The following "trip" report was originally posted on rec.arts.disney.parks. It's author, Melanie Emmons (WebMistress@HiddenMickeys.Org) has graciously allowed me to post a copy here, as well.

As always, I welcome those who were there to add their comments, corrections and additions. Also, I didn't take names or notes as I wasn't planning on writing a report, but I got nominated by the rest of the gang.

After a humid day with passing thunderstorms on Friday the 13th (it was *really* easy to pretend I was in WDW with that kind of weather!) Saturday, June 14th was a bright, low humidity, warm day. John and I were the first to arrive at the Disney Store on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street. We had brought a blanket to spread out. Police barricades at the curb had been erected overnight (according to a CM in the store) and people in folding chairs were already lined up the entire length of street, some having arrived as early as 9:30 am! Fifth Avenue was scheduled to be closed to traffic at 6:00 and soon after that the police moved the barricades from the curb to about 4 feet into the street. We actually saved a good-sized space. After we spread out the blanket I looked for anyone else who might be in the area and then went in to the Disney Store on a special mission for Lady Lurker Karen. (And yes, Karen, I gave Peter a hug for you!)

Next to arrive was Peter Papazoglou (Meeko1520@aol.com) who came straight from working at the Hercules Forum of Fun at the Chelsea Piers and gave us the inside scoop on the activities (sounds like it was OK 'cuz it was free, but not a huge amount of fun. Joel, Peter, we'd like details, please!) Eventually, Peter was joined by his mom, whom we had met at the January NYC RADP meet, his brother Socrates and two family friends, whose names I didn't get (sorry).

Then along came Joel "Scruffy" Raskin (who was kind enough to make a couple of little "flag" RADP banners, which later became the source of much merriment AND were spotted by Bill Griffin per his posting), and Jim "The Czar" Freeman (sans Eureka, whom we all missed). The five of us had all met in person last January at the first official off-site RADP meet and for a while, it WAS just us. We thought it would be funny if no one else came, but happily, others did!

We were joined by Jim "Brer Fox" Zisfein (who I give credit to for suggesting we meet in front of the Disney Store in the first place), Carla "faeriedustbunnies" and her husband John, Mostly Lurker Keith, Lurker Bridget, and Pam Culbreth Teixeira and her handsome husband Fernando. There were 16 of us! I hope I didn't forget anyone! When Joel posts his pictures we'll have to check. If I DID skip anyone, I'm SO sorry! I fully admit to having "selective memory." Special note: Carla spotted Jim, the CM who had given us a tour of the store back in January hanging out in front of the store. We yelled and waved, pointed to the banners and he smiled and waved back, but we wonder if he really remembered us, or was just humoring a bunch of excited parade-goers...

As time passed, the crowds got bigger, and we all got a little closer, whether we wanted to or not. Somehow I became wedged between Carla and John, Keith and Socrates with Peter and Joel in front of me (I don't know who was behind me) and John was on the other side of Carla, John and Keith. We weren't lined up in strict rows, so it's hard to explain exactly how we ended up in what order.

There was a camera crew working the crowds near us. I believe that E! was actually set up across the street from us. There was a scaffold set up in the intersection, and as we found out as we were leaving, the Hercules logo and thunderbolt were painted in the street on the next block (this would be between 54th and 55th Streets). Every time the camera crew came by, we held up the pennants and screamed, "WE HAVE SIGNS!" We don't think we ever made it on camera, but it was fun trying! We later saw one of the cameras filming a female reporter walking in front of the crowds across the street (they did two or three takes). I'm pretty sure it was Melissa Rivers -- I later saw a bit of her co-hosting the parade on E! and she was wearing the same color outfit as the reporter we saw. I never would have known if I hadn't seen it on TV. (If anyone saw any of the E! coverage, can they please confirm that she was the only brunette anchoring?)

There were many (temporary) CMs walking the route, mostly selling $2.00 "neon" tubes, some tossing balls (beach balls, Balzacs, glowing footballs) into the crowd and back. There were a few handing out stickers (to the kids of course). Carla just HAD to have a sticker or two. Every time Darlene (as her name tag read) came within 10 feet of us, we all started yelling, "STICKER LADY!" We also yelled "WE HAVE SIGNS!" She ignored us for the longest time and of course, by the time she finally stopped and talked to us, she was out of stickers. She promised she give us some if there were any left (of course there weren't). Still, we had fun, and eventually, Darlene did, too. We called "STICKER LADY!" every time she passed us and I think she appreciated the attention.

You have to remember that most of us had been there two or more hours waiting. We were getting punchy. At one point we turned around to look at the store and many CMs were gathered in the second floor windows waiting to watch the parade. We waved energetically, and they returned the greeting. Any time something even remotely connected to the parade happened we (and I mean the crowds, not just our group) cheered. The street lights going off caused an almost frenzy! The one thing that bugged us was that the traffic lights kept cycling and that amber light is awfully bright! Funny, tho, after the parade started I didn't even notice them! Also of note, Disney (I ass/u/me) had provided numerous port-a-potties along the route which I, for one, was grateful! The worst part of all was having to stand for many hours. I did sit for a little bit, but as the area became more and more crowded, it was impossible to find enough space to sit.

Pam and I tried to find an honorary BOD in honor of Sam's birthday, but most of the women working the parade were of average quality. Sorry, Sam! (However, I nominate the actress portraying Pocahontas in the Hercules Summer Spectacular at the New Amsterdam Theater, even if she's not Sam's type or really fits the requirements!)

I suppose I *should* get to the parade itself, huh? First MANY marching bands passed by every so often, including one from MY town, but not my high school, and one from a town near Peter's home. As parade time drew nearer the bands came closer together. Socrates kept asking his brother Peter to ask "the tall guy" if he could see anything coming. I thought it was really funny (he was talking about my hubbly, John, who, as many of you know is 6'7".) I finally told him what John's name is...at one point I yelled, "Hey, Tall Guy!" and started laughing when he turned around (I had to 'splain to him later what the big joke was). I videotaped the parade, but I don't think it came out very well. There was a police officer standing almost directly in front of me, right in the clear space between Peter and Joel where I pointed my camera. If I shifted left I got the officer, if I shifted right, I got Joel and his camera. Oh, well. It's more important that I got to see it in person anyway, right?

The first official float was a small Greek temple with about a dozen Olympic medalists on it. Then about 10 minutes later the REAL parade began. First came Hercules on Pegasus (which I've since learned is the widest float in the parade) then Meg on a temple-like float, followed by Hades, whose hand held REAL fire. The Hades float is the tallest float ever.

I had never seen MSEP before, so I was quite enchanted by the various floats. I really DID enjoy the parade, but the floats were often too spread out. I mean maybe 5 minutes in-between them! The other MAJOR complaint that I have is that several floats near the end of the parade were not lit, or were barely lit. I don't understand how Disney could let this happen (and I know for a fact that they had a dress rehearsal Thursday night)! It was still wonderful and magical, but it was SO un-Disneylike and somewhat of a disappointment, especially so close to the end of the parade! I found it mildly amusing that the Cinderella float was very much like the one in SpectroMagic.

After the parade's last float passed us, we all went our merry ways. John and I walked back to Penn Station with Keith (Pam, if I had been thinking, we could have all walked together. Sorry!) and passed through Times Square and saw where all the VIPs had been sitting. It was a mob scene most of the way downtown. I haven't heard a final number of attendees, but they had been expecting some 2,000,000 folks!

All in all, though, a great time was had by all!