Leap Day at Disneyland
 

So who's planning on going and when do you plan to go? Will you stay all 24 hours? Drop by here and there through out the day - and night? Perhaps you'd like to do a Geek Quest?

Answer the poll as soon as I figure out how to post it...

I'll be there at Dawn for sure. Realistically I doubt I'll make the full 24 hours but I will give it a shot.

Assuming the "Geek Quest" means riding all attractions, it's probably not for me. I am looking forward to trying some of the attractions I've never had time for before (ie the canoes, a main street vehicle, castle walk through etc...) so I'd be all in for those bits, but I'd also like some time to just chill, people watch, take in the ambiance, etc...

I put later after work because that's for certain. Unfortunately the 29th is a big deadline here at work - so all depends on how we are looking if I can take the day or not.

Hmm, i better put in for some time off.

I plan on doing the overnight. That's the fun part. The part that's different. I can get only one day off work, so it's best to be the one where I will fall down dead asleep.

So I plan to head over after rush hour on Feb. 29 and get to the Park around 9pm, and then Stay Up All Night in Disneyland! For the Fifth Time.





My all time favorite memory of a Disneyland overnight was the one for the 30th Birthday - we rode the Rocket Jets at dawn. And the operator just let us ride and ride for over 30 minutes as we watched the entire sunrise over the Magic Kingdom.

Then we had a bite to eat and went to the entry gates to taunt all the people outside them, lined up to get in once Disneyland opened. Heheh. ;)

If I have to wait until Matt gets off work we probably will be there about 10pm between dinner and traffic but planning on watching the sunrise from the park for sure since I would go earlier but don't want to leave Matt out. I work until 1pm no way would I physicallybe able to do a whole 24 hour day in the park. Those of you who manage it congrats...

I asked for the 1st off. I am planning on coming by after work and staying until they kick us out. I may show up for 6am rope drop and then go to work but that won't be decided until much closer to the day.

Most likely I'll take the 29th off and we'll show up during the day. Then maybe I'll go to bed early and wake up for an early-morning return visit before work on the 1st, just because I can.

On that point, does anyone know when they're going to stop letting people in?

I'm not sure if they'll let you back in. See my story above. At some point during the night, they stopped admitting people. And there were tons of people waiting outside the gates (to be taunted by us) waiting for the Park to open at it's regular operating hours.

I suppose a handstamp might do the trick, or this might not be the policy at all this time. But just thought I'd mention it, just in case.

What are the chances of a full house and a closing of the gates?

On a Wednesday in February? Even for a special event I'd say slim-to-none.

Yeah, but was that midnight? 2AM? 4AM? I could see myself dragging my butt there at 4AM for a couple hours of goofy fun.

The Disneyland calendar lists park hours on the 29th as 6AM to 6AM. Then on March First opening at 10 AM. So I'd "assume" you can get in until 6?

Ah, that's interesting. And different from other overnights - where they did not close the Park at all (at 6am or otherwise) and simply let you stay right into the "next" operating day if you wanted.

I have no idea when, on those overnights, they closed the entry gates. I only know that the one time I went out there in the morning, the gates were closed and their were people lined up till official "new" opening.

But yeah, the posting of 6am to 6am leads me to believe you would be able to enter the Park until 5:59 a.m. Good news.

Not sure yet, because I have to check what's happening at work first. Usually the month's end is our crunch period, so I might not be able to take off. I hope so though!

Rumor has it that Fantasmic is coming back for Leap Day. Woot. I was hoping to get a glimpse of Murphy.

I'm re-thinking this whole thing. One: I have to do my company's billing on the first - they will not give me the day off; I'd have to call in sick.

Two: Who am I kidding thinking, at my age, I'll be able to stay up all night??



Maybe I'll come and hang out till two in the morning or so. Just dunno at this point. I'm old.

Can't you take drugs for that?

We talked earlier about dinner plans for Tuesday the 28th. Assuming an uneventful trip, I'll be arriving at DLR a little before 8:00pm. If that's not too late I'd love to meet any/all for dinner and/or drinks.

The official calendar has Disneyland closing at 8:00pm so I'm not sure what effect that will have on DTD. I'm guessing it won't be good.

Do we need any advance planning in terms of reservations or is the general consensus to just wing it?

An interesting observation someone made....

While you might not know it from the weather, it's still winter in Southern California from a solar point of view.

So anyone who makes it through the night will be leaving the park in the dark.

If 6am is the departure time then sunrise doesn't fall before then until May 4th (a whole day earlier than in Los Angeles) and it isn't really a big difference since the earliest sunrise in Anaheim is 5:40 for two weeks in the middle of June. Which is two minutes better than D.C. ever does (D.C. is farther north so should go earlier but is also farther west within its timezone which kills the advantage).

So with Grad nights typically in May/June? and Anniversary events in July it would be at least possible to see the sunrise on the way out...

F**k it, we're going after work! 2am Tiki Room! 5am Splash Mountain!! :cheers:

Finally got vacation approved for both the 29th & 1st Now to figure out what I'm actually going to do...

I'm thinking about visiting Storytellers Cafe Tuesday night, 8pm'ish if anyone is interested in joining me.

2am for the Tiki Room sounds perfect, I'll get back to you regarding 5am on splash....

Looking forward to the day's frivolity and seeing Moonie

Stalker!

Line up early for your ears.

So let me get this straight: They're expecting people to camp out overnight so they can get into the Park on time to spend 24 hours there?

If you want the special ears it seems

Yeah, line up at 10pm to get in at 6am for a 24hr marathon. Ummmm I think I'll pass.

And you have to be one of the first 2,000 people in.

