To those in the overnight line at the DLR, sorry to tell you that you won't be the first members of the public to enter SW:GE

[Darkbeer1]

Disneyland welcomes 600 local kids as first public visitors to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Kids from Anaheim non-profits including Make-A-Wish, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters were the first Disneyland guests to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

www.ocregister.com

>>Disneyland put out the welcome mat for 600 Anaheim kids who became the first members of the public to visit Galaxy’s Edge — including some who had no idea what was awaiting them as they waited in line to enter the highly anticipated new Star Wars themed land.

Kids from Anaheim nonprofits including Make-A-Wish, YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters were invited to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on Thursday afternoon. Previously, only VIPs, Disneyland cast members and their guests and the news media had been granted access to the land.

The news of the surprise first guests will come as a shock to legions of Star Wars fans who paid hundreds and even thousands of dollars for a room at the Disneyland Resort hotels to secure a free reservation to Galaxy’s Edge on Friday — the date that has been billed as the grand opening of the new Star Wars land at the Anaheim theme park for months. Even more fans snapped up the coveted reservations for non-hotel guests in less than two hours to be among the first visitors to see Galaxy’s Edge.<<

While I do feel a bit sad for those who spent the big bucks....

I am extremely happy that 600 kids now have a story for the rest of their lives, "I was one of the first to go to SW:GE!!!"

And kudos to Disney for opening their pocketbook, picking up the tab for the entire event, including the lightsabers and food/drink.

Most of you know this story, but is worth repeating. On Opening Day, Monday, July 18th, 1955.

Roy O. Disney bought ticket #1 in a pre-arranged deal. The first person in line was Dave MacPherson, and bought ticket #2. Two children were picked from the line and got the photo op with Walt Disney, and lifetime passes that day. Disneyland did give Mr. MacPherson a lifetime pass, though belatedly.

Disneyland's First Customer Still Uses His Lifetime Pass

While Walt prepared to open Disneyland on July 17, 1955, David MacPherson, Disneyland’s first customer, was at the Park gate by 2:00 a.m.

www.disneydreamer.com

 

[Phroobar]

I wonder if those two children are still alive and use their life time passes regularly.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Nice, that's pretty awesome. I really hope nobody in the overnight line threw a fit over this, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Bostb71]

Why was there an overnight line? I thought you had to have a reservation to get in today.

 

[donaldtoo]

Didn’t Disneyland open on Sunday, July 17th, 1955..?

 

[socalifornian]

Didn’t Disneyland open on Sunday, July 17th, 1955..?

Depends on who you ask

 

[Rich T]

Why was there an overnight line? I thought you had to have a reservation to get in today.

I’m sure there are reservation holders who want to be among the very, very, very, very first reservation holders to enter. Because.... .... personal SW geekout-fest.

 

[Rich T]

Depends on who you ask
View attachment 378068

That line has always bugged me, but I’m giving Spielberg credit and assuming it was intentional—As a subtle example of Hammond’s flawed research methods.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Didn’t Disneyland open on Sunday, July 17th, 1955..?

Yesterland: Did Disneyland Open July 17 or July 18?

www.yesterland.com

When Did Disneyland Open? July 17 or July 18?

Jim addresses the age-old question about the theme park.

www.mouseplanet.com

Disneyland Historical Documents/Photos - 1955 thru 1970 (11/6/08) - Darkbeer

Had the chance to head off to Downtown Anaheim this afternoon, and did some serious research, both at the Main Anaheim Library, and the Heritage Room at the Museo. While a lot of the info does focus on the fact that Disneyland officially celebrated opening day as July 18th, 1955 when Walt...

darkbeer.smugmug.com

 

[Phroobar]

I’m sure there are reservation holders who want to be among the very, very, very, very first reservation holders to enter. Because.... .... personal SW geekout-fest.

Those people have mental issues.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Have the KTLA Morning News on, they just showed a tape of the overnight line. They stated many in the line were there to buy merchandise. So not everyone had a reservation, but to do the eBay thing.....

