Eat, Run and Celebrate- Day 7- Last Day and New Orleans

[Poolrat]

I was feeling good so a quick shower and back out the door.

I was on a bus by 8:26 and arrived at MK through a thick crowd.

I was by no means close to the action but I could see.

The banner for the day

Time check

It all started with a

Same opening show with a family of the day.

It was going to be a crowded day.

A special pin for the occasion.

MeMom had texted me and asked if I could grab a special park map for the special day. I did not see any at the entrance. I made my way up Main street and finally asked a CM. She said they were back at the entrance. YIKES

I made my way back swimming downstream while everyone else was swimming upstream. On the OTHER side ( I looked right and they were on the left) I found some.

Some of the posted festivities was a special parade at 10 am. Knowing it would be super crowded, I opted to stick close to Main street so I could have a decent spot. I had walked through the Emporium earlier and it was a madhouse. Too many people and shirts were flying. I backed out quickly. Nothing was worth that.

The bathroom near Casey’s and CP.

Notice how empty it looks from here to the statue? Well they had it roped off for now…

Someone trying to find a little shade.

This big boom was behind the statue but in front of the castle in the hub. It was another roped off area.

Some people wearing original first day hats?

The man and mouse of the day.

Now I have to tell you I was over by that rope. I moved. There was really not enough room and I didn’t want to stand in front of someone.
Suddenly they took down the rope. A swarm of people filled it in 2 seconds flat.

Those of us standing across the street groaned.

Now this area was full but people did not know which way to position themselves. I am glad I was standing where I was.

Let the festivites begin!!!

 

[MEK]

Wow - that sounds like a madhouse! You are a better DISer then me. I'm not sure how I would feel about that much of a crowd.

I'm coming back later to see pictures, but I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and I hope you have a fabulous time at the world in just a few days!

 

[Poolrat]

Wow - that sounds like a madhouse! You are a better DISer then me. I'm not sure how I would feel about that much of a crowd.

I'm coming back later to see pictures, but I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and I hope you have a fabulous time at the world in just a few days!

The Emporium was a madhouse. Everything else was crowded but an expected crowd, fi that makes sense.

Probably the worst crowd situation I faced at Mk was one evening for FIreworks during Easter week. The kids were small and the Dh was cranky and it was so crowded, that if you did not have your hand on your child you could lose them. You had no personal space and it was borderline crazy. That was not fun.

I need to give everyone some reading to do while I am away. I hope to finish at least Oct 1st later today.

 

[glennbo123]

Ugh, your story reminds me of "the Great Rope Fiasco" I experienced at Hyperspace Hoopla.

It was neat that you were there for the grand occasion though. I never even considered that there would be guests there that had been there for the original opening....with their beanie hats.

 

[Poolrat]

Ugh, your story reminds me of "the Great Rope Fiasco" I experienced at Hyperspace Hoopla.

That exactly what I thought about when it happened. I almost referenced it here.

All of us standing across the street, commented that all in all that was not a great spot due to having to look down the street and then turn to see the castle and the big boom was in the way.

My only guess was to have that area clear for a while for PP pictures if they could get that darm boom out of the frame.

It was neat that you were there for the grand occasion though. I never even considered that there would be guests there that had been there for the original opening....with their beanie hats.

I would say there were some nostalgic fans, some sporting shirts that they were there opening day and so forth. I also talked to some folks who had NO idea what was going on and would have steered clear if they knew.

 

[Poolrat]

We had speakers but it sort of hard to hear everything they had to say. I am sure it was nice things and something about Walt and his vision.

We had the Main street band come up and play.

Probably the most amazing thing all day was when they played “ When you wish upon a star” and one of the speakers shouted out “ Come on You all know the words” and EVERYONE chimed in. The music stopped but EVERYONE was still singing and finished out the verse. That was amazing and still makes me tear up as I write this.

Shortly after that I noticed something and made mention of it to people who were near me.

Who did not get the memo to trim the trees???

A big day and no one shaped the trees ? That bothered me a little. For a second.

Now we were going to be treated to a special parade.