So as a practical matter the people getting the Leap year ears will not be the ones participating in the event.

I wonder how much they will be going for on Ebay.

Or will you be able to purchase the same hat after they give away the initial 2,000?

Or wait a few weeks and they'll show up in the Disney Discount Warehouse (someone remind me to check, it's up the street from my office).

Do they have a list of what is open and what isn't open?

If I drink a Rockstar at 5pm how long will I run before I pass out?

HEY BTD: in a few weeks, check the Disney Discount Warehouse for the Leap Day ears

Just take a pair from the people sleeping on the benches at the hub. At noon.

When you figure it out, let me know. I have a walk to restaff on the 29th and a birthing class on the 1st in the PM.

One week..... and I'm going to Disneyland!!

I'm going to be a basket case for the next seven days....

It's looking less and less like I'll be participating.

It would be really irresponsible of me to be out on the first of any month, if I can help it. That's when we do our billing, which I'm in charge of. So staying up all night before heading to work is out of the question ... and just staying up kinda late would make it kinda like any night at the Park.


I may try to attend and stay out till 1 or 2 am. That would make it like a summer Saturday in the good old days. But it doesn't have the draw to me of an overnight - where the real surrealisticness doesn't hit till about 3 or 4am - and - who am I kidding? - I wouldn't be able to stay up that late anyway - even if it wouldn't wreck me for work in the morning.


So sorry. I think I'm out.

Meanwhile, even my daytime on the 29th participation is looking unlikely. I have yet to put in my time off request, and I've been missing time lately due to dental work (I'll be leaving early the day prior for more). So I don't think I should be taking time off right now.

However, I'm seriously considering going to sleep early on the 28th, setting the alarm for 2AM and spending a few hours in the park, assuming they're still admitting people. There are advantages to being a semi-insomniac, I'm quite used to spending a day at work severely sleep deprived. I think I could pull that off without missing any work.

It's good that you have this forum to enable you to communicate with each other.

Thanks for the bump, I seem to have missed this the first time around...

Damn. Do you know how hard it is to find travel sized sunscreen? In DC? In February?



And yes, my bitter east coast pasty white skin will need it even in the middle of your winter. This I know from experience.

The 24-hour novelty doesn't really mean much to me, but I'm thinking about heading out after work and staying until the "surrealisticness" of 3 or 4 am. Maybe blow off work on the 1st. What do you think the odds are that the park will be at max capacity by the evening?

Updated list of closed attractions:

• Matterhorn
• Mark Twain
• Monorail

Hopefully we don't lose the Main Street Cinema, Mad Tea Party, or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

I tried to go to Mice Chat to check out the buzz there but it seems the current site is just to busy for my phone to navigate.

I'd just like to spend a day at the park since I havent done that in such a lo g time. Go early, get breakfast, hang out with friends maybe check out some of the things. Still curious what will stay open in the wee hours.

If Disney marketing misses the opportunity to use the phrase, "Whee! hours," well, I just don't know.

Psst. You can buy sunscreen here, anywhere.

Theo and I will meet you for breakfast, hopefully. :) Any clue how early you'd be there? For me, 8:30 is probably the earliest I could show up. Anyone else doing the morning besides our D.C. denizen?

we'll see as the day approaches but with a chance to get a pair of free ears as the only opening draw, I doubt I'll be in the 6AM crowd - then again, I would like to beat traffic...

Remember breakfast at the Riverbelle - a rush through Main Street in the hopes of getting there before they shut down the pancake line? Well, if the past is a predictor take my musings with a grain or two.

To get the free ears, you've probably gotta be there at 10pm with all the foamy people.

Yeah, I long ago gave up on the possibility of ears

I know, but I'd rather have it in my pocket ready to go than have to stop somewhere in LA or worse yet pay Disney prices for it.


It looks like your chances of getting a free hat are slim to none unless you want to camp out Tuesday night. So yeah, not much incentive there. I still plan to arrive at 5:30am'ish because I enjoy the opening ceremony. So if you make it look for me, if not we can meet up later.

Also, I'll be grabbing a large locker on main street so I have a place to stuff some cold weather gear for use in the Wee hours. I'll text the PIN to anyone that needs it. Just PM your number to me.

In other news....

I changed my flight. Assuming an on-time arrival into LAX, I should make it to DLR no later than 1pm on Tuesday.

Is anyone else planning any time at the parks on Tuesday? Should I try to see World of Color or give it a pass? Perhaps an early dinner at Story Tellers?

I would have liked to try to get the free ears, until I saw them. Plain black with an ugly "One More Disney Day" sticker stuck on it. The 50th ones were much better!

Yes, see World of Color.

World of Color is surprisingly awesome.

In a related query, ariels or the tattoria place for a meal?

box lunch. for prime viewing WoC spot. Eat it early. Then have dinner at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta or Paradise Garden Grill.

Excellent suggestion! The European Antipasto looks to be a fine choice. I get a guaranteed spot at WoC a mid-afternoon snack and I'm still free for an early dinner if anyone comes down to the resort area for that. :snap:

.

"Select" attractions roster makes me a little leary, but at least the menu of special food offerings offers a glimmer of gastronomic hope for food fun in the middle of the night!

Yum! Anyone up for a 1am trip to the Blue Bayou?

All right. Tom and I are gonna go all out. Open to close. We'll see you early crowd for breakfast, and you late crowd for breakfast-in-the-middle-of-the-night.

I'm in for middle of the night Blue Bayou. But I was thinking around 2.

(I don't know how in the world I'm going to stay up for this. I may have to call in sick for work the next day. Yeah, I know I said I was out - but I'm soooo tempted to get back in.)

