My 45th Anniversary Day (10-1-2016). ** work in progress **

[Accident]

While I've been around the WDW for other anniversary years I've never actually been in the parks for any of their anniversaries. I know they generally don't do too much special but having never been, what do they actually do? When moving down here, I decided one thing I wanted to do was tons of things I never got the chance in the past so I'm going out of my way to see things like this that don't happen every day.

The Plan:

• Do a rope drop (I never rope drop) to see what is different with the morning show and not miss out on anything limited.
• Catch the ceremony that I only heard about in the days leading up to day.
• Try all the 1 day only special snacks if they have any (cupcakes are common for these).
• Check out the 1 day only limited merch.
• Ride the main street vehicles in the morning.
• Ride the horse pulled trolley which I've never done if it's out.
• Catch the trolley show that I only learned even existed on a morning tour not that long ago (did I mention I never rope drop).
• Close the park down!

Who:

• My adult daughter and myself.

Getting there:

Did I mention I'm not a rope dropper. 8am opening meant a morning show near 7:40ish. Most locals nearby generally say it's 20 minutes away, and they are close but that's the time it takes you to park your care. I am a 13 minute drive from my house to a parking spot but by the time you actually get into the parks (MK especially) it's more like 40ish minutes if it's a good day.

I set alarms for 6am but my daughter finally told me I slept through them at 6:30 so it was a rush to make sure we got out of the house no longer than 7. I had a restless night just because I dont' normally go to bed in time to wake up for 6am and I just couldn't get to sleep and then that turned into anxiety that I was going to miss the alarm. It was when I noticed it wasn't as dark out when I finally figured I failed, rope drop wasn't for me and fell asleep. I think I got about 2 hours of sleep.

I did my normal uber to the parks as you never know how tired or who I would run into and maybe do a break to catch some drinks nearby. I'm very big on spend a little money to ensure everyone is safe and I hate seeing the stories of bad car accidents because someone didn't plan on being safe when driving after their WDW day.

We took a little longer than expected with very long lines to get through the parking stop. I could also see that everyone in front of the uber was having their free AP parking really checked that they were the passholder. I know there was a thread about peopel sharing bands and passholder for free parking because they never check your id. It just added at least 10 extra minutes getting past that point.

The ferry was still running a single ferry so a longer than normal wait to get on and it was more than a full ferry of people but luckily we were in the front of the pack so we got a spot. They did put a second one into service as we approached the dock at the MK side.



The cloud looked funny to me the entire time. It was low, only over MK and not many other clouds in the sky. I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo but this was actually smoke coming up from something nearby and you can see where it was starting to the right of the castle.

I have no clue what this is but the air was a little cooler but you could tell it was going to be a really humid day so I'm assuming that was the trains warming up or maybe the power plant just behind the park. It wasn't black smoke so it couldn't have been a fire somewhere. Does anyone know what this is?

 

[Accident]

Part 2: Rope Drop, Opening Show and getting my day started.

I mentioned before I never rope drop. The main reason is I don't usually wake up that early and haven't for several decades. I don't start work until 10am and work from home so I can sleep until just about start time. While it's nice to do here and there, it's not a vacation to me when I was traveling to get up that early and even tours were difficult. It really throws not only the day but my week off. However, I wanted to take in everything I never see normally on this special day so I was there for rope drop!

The delays actually had the morning show start as I was getting off the ferry. The first thing I noticed is tons of new construction walls around the area between the dock no longer used and the TTC ferry dock. They even blocked off the smoking section so not only am I awake 4 hours early, my stop to smoke so it's a casual stroll up main street instead of a mad dash to a smoking section didn't happen. It really threw me off but it wasn't too bad. The section does appear on the map still, you just can't get to it.. My guess is they are making more room for ferry waiting and possibly a new security section that changes the entrance a little making more room by the tap styles (btw, I don't care if you want to call it something else like a touch point, but what you touch your wrist to is the touchpoint, the entire setup to get in to me is a tap style instead of the old turnstyle).

