We Were the Park Opening Family at USF on Saturday!!

[Figment22]

OK, maybe it's not THAT big a deal, but we thought it was really cool. We were one of the first families in line at USF on Saturday morning and the CM at the gate asked us if we wanted to open the park. DS13 read a script introducing himself and where we were from and then got to declare the park open. When he said
"Lights, Camera, Action", DS9 got to clap the clapboard. I've often
said in the past that we were first into the park (we're type A and
always get to the gate at opening) but this time we REALLY were!
Photos were taken of us with DS13 holding the script and microphone and DS9 holding the clapboard. We were given the
photos, we didn't have to pay for them. It was a great start to our day and a nice memory for our whole family!

 

[TraderAsh]

Not Fair!!! I wanna do it!! what time did you have to get there??? That would be awesome!

 

[nicolep91]

How fun, Lisa!!

Getting there early really does pay off, doesn't it?

Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

 

[disneydreamer1970]

That is awesome!!! I would love for something like that to happen to us in July!!

Thank you for sharing!

 

[Disney Debbie]

Cool!

 

[Figment22]

Originally posted by TraderAsh
Not Fair!!! I wanna do it!! what time did you have to get there??? That would be awesome!

We got to the turnstiles at about 8:20 a.m for a posted 9:00 a.m. opening. We opened the park (that sounds SO cool!) at 8:50 a.m.
I should add that crowds were relatively light this past weekend,
if it's a busier time of year, you probably need to be there earlier.
It also helps to have very cute kids!

 

[Nursetogo]

That sounds like so much fun! Do you know if they do it everyday?

Our family would love that! We are going in August. Do they do it

for both parks? What time should we get there? Thanks for any

info!!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi.. thats great - thanx for sharing!

>>^..^<<

 

[Figment22]

Originally posted by Nursetogo
Do you know if they do it everyday? Do they do it for both parks? What time should we get there? Thanks for any
info!!

They do it everyday and they do it at both parks. On Friday we were at IOA and they had a park opening family also. IOA opened that day at 8:40 a.m. (Posted park opening was 9:00 a.m.) The CM who worked with us at the turnstiles said that UO has been doing this for about two months now. I think it's pretty much just luck as to which family gets picked but you have to be one of, if not the first family at the turnstiles in the a.m. As I mentioned earlier, we got there at about 8:20 for a 9:00 a.m.
opening so at least 40 minutes ahead of the posted opening time when the parks are not too crowded, even earlier I would think during peak periods.

 

[Loudbmw]

Showed up early at Disney Animal Kingdom (45 minutes) and a nice cast member started chatting with our 11 year old son who was sitting on the ground, looking at a park map.

They invited us thru the tunstiles, dressed up my son in a jungle explorer vest, gave him a large insect to hold (glass cage) and took a great 8x10 photo of us with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy.

The very next day we were at the Magic Kingdom (again 45 minutes early) and the same thing happens again! This time they gave us autographed certificates of the occasion. They let me take photos of the whole thing.

All we did was arrive early, make eye contact with the cast member circulating thru the crowd, smile and say good morning.

Lou

 

[Nursetogo]

Wow! That's great! No sleeping in for us! I've got a plan!

Thanks!!

 

[The Sweetness]

Now if I tell DD this, she will drag us to IOA at 730 am and be begging!!! the cm's to let her do it. Her favorite thing shes done so far is to get to be Quatle Kid in a show at the Dis Studios once... She wears them down with her *loud* cries of PLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!