Sir Clinksalot Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 From MiceAge: DCA will open at 2:00 am 7/17 for the purpose of holding guests waiting to get into Disneyland. - valid 7/17 DL admission will be required to enter DCA and ticket booths will be open. When guests queue up they will get their commemorative ears and whatever other gifts will be given out on the 17th. The commemorative ears are not the regular ones currently sold in the park, and they can not be embroidered. Limited refreshments will be available for sale inside DCA - Smoozies, Award Wieners (limited menu), ODV. Restrooms will be open. NO entertainment. It's a line, not a party. When guests enter the park they will receive a wristband. If they leave for whatever reason, they will lose that wristband. If they return, they will have to rejoin the line wherever it currently is at that time. The Timon lot will be open, with tram service, for those who wish to camp out in DCA the morning of 7/17. The Mickey & Friends parking lot will open at 6:00 a.m. DCA will stop admitting people around 6 a.m. Guests who arrive after that will queue outside of the security checkpoints at either end of the Esplanade. Disneyland will open at 7:00 a.m. for an "unpublished opening." The DCA crowd will be escorted into Disneyland at that time. The security checkpints will re-open once the DCA crowd is inside Disneyland, bag check's will resume and people will be allowed to go right into Disneyland. It is estimated that it may take as long as an hour to get all of the DCA crowd into Disneyland, so the 8:00 announced opening time might be accurate for those who do not camp inside DCA. They probably will not do the softer, staggered closes we're familiar with as attendance increases. There is a maximum capacity number, which has not been disclosed, and the park will close when that number is reached. When the gates close, it will be a hard close - NOBODY gets, regardless of their story
SharkTums Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 Um, I wouldn't camp out at 2am for pretty much anything... Elissa "well, maybe for GeForce to be built in my backyard!" Alvey
robbalvey Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 ^ Agreed...that sounds like WAY too much effort just to go to Disneyland and get a pair of special ears. --Robb "Who would rather NOT have to wait in line 6 hours to go to Disneyland!" Alvey
SharkTums Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 Especially if they're going to give away like 60,000 of the ears they won't even be that much on ebay! Elissa "all my DCA opening stuff is just sitting gathering dust!" Alvey
robbalvey Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 ^ Barry, you'd wait 6 hours for a kiss from anyone!!!! --Robb "Maybe even me!!!" Alvey
Jew Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 ^I'm guessing he'll need a fastpass to get a kiss from the lady gay though.
arrowfanman Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 I'll be there, but not for any of anything. Just to be there. Disneyland filled to capcity + 3 showings of Fantasmic + every Disney fan cramming into the hub to see the fireworks = one hell of a time. Expect a video trip report...lol.
maliboomer Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 I'd die of heat exhaustion before I made it to Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream.
nursemelis374 Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 I'm going, but I will not be lining up in DCA in the middle of the night. We are probably going to get there around 7ish.
coasterdude5 Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 That sounds like something Six Flags would do to get someone the first ride on their new giant vekoma boomerang!
BarryH Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 ^ Barry, you'd wait 6 hours for a kiss from anyone!!!! --Robb "Maybe even me!!!" Alvey I'll even wait for a kiss from Dan! I need some good lovin'!
FlyingScooter Posted July 12, 2005 Posted July 12, 2005 I camped out one night at the old Richfield Colliseum for Journey tickets in 1982. >that seems like a long time ago< of course we partied all night while waiting.
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 17, 2005 Author Posted July 17, 2005 Just got off the phone with Jim: He said their were at least 10,000 people at DCA lining up this morning. The line started at the Golden Gate Bridge. Went through HPB all the way through the parade route and around Paradise Pier. Past Screamin', Boomer, MM and then through the SF district. When they got there at 4:45 they got in line near Grizzly. He said the line ended up back at the Golden Gate Bridge. I spoke with him at 9:30 and there were at least 50,000 people in the park already. He did mention they were playing some cool video stuff on the screens they have all around the park.
shepp Posted July 17, 2005 Posted July 17, 2005 I'll be there, but not for any of anything. Just to be there. Disneyland filled to capcity + 3 showings of Fantasmic + every Disney fan cramming into the hub to see the fireworks = one hell of a time. "Hell" being the operative word...