Not doing rope drop a lot I couldn't tell you if it was more crowded than other days, what I can tell you is if the park didn't open when it did, security was going to need to stop anyone else because there was nowhere to stand. Also the metal detectors seemed to be missing in order to fit more people in so I'm going to say this was a larger than normal rope drop crowd..

The morning show was the normal but some extra things said because it was the anniversary day. Mainly just a blurb about join us for the ceremony at 9:30.



The crowd got into the park pretty quick but I was happy to notice the new 45th banner and everyone (except a couple people) stood back so you could get a good picture with nobody in it..



Hind Sight: Passholders got the chance to buy the I was there shirt from the disneyparks app several weeks ago. You'll notice they are wearing it before there was even a chance to get into the park to buy it. I'm kicking myself I didnt' get it sooner myself but they didn't offer my size at the time. I also thought they were a different color so I guess not. I guess you dont' need to be here to get the I am here merch.

My daughter had a bag so we just planned our normal meeting spot. I had a chance to find the special today only maps but I started to notice people wearing buttons that said 45th. I was there for rope drop, only 2 minutes later trying to figure out why I didn't get one. Seems they were handing them out after you went trough the ticket check but I immediately went to the side to get the above photo and completely missed them. Also there was only 1 person on each side handing them out (later in the day there as 3-4) so it was easy to miss. I had to back track to find out where they were and got my button to wear around for the day..



We took a moment to just take in the place. We noticed most people ran to get in line for special merchandise or starbucks that had special snacks and limited anniversary cups. We were happy to see minnie and pluto out, not really sure if that's normal for this spot but we noticed time to time through the day that other not normal characters were out like stitch and others in the flagpole area.



One reason we were lingering around was to catch a ride on a vehicle to get that goal accomplished. We saw the trolley house doors opened in the distance and say the firetruck and bus taking people back and forth already and just missed that ride. when we saw how crowded main street was and how many people didn't run for rides we decided it was better to head to the hub and check out that scene to see what might have changed decoration wise.

I couldn't believe how only 10 minutes after rope drop the line for exclusive merch was all the way past casey's. (my understanding is it actually wrapped closer to adventureland by the time the ceremony started).


We actually got in line at first so we didn't miss any limited items but decided this looked like an over an hour line and it wasn't moving yet so we didn't want to miss the show.




Decoration wise, nothing actually changed. The hard cores and bloggers claimed their best spot in the house seats for their live and recorded footage. My daughter was finally getting excited about it being the anniversary so she decided she was getting herself a good spot also. I on the other hand was craving that missed smoke, wanted some coffee as it was too early for me and decided to head towards tomorrowland. It was DEAD. Emptier than the after party crowd and 90% of the people weren't there for rope drop rides and like us, was not going to miss the 45th stuff. If you were a rope dropper for rides and didn't care about the other stuff, you had your run of the park for at least 2 hours until the ceremony ended and everyone started to spread out.. I'm not sure why I didnt' get any photos of how empty it was but then again I was craving some coffee so I wasn't in a normal I'm awake mindset yet.


It was still just cool enough and just enough humidity in the air to get a some really nice train photos though. If you ever want a good train photo, the path between space mountain and barnstorms, they blow the whistle close to space mountain and I think teh backdrop is one of the best places to get a photo of it.



It was here that I met someone that had coffee that didn't say starbucks in their hand.. I found out the tomorrowland smoothie and ice cream shop (Venus xxxxx is the name) sells coffee as well.. I got myself a couple cups (yes I needed coffee that bad) and decided I had over an hour until the ceremony and my daughter claiming a spot so I took a quick loop around the world to check out the rope drop scene. As expected anyone that ran for rides ran to 7dmt so that area had a lot but otherwise, it was dead and less people than after hours. Some kids were loving it and I'm sure we're going to hear some stories of how rope drop is amazing this day but that's really because 90% of the people are on main street or in the hub waiting for the special event.

Sorry about not getting any pictures of this, it would have been the perfect day to take some nobody in the park attraction photos during the day and I screwed up that one. I have tons of night photos but not a single day photo.

