Once again, our parking lot	(BIG)
	And the row we parked in.	(BIG)
	A preaty good view of the hat. We were standing at the rope, before they droped it, so there was nobody infront of us, and therefore nobody in the picture. Looks like MGM was deserted (which it almsot was)	(BIG)
	Andrew saw this and it was too good to NOT to take a picture. The lights has put Mickey Ears on Diane Sawyer.	(BIG)
	We didn't get our picture taken with Mike and Selly, because there were too many little kids around. We did get this picture as they came out of the building.	(BIG)
	Andrew got picked to be one of the extras in the Indiana Jones Stunt thingie.	(BIG)
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	Ok, here's the story: We got to MGM a little early, and were waiting at the rope before they droped it to let the guests onto the rides. While we were there, this Tall guy, wearing a Trench coat (it was 40 outside) over a suit and a tie, wearing a radio with a wire up into a earpiece, comes up to us and says "Would you two please step underneath the rope and come with me." This, of cource was just somewhat unerving. He sits us down on a bench and says "Are either of you two employees of the Walt Disney Company, or any of it's subsideriaries?" We answered "no" He said "Would you two like to be banner carriers in the parade this afternoon?" Just about then, both our jaws hit the floor. Anyway, he told us to show up at the Guest Services Office 45 minutes before the parade, at 1445 (2:45). This is the fancy VIP Lounge they put us who were going to carry the parade banner, and another guest family that was going to ride in the car directly behind us. FYI-- in the background to Andrew's left, there is a small (and fully stocked!) refrigerator made to look EXACTLY like the rest of the cabinet. The TV actually rose up FROM the countertop, and the cabinet on the right contained the VCR, DVD, Stereo equipment (the full- surround sound speakers were even camoflaged inside endtables and flour vases). And the award for the longest caption goes to.....	(BIG)
	Jeff, the Guest Services guy (the guy wearing the trenchcoat over the suit with the radio) asked us (Andrew, Adam, and the family (Dad, Mom, and 5ish year old girl) if we would like him to take any pictures. We gave Jeff our cameras, and Andrew and I told him "There's 30 minutes of battery life, and about 30 pictures left on the stick, so take as many as you want. This is taken about 1/2 way through the parade route, but before the parade begins. During this time, We were taken BACKSTAGE at the parade begining (next to Star Tours). Backstage we got to see a lot of what most guests don't. We saw the backs to the buildings of some of the rides (Star Tours in particular) Which look just like normal buildings, not fancy made up like the front. We saw forklifts parked, trashcans, golfcarts (used by cast members to get around the park). And the parade start to form up.	(BIG)
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	Here we come. They dressed us in these marching band-like costumes that fit like an overcoat over our normal clothes (you can see our jeans and sneekers below) and they gave us a hat. Originally, they were going to let us wear our Mickey Ears, but it was deemed too windy, and they were worried they might fly off. Jeff, the guest services guy, took our bags and ears, and put them back in the VIP lounge.	(BIG)
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	They even had cast members acting as announcers throught the parade. That morning we told Jeff (guest services guy) our names, how to pronounce them (Easier for Adam and Andrew than Plondke and Santelli), and some other information aobut ourselves. They would say something like "Our banner carriers today are Adam Plondke and Andrew Santelli, Adam's an Aerspace Engineering major, and Andrew's and Industrial and Systems Engineering major. They are on spring break from Georgia Tech in Atlanta." Or something like that.	(BIG)
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	At the end of the parade, they took the costumes from us, and let us stand at the very end of the parade, in an area reserved for the parade-guests, so we could see the rest of the parade. All the cast members and characters knew we were the banner carriers/ family in the car, so they either waved to us (if they were in a car) or came over to us to shake our hand. Here's is a picture of the of one of the little-green-soldiers from Toy Story.	(BIG)
	Jesse, the cowgirl walking becide the car, before the parade, came up to where they were helping us put on our costumes, put one on herself, and stood in line like she was going to be a banner carrier as well. Even backstage, they're still acting in character.	(BIG)
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	About now is when I realized that the LCD on the camera said that I had 3 min. of battery time left. So I turned off the LCD and stoped taking pictures of EVERY car.	(BIG)
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	The last car. Either Chip or Dale (can't tell who) got his head into the frame.	(BIG)
	The last picture. Mickey and Minnie. After this, they took us back to the VIP lounge, where they gave us fancy certifictes saying we participated as marshals in the parade, signed by the Big Cheese (Mickey) himself, and, even better, they gave us VIP passes to 3 of the rides (Rockin' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and Star Tours) So we could skip the line, and get straight on the ride. However, there was close to no wait for all of the rides, so they just let us go on the Fast Pass line (essentially straight to the front of the line) except for Star Tours, where we took the handicap entrance to the ride. After we rode those 3 rides, Adam droped Andrew off at the airport at about 6pm for his flight to Pittsburgh, and Adam drove back to Valdosta, because he had to leave for work at 630 the next day.	(BIG)

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