OK, by me. Perhaps we can push the Tiki Room back to 3am?

Who is in charge of bringing the Red Bull?


WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I would suggest:

6:00pm - A regular Cola or cup of coffee.
9:00pm - A Mountain Dew
12:00am - Red Bull
2:00am - 2nd Red bull with 5hr Energy chaser
4:00am - Coke
5:00am - Adrenalin shot directly into heart (like in Pulp Fiction)

That should about cover it.

Don't forget the 1am heroin shot!

Damn, I wanna gooooooo......

I'm so considering Blue Bayou at 1am!

Nah, that's for the post-party chill session.


Sigh, another (I-probably-should) commitment popped up for that morning, but it's so complicated I might just see you guys instead...

Tick-Tock, time is counting down. Time for last min things.

I'm still planning to be at the gates just before 6am on Wednesday. Should I be looking for anyone else then?

I plan to rent a locker inside the park. If anyone wants to store some stuff there PM me a number and I'll text you the locker # / PIN.

Weather looks good with no rain plus a high of 60 and a low of 46.

Now all I have to do is make it through one more work day....

Ok, I've decided I WILL go to Leap Day in the morning :)

Don't look for me at 6am though.

Damn. Park opened 23min ago and the wait for Star Tours is listed as 44min.

I guess I know where my first stop will be on Wednesday.

Ok, finally I have confirmation that I've got help tonight in the kitchen. Which means I don't have to split up baking over two nights. Which means I can go to Disneyland on Wednesday! Yaaay! I won't be there at 6 a.m. (probably), but I will come down after lunch at Imagineering (don't get to see much, just the cafeteria, and conversations are limited to things that already exist. Boo. Though, it's interesting to walk through their store and look at things I don't need to buy.) How late I'll stay depends on the availability of Moonie's couchspace, and/or if they shut down the main gates at any point. I do have a farmer's market on Thursday (which means the truck will be loaded with ThinKrisps, have your $6.50 ready, kiddies ;) ), so, I can't be driving back to L.A. and falling asleep on the freeway. Looks like the weather is going to be in the mid 60s, and my experience in the past is that the Park becomes downright freezing from 2 am til sunrise, so, you know, layer.

Re-read the thread: WOC, yes! Especially since you'll be seeing a midnight Fantasmic! the next night. Blue Bayou, yes! Um, whatever other options you were considering, yes!

Is there still an interest in doing the "all attractions in the order of opening" quest?

Updated listing of special goings on here, including that F! Is showing at 1:00, not midnight.

F! Is at 1:00. WoC is on Tuesday night (Susan and I are joining Moonie and have FP's with a lunch). I'm sure he would love to have others join. Moonie will be arriving at the park around 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.

DARTH VADER AND STORM TROOPERS! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Yeah, about that.... See the soooo thread.

*sigh* Not looking good for me going. Can't get AP till March.

Aaaaand, my final answer is ...

Have to work the next day
Too old to stay up till even 2am (my normal wake-up is 5am)
and ... most of all ... COLD.



I'm a NO.

I'm cleaning up the leopard gear...

Headliner's emergency is much more important than any of this...first and foremost, I hope she's ok, and secondarily, that it doesn't impact your trip too much.

Right now, it looks like all she'll have is a bad headache and doctor ordered bed rest with no TV/computer/phone/books or a day or two. All told, I think getting as far away away as possible from a board teenager with a bad headache is a good plan. Mom can deal with this one.

So assuming the night goes well and she's at least a bit better in the morning, the trip is still on.

If you want Blue Bayout at 2 am (or 4 am or whatever) you will definitely want a reservation based on what I'm seeing in my Twitter feed.

Alex - based upon your Twitter feed what are the chances of a full park/gate closure?

I just called and made a reservation for 4 people (the max) at 110am. They are fully booked after. If a few more people could call that would be awesome. No CC required.

I made one for 5 people at 1:10am a couple of days ago (which was the latest they would offer). I figured 5 was easy to add to since it would need a larger table.

Nice! They wouldn't let me go higher than 4. I changed mine to 1:10 So now we have 9 at 1:10, even if we won't be at the same table.

I just made one for an additional 4 people under my name for 1:10 as well. Hopefully I'll make it up for at least part of the evening.

13 at 1:10am.

Really curious to see how many people actually keep their 3am reservation.

We aren't so much into Blue Bayou as we are Cafe Orleans breakfast, so I'm making a reservation there for later, if anyone is interested in joining.

(We will be sure to ride Pirates during your 1:10 am dinner, so as to yell "throw me a roll" with the rare possibility of roll fulfillment.)

Moonie, glad Headliner's OK.

Headliner has been doing fine overnight so it looks like I'm heading for California this morning.

Passing over I57 near Kinmundy. 441mph. 1,667 miles to go. I'm on my way!

Yay! So glad things are ok for both of you. See you tomorrow!

Thanks.

Oooh! I spy with my little eye... Utah.

1am Fantasmic! Must.

That means I either need to be late (by 15 mins) for a kind someone's extra spot in their BB reservation (I was hopin to get a later one :/ and I've never eaten there) or I just eat there earlier by myself...

Doh! A 1 AM Fantasmic? That would explain why it was an easy time to get BB ressies.

I've got Thursday off - woo hoo!

Have fun everyone! All the planning sounds rad! Well, and tiring, too! In a good way!

Get your Merch. I kinda like the logo.

Guess I should have kept my 1:30 spot. Do we try and move them all to 1:30?

We only have 13 spots. Who all wants to go? We may need more reservations and it's incredibly unlikely we will be anywhere near each other.