 

[Accident]

Part 3, The Ceremony.

My daughter actually got us a really good spot and we hunkered down for the almost hour wait for it to start.



By the time it was starting, the crowd behind us looked bigger than wishes to me. Everyone really was watching this and not doing rides. Rope droppers must have been euphoric (and probably finding out now what they missed and what day it was).



We actually shifted a little more right by the time it started and people started to stand. I wasn't expecting someone taller than me to be in front of me and I didnt' want to be one of those people holding their camera above their head so I did my best to deal with not being a teen who holds the phone up for long periods of time and the head in front of me..

Youtube is autocorrecting the shaky but at some point hopefully it will get better..

You may have noticed in the video that the banner that opens up didn't open right. Just after the show they finally took matters and got it opened.

Overall, I was expecting a little more but this was a nice thing to experience. The characters were great to see, but they are characters found around magic kingdom every single day. This was the first time disney sort of confirmed some rumors that big changes were getting started to upgrade wdw for the 50th anniversary in 2021. the rumors I've heard is big changes to tomorrowland and a new area of MK to make it larger. Based on some road work permits, it'll be on the west side roughly the area by pirates but I always felt they wasted a lot of space with that cast parking lot that is barely used these days near the entrance so there is room for some better main street, even a side section and tomorrowland expansion. crossing my figures for big MK changes as that park needs to be bigger. It's the destination of every visitor many times and it just need more capacity, more newer rides, ride replacements... they did make the hub larger but it's not enough room still and they decided to put trees all over so all the new space you can't get a good castle view for night shows and it goes unused by people...

Someone needs to explain these ambassadors they recently changed. I find it insulting that most of the important disney people can't be bothered to come to florida when they need someone to speak... WDW is the dumping ground of the theme parks.

I'm really looking forward to the 50th.

 

[Accident]

Part 4, taking in the today only things...

A major reason for being here is to take in the today only things going on.. That was *THE* goal of the trip. I had seen a thread asking for pics of the BTMR construction and I wanted another smoke so we started with that corner.



If you are interested in the construction pics, I started a thread just for that and it can be found at: http://www.disboards.com/threads/big-thunder-mountain-construction-photos-10-1-2016.3551505/

It's been a long time since I road the steam boat so we took some time to take in that classic attraction (and it was also helpful to get the construction pictures).



The ride was longer than I remember but it was a nice classic disney 45th anniversary thing to do. I've only been on the boat twice before in my life (and to be honest, wish they would remove it put a walking bridge to tom sawyer and get some killer new ride there. But still nice to enjoy it while the crowds were starting to concentrate on rides and this isn't the top of anyones list to do so it was very empty at this time.

I also got a better look at where the haunted mansion is on it's repainting. It thought it was further along but seeing it in night, I couldnt' tell it was still covered a little. You can also see the crowd in line, this was my first sign with how crowded it was becoming..

We wanted to have the cupcakes, and at this time I wasn't aware that starbucks had them also so we got into line as gastons to get them. They were offered in vanilla or chocolate. really sweet, more sweet than other cupcakes disney sells but still a nice happy birthday WDW moment for us. They came in these little protective covers which was nice to get them around or carry several (and speed up getting them). no way you could save it except maybe to get it where you were eating lunch for desert. It was just too hot out to try to keep it longer.



Side note on gastons: they were using the larger cups for free ice water. Really hit the spot and never knew they did larger cups of water there.

We heard there might be other treats that weren't just today so we headed to big top to see if we noticed any after enjoying these...



We didn't notice any others for the rest of our day but those looked interesting but not as great as other ones in the case (like the poison apple!) We didnt' try either of them..

