A very "cool" celebration for Disney waterparks 50 millionth guest

[Eeyore]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Beating the heat for Walt Disney World Resort guests from around the world, Disney water parks celebrated their 50 millionth guest Thursday, Aug. 21 with a big -- really big -- snow cone celebration.

Behind the scenes at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park, snow cone crafters turned more than two tons of ice into a nine-foot-tall, polar-packed mountain of frozen fun. The giant Mickey Mouse-shaped snow cone marked the 50 million attendance milestone at Disney water parks in a snowy celebration amidst 90+-degree weather in the Sunshine State.

As "Disney snow" showered above him, "Polar Pete," the mythical proprietor of the water park's Polar Pub, surprised the Simonet family of St. Augustine, Fla. as they entered Disney's Blizzard Beach, then paraded them to the giant (and frozen) centerpiece of the celebration. Five-year-old Hank Simonet was chosen to commemorate and celebrate the 50 millionth guest.

Hank and his family then led a "21 (water) gun salute" to mark the moment. To the strains of "Ice, Ice Mickey," 20 children joined the Simonets in spraying colorful syrup on the massive cone with Super Soaker water guns. Mickey Mouse and Goofy, clad in their best summer swimsuits, also joined the fun by splashing with guests in the park's wave pool.

The family also received an annual pass to the Disney water parks in recognition of the honor.

 

[MouseMadness]

Awwwwwwww, what a great story! Thanks Eeyore! :wave:

 

[The_CEO]

Thats really somthing!

Why do they do that though? Publicity?


Just to be nice?

 

[Eeyore]

Originally posted by MouseMadness
Awwwwwwww, what a great story! Thanks Eeyore! :wave:

You're welcome! :wave:

Originally posted by The_CEO
Why do they do that though? Publicity? Just to be nice?

I bet it's a little of both.

 

[kal1484]

They release any pictures?

 

[Erika]

Wow!! What a fun idea! I would also love to see a picture, if anyone happens to come across one.

 

[Dean[AU]]

It isnt really an annual pass when the water parks are opened seasonally.. :lol:

 

[Yellow Shoes]

At least the family was, in theory, close enough to visit more than once a year.

Yeah, yeah, I know St. Augustine isn't all that close, but it's closer than KC, or ..............Australia!!

 

[Katherine]

That's really neat! The article said that Goofy and Mickey went to the wave pool with them and the way it's written it sounds like they went in. Can charactes go in water? I idn't think they could.:veryconfu :lookaroun

 

[AndyP]

Yeah the characters do go in the water, i think they have special suits. I've seen Goofy in Blizzard Beach doing photographs, obviously, they don't go in deep, maybe 1-2 ft deep approx.

Andy

 

[s25843]

Originally posted by Dean[AU]
It isnt really an annual pass when the water parks are opened seasonally.. :lol:

Well one of the 2 parks is awalys open, so therefore it is an "Annual Pass" :lol:

 

[JaynMACP96_97_9]

Originally posted by Katherine
That's really neat! The article said that Goofy and Mickey went to the wave pool with them and the way it's written it sounds like they went in. Can charactes go in water? I idn't think they could.:veryconfu :lookaroun

Yeah they can. They just can't do it while they're working. For instance, if Pluto has a shift at the Studios, clocks in, and decides instead of hanging out and making appearances he's going to go swimming at Blizzard Beach, that isn't going to fly.

 

[antoinebusby]

Originally posted by JaynMACP96_97_9
Yeah they can. They just can't do it while they're working. For instance, if Pluto has a shift at the Studios, clocks in, and decides instead of hanging out and making appearances he's going to go swimming at Blizzard Beach, that isn't going to fly.

Interesting point! Although, if the person playing the character is off the clock, why would they want to stay in all the hot costume when they can take it all off, and then go for a dip in the pool?

 

[JaynMACP96_97_9]

Originally posted by antoinebusby
Interesting point! Although, if the person playing the character is off the clock, why would they want to stay in all the hot costume when they can take it all off, and then go for a dip in the pool?

aww cmon antoine, you're ruining the magic. SHHHHHHHHHH

 

[DisneyPhD]

OK we were at TL that day and didn't see anything. We were back in the room watching the weather channel (a big stom blew in chasing us and everyone out of there at 3:30, big surprize.) we saw there was a celebration. It didn't say if it was BB or TL, and they showed a clip of the lazy river at TL (that we were just on!)

We were so suprised because we saw nothing about this and we were all over the park. We did see helicopters circling.


Now after reading this thread it explains more, it was at BB not TL. (we went to BB on Monday aug 20th instead.)

 

[antoinebusby]

Originally posted by JaynMACP96_97_9
aww cmon antoine, you're ruining the magic. SHHHHHHHHHH

Oh sorry, Jay! Didn't mean to ruin it. Heck, it was about 3 hours past my bedtime. LOL!!!!