When I called they only had the 1:10 or 12:45 open. And that was for 4 people.

i'll go with the flow but I would pick a relaxing dinner over a madhouse fantasmic given that there is only one showing.

ps I have one extra yelow fastpass for WOC tonight if anyone is around.

I'll take it.

Oh wait; I've already got one (thanks to you).

And I'm standing next to you in line at TS Midway Mania :)

Oh: Susan and I are in for BB

We have a table for 4 at 1:30 AM, Cafe Orleans. Two seats open if anybody wants 'em.

Excited to be there with everyone. (Looking forward to disco-napping, ideally in the House of the Future inside Innoventions, in the afternoon. If 8,000 people don't also have that idea.)

I'm with Moonie on this one. Plus it's not going to be warm.

LSPE Great Moments also seems like a nice warm resting spot.

Will they seat you at BB without your entire party? I already know what I'm ordering if I can hop on someone's reservation, I just really want to see 1am Fantasmic!

You said the magic word. "Warm." Are there 2 spots for us among the Blue Bayou crowd?

I would have Ginny with me so I'd prob need two spots... *sigh*

BB headcount from this thread-
Katie
BTD
Moonie
Kevy
Susan
LSPE
Tom
Keith
Ginny
ABG (?)

So that's 10 and we've got 13 spots if I count right. I don't know if they'll seat you without the whole party present though - I've never tried.

ETA - I don't see anything on official Disney sites but third party sites say all members of the party must be present to be seated. Does anyone have time to call and ask?

If I go I'll need +1 for Ginny...

Ok per Disney Dine Line yes they ask that everyone is present before you're seated. So everyone needs to decide if they're in or they're out so we can get an accurate head count. They also suggest arriving 10-15 mins early.

Now is probably a good time to remind everybody that if you buy a cup of coffee at Market House, you can keep the receipt and get free refills all day. (You apparently don't need the cup, just the receipt.)

I would add Chris and Lisa to the count.

Sigh. I'm either going to be way to physically and emotionally exhausted to handle my plan of wee-hour arrival, or I'm going to desperately need to be there to refresh myself. It will be a surprise, even to me.

If any 2 drops out for BB, give me a shout!

Add me to BB, if there's still room! :D

And we've still got the overflow 1:30 at Cafe Orleans if needed.

Ok - here's what I've got for 1:10 BB - if you haven't confirmed please do so
BB headcount from this thread-
Katie
BTD
Moonie
Kevy
Susan
LSPE
Tom
Keith
Ginny
ABG
Euro
NA
GTDL

Bornieo & Mindy as alternates

Then there are 4 spots open at Cafe Orleans for 1:30 AM

Right?

Keith - if you and Ginny are going to F! you won't be able to be there in time for the reservation. :(

Can you or Ginny call and make a reservation for you guys at BB a little later?

Either BB or CO is aok by me!

Are you and Mindy aiming for the 1am F! too?

No real plan really, other than having fun.

I think you can strike Tom and LSPE from this list as they are heading up the CO contingent. I will leave it to them to confirm. A

Also, what time is everyone planning on getting there? We are shooting for the morning (9-10 ish)

I will be there after work. I am hoping to get off work at 3 or 4 but my boss has been a crankypants lately so I will probably be stuck until 5. Hopefully the structure isn't too much of a clusterfvck around 530.

We'll head down after work with no real rush to get there. Hope by 9pm.

I'll head up around 4ish - so arrive 7ish depending on traffic.

We'll be there after work, and dinner. I'll have my camera, and leopard print hat and jacket.

Nope, we changed to BB. Just left our reservation at CO open for anyone who wanted it.

And we plan to be there from open to close. If anyone else is there at 6am, give us a holler.

BB List

Confirmed
Katie
BTD
Moonie
Kevy
Susan
LSPE
Tom
ABG
GTDL

Tentative
Keith - tentative based upon F! attendance
Ginny - tentative based upon F! attendance
Euro - tentative depending on animals
NA - tentative depending on animals

Waiting list
Bornieo & Mindy

Have fun everyone! I'll be monitoring stuff for MP's Storify page.

Moonie will probably be here at 6:00

I will be there as I have planned a special event for my department in the am followed by giving them all tix to the park after. Should be in the park around 2pm.

I'll be there midmorning but may then leave to tend animals and pick up Lisa and then return to the park. BB sounds fun. 1am Fantasmic with no Twain sounds lame.

Bb could be fun

And a BJ is DEFINITELY fun

BB List

Confirmed
Katie
BTD
Moonie
Kevy
Susan
LSPE
Tom
ABG
GTDL
NA
Euro

Tentative
Keith - tentative based upon F! attendance
Ginny - tentative based upon F! attendance

Waiting list
Bornieo & Mindy
NirvanaMan & EH (?)


We have 13 seats and 11 confirmed. 2 tentative and 4 waiting. Maybe someone from the early AM crew should try and get another reservation at BB as a walk-up. Looks like the waiting list alone could fill another table. As of now there are no more reservations available via phone.

You can stalk me on Latitude or Find Friends tomorrow.

Eh.

can I stalk you at the park?

So I know the novelty is being inside the gates all night, but seeing as most of the plans involve the super late hour, would there be any interest in a little Trader Sam's earlier in the evening? (assuming there is no threat of gate closure, of course). My passless butt would love to meet up with folks for a few, since everyone's going to be around.

This is a bad night to have insomnia!

Okay Ginny and I are forfeiting our spots so other ppl can eat at BB. Is the later CO reservation still available or did someone claim that?