What Now Posted July 17, 2005 Posted July 17, 2005 meh... I think I'll wait a couple of months before going back.
robbalvey Posted July 17, 2005 Posted July 17, 2005 Just got off the phone with Jim: He said their were at least 10,000 people at DCA lining up this morning. The line started at the Golden Gate Bridge. Went through HPB all the way through the parade route and around Paradise Pier. Past Screamin', Boomer, MM and then through the SF district. When they got there at 4:45 they got in line near Grizzly. He said the line ended up back at the Golden Gate Bridge. I spoke with him at 9:30 and there were at least 50,000 people in the park already. Gee...for some reason, that IMO doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Waiting for 5 hours to get to a park with 50,000 people? I don't like going to the park when there is 5,000! If I showed up ANYWHERE and saw a line that long for ANYTHING, I'd turn right around and leave! Even if it was Expedition GeForce! Nothing is worth that amount if insanity, IMO. I guess if I was a real Disney "freak" maybe I could apprecaite doing something like that, but it's the same reason we don't go camping out for openings of coasters, movies, etc. I just prefer to get the same experience WITHOUT a ton of people and not having to wait in crazy, insane lines. Standing in a line with 50,000 of the most insane Disney freaks just doesn't sound like my kind of thing! To those of you who are into Disney that much, I hope you have a good time! I'll appreciate hearing about it via the Photo Trip Reports! --Robb "We still have yet to see any of the 50th anniversary...maybe we'll get back down there before the 51st B-day!" Alvey
ahecht Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Let me tell my story of the crowds. I showed up at 7:15, and the line started at the park side of the tram stop, went all the way down to the far end of the tram stop, doubled back, passed La Brea Bakery, went down Downtown Disney to the LEGO store, and finally headed back to the park. I got into the esplanade at 8:30, and the wait to get into the park was only 5 minutes or so. They stamped my hand as I walked in, and directed me to a table to get my my hat and map. They were giving hats to everyone who wasn't wearing one, and I heard several people boast that they had recieved 10 or so. The cupcakes were offered at all food service locations (no purchase necessary) and had their own lines, seperate from the regular ones. There was no wait at all, and they were being handed out all day. They apparently never hit capacity, and it never really felt terribly busy (Indy was only a 20 minute wait at noon). By 11:00, there were no lines to get in, and still plenty of free hats to go around (in fact, they were still handing them out when I left at 6). The real problem was not the numbers, but the fact that everyone showed up before the park opened. The crowds were probably helped by the fact that thousands of people were waiting for the merchandise. By noon, the line started in the fesival arena (where it was switchbacks), stretched out past Big Thunder, through New Orleans Square, and back to the Canoe dock. I'll post a Photo TR later tonight. Can anyone else who was there speak up? I'm pretty sure I saw Dan on TSI, and a couple of other people who looked familiar.
robbalvey Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 ^ Wait...wait....so I just want to make sure I'm reading that correctly...so all those people that stood in line from 4am really didn't need to because the park ended up not being that crowded and there were plenty of hats and cupcakes to go around? LMFAO!!!!! Wow, those people who "camped out" sure are stupid!!! --Robb "I'm so laughing at Dan right now!!!" Alvey
SharkTums Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 ^Wow you sounded like one of the smart ones that got all of the benefits of going on the 50th and sleep as well! Glad you had a good time! Elissa "going to see what merch is already on ebay!" Alvey
nursemelis374 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 We just got back and it wasn't too bad. We got in line about 7:30 and were in the park by 8:30. The only place that was really crazy was the hub. We ditched the 10:00 am ceremony and instead rode Splash (25 min at 11:00 am) and Haunted Mansion. I never felt that it was that bad. We went a couple of weeks ago on a Friday and I felt that the crowd level was worse! I really think a lot of people left after the ceremony as they were probably exhausted. Most of the die-hards/crazies were in this insane multi-hour line to get merchandise. I did get my ears and managed to eat 2 cupcakes. I also got to finally ride Space Mountain and feel pleased with how it has returned. All in all, I had a great time. The feel in the park was just neat. There were cast members everywhere and they were all very congenial, considering how much crap I am sure they were putting up with. It was MUCH better than I was imagining. They still were letting people in and giving out ears at 4 pm! I kind of felt bad for all those that had waited in line. I will post some pics soon. The weekend of Harry Potter/Disneyland started on Friday when we met some internet friends (Did I really just say that?) for the fireworks on Friday night. That is me (blonde) and my roommate Christine. The line snaking through Downtown Disney. It moved pretty quick. Here we are using our hands to make a 50 as a way of giving props to DL. Shelley is devastated that she can't ride the Ward Kimball. Shelley and Melissa with our ears. One of the screend where you could watch stuff. Crazies waiting for the presentation. They still had 2 hours to go before it would start. The back of the ears. The real reason we were here, cupcakes! Yummmmmmmmm, I love cupcakes! I liked the Mayor's coat and his jokes about Ah-nold. Why is it 12 degrees in the Blue Bayou? Our ghetto fabulous on-ride photo from Space Mountain
nursemelis374 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I just realized my pictures are backwards because I am an idiot. Sorry!
SharkTums Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 ^You're not an idiot! And your pictures are great! Elissa "glad you had fun!" Alvey
robbalvey Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Yeah, great pics! Thanks for sharing! --Robb "Who is still laughing so hard at Dan for getting there at 4am!" Alvey
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