From here we just finished our circle of the land and decided it was getting closer to noon so we better just get in line for the special today only limited merch.. (next post)

 

[Accident]

Part 4, today only merchandise. (and 1 not advertised limited edition shirt)

We made our way back to the hub and looked for hte back of the line. It was a little closer being next to casey's when we got in it. Lots of great people in line and we had a nice conversation. The line took almost 30 minutes to get to the front of the park and into the door near the barber shop. At that door you were greeted by someone holding a piece of paper to show you what the merchandise was.. Then the chaos started. There was peopel just shopping as normal but they were really shopping today. People came out looking for that new 20% off discount and weren't missing out on some things that were too pricey beforehand. the problem was the line for today only merch went back to the middle of the emporium and these peopel were going in and out of line trying to find stuff and pay. This was a lesson in exactly how not to do special 1 day only merch. Most don't know that I have professional experience in running temporary entertainment events, the largest was 2.8 million people that attended. Much more than disney deals with on the entire property for any given day and this plan would have never been approved by me for those events. It was not a good idea in any way shape or form. Maybe if 20% off didnt' start today it would have been better but stlll , this was the wrong store, wrong way to line people up, and just annoying. you baked in line to be cranky and thirsty to be put into choas for another 30 minutes to get through the store and get your stuff.

Some things that were surprisingly nice is someone kept us informed in line. We were told what was running out, what might not be there and that if our shirt size wasn't there we could order it next week and wouldn't miss out. However we also got the news that the trading pins most likely would be sold out when we got there even with a strict 2 per paying person only. (I would have changed that to 1 per person once I could predict when it would run out). As soon as the pins were gone, the line completely disappeared. I'm sure disney isn't going to learn from this, but people only wanted the pins and some were ok with the tshirts. they should have made 10 times more pins and put the limit to 4 per order and they would have sold out by dinner and made some nice bank with it.

Also in line I got to see the noonish trolley show. I just assumed they didn't run it when the crowd was more than they expected around main street and hub for the ceremony but I got to see it even though I was in line and couldnt' get a great view.



The citizens of main street were also out in force but talking to everyone across the street and ignoring the hard core disney fans willing to wait in line for an hour to spend extra money. Lost opportunity there disney....

They did appear to do 1 more loop for people to ride the trolley after the show before it went back. it was hot, I was surprised they did that since it's horse drawn but the horse didn't seem unhappy.

I snagged a bunch of things when I finally got to pay.. I wish that was the end of this story but it wasn't.. after you got your stuff, you had to get in line to pay and that took another 20-30 minutes. they used the area in the middle with 4 registers to get the special merch so the store was packed, there was peopel buying everything today only, there was 20% off first day for AP holders, it was saturday so some guests last day and they had to shop before leaving and they lost a bunch of registers.. it was not fun..

I think I did one of my biggest don't do mistakes. I don't think they setup the band for link it later and I suspect I'm going to have to bring it back to get it link it later. It was hell to get it so I'm not surprised I didn't think of it but still annoying.


Today only merch:

Red Shirt (front and back) for genpop (anyone). Button is the free button they were handing out (see earlier in thread for close up)


Green is AP only. Same shirt that was on sale for any AP holder in shop parks app in sept so not a special I was actually there shirt.






The starbucks cup and 1 day only trading pin you'll have to search for images elsewhere (google, ebay). They sold out or I didn't have the chance to get them. (I did ebay both, people put up some close to price they paid ebays and I snagged them fast) so I'll post them once they arrive next week.

Not today only but liked it so I picked it up.



An items that is not part of the anniversary but I liked it and decided to get it..... I've not seen anyone mention this shirt before!



After picking these up we did head over to starbucks to find very slow and again poor line setup for anyone that only wanted merch from them.. I'm actually on some medication that I need to be careful with full sun and another that dehydrates me quick so I just couldn't stay in line and we went off to get me lots of water as I didn't expect to be in the other merch line for over an hour and wasn't an option to stay. I had to get some water quick so we took off for adventure land to rehydrate. We also had a haunted mansion fastpass that was going to end in 30 minutes and starbucks line looked longer to me so we couldn't stay.

 

[Accident]

Part 5: Enjoying the Magic Kingdom.