I haven't slept all night. Was working. I'm gonna be so delirious today!!! See you all soon :)

Holy crap! I am in line at 5:30am and im a on harbor a block from the park.

Ok the 2000 hat people are also out here. So the esplanada must be empty

We got our wristbands at 1:00 am... Going through bag check now!! Reminds me of the DCA tent city for the 50th. Meeeemorieeeees....

I'm liveblogging on my blog (link below) throughout the day.

Made past bag check. In third wave. Under monorail track at the moment.

In park! In line to get locker!

Score! #114 large. Text me for pin

The T-shirts and sweatshirt are online at disneystore.com. I ordered mine in case they're out by the time i get there.

Peter pan posted wait time: straight on till midnight.

We found Moonliner! Second star to the right...

Last minute decision for Wolfette and I to show up later on this afternoon.....will try to connect with either Keith or Lisa. Anyone else want to give me their cell number just in case? PM me and I'll check back later on.

BB List

Confirmed
Katie
BTD
Moonie
Kevy
Susan
LSPE
Tom
ABG
GTDL
NA
Euro
Mark
Mindy


Waiting list

NirvanaMan & EH (?)


We have 13 seats and 13 confirmed. Someone let Mark and Mindy know they have seats at BB please.

There are still the 4 open at Cafe Orleans for 1:30 right?

Mark knows they're in.

I suspect that, since there will be a performance of Fantasmic going on outside, a lot of BB reservations will go unkept. I doubt they'll have a problem seating as many of us as show up.

Just wanted to say I hate you all.






Of course, I don't really, but being a bitter east coaster of a southern persuasion, I have to be a little dramatic. I like Pancakes.

Sh*t. They've completely locked down, no reentry even.

Going to sleep for a couple hours, check back around 2AM, maybe people will bail post-Fantasmic!

Kinda bummed right now, wishing I'd gone with a different strategy.

Wish I'd gone with the strategy I employed at the four previous overnights - a room at the Disneyland Hotel, and days off work. Well my work situation and money situation didn't allow for that this time. And I'm sure glad I didn't go with my original thought of just casually heading down after work yesterday.

By 1987, when they had the third 24-hour opening in as many years, these were getting a bit ho-hum. I never expected the mania that greeted the first one of these in a quarter century.

I trust all had a fantastic time. Sorry I couldn't be there, but it's a grand consolation that friends had such fun!

And at the end of a fantastic outing with wonderful friends, we watched the sun rise over Disneyland.

GD got home at 7am and told giddy stories of wee-hours Storybook, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder.....of the decent crowd of swankers that showed up to run around....saying that it was amazing and he was incredibly glad that he went. It sounded like the old days, times a hundred.
What he said. :p

Then GD took a quick shower, got dressed and went to work. Even so, I think I will envy that night for the rest of my life.

I'm totally going in 2016.

Regret rescinded.

Absolutely worth what I'm about to deal with today at work. It was mjsuaeldkj lja.sdd.salkjjjjjdlsdkjljzdddzfjzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I will be gauging my mental alertness through the day by doing logic puzzles at my favorite puzzle site.

8:30 AM, no coffee - Approximately 85% peak efficiency. Not too bad.

If only I could fall asleep.

Massive thank you to Alex for the reminder to make middle of the night dinner reservations. Worked out perfectly.

The little bits I've seen on FB and here, envious and so happy you all had a good time. Is Moonie now snoring on the plane?

I believe he's spending more time in the park(s?) today.

Some favorite moments from my brief 4 hour stint:

* 3AM Big Thunder
* Holding NA and BtD hostage
* Hugs, hugs, hugs
* Stellar Jungle Cruise skipper (Andrew/Jenny) who managed to match and surpass our manic energy
* Brilliant Storybook skipper David
* A moment I happened to witness outside of Small World at around 5AM when two people who apparently knew each other and were surprised to bump into each other embraced in sheer giddy joy
* An exhausted crowd of people summoning the last of their energy to leap and dance with the Pearly Band at 5:30
* Emerging from Peter Pan to find daylight
* Lineup of white-Mickey-gloved CMs saying goodbye/good morning as we exited, with pajama-robed characters waving from the train station.

Nights like that don't, and can't, happen enough.

That was so much fun! I actually left around 4 trying to beat the mass exodus and the line for the Toy Story bus was 45 minutes long. Went back in the park (10 minute line at the single turn style), met back up at Jungle Cruise. So glad I did.

Andrew/Jenny was amazing!

A/J - "That was a big explosion. Let's go closer!"
Us - "YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A/J - cracking up so hard he missed 3 jokes.

Facebook, Twitter and the overall data connection was jack and squat. We drained our phones looking for signal and spent over an hour hovered around the single outlet in Hungry Bear charging our phones. Next time we bring a power strip and multiple iPhone chargers. Much thanks to KS for allowing me to borrow her charger and to Moonie for letting me use his portable charger.

Well it sure seems like that, the last one having been 25 years ago. But on that occasion, it was the third overnight "in a row" ('85 - 30th birthday, '86 - opening of EO, '87 - opening of Star Tours) - and I gotta tell ya, it was wearing thin. I heard many people express that opinion who'd been to all three in as many years.

And there was some rowdy behavior in the Park, apparently, and they stopped having the overnights. Um, going by the mania of last night - I think something between Every Year and Once a Quarter Century is warranted.

*********************

Someone tweeted this morning that it was the best time at the Park since the 50th, and I happened to read that just as I was scanning some photos from the 50th into digital form (from the prints GD and CP were kind enough to give me) ... and I noticed an odd thing: The only couples, gay or straight*, in "our group" who are still together 6.5 years later are the ones who were married.

Hmmm.