Merchandise is available at the Launch Bay at Tomorrowland.

And while KTLA has been filming in the parks, through the PR department, today's report was unofficial, as the reporter was at the corner of the Anaheim Hotel, off DLR property. The footage they used was blogger stuff.

 

[donaldtoo]

Yesterland: Did Disneyland Open July 17 or July 18?

www.yesterland.com

When Did Disneyland Open? July 17 or July 18?

Jim addresses the age-old question about the theme park.

www.mouseplanet.com

Disneyland Historical Documents/Photos - 1955 thru 1970 (11/6/08) - Darkbeer

Had the chance to head off to Downtown Anaheim this afternoon, and did some serious research, both at the Main Anaheim Library, and the Heritage Room at the Museo. While a lot of the info does focus on the fact that Disneyland officially celebrated opening day as July 18th, 1955 when Walt...

darkbeer.smugmug.com

I knew that about MK and EPCOT Center.
So, what we’re seein’ here is, depending on your POV, Disneyland may, or may not, have “opened” on Sunday, July 17, 1955...!!!!!

 

[Tom P.]

If anyone is actually upset that Make-A-Wish children and children from other charities got to go in a day early, they seriously need to re-evaluate their lives.

And shame on The Orange County Register for framing their story that way, making it sound like the paying guests had a legitimate issue to be upset about.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I knew that about MK and EPCOT Center.
So, what we’re seein’ here is, depending on your POV, Disneyland may, or may not, have “opened” on Sunday, July 17, 1955...!!!!!

Have to be quick. Walt Disney's POV was that the park opened on July 18th.

Every old timer (Opening day CM's) have stated the 18th, at least after they retired and had no official ties to the park.

It IS the 18th. July 17th is a Historic day, with the largest Live broadcast in the USA at the time. (They flew cameras in from multiple cities to do it). But it is NOT Opening Day, nor the anniversary.

 

[donaldtoo]

Have to be quick. Walt Disney's POV was that the park opened on July 18th.

Every old timer (Opening day CM's) have stated the 18th, at least after they retired and had no official ties to the park.

It IS the 18th. July 17th is a Historic day, with the largest Live broadcast in the USA at the time. (They flew cameras in from multiple cities to do it). But it is NOT Opening Day, nor the anniversary.

OK. Walt Schmalt...
My POV is that if there were people there other than CMs, staff, employees, etc., and it was a big press event, then Sunday, July 17, 1955 was opening day.
At least I knew it didn’t open in ‘56...!!!!!

 

[Darkbeer1]

At the Pedestrian Crossing on Harbor is a small group of Anti-Vaxxers with large signs, some dressed up in Star Wars attire. East side of Harbor. They should be warning you about the Captain Kidds Buffet

 

[Disney Irish]

At the Pedestrian Crossing on Harbor is a small group of Anti-Vaxxers with large sign, some dressed up in Star Wars attire. East side of Harbor. They should be warning you about the Captain Kidds Buffet

If you go to Captain Kidds, don't you need a vaccine or two?

 

[Darkbeer1]

If you go to Captain Kidds, don't you need a vaccine or two?

And a large bottle of the Pink Stuff...

 

[Darkbeer1]

At the Pedestrian Crossing on Harbor is a small group of Anti-Vaxxers with large signs, some dressed up in Star Wars attire. East side of Harbor. They should be warning you about the Captain Kidds Buffet

Standing around at LAX.....

Got a couple of photos of the anti-Vaxxers, will post later.

But these families are about to enter one of the most crowded areas in Orange County, one known for at least one measles outbreak, and you are giving them quack advice...

Such is life.

Next flight is from Rome.

 

[Disney Irish]

Standing around at LAX.....

Got a couple of photos of the anti-Vaxxers, will post later.

But these families are about to enter one of the most crowded areas in Orange County, one known for at least one measles outbreak, and you are giving them quack advice...

Such is life.

Next flight is from Rome.

Well let's hope they get measles so they can stay home instead of out there putting out false information.