiting to count down and say something like "let the magic begin" (?) I haven't been at a park opening since, we've had EE or done DCA first so I'm not sure if they still do this.

I have been to DL a few times but have never noticed anything as a spicail opening the park celebration. I have friends who were chosen to open the MK park in DW this winter and it sounded awesome. They won it through the millions dreams thing. Is it a much bigger deal in DW than in DL?

It was a big deal when we were at WDW in Feb. 07. It was a pretty cool show. All the characters came in on the train with the family. There is also a much bigger area to watch the show. They couldn't do anything like that at DL because it would cause so much congestion. If they did it before they started letting people in you wouldn't be able to see it very well.

I've seen them do this at DCA but can't remeber whether last sept or apr??? Picked someone out of crowd, took them inside and had a countdown.

we loved the opening ceremonies at WDW in jan/feb; the MK one with the train and the characters and the singing and dancing CMs was a really cheerful happy way to start the day, and the 'pixie dust' they sprinkle everywhere is also fun. At Animal Kingdom, they also have a really fun opening ceremony based on a kind of safari with Mickey appearing in the distance. At Epcot, they do a traditional countdown with all the characters working the rope drop for ten minutes beforehand - I got a big hug and a squishy kiss from Minnie which was a cool way to start the day! We never did ropedrop at HS but I bet they do something like that there too. It makes the countdown at ropedrop at DL seem a little underwhelming but I am always so happy to be there that its only a fleeting disappointment.

When we were there in August they choose a family from those waiting in line at the gates. The family went through and led a countdown to open the gates. the CMs took their picture for them and gave them special buttons or somehting. Looked like fun.