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Photo Gallery: Bats Day at Disneyland
Alternative Press - Tim Karan on 5/15/09 @ 6:00 PM - altpress.com"When you think of Disneyland, what usually pops into your mind? Most likely, it's your last (and probably traumatic) family vacation. Ah, the memories: Mom and dad carting you and your siblings around the park, barking at you to stop texting and pay attention on the Snow White ride. Remember gazing around the park, wondering why everyone was staring at your snakebites, wishing that your friends were there beside you?
Well there's one day at Disneyland each year that turns that bad memory upside-down and tosses it into a blender: Bats Day! What began 10 years ago as a quaint, impromptu 'Disneyland fieldtrip' amongst friends in the Los Angeles music scene has grown into an annual event that draws thousands of punks, metal fans, goths, emo kids, indie-rockers, scene kids and every other type of rockstar from around the world.
In its formative years, this event was quite underground. The date and info for each Bats Day was propagated on BatsDay.com and through countless MySpace Bulletins. However, the event as it is today is not at all secretive. The staff at Disney are well aware of Bats Day, even planning ahead to happily accomodate the patrons. The numbers have grown significantly as well--from the approximately 50 or so L.A. scene friends who attended the first year to the 4,000 who attended a few weeks ago.
It's surreal to witness the sea of tattoos, piercings, metal accessories, band shirts, hoodies, hair styles/colors, boots/sneaks/high-heels and incredibly creative, music-inspired fashion at Disneyland.
Keep in mind that on Bats Day, the park remains open to the general public, so there are plenty of 'normal' families in attendance--most of whom have no idea that it's Bats Day. This creates a truly comedic situation. Many unsuspecting moms and pops are quite surprised when they get in line to ride Space Mountain and see a couple in front of them sporting fuchsia pink and fluorescent green raccoon-striped Mohawks. You wouldn't have believed all the double-takes a group of decked-out J-Rock kids got as they sailed along on the Pirates Of The Caribbean. The non-Bats Day patrons we encountered at Disneyland may have been a little shocked at first, but they could not have been nicer. Throughout the day, many families actually requested photo-ops with the Bats Day kids, giving the guy in the Mickey Mouse costume a run for his money!
Many of the best moments at Bats Day are those that arise spontaneously: An a capella set by a local punk band on the bridge to Fantasyland; a random break-dance showdown on Main Street during the Electrical Parade; and/or successfully convincing the New Orleans Square Band to play our favorite Metallica song. If you have never been to Disneyland, or you have yearned to re-visit it someday without your parents' minivan, Bats Day is the time to do it. The underground invasion of the happiest place on Earth is an event you will never forget! Hats off to founder Noah Korda and his team of volunteers for creating a day wherein the alternative shines bright at Disneyland. For information on the next Bats Day, stay tuned to BatsDay.com. We also post updates on Myspace page." --Kynt and Vyxsin
Photos: Arali Melendez -- PhotosbyAM.com, LookBookLA.com
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this would be the perfect day for Frank to have gone to disneyland.
it is hard for me to describe how excited i felt tonight when i read this article & i saw these photos.i am from bangor, maine and i have been on family vacations to disneyland twice before. i consider myself a "scene girl" with a little punk & goth in my music taste. i felt very uncomfortable walking around disney with other people staring at me & pointing at me & i never really felt like i got to have fun at disneyland even though i wanted to really really bad. i want to thank AP & Kynt & Vyxsin (i LOVE you guys) for showing me this. i talked to my parents & we are already planning ahead to go to the next BatsDay & make an entire weekend of it with the GhoulishGala & BlackMarket.Can't wait
KYNT & VYXSIN!!!!! You guys are so gorgeous I love the photos I want to go to Disneyland with you two! My sister and I cheered for you two on the Amazing Race! x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x
Hey, guys! It's Nelson - teacher from Corona del Mar High! You guys have been such great friends of ours! Thanks for always sharing all the fun and crazy things you are doing. I think it is very inspiring to all of my students. Keep up the great work, racers! We love you!
whats up Kynt & Vyxsin WOW!!! this is amazing im a student from CDM and i wish i could have gone sounds like alot of fun!!!! maybe next year eh haaaa and i bet mickey mouse guy was gettn a little mad that he was not gettin the normal amount of pictures taken that he usualy does cause all the Bat Kids well sounds like alot of fun!!!!