Before that started this little girl was playing with Dad? In the street. It was a sweet moment. See the PP? I had hopes for this interaction.

She had the whole crowd oohing and ahhhing over her. I thought for sure this would be a moment I would see again, maybe on the castle.
Now our parade. Being that I couldn’t hear very well at the announcements I had no idea what kind of parade. Then I heard 10th anniversary over the speakers. I got confused until I realized they were bringing back a bit of all the special celebrations.

You can see where the characters were splitting up as they went around the hub.

 

[Poolrat]

10th anniversary

MeMom is this Naveen yours??

After the parade had passed people were on the move again. But we were not done.

With everyone now on stage there was more talking.

I took a few shot where I could get them. I was still pretty far back in the crowd.

We had some fireworks to mark the occasion.

A good shot of the banner

Who is still hanging around the hub??

 

[jecskc]

OK. I was about 20 yards from you that day. Just on the other side of the popcorn stand to the left. It was such a pretty day !! The weather was perfect !!

 

[Poolrat]

OK. I was about 20 yards from you that day. Just on the other side of the popcorn stand to the left. It was such a pretty day !! The weather was perfect !!

So you have the fronts of the characters I have the backs of?


It was a perfect day.

 

[jecskc]

So you have the fronts of the characters I have the backs of?


It was a perfect day.

Seriously, they came right towards us and in EVERY photo, they were looking the other way. So I got all of the backs of their heads. Very frustrating. We had a decent spot, too. The hub was crazy crowded.

 

[Poolrat]

Seriously, they came right towards us and in EVERY photo, they were looking the other way. So I got all of the backs of their heads. Very frustrating. We had a decent spot, too. The hub was crazy crowded.

Like That ^ After that rope went down in the hub it got crazy. Too many people and they thought they had a good spot and some did but
it was one or the other. Either the characters coming down the street or the celebrations on the castle stage. I did not stand there for an hour waiting but I had a not too bad spot and the experience was good enough for me.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Hello Poolrat! Sorry I haven't commented in awhile, fell back around Halloween :/ I love seeing all your pictures of the 40th anniversary. So glad to see you were quick enough to get in there before the park got way too crowded. And I love how in the parade they make a history of all the parades, so cool! Well, can't wait to read more (as always)!

 

[MeMom]

I watched all of that happening on a live feed, but I didn't know you were in that crowd. It did look pretty crazy. As much as I wanted to be there for the 40th, I was kind of glad I got to see so much of it through my computer and still have our trip to look forward to a couple of weeks later. If it works out, I hope to be there for the 50th Anniversary festivities. They will probably make a pretty big deal out of that.

Thanks for getting the special brochures. I was there when you had to have those booklets and you had to make choices.

That does look like my Naveen. Who knows how many they have that look so much alike, though?

Either way, he is cute.


And he is mine.

 

[Poolrat]

Hello Poolrat! Sorry I haven't commented in awhile, fell back around Halloween :/ I love seeing all your pictures of the 40th anniversary. So glad to see you were quick enough to get in there before the park got way too crowded. And I love how in the parade they make a history of all the parades, so cool! Well, can't wait to read more (as always)!

Glad you could find your way back. I certainly was not one of the early ones due to the race. I often wondered for those running the race, it was a real disadvantage because if you wanted merchandise or to get into the speical things you were waiting real early for a wristband. Running the race prevented that.

The parade was a unique way of showcasing the parades through the years.

I watched all of that happening on a live feed, but I didn't know you were in that crowd. It did look pretty crazy. As much as I wanted to be there for the 40th, I was kind of glad I got to see so much of it through my computer and still have our trip to look forward to a couple of weeks later. If it works out, I hope to be there for the 50th Anniversary festivities. They will probably make a pretty big deal out of that.

It seemed like I was chasing him for a bit. We traded a few texts that morning and you will see ( hopefully) that I bumped into him a few times that day.

50th is on my calendar.

Thanks for getting the special brochures. I was there when you had to have those booklets and you had to make choices.

I was there too when those bookets were being used. I have been neglectful is getting those park maps to those who requested them. Let me carefully get it in the suitcase now.

