A special Disney Parks Blog Meet-Up was held last month at the Magic Kingdom – a once in a lifetime event – and one lucky family from our Neurotic Disney Community was invited to be a part of it! What makes you an NDP? Have a story to share? Have your own Disney Fan Site or Podcast you want to share with the community? Send it to ndm130 AT thedisneydrivenlife DOT com. We just might feature your story here on Sharing Saturdays.


 

NDC in MK Sharing SaturdayRecently, the Disney Parks Blog held a meet up of unusual fans. Referred to as “A Disney Side Dog’s Day at Magic Kingdom“, 101 furry friends & their owners were welcomed into the Magic Kingdom very early on August 30, 2014. Filming a special for Animal Planet, these guests participated in a costume contest and were given a royal tour of the Kingdom. What makes this special, you ask? Well, one of those guests just happens to be a Neurotic Disney Critter!

Zora, NDC 35, was chosen after her owner, Heather L., NDM 523 , sent off her entry. The application process was simple enough. They required you send an email with a photo of your dog’s Disney side and vet records. Heather said, “It was a little overwhelming locating Zora’s vet records in such short notice. It was a very limited/timed processed. It was posted on their page August 22nd for an event for  August 30th. Your application had to be in by the 24th. They wanted us to show our Dog’s Disney Side. That’s not a whole lot of time.  And then, I had a moment of creative blankness! By the way, my dog was so hard to photograph! I chose to use what Disney themed dog accessories I had on hand.” Dressed in her Tinkerbell dress, Zora cooperated with the camera and took her photo. Heather emailed that along with Zora’s vet paperwork and waited. And waited.

“For 6 days of waiting, I went though the whole back and forth of emotions. I want to be picked, but would Zora’s Disney side be enough? You feel like the stage mom. You want to be picked… but you won’t be destroyed if you don’t get picked either But then, poof! The awaited email arrives and you feel like Jim Carrey in The Mask – you really love me! I felt amazingly lucky and fortunate to be going to such a unique, first-ever event. I was looking forward to seeing (and being one of) the 101 dogs to walk the green carpet on Main Street!”

Preparing for the event was fun. Zora was groomed and primped – all ready for her first visit to the Magic Kingdom!  Heather shopped for a complementing shirt for her NDK (118), Jennifer, to wear. All that was left was to be at the Contemporary by 5:30am!

NDC in MK Sharing Saturday

 

I woke up way early the morning of Saturday, August 30, 2014, but it was so worth it. It was so neat to see dogs showing their Disney side. Some of their owners matched their fur babies. To be there and see the sunrise was amazing. We have never done that before. The cameras were there to capture the sleepy eye folks. Jennifer got to wave to the camera with Zora. I still cannot get over what a once in a lifetime experience it was. I have no clue how many applied, but to be one of the 101 guest picked makes a girl and her dog feel special!

 NDC in MK Sharing SaturdayLots of great energy was happening! Goofy came out along with his pals Pluto, Bolt, Stitch, and Dug. We were invited to walk (for the first time ever) the green carpet on Main Street USA!!! There were Photo Pass photographers on hand to take photos. During this time, Disney and Animal Planet staff were checking out everyone’s costumes for the contest. NDC in MK Sharing SaturdayThree winners out of 101 – I would hate to be those judges! There were so many very inventive/creative costumes.  We were served a light breakfast in a human doggie bag.  Of course there was a doggie bag for the guest of honor, too! Then there was a dance party in front of the castle and the costume contest winners were announced. Winners were dressed as the Headless Horseman, Ratatouille and the 1st place winner was a dalmatian dressed up as Cruella DeVille.  

It was finally time for the final experience of the morning – walking our dogs around the park! We walked though Adventureland, Frontierland, part of Fantasyland and back though the castle to walk out Main Street. Along the way, the cast members came out in front of the Attractions to watch. Some participants stopped to take photos of their dogs in front of certain attractions. Our time was over and we had to leave –  talk about feeling like Cinderella hearing the clock chime midnight! As we left we were given a bag that had a tennis ball, red sunglasses, a Pluto poster and a pamphlet for Best Friends Pet Hotel.   We were told the Animal Planet special  will air on Animal Planet on October 18th at 8pm and again October 25th at 7pm.

Walking Zora down Main Street USA was like a dream! It was just so, wow – I’m not sure if there is a word to describe our experience! Picking my favorite memory is difficult to just pick one. The whole experience was amazing! I think my most favorite was at the  end when we went  on a walk around the Park lead by Goofy!

Thanks, Heather for sharing your experience with us! For more coverage of this event, see the article posted by the Disney Parks Blog!

NDC in MK Sharing Saturday                                                  NDC in MK Sharing Saturday

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