A 12-year-old girl was welcomed Tuesday at the Disneyland theme park in Los Angeles as the 2 billionth visitor to a Disney park and won 10 lifetime passes to 11 Disney parks around the world for her family.
Emmalee Mason of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was whisked away to Disneyland’s Floral Mickey for a special ceremony, and served as grand marshal of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary parade.
“I’m in shock,” said the pre-teen, who wore gold Disney ears, a red sweat shirt with a “T” on it and yellow shorts. “It’s wow. I’m so happy, just so happy.”
“I am just so surprised,” she said. “I didn’t think that I would be the two billionth guest … this kind of stuff never happens to me!”
Andrae Rivas, the 2006 Disneyland Resort Ambassador, presented Emmalee with a giant golden key and a lifetime pass to all 11 Disney parks around the world.
As an added surprise, the entire family of 10, which includes Emmalee, her mother and father, five sisters, one brother, and plus a unborn sibling, also received lifetime passes to Disney Parks worldwide.
Rivas also gave Emmalee a one-of-a-kind proclamation designating her as the 2 billionth guest to visit the Disney parks over the past five decades.
Emmalee received a private photo session with her family and Mickey Mouse, an exclusive tour of Disneyland Park and its adjunct California Adventure Park, and a special ride on the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction with Mickey.
Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said the designation of the 2 billionth visitor is “truly a highlight of our continuing global 50th anniversary celebration.”
