Backstage at UniversalThis for me was the best part... hanging around for an hour or so backstage while they got the parade ready to go. Here the characters from Scooby Doo are chatting with some folks from other cartoons!.. |
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Getting into the ParadeOK, here's the story. When I first asked about getting into the parade, what I had in mind was handling one of the big balloons. (Methel has done this in the REAL Macy's Parade.) But the guy we talked to says there are qualifications for being a Balloon Handler: you have to be over 18, in reasonably good shape, and not be drinking before parade. Well, that counted the kids out (for the age thing, not the drinking thing!). But he says they can ride on one of the floats so they are up for that as well. So we all got wristbands - me to handle a balloon and the kids to ride on a float. We then took off with instructions to come back an hour and a half ahead of time so that I could undergo training!... (I'm putting this on my resumé!) |
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As it turned out, between 10:30AM and 3:30PM when we returned to the place where we
were told to wait, the weather had turned questionable, particularly with regards to the
wind. They had already deflated the big balloons that were being displayed outside and we
were told that they would still have the parade but might not use the balloons. I thought at this point that I was out of luck but they still took those of us who still wanted to particpate backstage for the instructions. And I'm glad I went, it was interesting. |
| Of course none of this interfered with the kids getting to ride on a
float... So, I got the balloon handler training and got to hang out backstage and watch the proceedings. |
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The kids on top of the gator float, getting into the spirit of things before the parade starts... |
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The view from atop the gator... Hannah took this picture of me hanging out with the Ghostbusters in the staging area. As it turned out, we didnt' get to handle the balloons, but the volunteer handlers didn't get excluded, we got to walk in the parade (in our Macy's jumpsuits) and hand out candy along the route... Check it out... |
This is the best picture!... Me and a dozen characters on stilts... I asked one of the characters "Can you take my picture?" and she started yelling "C'mon everybody, PICTURE..." and they all gathered around and posed... Click on the image for a bigger version!... Where else can you get a vacation package for a family of 4 starting at $299? |
