I was there!!! July 17th report
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infinity&beyond · 07-21-2005, 07:52 PM

Hey all! Just got back from a fantastic week long trip to Disneyland resort, all centered around the July 17th celebration. A quick overview, the park was crowded the entire time, however I thought the slower days were Saturday and Sunday (!!)

I'll just report on the 17th, which really started for me at midnight, when we were still in the park from Saturday! We went to the ice cream shop to end our day, and noticed that our receipts showed we were actually in the park on the 17th, at 12:18am!! There were several guests discussing that they could now avoid the Sunday crowds, since they really were there on the day of the celebration. This wouldn't do for us, though. We finally made our way out of the park around 1:15am, after savoring our ice cream and going to the lockers. As we walked through the esplanade, I noticed people coming IN the baggage check line carrying several cups of coffee, hmmmm... These crazy people were headed towards the line that was already forming for people who wanted to get into Disneyland first thing on Sunday, to be one of the lucky few to get an "I Was There" pin, limited to only 5,000 (one per person). We considered just waiting in that line, but decided that a few hours of sleep would help us enjoy the day a little more, so we walked through Downtown Disney to our room at the Disneyland Hotel, and set the alarm for (eek) 5:00 am.

The alarm went off far too early, and we stumbled out of bed and into our favorite limited edition SHAG Tiki Room hawaiian shirts. By the time we got down to the line, it was about 6:15am, and there were lots of people in line in front of us. Within 45 minutes, the line went from the bag check area, through Downtown Disney back to the Monorail station, then wound back around all the way back to the bag check area and started to head up into the tram area. About 7:20, the line started moving through the bag check area and into the esplanade. We had about 40 people in front of our line, and all the ticket gates had lines in front of them. We watched as thousands (really!) of people who had camped out overnight in DCA were funneled into Disneyland, it took over an hour for everyone to get across the esplanade. Meanwhile, those of us waiting in line were really having a fun time (in line? Yes!) We were doing the wave, speculating on what things would be happening, and generally enjoying the anticipation with thousands of like-minded Disney fans. Finally, the countdown started. We all counted down 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1!! The gates opened and everyone entered the park in a very orderly fashion! Cast members greeted each of us with a special pair of golden ears and a special commemorative map/guide. We headed on to Main Street and marveled at the sea of golden hats that filled the entire area. There were jumbotrons set up at a few locations, showing historic footage of Disneyland construction and replaying the window dedication that had happened just that morning on Main Street. Our first stop was food and lockers. Most of the lockers were already used up when we got there, but we were able to secure what we needed, then we went across to the Main Street Bakery for a little breakfast. The line was about 30 minutes, and I ordered a few things for us to enjoy throughout the day, to avoid waiting in more lines.

We purchased some of the special merchandise that was released that morning: t-shirts, mugs, pins and magnets, and then headed towards the castle to watch the opening ceremony at 10am. A photographer was busy taking pictures from a crane of all the golden hat wearing guests on Main Street. It really was an unforgettable site! The speeches were okay, Art Linkletter's was really good (I couldn't believe he was 93!) Arnold Swarzenegger's speech sounded like a campaign speech, talking about how great Disneyland was for the economy. Diane Disney Miller's speech was also moving.

Anyway...I'll have to continue tomorrow, work calls!

snoozy · 07-21-2005, 10:14 PM

can't wait to hear more

**Colexis Mom** · 07-22-2005, 05:47 AM

How lucky you were there

Can't wait to hear more

gwugirl03 · 07-22-2005, 08:36 AM

Looking forward to hearing more!

**DebiDebiDebi** · 07-22-2005, 08:55 AM

My folks and sister were there as well, and they had a great time! Can't wait to hear more!

PrincessSharon · 07-22-2005, 09:52 AM

How exciting to be there on the 17th! Hurry back with more, please!

infinity&beyond · 07-22-2005, 11:42 AM

Okay, another installment...the speeches were nice. Unfortunately they were in front of Cinderella's castle and only the press and VIPs were up there, so we stood on tip toe, peeked between the leaves of the trees and watched the jumbotron as each of the special guests made presentations. Art Linkletter had one memorable story. He told about a man who had come up to him the day before and said that it was to bad Walt wasn't here to see all of this. Art Linkletter responded, "Walt did see all of this, that's why we're here." I admit, I teared up...a little. Diane Disney Miller told the crowd that Walt wouldn't let her and her sister and his wife come to Disneyland on opening day because he had enough to worry about. She said they were okay with that, after all, they got to go to the park every day! Then she recited Walt's opening speech (okay, I teared up...again), and the daytime fireworks went off! What a great start to the day.

