Following yesterday’s ceremony to welcome Disneyland’s one billionth guest, Daps contributor Doug Marsh recalls the day the Happiest Place on Earth welcomed its 500 millionth. Here is his first-person account, with his photos from the day.
Early on the morning of January 8, 2004, many of Disneyland’s regular visitors received a piece of electrifying news. They were notified, either by phone, by a friend, or on one of those discussion boards that were becoming a lively part of Disney websites, that Disneyland was about to identify its 500 millionth guest! As I was among that group, I immediately headed to the park to see what would happen.
It was not a busy day (early mornings in early January weren’t in those days), so I was able to get to the entry before the lucky visitor had been identified. To keep the count simpler, all the guests had been funneled into a single line, which I joined. It was not lost on me that there was a possibility I could be the one.
Adding to the excitement was the presence of the full Disneyland band, along with the Disneyland press team and members of the media. As they gathered, a steam train pulled into the station. Each car carried a special banner, as well as a number of Disney characters and special guests.
Up ahead of me in line, there was a flurry of activity, and word spread that guest number 500 million had been identified. We broke ranks to see who it could be. I thought it was likely that the only photo I would get was of the back of their heads, as photographers snapped their photo with Mickey Mouse.
The family, a father, mother, and daughter, was swept inside, headed to the station platform.
Now that all the gates were operating, we were able to get into the entry and get photos of Disneyland Resort President Matt Ouimet delivering a speech up on the platform. By now, word had spread that the head of the family was the lucky guest and that the family was apparently from Australia.
As Ouimet continued speaking, a small ceremony took place under the population board mounted to the station. The total (496,000,000) was pulled away to reveal the new total, 500,000,000.
After the photographers had snapped their last photos, Mickey stepped to the side to wave to the crowd in the entry. After seeing the guests head to the stairs at the front of the station, I hurried inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of them.
This must be them, coming down the stairs into Town Square. Leading the group was the father, now wearing a custom jacket that was presented to him in honor of the day.
They were posed at the head of Main Street and given a small marquee sign to hold.
And here they are! Bill Trow, his wife Ann-Marie, and their daughter Aspen, all the way from Wentworth Falls, Australia.
Before being whisked away again, Aspen enjoyed a moment of celebrity as other children asked her to sign their autograph books.
And as the Trow family headed off for a special VIP tour of the park (starting in Walt Disney’s private apartment over the firehouse), the Disney characters who were on hand for the festivities waved goodbye from the station platform.
And that was the way it looked, on that January morning in 2004.