*I'm not sure if Eric and Matthew are still together ... I lost track of them. If so, it proves gay couples are more durable than straight couples. If not, it proves only marriage can keep couples together - and we gay people want that!.

I had a great time! I hung as late as I could, but around 2:30am at the carousel I decided I was just too exhausted and needed to get home to my comfy bed. I had a great Disney Day and spending time with you all was an absolute pleasure! So many great memories!!!

EPIC CINNAMON ROLL!!!!!!!

Other than the cluster f**k of having to spend 46 minutes to find parking in the parking structure (yes it was basically a free for all to find your own parking spot) when we arrived at the worst time to try to get there. Somehow the traffic going down there as well as the traffic going home (how I hate CA freeways) we manage to get inside right before the park reaching capacity. Nothing will beat those early morning rides. Watching the sky change colors from dark to light and reaching the car as that bright ball of light was rising in the morning sky.

I manage a nap for a few hours enough to get me thru until an early bedtime tonight. I proved I can stay up past 24 hours BUT I am not young anymore. Sleep deprivation takes a toll on my body and mind and getting behind a wheel to drive when reflexes and attention is so low is not the most safe thing.

IF and that's a big IF tere is another Leap Day in 2016 I will eithe plan it better or skip it entirely. Been there done that...I ain't lookin back...

Some more favorite moments other than Andrew/Jenny

* Answering in whale after being asked "do you speak whale?" and making the Storybook skipper crack up.
* Random people joining random conversations and they all made sense.
* Random people helping us look for Chris when he was ahead of us. "wait. who is Chris and what does he look like?"
* Finding Erik as he randomly walked by the place Kevin and I were charging phones.
* being held hostage. That Stockholm Syndrome made me come back for the epic! Jungle Cruise ride.
* Telling Lisa Disneyland had closed and she could go back to work.
* Alice in Wonderland makes more sense the more tired you are
* Lobster bisque at Jolly Holly Edwardian Victorian in the 80s Bakery was delicious and I hope they start offering it. In a bread bowl.
*Constantly being shocked, in a good way at how many people were still in the park at 330am, 430am and 530am.

BAH! Missed you by mere minutes. :(

Steve, I'm sure you would have been unimpressed with what little Disney "DID" to make it special. Some food, a few extra characters and music, and not much else. But when we were there, it didn't matter one bit. They "DID" just enough by providing a unique setting and an excuse. The people did the rest. Giddy party atmosphere ensued in droves. Even the completely unconscious chick being dragged around by paramedics had a huge smile on her face.

Whether it should be done again, or should have been done differently, or what frequency...I don't really care. If anything, all this proved is that you can't DO anything to create it. It's not about frequency, it's not about any special events or offerings or entertainment. It's about stumbling on the lucky combination of factors that make people feel like they're experiencing Disneyland in a unique and other-worldly state. So yeah, it's not surprising that the 3rd time around fell flat way back then. The first time is true uniqueness. The 2nd time loses the pure uniqueness of the first time, but that's replaced by the feeling of nostalgia for that first time, the giddiness of recalling your previous giddiness. By the third time, even that is not novel and it's just repetitive. So there's got to be something else to generate that out-of-the-ordinary mindset.

Wait. Where was I going with this? What time is it? Cranberries? A monkey poured coffee in my moots!

It's porcupine. In the 80's. Behind the train.

Why are there still so many people here!?!?
We can't use the secret AP knowledge. All the APs are here using the same information.
Darth Vader must have been controlling those CMs.
I will never look at those small world dolls the same again. They looked exhausted, beaten down and held against their will.

Sounds like you all had fun! Yay for good times! :)

If there's a 2016 shindig, I'll totally take the time off to do the full run.

Good Morning - on my second cup of coffee, had a grand time last night - need to check our my pictures. Total Giddy Fun. Now what to do about breakfast

It's National Pig Day, this means bacon, of course!

Happy, happy heart. More later.

I was IMing a friend who works at Google in Irvine when he received the email with the menu for today in their cafeteria. "Bacon wrapped meatloaf" he tells me.

"I want to go to there" I tells him.

2 hours later, I go to there.

He didn't even mention...it's FREE bacon wrapped meatloaf. I hate him a little right now.

Can't move

They did very little for the very first one, for the 25th birthday. But that's when I noticed a comradery and party atmosphere that I'd never experienced at Disneyland before, and very rarely since. As GD said, there was something about being at Disneyland in an other-worldly and unique state - and everyone was like best friends forever with everyone else. It was so bizarre and amazing.


I have to say, though, that if the Park weren't near deserted at 4 in the morning, I'm not sure what would make it seem otherworldly and unique. None of the other four overnights were anything like last night's in terms of crowds, from what I've heard - not even the 30th, which was the biggest ticket item of them all and had long entry lines and big crowds till after 3 am.


Being that I missed last night, I've been thinking a lot about that radtacular overnight in 1985. Twenty-seven years later and I'm beginning to think there will never be anything that spectacular at Disneyland ever again - well maybe for the 100th birthday, but I don't think I'll be around for that one. Le sigh.


Anyway, I'm sad I missed this one. But knowing friends were having a ball really put a smile on my face last night, even if I couldn't be there myself.

You nailed it with this post Greg. The event wasn't about what Disney did to make it special, it was about the people; the people I spent day/night/morning with as well as the others at the park.

Disney fell short on a couple of details, short-staffing being the key issue. One of the things that bugged me the most was the trash around the park, in the queues, etc. (but this is as much guests' responsibility as Disney's). I CAN'T fault Disney for the number of people who showed up though!

Overall, it was great!

