Halloween 2006 @ Disneyland Paris
Overdue report,
yeah busy kat ;)
Soo on tuesday 31st, after the gathering at my place the days before
it was the D-Day: Going to the Halloween night in disneyland paris.
(well trying to)
Pre-Trip
So everyone wakes up, shower queue and breakfast queue again,
then a few hours before leaving, pasta for the champions ;)
that way we can keep going for hours.
That and a few sandwiches and snacks for the park ;)
On our way to the cars, quick checking that every helper has the fursuiter tickets...
that's where Rhondil and Eisbaer like to make last minute jokes,
by telling me that they actually don't have a ticket..
I thought they were playing with me, but no they were serious ;)
Ack, next year I'll need to put it in red letters and blinking in the message ;)
So we still leave for the park, we're already late, about 5:30pm
and we fall into bad traffic Jam on the way to the park.
I try to see if there's a way to get unused tickets by calling a few , but to no avail.
Parking Pre-Meeting
We finally arrive on the parking a bit before 7:30pm
not too bad, planned pre-meeting time on the parking was 7pm.
So it's time
to start running around to get things prepared, find people, try to get missing tickets,
people who need to exchange their tickets get them exchanged
(grrrr, why can't people buy official disney tickets that don't need to be exchanged..)
I can finally start dressing up around 8:15
and then ready to go to the 2nd meeting point which is at 8:30 ;)
we get there around 8:45 ish,
not bad for once, we didn't get stopped too much on the way there.
Leaving from the parking later than last year (6:30pm)
avoids us to be stopped too much by the continuous flow of people passing us, who are exiting the park from the day and going back to the parking.
Once at the official meeting point,
we're still missing a few, so we wait on the main plaza near the disney village entrance.
Security
After some time, the security comes to us, and asks questions and the like.
I just try to explain them that we're not there to do any trouble,
that we're there to have fun, and enjoy the halloween night, while interacting with people.
That we're just fans of animal costumes from around europe, who love to visit different places and interact with people.
And trying to show them that we're organised enough and that we can handle ourselves,
and that we have enough helpers to take care of each.
And that we are professional enough to interact with visitors.
That's usually their main worries.
After the 4th year going there, they should start to know that though ;)
This year they had a few additionnal questions / worries.
It concerned the fact that we had doubled in size,
when I reminded them that last year they said it'd be ok to come back if everything was ok, which was the case,
they said that yes but last year we were only 5 :)
This year 13 suiters :)
So after showing them that the extra number wouldn't be a problem for us to handle they were ok on that point.
Other talks were concerning videos and photos on internet,
most likely they got worried after that certain video of the characters doing things backstage.
And more concerned about that this year.
I think they were trying to see if we were going to cause some trouble like that..
After talking some more and explaining to him that it was not our intent at all, that the videos and photos we take are just to get a souvenir from the night, he seemed ok about it.
And the video from last year is good press for the park and the halloween night anyway I think :)
But yeah overall they are always worried and trying to see what are our real intents so I think their way to discover them, is by asking many questions and talking and watching us interact with people while they make us wait..
After some time they leave again, we're still unsure if we can get in or not,
but it looks more promising, the new security person seems to be understanding.
we wait some more, and use the time to take a group photo too
Then Deoloup comes to me to let me know it's ok we can get in.
Didn't even see the security coming back the 3rd time in fact.
They took quite some time between the 1st and 2nd talk, but came back faster on the 3rd :)
They have given a few new rules to deoloup, like not interacting with disney characters,
and of course staying professional.
That is not a problem for us and is the way we do it anyway :)
It could have been nice to get a group photo with stitch that we saw on the park though, too bad ;)
But there are not really many characters on the park on that night.
Most are vilains, and non animal costumes.
They didn't talk more about video or such, so I guess it's ok as long as it's not negative for disney.
And since the video mix from last year is good advertisement for the halloween night, I think it' ok :)
Sooo, as long as we stay professionnal and don't cause them or disney any trouble,
next year will hopefully still be a go :)
Every year we prove them more and more that they can trust us,
and the visitors are always very happy to meet us on the park,
so they even get free labor ;)
Thanks to Deoloup for helping me for the talks :)
Inside the Park
Sooo we are finally going through the security check, goes smooth, they don't even ask to remove the heads this year.
We wait for everyone to get in, some are still missing, some new ones are missing, trying to solve tickets problems..
We get going, it's already around 10pm
We do a first quick break.
Then we proceed further into the park.
eek, some fursuiters are already going too far and in the wrong direction, way too crowded there,
so turn around ;)
and cross the main street where it's less crowded.
It's difficult to keep everyone together and going in the right direction.
Deoloup is coordinating the end of the group , thanks to him we shouldn't loose some that way ;)
We head toward Big thunder mountain, it's very crowded, moving carefuly by holding each other's hand,
it usually works well not to loose too many ;)
Once we arrive there, unfortunately the waiting time is too long.
So we wander some more around, and interact with people,
then on our way to Pirates of caribeans.
Queue is about 20 minutes, let's go , weehhhh :)
During the queue it's quite funny, there was someone in a freddy suit,
who was 2-3 rows of queue in front of us, but we he saw me he came all the way to see , and take a photo *g* ;)
He had interesting scissor like nails , can't see on the photo though
We do the ride, and get the pictures :)
We take a few more photos and interaction, then we head toward indiana jones,
some fursuiters needs a break, so we try to head toward the castle, to find a dead end corner where nobody would see us.
We are told that the fantasyland is closed unfortunately, it's already time for the fireworks.
Too bad, would have been relaxing to do the carousel once again ;)
Something to remember for next year, go there first, because the area is closing ;)
Quick group photo on the way
We pass near BTM again, the queue is much better, only 30mins,
but first the break..
We go close to the haunted manor, to take a break there.
After that last break, we try to have a loog again at Big Thunder Mountain,
on the way there I meet Titash, another fellow meerkat fan I discovered a few days before on a disney forum.
After a quick photo session,
we go together to BTM,
we get in, but by the time we get in, the waiting time changes from 30 mins to 70 mins , argh.
We turn around, and decide to skip it.
We then head toward space mountain,
the queue is not too bad, around 30 mins.
some fursuiters prefer not to do it, so we split the group in two,
some stay there and do buzz lightyear,
the other group has already left for space mountain, I run there to catch them up ;)
We finally get on the ride, we have to remove the head to get through the security harness on space mountain.
Unfortunately, one fursuit can't remove it and has to stay.
We do the ride, weeehhhh, instant cooling ! :)
It's quite nice with the head on, it's very comfy at least ;)
Too bad that it was already after 1am, so when we got out, they had already closed the photo shooting.
No space mountain photo souvenir this year ;)
We meet up back with others at the exit,
then it's time to head back toward the entrance to get out. they are closing already.
Some more interaction with people and bouncing on music,
then I get stopped by someone from city hall, asking if we can get into the city hall to say hello :)
Others have already passed that point, and are already going away.
So I run to the city hall for a quick hello :)
After a few minutes, others are coming back and joining me in city hall , weehhh
the cast members there are very happy to see us too :)
we ask them if we can take a group photo, they say ok :)
so we do :)
we also take another nice group photo,
this time with most of the french furs who were there :)
Then we head outside the park, we make a quick poll to see if people can still keep going or not ,
so that we could go to disney village to interact some more with people there, and I think there was some dance party going on there too ;)
But some of the suiters are too tired, so we head back to the cars. :)
hmm, could have kept running , so since it's the last few minutes, let bounce crazy on the way back *g* ;)
After hitting the cars, time to get out, brrrr that's cold
it's around 2am already.
so overall from about 8pm to 2am
And everyone survived.
I should start distributing certificates for next year maybe ;)
"survived disneyland in suit" ;)
Well thanks to all, for everything, special thanks to deoloup, and all the helpers,
those who took photos, video, and all :)
And for those who'll post photos and video,
since it seems it was one of the security worry,
even if I don't think there's anything negative that happened during the night,
make sure that you don't post anything that could be harmful for disney or us.
The security trusted us once again this year, so let's not disappoint them.
Thanks :)
====================================================================================
More pictures:
http://fursuit.timduru.org/view/OtherEvents/Halloween/Halloween2006/DisneylandParis
More reports:
http://rakhan.livejournal.com/100724.html
http://yagfox.livejournal.com/241512.html
http://mr-wolf.livejournal.com/64473.html
yeah busy kat ;)
Soo on tuesday 31st, after the gathering at my place the days before
it was the D-Day: Going to the Halloween night in disneyland paris.
