The DCA Grand Opening Sleepover
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DCA - Send in the crowds... if they appear

Mary Parker, Anaheim, and Steven W. Smith, Azusa, arrived at 5:30 AM Wednesday February 7th to find they were the very first hardy souls to line up for the grand opening day of Disney’s California Adventure. As it turns out they waited nearly 2 hours for the next guest to arrive and secure his spot in line. That slow pace would come to symbolize the next 24 hours as about 850 guests waited for their spot in history.

I had to work that morning and didn’t make it to the queue area until about 2pm Wednesday afternoon. By that time about 80 people had lined up against the green fence that separates the tram loading zone from the oversized vehicle parking section of large gray Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.

I joined my girlfriend and a mutual friend in line and noticed we were essentially the sixth, seventh, and eighth people waiting there. The first fifteen of so of us in line formed a big group that would stick together throughout the night. A night like no one predicted.

The author and his girlfriend

Over a dozen Cast Members (CMs) kept a careful watch over the group. Many CMs had even been brought in from Orlando to help out with their useful experience in opening a themepark. The CMs kept us informed on what was going on, what and when the next steps would be, and were just generally nice and helpful people. I know I appreciated their presence throughout the night.

Despite the CMs very open policy of information sharing, rumors circulated freely concerning what the plans were for the rest of the night. When would the wrist bands be handed out? When and if we were getting let into Disneyland? Someone even speculated the Beach Boys would do a concert for us in Disneyland at 1AM when they were finished entertaining the VIPs.

Additionally, the usual Annual Passholder activities commenced. There was some spotted, but feverish, pin trading; a lot of catching up with friends, exchanging stories of old Disneyland visits; and generally just trying to stay warm. Also a convenient, and tasty as it turns out, mobile kitchen was present, as were a dozen or so port-o-potties.