One last detail: the number of people just standing around both in and around the hub after 6:00 a.m. this morning was amazing. I guess they just didn't want it to end :)

1) Just the simple knowledge that it was 4AM. 2) Sleep deprivation. 3) (and something I forgot to include in my earlier list of highlights) The occasional glimpse of the usually unseen overnight maintenance workers squeezing in odd jobs as attractions were gradually shut down for the night/morning. The group squeal we all let out when we suddenly noticed that Autopia's lawn was being mowed was positively geektastic!

And the open bar!

Maybe never doing this before was the key. I don't think any of us have ever done an overnight in Disneyland before. It was a unique experience for us and frankly you just seem like a little black cloud raining on our headons about how much something you didn't even do probably sucked based upon the things you were reading on the internet. I'm glad that you say you are glad we were having fun. It was an absolute blast and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

The one thing Disney usually does right is crowd control. They have plenty of experience with insane crowds and parks at capacity. I can fault them for the short staffing of the busses to the unreasonable walking-distance Toy Story lot and crowd control outside the parks.

Luckily everyone we came across was just as shocked about how packed it was and in the same ecstatic just to be there mood that seemed to negate the entrance experience.

Ya so much for the park being deserted at the wee hours. People did stay so theark being nearly empty wasn't true. I have to agree the amou t of trash in the que lines and around the park was hideous. Im sorry but that made the park look bad. Seeing that park guest purposely drop his empty cigarette pack on the ground and not even care goes to show people's true colors. I'll keep my comments to myself here.

I've done the been up 24+ hours before and seen the sunrise but nothing like this morning. Something "magical" in that experience. I think that's why there were still a great amount of people inside the park not wanting to leave.

If I hadn't taken the last three days off work to continue with my kitchen remodel, I might have tried to make it. Sounds like it was so much fun!

I think the cool thing about the crowds is there was a giant set of giddiness. Everyone there seemed to be having a good time, and what crankiness may have accompanied the ordeal of getting in, soon melted away to the collective joyfulness. It was a Leap Day Miracle.

So quoted....

Everyone already spoke to exactly how I felt. Amazing evening of Disney, not because of the signs or special fireworks, but friends and Disneyland mash up.

Wasn't a fan of the rowdy folks but that comes with the territory, though the CM walking by the dude smoking in the Jungle Cruise line should've said something.

Otherwise, :cheers: my friends...

When did I say it sucked? I said it was crowded. Was it not crowded? It was so crowded it was all over the news last night. I've heard complaints about the crowding from half the people in this group who were there last night, though not once inside the Park.

Maybe a bit of my regret in missing it is seeping into my tone unawares to me, and if so - I apologize. It's clear everyone had a ton of fun, so I have nothing bad to say - nor have I said anything bad - about the event itself. Just that it was outrageously crowded (I personally don't even want to THINK about being inside Disneyland if it's crowded enough for them to close the gates to further admission - yikes).

And I'd gladly put up with seeing the Park in the garbage-strewn state of your typical Six Flags park if it meant I got to see them mowing the Autopia lawns. :D

I think this just proves we all need to get together at the Park more often....

I am so bummed we didn't take a group picture of the last ones standing.

It is probably better that Disney didn't do much. If there'd been lots of events they'd almost certainly have generated backlash as people couldn't get to them, queues got screwed up, etc.

"Here you go...make your own fun..." is kind of hard to screw up. And if it does get screwed up can mostly be blamed on you. Kind of like faith healing.

We didn't just get to SEE them mowing the Autopia lawns, we could SMELL the fresh cut grass.

Word is that some of the staffing problems came from late-shift CMs being stuck in the same traffic as everyone else, causing people to be hours late for their late shift.

I imagine some of the garbage has to do with above-average consumption (as group we bought/refilled more coffee in a few hours than I've consumed in several years.) as with the slipping states of awareness and decision control.) But, yes, they understaffed.

Beyond shared giddiness and unique experiences... I think Mark's onto something. I think on top of all that, we just really missed each other. And spending time in general, let alone in the park. We talked about old memories and jokes, we created brand new ones, and took the opportunity to just revel in our luck and love. I never felt crowded (beyond the ears mob at park open) and I never even felt chilly. A Leap Year Dave Williams miracle, indeed!

We should have taken a picture of those of us who were there as the sun was rising would have been great. Hey Six Flags is much cleaner than yesterday or this morning at Disneyland it WAS that bad. I've never seen Disneyland in such a state of so much trash even with the amou t of garbage cans etc. New Years Eve did NOT seem as crowded as yesterday NOR as much trash everywhere that I can recall.

I am definitely getting old and my days of staying up like that are few and far between but so glad I stayed until the end (since I wasn't there at the beginning).

When you're that tired or sleep deprived I get silly/giddy.

I really feel they definitely understaffed. There are thousands of annual passholders nothing was blocked out. Even though it was a weekday EVERYONE who lived close by especially went. It's a no brainer. Even the ticket booths at 9:15pm were hideous. If I didn't have an annual pass there would have been no way I would have paid for a ticket that late with the madness of people trying to get into the park or who were already inside the park.

It was nice to hang out with everyone because lately I've been going with a friend of mine so it reminded me of old times.

That would make sense since they have to travel the same streets. Pictures online show Harbor and Katella backed up for miles too. I'm kind of surprised Anaheim PD didn't try and do some sort of traffic control on the surface streets.

It was unprecedented for sure and if they do it again hopefully they look back on this and learn.

I think the most disappointing part of the evening was the BB being out of Dungeons shrimp.

They had trouble fitting them with the little ball gags.

I can't mojo you! Excellent!

