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View Full Version : 50th Anniversary and Me (longer than I thought)



ozbeauticn
07-21-2005, 08:55 PM
We arrived at the resort Saturday morning so we would have a full day in the parks before the long wait and big crowds on Sunday. We went on all our rides, got our 50th pennies, and had a grand ole time. My roommate and I had already been during the 50th (on May 5th) but my boyfriend hadn’t been yet so he was eager to see and do EVERYTHING. It was a hot day, but we toughed it out and did everything we had planned. After watching the fireworks (my boyfriend finally understood why I was in such awe) we decided to head towards the exit to check on what was happening at DCA. We walked over to the gates to ask a CM when a girl told us her sister just called and there are already people lining up outside the security gates. So, we head over there where around 50 people are forming a line. We all start gossiping about what we’ve heard is going on that night and the next day. From reading mouseplanet, I seemed to be the most knowledgeable. This was only around 10:30, so we knew it was going to be a LONG night… but I had no idea what was really in store.

Around 11:30 (maybe?) they moved us along the hedges to form the line we would stand in until they opened DCA. They started a count and now we were around 80th in line. We staked out our spot and laid down. This is where it went downhill… The night had a lot of funny/strange/awful circumstances. People trying to climb through the hedges, groups growing from 2 people to 25 people, CMs telling people they couldn’t even go to the bathroom and come back to line anymore. Lucky me had forgotten not to mix the heat and sun all day with my antibiotic and I quickly started feeling sick. By around 1:00 I was extremely nauseous, and everyone around me was asking if I was ok, offering all kinds of different medicines or water or other things that would help me feel better. It was hard to tell them that unfortunately it wasn’t something more medicine would fix. Finally I couldn’t stand it anymore and they brought a cast member to escort me to the bathroom (I was horrified that if I left now they wouldn’t let me back in line). We finally got into DCA. We were the second group to go in, so maybe the 100-150th people to go in? We were orange wristbands right in front of one of the doors to Greetings across from Enginears. Basically, the entire night consisted of me running to the bathroom while my boyfriend just got more and more worried, and my roommate stole the whole blanket and slept like a baby :rolleyes:

Even though I wasn’t in the best mood, it was great to see all of the devoted fans of Disney. Almost everyone was extremely nice and especially wonderful to me feeling the way I was. We made great friends with the family in front of us and the two boys behind us(who had brought their laptops that were serenading me with the DL 6 disc set). At one point Matt Ouimet was walking around and everyone was running up to get their pictures with him(I’m regretting getting sick now, I have NO good pictures of Sunday). There were also tons of photographers walking around taking pictures. All the CMs seemed to be in great moods even though they were working so early in the morning.

We were finally out between DCA and DL waiting to be let in. They told us it would be 15 minutes so I ran to the bathroom. When I came out the line was moving and my roommate was long gone! SO my boyfriend and I run into line and get inside as fast as we can. It was great to see all the cast members lining Main Street. I wish I could have enjoyed it more… It really made me feel important. Also, as we were walking down a man with a camera came right up about a foot from my boyfriend and I and took a couple pictures. I’m sure I was NOT very cute… Once we get to the line outside Big Thunder Ranch, a CM tells me I can’t go find my roommate even though she has my purse. Finally we find a CM who will take us up there, then have people (who were not anywhere near us all night but ran up when we were supposed to be walking in orderly fashion) yell at us that we couldn’t keep up and its not fair we’re cutting in line. Those are the people I don’t like at Disneyland. Everyone else was wonderful. The people around us agreed we’d been hanging out with them all night. We had our little family that had looked out for each other for the last 10 hours (wow that’s a long night…) We all got our pin and a lady next to us in that line asked me if I was feeling better (I had never seen her before in my life). It makes you feel good to know that there are still caring people out there (found at DL surprise, surprise!). Even though none of the people there had to care about me at all, everyone was extremely nice to me.

Sunday went by pretty slowly and I felt horribly that I had to drag my boyfriend and roommate down with me. At one point I went to go rest in First Aid. I was sitting on the cot with my boyfriend when Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy walked in! I just started bawling. I felt so stupid! I laugh about it now but I just could not stop crying. I missed out on my free chance to get a good picture with them. Oh well… The people laying in there were loud so I didn’t stay long.

Overall I am SO glad I went. I may not have felt great and I may have now thrown up in my fair share of DL toilets, but all of that was worth it. I couldn’t eat the cupcakes and I had to sit in the air conditioner all day. I didn’t get to ride Matterhorn or Big Thunder. I was cranky from being up 40 hours. I couldn’t eat and enjpy all my favorite DL foods. We didn’t make it over to Pirates(which I don’t like anyway) or Haunted Mansion. And we forgot our cards to sign up for the VMK tour. But with everything that went wrong, the CMs and the other guests made this trip one of the most memorable I will ever have. I don’t have many pictures to keep with me, but I made memories that will last a lifetime!

Shortiemetoo
07-21-2005, 09:37 PM
I am so sorry you got so sick but I understnad how wonderful it was as I was a pink band, somewhat behind you!!! I am happy you got your pin, I got mine also and am really happy about that!!!
Thank you for sharing your experiences!!