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View Full Version : My 50th Anniv Report + Pics



amyrae
07-21-2005, 06:09 PM
First time poster here...
We were in the park for 3 days, but I'll save you my first few days report (it's kinda long) and just give you the day of and my pictures. I took this straight from my personal journal so if something doesn't make sense it's probably because it related back to something I'd said earlier or a personal thing...

From around 12:45 until almost 4:00 am we very slowly inched along in the line. As the line moved were searched, issued orange wrist bands, given our gold mouse ears and maps and finally able to relax and wait in DCA. Frankie and I immediately made our “bed” and went to sleep. Of course this wasn’t normal sleep. This is that state where you’re hearing all the voices and conversations around you and they form into crazy dreams. We managed to sleep for about an hour and a half. During that time we were apparently taped for the Disney Channel, and they got a close up of Frankie sleeping with his mouse ears over his eyes to block the light. Hopefully they didn’t get a close up of me with my crazy hair curled up next to Frankie trying to use his body heat to stay warm.

I got woken up by Frankie to a "riot" of sorts. Rumor had it that the Limited Edition pins would be free to the first 5000 people in line. What we heard after the fact was that some how word got out that they were handing the vouchers out for the pins and in the blink of an eye the streets of “Hollywood” were empty as every ran to get the voucher. I'm not entirely sure if thats why everyone went running - I was sleeping! Anyway, truth of the matter was NOTHING was happening and everyone was sent back to the line. Soon they started escorting guests out of DCA and over to Disneyland to line up at the gate to be let into the park. Frankie and I were a part of the wristband group people let into the park, as the day went on we found out that our orange wristbands drew people in to ask us what it was like to be one of the first in. As we were escorted to the park we saw that the line to get in to the park was out of control. Frankie said when he left to go back to the hotel, the line twisted and turned like it did the night before. As we walked through the gates, it was a surreal experience. Walking under the bridge and onto Main Street I couldn’t hold it back and my eyes welled up. The first thing we heard was “Welcome Home” and it just blew me away. Seeing all the cast members lining the streets waving with huge smiles on their faces, welcoming into a place we’d been so many times before, but I felt like I was experiencing for the first time. We walked down Main Street carrying our pillows and blankets in complete awe and the next thing we knew, we were local celebrities. A photographer was taking our photo from the side of the street then jumped up and walked in front of us snapping photo after photo of us with our “camping gear.”

We headed over to the arena to get our Limited Edition pin. Geneva’s family met back up with us so they offered to hold our camping stuff and along with a few other people we were the first people to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad that day. Riding the ride, waving to the people in line, just gave new meaning to it all.

After the ride we went and got back in line and found out that the pin in fact was not free, but $8.50 – I have enough pictures and memories to prove I was there that day, I didn’t need to spend $8.50 on a pin. So we left the line. Frankie headed out of the park to get Derek, I headed over to the castle to wait for the ceremony. I staked out a spot on the edge of the street. Sat on the curb and waited. After almost two hours, Frankie and Derek met back up with me, were escorted to where I was and they brought donuts. Just as I took a donut out to eat it a woman with a camera crew came up to interview us. First thing out of my mouth was “Can I eat my donut first?” I took a bite and then she interviewed us. She asked us what it was like to be there for the 50th and so many words came out of our mouths then finally I just said what I felt – “You can’t put it into words. It’s just overwhelming to be a part of history.” After we were done the camera man focused on me and said “So how’s the donut?” I laughed said, “Amazing” and shoved the whole thing in my mouth. He laughed was like “We gotta use that.” I turned to Frankie and Derek and laughed saying – ‘I have a feeling that will be the only part they use…’ We waited a little longer and finally the ceremony happened.

Art Linkletter – the original MC for the Opening of Disneyland started it all off. They played Ronald Reagan’s speech from the 35th Anniversary and that’s what set me off. I cried through the rest of the ceremony. They had a series of speeches including Michael Eisner, Robert Iger, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Diane Disney Miller and then a song a performance with all the characters. At the end they set of fireworks and released doves. The ceremony was really neat to be a part of but I think the coolest thing was to turn around and just see a sea of gold mouse ears. Thousands and thousands of people all there to celebrate and all wearing their ears.

After the ceremony we headed back over to the hotel. I got a shower and got cleaned up. We gathered our stuff and checked out of the hotel room. We headed over to Mimi’s café and ate some lunch then headed back over to the park. We spent most of the day at DCA. We watched Aladdin, with the hottest Aladdin we’ve seen ever. He was simply beautiful. We also rode Tower of Terror and spent time in the Animation Studio. This time I got to talk to Crush in Turtle Talk! I asked him what his favorite thing to eat was – and then he asked me what I like to eat. I told him that day it was cupcakes because it was Disneyland’s Anniversary. After the Animation Studio it was time for Walt Disney’s original dedication speech. So we headed over to the plaza in DCA to watch. They played the original dedication and as soon as Walt started speaking I started to cry again. There is just something about hearing Walt Disney say – “To all who come to this happy place: Welcome." I spotted another photographer taking a bunch of photos of us. No doubt he got some as I was wiping all the tears off my cheeks. They again released doves and then played a little collage of Walt and as Disneyland was being built. After that we rode a couple more rides then settled down with a frozen treat in the shade. This of course turned into both Frankie and I falling asleep. We watched the Block Party Parade then headed back over to Disneyland to wait for Fantasmic.

We claimed our spot then Frankie made the mistake of volunteering to walk to the car. He got the blanket for us and a change of clothes for me. He came back and we laid out the blanket then he and I went and rode Pirates of the Carribean, one last time. After that we got some popcorn and sat down with Derek. We watched Fantasmic, which of course gets better EVERY time. Then the fireworks. Again, as soon as the Tiki Room song started and I heard the entire park singing I cried. After the fireworks we went and rode the Haunted Mansion. I rode for the first time in a car by myself and I liked it because I noticed so many things I’d never seen before.

After the Haunted Mansion we headed over to Downtown Disney and did our shopping. Said good-bye to Disneyland then headed home. We weren’t even on the highway before I fell asleep in the back seat. I had some crazy dreams.

Pictures:
Page 1 (http://www.amyrae.com/disneyland/dpictures.html)
Page 2 (http://www.amyrae.com/disneyland/dpictures2.html)
Page 3 (http://www.amyrae.com/disneyland/dpictures3.html)

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 07:48 PM
I was somewhere behind you at the beginnings of the pink bracelets. I did wait in line for a pin and thought that the price was very reasonable considering the demand for the pin!!
So happy you had such a wonderful time!!

Hakuna Makarla
07-21-2005, 07:54 PM
OMG you did not buy the pin?? I wish I had one! I am dizzy thinking about you being this close to having one and not getting it...................
But I am so glad you did what you wanted and rode some great rides. Great report hon!!

Earkid
07-21-2005, 08:02 PM
Loved your front line trip report and the pics are really cute. Thanks for sharing them. :)

PrincessAmie
07-22-2005, 07:35 AM
Awww, it sounds like you had a lot of fun! I got all teary reading your report. What an awesome experience.