Heidi, were you able to turn off your hotspot?

No, baby, it just keeps going. Somebody's going to have to take a look at it.

I had a fine time out here in Orlando's wannabe Disneyland. We had more elbow room, but also noticeably understaffed.

I think that was definitely the highlight for me. I never get to see you people!

I had vision of tiny handcuffs and floggers. :)

For a moment, I thought Susan was going to tear that guy a new one.

The surreality of that was amplified by the sleep-deprivity.

Yeah: I've been yearning for a return of our old spontaneous Friday evening meets.

Based on her endless silly grin all night, I would venture to say no :evil:

Oh, Kevin. You missed a post!

Oh, alright. I'll come take a look.

Longingly...

The trash was unsightly...but I was ready to punch a girl in the parking lot returning to our cars who was sooooo indignant about the trash that she felt the need to announce loudly what each piece of trash she saw was as she identified it.

It was a long walk to my car.

An as-yet-unsubstantiated message from Susan (from a quilt-guild friend who heard from a CM):I hope this proves to be true :D

On our way back to the car, we came across a gull eating from a pile of vomit.

Cue the "Circle of Life"...

Oh I wonder if that was true about the people sleeping in Mr. Lincoln. That's probably why it was on the list of attractions to be closed by a certain hour. They didn't want people in there sleeping lol

There were people sleeping in the exit area when we walked by. Over by the portraits.

I also added some photos from the evening on Facebook!

YAY FACEBOOK!!!!!!!!!

And Google+

Practically Perfect is what I'd call yesterday...this morning. I'm STILL giddy, smiling at everything, and very happy. I love going in with no grand expectations, watching and reacting to things as they unfold, letting the fun just happen and just having a ball with it.

It wasn't what Disney did. It wasn't the crowd. It was US at our favorite place, doing what we do best - enjoying each other.

There's was some fun influence from the outside:
Steve's curmudgeonly tweets lead to some good times. Thank you for the line "Back in the '80s....."

Heidi's unexpected discovery of the hot MC controversy over Victorian vs Edwardian architecture leading to a locked thread (really?????) was so damn fun to play with - and we now have 2 more styles to discuss. Erodeian and Imodium.

However, I still wish we had found NM at Zocalo, silently walked up as he was with his staff, picked him up and carried him off.....

When we got home, we had pugs and cats happy to see us and our happiness rubbed off on them. It took me a while to get to sleep because I was both exhausted and nauseous. I guess an intake consisting of carbs, coffee, shellfish in cream sauce and lots of cheese will cause a mess. One antacid later and I feel asleep just as it was starting to get light outside. I smiled thinking of those of you just saying your goodbyes at the park, but still happy to be home in bed.

Good times.

The one thing I should have done: popped three Advil before going to bed this morning.

Yeah yeah... whatever.


Disneyland / Overnight / Shellfish / Friends / Yadda Yadda

I'm glad I stayed home.

:rolleyes:
:p

I second Teresa's comments.

I was all ready to go to the park around 9 or 10 (along with the rest of Southern California, apparently) and got cold feet by the reports of the clusterfvck in the parking.

The next time there's an opportunity to hang with my friends in such a cool and unique way (whether it be Disney related or not), I'm determined to go for it.

It's not the Disney experience I feel I missed out on (although I've heard reports that they changed all the BGM at the MK in WDW - I would have loved to experience that), it the social experience that would have made my month.

It was fun to monitor the goings on from afar, updating the MP reports, but next time I might like to be there. I could use more joy.

At one point I was headed over to Beaumark's place to borrow his handicap placard with the hare-brained idea of ditching my car in some neighborhood relatively near the Resort just to avoid the parking nightmare, but then I found out that streets were backed up for miles, too. Le Bah.


Still - I should have tried something ... and just being content to miss the whole thing makes me feel as if old age is indeed creeping up on me. Lame.

But I'll agree with this:

We ended up stumbling back to our car parked in the parking structure. They were running trams frequently but there were just too many trying to board trams so we decided to walk or what was close to walking lol...

I feel like I've lost an entire day but at least today I'm more human (still yearning for more sleep and normal Friday's I'd be in bed sleeping). I still think it definitely was the group of US that made our experience that much more amazing since Disney really didn't step it up hate to say that.

I'm so glad that we went after all the problems we encountered but once we met up with the group that all sort of faded away at that point.

I was WRONG. Wrong, wrong, WRONG!

Just woke up from a 12 hour fully clothed crash after working my farmer's market yesterday, deliveries, etc. Haven't had time to read do more than scan the board, but I want to concur, I HAD FUN!!!!

It was funny, we split from the group when they went to Blue Bayou, rode Pirates and came back out to find them still standing outside waiting for their reservation.

We were listening for you if you rode again! We were way in the back but figured the entire ride would hear you ask for a roll.

I'm not quite caught up on sleep yet, but I'm still smiling at the great evening so I don't care.

I literally slept all day today. Got up at 6:30.

PM.

Got a swell letter from Disney. They asked so I gave my opinion of the 24hr even.

I love the haunted mansion pic, so cool!

Great pics, thanks!

Thanks for sharing!

Kerry, what camera are you using. These night shots are fabulous!

Heh, "success in generating happiness". :)

I've got an iPhone 4S with an, umm... lens. And an F something

[Cue Meatloaf Hot Summer night voice] I bet you say that to all the boys........

The Modern Family episode that was being filmed at Disneyland during leap day is now on Hulu.

Watched it last night. Pretty great.

Toonton.

We watched it, but saved it on the TiVo. We spent so much time looking at/watching the Disneyland elements that we didn't pay attention to the episode.