Ok, so.. I just HAD to share my experiences from my last Disneyland trip which was Saturday 3/3...
ALL I wanted to do was exchange my Star Wars sweatshirt for a bigger size so I figured, "Oh, even though it's a Saturday, I'll head down there EARLY, exchange my shirt and go home"
Disneyland was set to open at 8am but I didnt get down there til about 845a.
As soon as I exit the escalator from the 2nd level of the parking structure a Cast Member was standing there saying "All services are suspended, we are evacuating everyone to the Pinocchio Parking Lot"
(for those unfamiliar with Disneyland's parking--they have a HUGE structure--I've heard at one point it was the world's largest--6 levels high.. and a flat lot next to it that they use for oversize vehicles--this is where they were herding us)
So of course everyone is asking why.. and of course the CM has no answer. So I get to the lot and a CM there is saying "you can stay here in this lot, or walk along the walkway to Downtown Disney and wait there" So I figured, if they're not letting us in to Disneyland, at least I can go to Downtown Disney and get a coffee while I wait. Some people wanted to just leave, but the parking structure was now closed--no one in or out. So as I walk toward Downtown Disney, I call home to see if anything is on the news. Of course there IS, and it's some sort of "suspicious package found in the trees near the entrance of Disneyland--no one is getting in, and no one inside is getting out". So as I approach, I see that I am not the only person with this idea, and the crowd of people has completely STOPPED moving. I am NOT going to get to Downtown Disney via the walkway.
So I veer right, and follow the sidewalk heading toward the Grand Californian. Not many people were going that way, so I figured I had a chance of getting through.
I was right, I made it to the lobby and found a place to sit on a couch. The place was packed of course, because both parks were closed. Great news at this point--ITS HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER WEEKEND! yaaaay! Cheerleaders and their stage moms EVERYWHERE! I only lasted about 10 minutes until I headed for the bar. The bar was nice and quiet, and I settled in to wait since I couldnt leave, and I couldnt go into Disneyland.
The Cast Members were doing their best, but they really had no info for us... but Disney hotels have free wifi in the bars and lobbies, so Twitter and the internet had PLENTY of info! I kept in touch with the world via them. After about 2 hours, I told the family next to me that people on Twitter were reporting that the line was moving and they were being let in. Sure enough, about 5 min later a CM came through to say the parks were opening. I knew better than to get up right away, so I stayed another 20 minutes or so. Most people were heading to the hotel's entrance to the Grand Californian, so I went the other way to Downtown Disney, to try to get in to Disneyland. NOT my best idea because the mob of people had not made it through yet.
Here is a pic of the mob trying to get to the bag search...
While standing there near the far end of the World of Disney, I noticed the doors were closed and they were not allowing people into the store. But, right after I took that pic, the doors were opened and me and maybe 12 others used that opportunity to cut past the rest of the mob in that line! We emerged on the other side victorious and were some of the first people into the park! HOORAY!!
***continued***
I do think the Churro was a good idea, as was riding Star Tours!! Woot!!