After getting rehydrated and taking a small break in some a/c we got on our way with what we thought would be the afternoon. Actually getting some rides, mostly concentrating on the classics that were there when it opened or soon after. We headed to our fastpass for haunted mansion as it was the first attraction completed when WDW was being built. this is when we realized just how many people had made it into MK by 1pm. the standby line was not only past the gate but wrapped around and starting to pass the exit for the steam boat. There was even a cast member with a sign of where it started so people just kept jumping in. Happily we headed into line with our fastpass. Until we got there. a couple feet from the fastpass touch poiint and we were in the longest fastpass line I've ever seen. they even had it wrapping around the carriage back to the gate and then into the full line. It was hot, I couldn't be in the sun much more so we had to abandon this idea and headed to look for something to eat indoors for lunch.

Walking past peter pan the crowd continued. In fact, it actually reach that phase where they start to put out castmembers to direct traffic so everyone fit in the walkways....




I've only experienced this on july 4th weekend. I'm assuming in a hour or two there was even more castmembers out literally making a human wall which is what they did on that weekend. This was the crowd just started to get much larger that it was so far...

We basically figured out by the time we got into this area that finding food and a seat inside that I needed wasn't going to happen. We just cut past the castle and started to make our way out. Orignal plan was to hit a nearby resort and come back but by the time we got out of the park, we were spent, hot, I needed more than a meal break. We also saw the crowds coming in when we made it to main street, it was so many people it looked like the end of the night when everyone is exiting but they were going the other way. There was so few peopel leaving they only had the end paths and I could see security and ticket check to get in and it was only going to be worse...

this was going to be the end of our day at MK. We didnt' do a single ride except the steam boat but we had an amazing time and got in all the just today things and that was our goal heading in.. We left happy thinking maybe we'll get back after dinner for the fireworks. (also my town had a full day of fun things going on, unrelated so we weren't completely sure what would happen).... more on that next post..


Random photos I got throughout the day, nothing really special just taking in the place type photos.....



We decided to take a photo with photopass before we left. (wow I look miserable).. this is also when we noticed the anniversary banner was removed from the castle and we wish we took a moment to get it when it was up earlier (but never expected it to be gone).



And we also saw many in the day using the map poster to hold up, we should have done that as well.. Speaking of the map, here is the special map for the day.





That's it for this part.. as normal, I'll swing past tomorrow to post a conclusion and thoughts of the day once I had a moment to process it more (aka sleep). it's also almost 4am as I type this so the forum is going to be offline for an hour (bad disboards, backup your database differently and you'll not have to stop for an hour).

 

[Accident]

Ending: Last thoughts, overview and just general comments....

So I lied, it was earlier than I thought and I have a little time to type this up now.....

Things we missed

I've been seeing video and things that some of the bloggers posted and I've seeing special today only things that I didn't know about. For example casey's had a special anniversary dog. I'm used to special events where the map has the full list of what is available. I never expected or knew to look for other things not listed. I just didn't poke my head into everywhere to eat to see if there was a special food and where I did stop in store wise I only saw the merch advertised as coming.... The next big anniversary is doing to be the 50th so that will just be off the hook and looking forward to it.

Things I don't think I missed

We kept looking for other little hidden gems we know that are around time to time. We collect the popcorn buckets and didnt' notice any new ones just for the anniversary (yet, it does last a year so maybe something will pop up in the next season of buckets or after the new years).


Thoughts...

Overall there was a little in the air until it got crowded. this was a park full of people who loved the place, had it mean something and it was about being there and not about what rides or things are you doing today. The castmembers seemed a little peppy but the weather wasn't brutal until noonish so it could have just been that. It was easy to meet people, talk about things and for the first time I actually exchanged numbers with a couple people that I think are going to be new park buddies or at least special event buddies. I really enjoyed the morning and it was a fun time and happy I got up early to experience it.

There is some things you think disney after 45 years would be better at, or they just forgot how to be good and those people are long gone (or recently forced out). They need better event management who has experience with one off large scale events, security and other things.. This is where they are lacking but everything else today was wonderful.

