The DCA Grand Opening Sleepover
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Still there was plenty of time to catch some shut-eye if that was what you wanted to do. However, with the cold chill dropping fast, some reported it dropping to 30 degrees, staying warm was the first priority. The hot chocolate and coffee helped with that, and so did Resort Health Services by passing out all the blankets they had to the souls who hadn’t thought to bring them themselves.

For those that chose to stay awake, there was lots to talk about. Most talked about what they were going to do in the new park, what rides they had already been on, and what the reasons where for their camping out. Some came up with creative ways of passing the time, such as the four boys who made a mountain of their used coffee cups. Others took strolls up and down Main Street and enjoyed the park in its early morning glory.

Wake up call was at 5AM. As the sun started to rise over Tomorrowland we welcomed the 200 or so additionally guests who joined us over night and started to witness larger groups of guests trickling in down Main Street and around the castle into the queue. By 6:30AM we were about 1200 strong and ready to go.

At about 7AM they started moving the first few groups down Main Street and toward the main entrance -- like a rope drop in reverse. Thankfully they had Cast Members keeping the pace of advancement slow, but there was still a press of humanity that made it a bit difficult and even dangerous at times. When we made it outside Disneyland’s gates and realized we were going to see part of the opening ceremony, spirits were lifted. I truly expected to be held back until the last moment and then unleashed to run across the plaza to the DCA entry gates.

A view of the media...

The ceremony went off a few minutes late, but it was worth waiting for. All the speeches and dignitaries, the dancers and fireworks, and the memories we knew were being created, added up to push the experience well into the plus column. Then with the dignitaries and press corps safely inside the gates, the real first guests were let into the park.

... and a glimpse of the opening ceremony

All in all a fun time was had by all. With the low turnout Disney could have just told us all to go home and come back at 8AM, but instead, they stuck with the advertised plan. Even better, they let about 400 of the sleep-over guests out onto the plaza to hear and see (with obstructed views, but better than nothing) the opening ceremonies.