That does look like my Naveen. Who knows how many they have that look so much alike, though?

Either way, he is cute.


And he is mine.

A Girl can dream right? And that is where dreams come true right?

 

[Poolrat]

The big ceremony was over and everyone was going their own way and dispering into the park.

This made me a little

There was a crowd forming in the hub. A few of the DIS-elebraties were around.

I was able to get a sticker from the show Lou was doing.

I eventually made my way to Adventureland

I caught a glimpse of Peter Pan on the veranda.

Eric

I had an employee once that could be Eric. Looked just like Eric in the movie. He actually worked for Disney at one time but as a Lifeguard. One of my really good ones.

Eric and Ariel girl

Time for a Dole whip…

Nope not now. That line was too long for me.

I cruised by the Tiki room again. Another show just started. Again. So I wander over here to pick up one of these.

See my faux Ticket for FP. Yup Pluto was being a bad dog again. I think I was on my second AP by this point?

I finally just got in line at the Tiki Room. I found myself in line with lots of former cast members wearing a 10 year celebration shirt. They were having the 30th reunion of being CMs during the 10th Anniversary. Confused?? I was at first.

The outside which pretty much stayed the same.

Continued...

 

[Poolrat]

Continued from last post.


Now for the inside. After the New Management refurb the show would still stat out the same but be interrupted by Iago and Zazu. This time the show goes on.

The rain storm was back.

Verdict? Almost back to the original, as I remembered it. One of the former cast members and I wondered the same thing but we both seem to remember a goddess coming up from the center and she was not there. At least my memory was not too bad. Is it a great, not to be missed show? Not really. For me it was the nostalgia factor more than anything. Seeing it for the first time as a kid, being amazed at the talking Tikis and watching my mother be amazed too.

It was Jungle cruise time.

Skipper Josh

Trader Sam is having a sale…

As I got the cruise – Look at that line!!!!

Some Refurb going on

I picked up a FP and then went to eat at Pecos Bill’s

This is where snit #2 almost happened. I got the taco salad. They give you the shell and the beef and the rest you get at the fixings bar. I got to the fixings bar and NO lettuce. At all. At either bar. In either of the 2 or 3 bowls they have. So I wait- Someone knows right? It is right out in front of you and CMs are scurrying around. I catch ones eye and point. They nod. I wait some more. I must have been hungry because I waited for seemed like an eternity to get my salad all fixed up. Chalk it up to post race sugar drop.

I managed to enjoy my salad and then it was time to use the BTMRR FP.

I must have walked though the Outpost because this caught my eye.

A little musical entertainment.

Next up- Maybe a special Parade?

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I don't know HOW I got in after you and was able to get such a great spot right up in front of the castle. I like seeing your pictures though because I wasn't really able to see any of the parade from where I was standing. Saw and heard a lot of the speeches though so that was nice.

It was Jungle cruise time.

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Ha! This guy was actually NOT part of the Jungle Cruise attraction. He was part of the Adventurer's Club group doing their scavenger hunt in the MK that day! I saw him too and a few others on the hunt around Adventureland that day!

 

[Poolrat]

I don't know HOW I got in after you and was able to get such a great spot right up in front of the castle. I like seeing your pictures though because I wasn't really able to see any of the parade from where I was standing. Saw and heard a lot of the speeches though so that was nice.

I did not make a beeline for the front of the castle. I was perfectly Ok where I was. I was Ok with seeing a little bit of everything and I did.

Ha! This guy was actually NOT part of the Jungle Cruise attraction. He was part of the Adventurer's Club group doing their scavenger hunt in the MK that day! I saw him too and a few others on the hunt around Adventureland that day!

I thought he might given the getup but since I never made it to the Adventurer's Club while it was running, I had no idea. There was so much going on with little sub roups here and there that it was interesting to stumble upon them and all their own Dis-geekiness.

 

[Poolrat]

To all my Dis Friends,

My best wishes for a Merry Christmas ang joyous Holiday Season.

 

[KatMark]

Great updates, Pat.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas.