One of our board members were very lucky and won a night at the Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel in the Year of a Million Dreams Celebration. Here is the story in the words of Crasher11.
Well, here is how it all happened….LOL.
We were walking off Snow White’s Scary Adventure, when we say a lady video taping the exit of the ride.
We thought she was just there to taper her family that was still on the ride.
After we walked out of the exit, a Dream Team Member approached Carol and asker her how she was enjoying Disneyland and then wanted to know how many days we were going to be at DLR.
After that, she told us that Carol may be a potential winner of a prize from the Year Of
A Million Dreams.
They took up to the office next to City Hall that said Guided Tours Office.
There they asked a few more questions and then showed us a video of what we had won.
This is were both Carol and I screamed and then had to ask about a dozen times if it was real and had we actually won!!
Then they got the kids some board games and colors with character pictures and Carol and I filled out paperwork.
They also gave us Dream Fast Passes, a HUGE Disney gift basket with a large plush Mickey Mouse attached to it, Dinner for all of us at the Blue Bayou where we got to keep the special Dream Menus.
After all the paperwork was done, we took some pictures of all of us together and then we were off to
ToonTown to have a special ‘Meet and Greet’ and pictures with Mickey Mouse.
The Dream Member asked the boys what rides they wanted to go on.
So, for the next three hours, she walked us around DL and took us to the front of the line to anything we wanted to ride.
Cody is a HUGE Lightning McQueen fan, so she took us over to DCA and had the Lead hold the car there till we could get there.
Chase and Cody LOVED seeing Lightning.
At 2 pm we had a Disney VIP rep come and picked us up at the Tropicana Inn and took us over to the Disneyland Hotel and gave us the grand tour of the Penthouse.
One of the best things was Carol got to be the first to unlock the door to the Penthouse.
It was AWESOME inside.
TV’s were everywhere and Mickey Mouse Décor throughout the entire Penthouse including the carpets.
The kids had their own room to play in which included a huge TV and a Sony PS2, Disney Games and Disney DVD’s to watch.
They also had a lighted sketching table for the boys to drawn and write on and other games for them to play.
The suite had three bathrooms in it and the kids’ bathroom glowed in the dark.
There was a fully stocked fridge, a nice fruit basket and another gift basket filled with lots of Disney snacks.
We also had full use of the concierge lounge and there was tons of food and drinks all day there as well.
About 3:15 pm we took the Monorail to the Blue Bayou for our 4:30 dinner reservations. We ate a WONDERFUL dinner and then enjoyed the cookie boats….they were so Yummy! We then had to meet another Dream Member and a Parade Coordinator at the Walt and Mickey Statue in front of the Castle at 6 pm.
They took us to meet the Mayor of Disneyland and then on to the Fire Truck and down
Main Street and the parade route.
Every about 30 seconds, the Mayor would announce Carol as the Honorary Grand Marshal and the winner of the Mickey Mouse Penthouse for the night.
He also said where we are from.
It was great.
We were all a little nervous with all those people watching us…lol.
Chase and Cody took turns ringing the bell on the back of the Fire Truck as we rode the parade route.
At the end of the route, we had some time to meet Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Mary Poppins and Bert and we got to take pictures with the whole group and the fire truck.
We then we lead to priority seating for the Dream Parade and had a great view.
After the parade, we went back to enjoy the Penthouse and to relax before the fireworks.
We watched them from the Penthouse with all the sliding glass doors open and the music was pumped into the room through the stereo system.
That was totally awesome watching from there.
The staff brought the boys Milk and Mickey cookies for their evening snack before bed and the maid came in and turned down our beds and left more cookies and chocolates on the beds for each of us.
After taking pictures of everything, some things twice, it was finally time for some sleep.
The next day at around 11 am, another VIP rep took us back to our hotel and helped carry all the goodies we got to our room and then congratulated us again.
We got to keep the signs that were on the sides of the Fire Truck announcing us as the Grand Marshals and Disneyland Hotel even shipped them home at no cost of us.
They whole day was a memory of a life time and we will never forget it!