(well trying to)
Pre-Trip
So everyone wakes up, shower queue and breakfast queue again,
then a few hours before leaving, pasta for the champions ;)
that way we can keep going for hours.
That and a few sandwiches and snacks for the park ;)
On our way to the cars, quick checking that every helper has the fursuiter tickets...
that's where Rhondil and Eisbaer like to make last minute jokes,
by telling me that they actually don't have a ticket..
I thought they were playing with me, but no they were serious ;)
Ack, next year I'll need to put it in red letters and blinking in the message ;)
So we still leave for the park, we're already late, about 5:30pm
and we fall into bad traffic Jam on the way to the park.
I try to see if there's a way to get unused tickets by calling a few , but to no avail.
Parking Pre-Meeting
We finally arrive on the parking a bit before 7:30pm
not too bad, planned pre-meeting time on the parking was 7pm.
So it's time
to start running around to get things prepared, find people, try to get missing tickets,
people who need to exchange their tickets get them exchanged
(grrrr, why can't people buy official disney tickets that don't need to be exchanged..)
I can finally start dressing up around 8:15
and then ready to go to the 2nd meeting point which is at 8:30 ;)
we get there around 8:45 ish,
not bad for once, we didn't get stopped too much on the way there.
Leaving from the parking later than last year (6:30pm)
avoids us to be stopped too much by the continuous flow of people passing us, who are exiting the park from the day and going back to the parking.
Once at the official meeting point,
we're still missing a few, so we wait on the main plaza near the disney village entrance.
Security
After some time, the security comes to us, and asks questions and the like.
I just try to explain them that we're not there to do any trouble,
that we're there to have fun, and enjoy the halloween night, while interacting with people.
That we're just fans of animal costumes from around europe, who love to visit different places and interact with people.
And trying to show them that we're organised enough and that we can handle ourselves,
and that we have enough helpers to take care of each.
And that we are professional enough to interact with visitors.
That's usually their main worries.
After the 4th year going there, they should start to know that though ;)
This year they had a few additionnal questions / worries.
It concerned the fact that we had doubled in size,
when I reminded them that last year they said it'd be ok to come back if everything was ok, which was the case,
they said that yes but last year we were only 5 :)
This year 13 suiters :)
So after showing them that the extra number wouldn't be a problem for us to handle they were ok on that point.
Other talks were concerning videos and photos on internet,
most likely they got worried after that certain video of the characters doing things backstage.
And more concerned about that this year.
I think they were trying to see if we were going to cause some trouble like that..
After talking some more and explaining to him that it was not our intent at all, that the videos and photos we take are just to get a souvenir from the night, he seemed ok about it.
And the video from last year is good press for the park and the halloween night anyway I think :)
But yeah overall they are always worried and trying to see what are our real intents so I think their way to discover them, is by asking many questions and talking and watching us interact with people while they make us wait..
After some time they leave again, we're still unsure if we can get in or not,
but it looks more promising, the new security person seems to be understanding.
we wait some more, and use the time to take a group photo too
Then Deoloup comes to me to let me know it's ok we can get in.
Didn't even see the security coming back the 3rd time in fact.
They took quite some time between the 1st and 2nd talk, but came back faster on the 3rd :)
They have given a few new rules to deoloup, like not interacting with disney characters,
and of course staying professional.
That is not a problem for us and is the way we do it anyway :)
It could have been nice to get a group photo with stitch that we saw on the park though, too bad ;)
But there are not really many characters on the park on that night.
Most are vilains, and non animal costumes.
They didn't talk more about video or such, so I guess it's ok as long as it's not negative for disney.
And since the video mix from last year is good advertisement for the halloween night, I think it' ok :)
Sooo, as long as we stay professionnal and don't cause them or disney any trouble,
next year will hopefully still be a go :)
Every year we prove them more and more that they can trust us,
and the visitors are always very happy to meet us on the park,
so they even get free labor ;)
Thanks to Deoloup for helping me for the talks :)
Inside the Park
Sooo we are finally going through the security check, goes smooth, they don't even ask to remove the heads this year.
