I was there!!! July 17th report
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infinity&beyond · 07-25-2005, 11:38 AM

Another installment...

After Walt's opening speech, most of the visitors seemed to start heading towards the exits! I suppose since many had been up since 2am or earlier, they were ready to go home for a nap. Well, we weren't going to let a little sleepiness stop up from enjoying the full day, so we were able to really take advantage of the much emptier park and the perfect weather. We haded to Fantasyland, and took in a few attractions that we hadn't yet hit earlier in the week. Even Dumbo! And we had fun taking pictures with all the golden ride vehicles. There is an Autopia car, a Teacup, a Dumbo, and a Peter Pan Pirate Ship that are all perfect photo opportunities and a great way to celebrate the 50th. We haded over to Adventureland and tried our luck at the shooting gallery (I'm REALLY a bad shot!) Then we went to what USED to be the candy store next to the shooting gallery, but is now a hat shop. My boyfriend bought the silliest mouse ears I have ever seen. If you have seen those giant foam "number one" hands that people wave around at basketball games, it's like that. Giant, foam, and on his head. I couldn't believe how much attention they got. Several people came up asking where he found those ears, including many cast members.

We then went in search of food. After much deliberation, we finally decided on the vegetable stew in a bread bowl, at the River Belle Terrace. It was pretty good, and the nicest part was getting off our feet for a little while! We sat at a window overlooking the walkway by Tarzan's Treehouse, and had fun making faces with a little girl who kept peeking in the window.

Just a side note here. All day, everyone was wearing their Golden Mouse Ears. It was so fun to see. Also, everyone was on a huge sugar rush eating all those cupcakes. The cast members kept trying to get us to eat more cupcakes, but we resisted. And there were sevearl jumbotrons throughout the park, which showed vignettes of Disneyland through the years, and replayed the morning ceremony, the afternoon speech, and the window ceremony all day. It was nice "background music."

We headed back to Critter Country, and rode Winnie the Pooh. We decided against Splah Mountain, since neither of us wanted to be wet. But Big Thunder Mountain seemed like a good idea, so we took our ears off for a few minutes and rode the haunted train through the desert.

As evening approached, we decided to watch the fireworks show again. This is the best fireworks show I have every seen, it really is fantastic. We decided this time to watch them from It's A Small World, but first we had to get back there! about one hour prior to the start of the fireworks, they close down Fantasyland, and they set up several one-way routes to keep everyone moving. We had to go across the hub into Tomorrowland, then swing all the way through Tomorrowland and head back towards It's a Small World over by the Submarine Lagoon. It was a roundabout way, but we got a nice tour of Tomorrowland in the process, which is so much more alive now that Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear are open. It is great to see that space busy again!

There were maybe 50-100 people waiting to watch the fireworks in front of It's A Small World, so we had our choice of seats. Again, it was nice to just sit back and relax for a while. When the fireworks started, we sat back and enjoyed watching them burst over our heads. It's not as good of a viewing area as it is in front of the castle, but since we had already seen it there, this was a nice change. We could feel the blasts! I love the soundtrack, too.

In anticipation of all the corwds, there were THREE Fantasmic! shows scheduled that evening, so we decided to see the last show, which started at 11:30. We finally made it to Rivers of America around 11:15, and there were plenty of great seats available right in front, so we sat back and enjoyed watching Mickey's dream. It was a great way to end the day.

By the time we got out of the park, it was well after midnight. As we walked under the train station, there were about 6 cast members on the bridge wearing Mickey Mouse gloves and waving at the guests, thanking them for coming and celebrating with them. It was a great finish to the day! More cast members stood by the gate as we walked out, again they thanked us for joining in the party. I was sad that the day was over, but so thrilled that I was able to be a part of it.

My special golden ears hold a place of honor in my room, and the memories will last a lifetime.

"To all who come to this happy place, welcome. This land is your land."

**Colexis Mom** · 07-25-2005, 12:03 PM

What a great ending to your day Barbara

Thanks for sharing it with us

Fantasmic! kid · 07-25-2005, 12:52 PM

Wow! It sounds like it was more controlled that day then May 5th!

Oooohhhh I can't wait to go to the park again soon! I wonder how crowded DCA was?

infinity&beyond · 07-25-2005, 02:04 PM

According to the CMs, DCA was really dead on the 17th. But when we were there on the 18th, it was the most crowded I could remember seeing it!

**chezp** · 07-25-2005, 02:37 PM

Barbara, it sounds like you had an awesome day - thank you so much for sharing the experience with us.

PrincessSharon · 07-26-2005, 11:42 AM

Sounds like a fantastic day! Glad the crowds cleared out and you got to enjoy a lot of the attractions! That really was a magical day! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

James_Goodman · 07-26-2005, 11:36 PM

I was there with you! Maybe I saw you sometime? I think the Cast Members with their MICKEY HANDS waving goodbye to everyone from the bridge was just amazing....it was a special day. I would love to see your photos! I took about 88 of them that day...and then went back the weekend after as well! Too much Disney and not enough time! HA HA HA!

**DebiDebiDebi** · 07-27-2005, 08:53 AM

[ QUOTE ]
...As we walked under the train station, there were about 6 cast members on the bridge wearing Mickey Mouse gloves and waving at the guests, thanking them for coming

[/ QUOTE ]

they do this when you leave Port Canavaral and again from Castaway Cay when you sail with Disney. We loved this bit of "magic".

lauren-roxy · 07-29-2005, 02:40 PM

Thanks so much for sharing your day Barbara!! How cool to be part of history and get to enjoy all the wonderful speeches!! Truly magical!!

**DopeyGirl** · 07-29-2005, 03:12 PM

Barbara . . . I am wiping my eyes right now . . . I teared right up reading your report!!!

I cried the entire time watching the "Remember . . . Dreams Come True" fireworks (we sat in Town Square) . . .

Didn't get a chance to catch Fantasmic while we were there due to the crowd level . . . people were camping out for 6-7 hours around the Rivers of America for the first show!!!

Thanks for sharing your day with us!!! It sounds like it was really fun, despite the crowds!!!

Peg · 07-30-2005, 08:07 PM

Barbara! I teared up reading your report as well! It was as if I was with you - you explained everything so well and your writing just BURST with excitement!!! You're so lucky to have been there on the special day!!!!