Gumball Rally Results!

The Big Prize

“Attention Gumball Rally Stars, are you ready to roll?”  With those words Dusty Sage launched the 3rd annual MiceChat Gumball Rally on Saturday May 30th.  Nearly 300 participants flooded into Disneyland for a full day of riding as many attractions as possible.  They were followed into the parks by the OC Register who also covered the day’s events with team interviews on Rally morning and a story about the winning team.  You’ll want to read both of the OC Register stories below (and don’t forget to click the link on the OC Register page to view their photo slide show of AMAZING Rally pictures):

Who’s the fastest rider in Disneyland?

Disney winners credit strategy in fastest riders’ contest

OC Register Interviews Teams On The Go

Some teams spent weeks planning, others didn’t plan at all.  Some take the event very seriously, others as a social event.  There is no right or wrong way to do the Rally.

The day started with an early morning check-in at 6:45.  By 7 am most of the 300 people in attendance had been given their lanyards, pins, instruction sheets, and dog tags.

At 7:45, we walked the teams to Disneyland and handed out their question books.

And off they went into the park to enjoy and intense but amazingly fun day in the park.

Along the way, they made friends, rode over 50 attractions, and figured out once and for all if good support is important in a pair of shoes. 

And after a full 12 hours in the parks, they began to limp back.

But it was immediately clear that they had a wonderful day, even if they were all extremely tired.

They turned in their packets, were given raffle tickets, and retreated to The Howard Johnson Anaheim Resort’s new Castaway Cove for a pirate themed Award Party.

Even Captain Jack showed up to keep the Participants entertained until the Awards were ready to be given out.

D23 gave away some amazing gift bags to 8 lucky participants,  HoJo gave a pirate’s chest filled with treasure, Old Spaghetti Factory gave away free dinners for 4, and MiceChat gave away all sorts of books and collectibles.  But that wasn’t why everyone waited around until 9:15 pm.  What they really wanted to know was “Who Won?”

And the winners are:

First Place -Kids Incorporated - Janae Mack, Katie Wakayama and Marissa Manalo of Topanga:

Second place - Without a Clue - Allen, Stephanie and Valerie Cerny of San Diego:

Follow the 2nd place team through the parks in this great trip report.

Third place - Three Huffalumps and One Woozle - with Teri Asperin, Tamiko Asperin, Terumi Kosugi and Joshua Luna of Oceanside:

Spirit Award - Bring Back Captain EO - Daniel Johnson, Reid Bartoncin, Austin Rodger and Melissa Rodger. No residence was available.

Also finishing in the top 10 were (in alphabetical Order):

• BAMN
• Club 33 Wannabees
• D23 Divas
• Galapagos
• Ladies & the Tramp Sarcasmic
• Three of Seven

There were at least another 6 teams within a point or two of top 10 status.  It was a very close race!

(If your name isn’t on the list and you are dying to know what your point total was, you can PM Fishbulb on MiceChat or email him at abnormal73@yahoo.com - please include both your team name and the name of the person who registered your team)

We also gave away awards for Best Team Logo - The Doombuggies

And Best Team Name - Sarcasmic!

In the end, whether they finished first or last, all of the teams came to realize that they were real winners just for spending a fun filled day with each other  in the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland.

But the Rally doesn’t just happen on its own.  It takes a team of over 50 people to produce this event. And I hope you’ll join me in thanking our nearly 40 spotters, Gumball Rally Crew, Special Events Crew, Photographers, and supporters who helped make this event possible.  And while we aren’t able to mention everyone here, there are a few folks who went so far above and beyond the call of duty that I want to call them out by name (don’t be shy folks, you did an AMAZING job on this year’s Rally).

Circarama came up with the idea for the very first Rally and has been helping plan them ever since.  He is the man who brings the Gumball Machine (and so much more).  And this year, he and Mamabot also donated tons of pizza to the Award Party.

Mamabot, Fishbulb, and Rixter, produced your beautiful question books.  Fishbulb created all of that art by hand, inspired by the classic attraction posters of 1955 Disneyland.  They also coordinated many aspects of the event from testing the questions to checking in teams and scoring the final packets.  If you thought your day was long, these folks didn’t sleep for days before the event.

We also need to mention Indiana Jenn who not only planned our Pasta Party at the Old Spaghetti Factory but worked with the amazing crew from the Howard Johnson Anaheim Resort (Willie and Lorealle) who all went so far beyond what we expected in order to create a magical experience for you.

And there were also the surprises that caught us off guard, the huge box of dog tags sent in from MiceChatter DLandFansAZ, the prize shipped in from Arizona by Pratt55, the prizes from HoJo, Old Spaghetti Factory, and D23 who were all moved by the scope of this event to provide you with great give-aways. Please help us support these amazing folks.  They deserve it!

And finally to Al Lutz, Monorail Man, and the amazing Moderators and Admins of MiceAge and MiceChat who do all of this on a daily basis, year in and year out, for the sheer love of this wonderful community.

We have only one reason to be here and put so much time and energy into our sites and events . . . YOU!  You are the reason we exist and it is your support, friendship, and dedication that keeps us going.  A big heart felt thank you to each and every member, supporter, and staff of MiceAge and MiceChat!

Can’t get enough Gumball Rally coverage and pictures?

Gumball Rally Team Photos

Dateline Disneyland has Rally photos

Great Gumballs Of Fire

How May Rides Did You Complete?

Gumball Rally Video Thread

Join us in thanking the HoJo for the AMAZING party!

Until we are ready to roll again, may your pockets always be filled with Fastpass, your shoes soft and comfortable, your jeans dry, and your eye always on the gumball machine.  Cheers to all of you!

-Dusty and the MiceAge/MiceChat Staff, Writers, and Crews

_______________________________

_______________________________

View: Gumball Rally Results, Photos, and Thanks