There was some surprises which disney has become better at.. They had the vehicles out even when the crowd started to grow. Random characters popped up (but not the uncommon ones) but when a little less crowded in the morning they were playful and being like disneyland which you don't see often around WDW because the people that visit are rude and you just can't do it without a mob rioting to meet them like it's a meet and greet. I hate that characters have to be behind a rope for them to be out here.

I do like this place, not really because it's disney but just because of how it is. I like seeing all this construction because it's been ignored too long and it's getting back to it's glory days how I remember it as a child.

Wish I did things

I originally wanted to be a little more time period dressed (not '71 garb) but basically dressed like dapper day. Special days like this, it's fun to come in dressed well and somehow completely forgot about it until I saw a small group that did do it.. I was jealous but they also disappeared soon so I don't think the weather supported being dressed that way and they all got out of there... The next Dapper day is in nov so my day is coming!!!!

Left too early?

I didn't really have a choice on when I needed a break, I'm just dealing with some new medical things and right now I have to do things in moderation, especially while the weather is still brutal. I didn't expect to nap all day though and I missed coming back for fireworks. To be honest, my town had some great things going on today and I would have liked to just walk over and do those things more...

I'm pretty sure I didn't miss much as there wasn't anything special in the evening like anniversary fireworks (or at least it didnt' say so on the schedule). It really got crowded and the people there changed by the time it was 1pmish.. I think it would have brought the day down if I stayed or returned.

Missed out on another event

There was another event for the anniversary taking place in clermont. It was an evening event with a bunch of different bloggers, some former disney castmembers and sounded like a great evening. I hope they do it again as it would have been a great evening after a great morning to keep up the kinship with others that were enjoying the day..

What's next for me?

I've actually been wondering if I should start up something disney fan inspired on my own. There is a lot of things i've made for myself that I think would make a good resource for the disney fan, and I'm typing up more and more of these. I watch people that make a living with blogs and I just contribute to their work. I'm starting to figure out what my style would be and maybe it's time to make it happen...

The near future, disney has so many things starting tomorrow that I'm heading back to MK! I want to catch the muppets and see if anythign is still around and wasn't really 1 day only. I heard the starbucks you are here cups are back but only for a couple parks so I might start to collect them.. I may also hit at least one of the character warehouses to see what merch went from parks into those discount stores disney runs and now pennies on the dollar price wise. Last time I hit them it was all the 60th disneyland merch that was overstock so I loaded up on that stuff. If you've never been, one of them is very close to springs (you'll need to drive/taxi or uber) to the outlet mall. Remember the past with purchase offer of the string backpack or fleece? $4.95 for both last month.. I do like that store!

 

[Accident]

It's been a few more days and more coverage from others that I've had a chance to check out... There was some other interesting things I wish I noticed...

1: George Kalogridis came out into the hub to meet, take photos and just talk with everyone. I really wish I would have noticed this as I would have done my your just getting started discussion I do with other execs I run into. A nice, I've noticed some random thigns happen and it's a great start to make this place as special as it once was.. it always throws them to get a compliment but a reminder that it's not enough yet..

2: the resorts also joined in the the anniversary. even though they technically opened before the park, they also gave out buttons that were personalize for the resort (only the ones that were also 45 years old) or poly and contemporary. I was >< close to actually getting food and resting in one of them instead of heading home so i'm kicking myself lightly for heading home right away.

3: getting back for the fireworks. this was mostly because I didn't set and alarm and slept through when I would have to leave for them but still it would have been nice to head back after cooling off and getting back to normal and end the night.. I'm sure nothign special but the parks are closed so early lately..

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

Thanks for your insights on the special day. It must be great to be local and get to go be part of these events!
Disney definitely could improve on their merchandising, it seems they never have enough to go around. It stinks to
make special arrangements to be at an event and not be able to get something you wanted but then see it later on eBay for some crazy price.
I'm sure those crowds were crazy!!

 

[smiley519]

Thanks for your recap and pictures! That's so cool that you were able to be a part of the 45th anniversary celebration and collect all of the "Today Only" merchandise that you wanted.

 

[missangelalexis]

Thank you for sharing, it was really nice to read about your experience!