Oh, then there were the CUPCAKES! Every restaurant, walk up window, and many cast members had trays of cupcakes for everyone to enjoy. I had one, to join in the celebration, but they were really sweet and I think there was more frosting than cake.

We had not planned on going on any attractions during this day, we just wanted to enjoy the atmosphere. Surprisingly, the crowds seemed quiter then other days. Perhaps the rumors of a capacity crowd kept people away. Plus, we guessed that all the people who waited in line all night went in, got their limited edition pin, then went home to sleep. We did go on a few attractions, including the Disneyland Railroad (for a "grand circle tour" around the park), and Snow White's Scary Adventures. In the early afternoon, we decided to see what the special merchandise line back at the Festival Arena was like, so we enjoyed a nice stroll down the Big Thunder Mountain trail and waited in the relatively short line for about 30 minutes to buy a couple of pins that were released that day. It was fun talking with other visitors, because the were all serious Disney fans, and shared similar interests with us. We met a few people who had come from Florida to be at Disneyland for the actual birthday. It is so nice to see that kind of dedication.

At 4:45pm, they were going to re-broadcast Walt's original speech at the same time he gave it on July 17, 1955. We decided to view it from Town Square, since that is where it really happened. As all heads were turned towards the Jumbotron, I looked around and noticed Mickey Mouse in his 50th finery, standing in front of the plaque at the base of the flagpole, with no one around. He stood there the whole time, I took a few pictures and Mickey even gave me a little wave. It was really touching to hear Walt's speech and to be standing right where he stood 50 years earlier. I teared up...again...okay, maybe an actual tear or two made it out. Actually, after the speech was over they showed a montage of portraits and images from Disneyland and of Walt Disney that was pretty good at pulling on those heartstrings. As we were leaving the area I was wiping my eyes, and another woman looked at me and said, "I'm glad I'm not the only one!" Wow.

**Colexis Mom** · 07-22-2005, 12:24 PM

Another great update Barbara

Thanks for sharing that! How cool you were there

PrincessSharon · 07-22-2005, 02:55 PM

Great update! I would've been tearing up, too! It really sounds like it was a fantastic experience. I can't wait to read more!

zacksmom_1993 · 07-22-2005, 05:41 PM

so much for sharing that with us. I got a little choked up just reading it. As I was watching the Wonderful World of Disney on Saturday night and different celebrities were talking about Disneyland, it was all I could do to not jump in my car and drive all night to be there. Thanks for letting me experience it through your memories. Sounds like a magical day!

Karen

Diz · 07-22-2005, 07:42 PM

Just catching up with your post.

Wow! What a lucky duck you were!

I probably would have passed up the all night line...maybe...I'd really would have wanted to be one of the first in the park! What a hard decision!

It sounds like it was a party atmosphere! That's good to hear. In WDW it was all of the same old things. I was looking on Ebay at the golden ears and probably will buy a pair - just wish I had been there to get my own set!

How

being there at the same place, same time as the speech. That must have been something to hear in person!

Sounds like you're having fun! Can't wait to read more!

**chezp** · 07-23-2005, 03:58 AM

Great start - I can't wait to read more!

snoozy · 07-23-2005, 12:13 PM

What a wonderful time you must of had. I am also glad to hear that I am not the only one who gets teary eyed. I actually could not stop

the last time we were there and were watching the fireworks. So I'm sure I would have been doing the same thing if I had been there on the 17th.

James_Goodman · 07-24-2005, 04:34 AM

I was right there with you! It was truly a fantastic and amazing CELEBRATION! All day long...the JumboTrons replayed the ceremony from earlier and the GOLDEN MICKEY EARS were still being given out. I got my pair along with the souvenir guidemap that shows was Disneyland looked like in 1955.

I rode Space Mountain - WOW! Talked to a few Cast Members about the Finding Nemo attraction to open Spring of 2007...sounds pretty cool! And then just heard today about the Monsters, Inc. attraction for next year at California Adventure.

The fireworks, the parade, and the people - all made the energy level of the park so super HIGH! It was the most amazing trip I ever took!