How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day
by Jason, Jeanine, and Laura

We thought we would collect up some of the photos we took and tweets we sent out during Disneyland’s Monstrous Summer All-Nighter and share them here.

(We must give credit where credit is due, and tell you that Jeanine is the only one who made it through all 24 hours of the event. She should get something for that…a good night’s sleep at the very least!)

Our day began well before 6:00 a.m., as we all made our way to the Esplanade to await park opening.

Early arrivals received these “monstrous” glasses.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day>

We were (pleasantly) surprised that there weren’t too many people, and it really wasn’t crazy at all. Both Disneyland and DCA were going to be open for 24 hours, so people were lining up at the gates on both sides.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Mike and Sulley made a couple of announcements and then did a countdown – there were bursts of fireworks over both park entrances.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Inside Disneyland there was a gauntlet of characters and cast members waiting to greet guests as they entered the park.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Everyone received a button when they went through the turnstiles.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@disneygeekcom: A look at the Time Guide for today’s Monstrous Summer All-Nighter page 1

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day>

There was special event merchandise (of course). We saw lots of people wearing the shirts.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Special mouse ears.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Hour 1: We went over to DCA. The news boys were handing out Buena Vista Bugles.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Each park had a photo-op sign with a clock on it.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Radiator Springs Racers wasn’t open yet, but they were running cars on the track.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Hour 2: There’s a Monsters University meet and greet in Hollywood Land – themed like a college dorm.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day>

Hour 3: Cast members at the entrance to Cars Land had bags of the “Cars” buttons they distribute there, and were entertaining guests as they asked trivia questions (though everyone eventually was given a button whether they answered correctly or not).

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@disneygeekcom:There was a free screening of Monsters University this morning at AMC in Downtown Disney

@Just Jeanine: Just saw Monsters University! Two thumbs way up!

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

While Jeanine and Jason were at the screening Laura wandered around the two parks.

Hour 5: Back at Paradise Gardens they are preparing for the OPA! celebration of Greece this weekend (most of the events will take place over in Disneyland).

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

There are new “monster-sized” 32 oz drink mugs ($7.79).

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Many dining locations had special food items for the day. Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta featured this Mac & Cheese flatbread pizza.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

There were also various treats at locations like Trolley Treats, the Candy Palace, and Pooh Corner.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

The Monsters sign in Disneyland’s Town Square at 11:40.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Hour 6: Disneyland was still not crowded – very short line for a meet and greet with Jessie.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day>

Hour 7: Disneyland wait times. Kind of quiet for a Friday afternoon.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Hour 8: We all met up again to go to the Annual Passholder Preview of Mickey and the Magical Map – there were three that afternoon.

@disneygeekcom: Waiting for Mickey and the Magical Map annual passholder preview

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Hour 9: At Plaza Inn the special food offering was Fried Chicken and Waffles – Mickey waffles!

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Back over at DCA we used our Radiator Springs Racers fastpasses.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@disneygeekcom: Sulley out for pictures by his dorm

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day>

Hour 10: Lucky Fortune Cookery’s Monstrous All-Nighter special was chicken and vegetable potstickers.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Hour 11: Time for the Pixar Play Parade. It now leads off with a Monsters University pep rally.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Sulley with the Fear Tech mascot – Archie the Scare Pig.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Hour 13 of #disney24 Genie: “Take your time Al–the park’s open 24hrs.”

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

Hour 14: @disneygeekcom: Main Street is nice and crowded now

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@disneygeekcom: One last look at the #Disneyland wait board before heading out.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Hour 15 of #disney24 Crowded, but nothing a mint julep and Fantasmic! can’t ameliorate.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Hour 17 of #disney24 Swing is back in style at the Carnation Garden Plaza.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Hour 19 of #disney24 Cartoons in Toontown! #justgothappier @ Mickey’s Toontown

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Hour #21 of #disney24 I’m not dead yet.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Hour 22 of #Disney24 Have the whole boat to myself.

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Hour 23 of #disney24 Almost there… #justgothappier @ Peter Pan’s Flight

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day>

@JustJeanine: Hour 24 of #disney24 All Good Things Must End… @ Sleeping Beauty Castle

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day

@JustJeanine: Now’s the time to say goodbye… #disney24 #justgothappier @ Disneyland Railroad, Main St. Station

How I Spent My Monstrous Summer Day>

And that’s how we spent our Monstrous Summer Day.

The End.

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Laura Gilbreath is a native of San Diego, CA. She has been making the trek up Interstate 5 to Disneyland since she was a small child and terrified of talking tikis and hitchhiking ghosts. She and her husband Lee enjoy trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as sailings on the Disney Cruise Line.

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