We wait for everyone to get in, some are still missing, some new ones are missing, trying to solve tickets problems..
We get going, it's already around 10pm
We do a first quick break.
Then we proceed further into the park.
eek, some fursuiters are already going too far and in the wrong direction, way too crowded there,
so turn around ;)
and cross the main street where it's less crowded.
It's difficult to keep everyone together and going in the right direction.
Deoloup is coordinating the end of the group , thanks to him we shouldn't loose some that way ;)
We head toward Big thunder mountain, it's very crowded, moving carefuly by holding each other's hand,
it usually works well not to loose too many ;)
Once we arrive there, unfortunately the waiting time is too long.
So we wander some more around, and interact with people,
then on our way to Pirates of caribeans.
Queue is about 20 minutes, let's go , weehhhh :)
During the queue it's quite funny, there was someone in a freddy suit,
who was 2-3 rows of queue in front of us, but we he saw me he came all the way to see , and take a photo *g* ;)
He had interesting scissor like nails , can't see on the photo though
We do the ride, and get the pictures :)
We take a few more photos and interaction, then we head toward indiana jones,
some fursuiters needs a break, so we try to head toward the castle, to find a dead end corner where nobody would see us.
We are told that the fantasyland is closed unfortunately, it's already time for the fireworks.
Too bad, would have been relaxing to do the carousel once again ;)
Something to remember for next year, go there first, because the area is closing ;)
Quick group photo on the way
We pass near BTM again, the queue is much better, only 30mins,
but first the break..
We go close to the haunted manor, to take a break there.
After that last break, we try to have a loog again at Big Thunder Mountain,
on the way there I meet Titash, another fellow meerkat fan I discovered a few days before on a disney forum.
After a quick photo session,
we go together to BTM,
we get in, but by the time we get in, the waiting time changes from 30 mins to 70 mins , argh.
We turn around, and decide to skip it.
We then head toward space mountain,
the queue is not too bad, around 30 mins.
some fursuiters prefer not to do it, so we split the group in two,
some stay there and do buzz lightyear,
the other group has already left for space mountain, I run there to catch them up ;)
We finally get on the ride, we have to remove the head to get through the security harness on space mountain.
Unfortunately, one fursuit can't remove it and has to stay.
We do the ride, weeehhhh, instant cooling ! :)
It's quite nice with the head on, it's very comfy at least ;)
Too bad that it was already after 1am, so when we got out, they had already closed the photo shooting.
No space mountain photo souvenir this year ;)
We meet up back with others at the exit,
then it's time to head back toward the entrance to get out. they are closing already.
Some more interaction with people and bouncing on music,
then I get stopped by someone from city hall, asking if we can get into the city hall to say hello :)
Others have already passed that point, and are already going away.
So I run to the city hall for a quick hello :)
After a few minutes, others are coming back and joining me in city hall , weehhh
the cast members there are very happy to see us too :)
we ask them if we can take a group photo, they say ok :)
so we do :)
we also take another nice group photo,
this time with most of the french furs who were there :)
Then we head outside the park, we make a quick poll to see if people can still keep going or not ,
so that we could go to disney village to interact some more with people there, and I think there was some dance party going on there too ;)
But some of the suiters are too tired, so we head back to the cars. :)
hmm, could have kept running , so since it's the last few minutes, let bounce crazy on the way back *g* ;)
After hitting the cars, time to get out, brrrr that's cold
it's around 2am already.
so overall from about 8pm to 2am
And everyone survived.
I should start distributing certificates for next year maybe ;)
"survived disneyland in suit" ;)
Well thanks to all, for everything, special thanks to deoloup, and all the helpers,
those who took photos, video, and all :)
And for those who'll post photos and video,
since it seems it was one of the security worry,
even if I don't think there's anything negative that happened during the night,
make sure that you don't post anything that could be harmful for disney or us.
The security trusted us once again this year, so let's not disappoint them.
Thanks :)
====================================================================================
More pictures:
http://fursuit.timduru.org/view/OtherEvents/Halloween/Halloween2006/DisneylandParis
More reports:
http://rakhan.livejournal.com/100724.html
http://yagfox.livejournal.com/241512.html
http://mr-wolf.livejournal.com/64473.html