Bat day looked like a blast! You guys are great! I can't wait to see you guys at our school!!!
heyyyy kynt and vyxsin... this bat day thing looks like it musta been pretty fun!! I hope to see you soon at our school again!!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!!! Wat's up!!!! I was Nick Spangler at the Amazing Race interview with the cast. I don't know if you remember me. Anyway I read your article and Bat's Day looks pretty fun!!!! I am soooo happy that people were considerate of you (want to take pictures of with you guys and giving Mickey a run for his $.) I Hope to c u guys soon 4 the Ammazing Race challenge at our school!!!
HI KYNT AND VYXSIN!!!!! bat day looked soo cool! i wish i was there!!! cant wait for you guys to come to cdm again , it was soo fun when you guys came before!! :D
hi kynt and vyxsin.....bat day looked like such a blast, it was probably so much fun!! i cant wait for you guys to come back to cdm!!
Bats day looked so cool! I'm so excited for you to come to cdm again! see you very sooooon
heyy kynt and vyxsin that look like a pretty tight day i wouldnt mind going to disneyland to see that. Excited for you two back at CDM soonn!!!!
HEYYY KYNY AND VYXSIN :) Bat's Day looked amazing. All the pictures from the event sure made me want to go to it next year. I am soooo excited that you guys are willin to come back soon and visit us :) It was a blast to see you guys, and I would be thrilled to see you guys again. See you soon. -Jennifer
I think everyone in CdM's pumped to see you all again.
hii Kynt and Vyxsin!, Bats day looked really fun!.I'm from cdm and can't wait to see you guys again soon!
hey Kynt and Vyxsin im a Cdm student and it seemed like the bat day at Disneyland was pretty awesome and looked really fun. It was cool having you at our school and we cant wait until you come back!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin! Thanks again for coming to our "AMAZING" Race party. Tiffany and I really wanted to go to Bat's Day but we couldn't but we will hopefully go next year since it looks like you guys had A TON of fun!!! I can't wait for you guys to come back to CdM and bring more surprises and fun! Tiffany and I will dress extra special as always. (: Best wishes to you both and I can't wait till you guys visit! Pink and Black attack! <333333 ~Masha (:
Kynt and Vyxsin! I can't wait to see you at CdM in June! You guys have been great to us, helping us get the recent seasons cast and all! I hope you enjoyed your day at Disneyland and we can't wait to have you back!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin! I'm looking forward to seeing you guys again at CDM. This Disneyland thing looks like fun.
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin, hope you guys had fun at Disneyland. Looking forward to seeing you guys in June.
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!! i'm a student at cdm. Bats day looks like so much fun!! and i can't wait so see you guys again at cdm soon!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!!omg that looks so fun i hope you guys come back to CDM!!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!! I go to CdM also! This sounds sooo cool! I hope you come to visit CdM again reallllyyyy soon!!@#$%^
Hola kynt and vyxsin!! bats day looked like a crazy amount of fun! im sure it would be a blast! we all can't wait to have you back at cdm again:) thanks soo much for all that you've helped us on with amazing race! its been great! gracias!!!!!
KYNT AND VYXSIN!!!! i am a student at cdm bats day looked soo fun!! im excited for you guys to come back to cdm cant waitt!!!!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin! I'm one of Senor Rojas' students at CdM and we cant wait to see you both again! I was actually at disneyland last week but I guess I missed Bats day, maybe next year!
Kynt and Vyxsin! i am a student at CdM, bat day looked so much fun, and it was cool that the "normal families" enjoyed it also. Im so excited to see you guys for AMAZING RACE REUNION!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!!! I am one of Sr. Rojas's students at CdM and we are SO excited to see you again soon!!! We are all such huge fans of yours! Batsday is such a cool idea, it looks like so much fun!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!!! I'm from cdm and i'm so glad our class was able to hang out with you guys. You are so cool and everyone's looking forward to seeing you again!!!
HIIII Kynt and Vyxsin!!! Batsday sounds like sooooo much funn! I am one of Sr. Rojas's students at CDM and i am such a big fan of you guys! i hope you can come back to our school soon.
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!! Batsday at Disneyland is so increadible, i never knew about it before this article. Im a student at CDM and I can't wait till you guys come to visit again!
HEY Kynt and Vyxsin !! You guys are great, Im a student at CDM so, I hope to see you soon.
Hi, I'm a student at Corona del Mar high school in Senor Rojas's class :) Bat Day sounds really really cool! haha I love the way you describe how surprised people are when they come to Disneyland at don't know that its Bat Day. I had never heard of this before and I would love to come to Disneyland next time it happens and check it out! btw we are so excited for you guys to come to our school again!!! It was a lot of fun last time :) Anyway, see you guys soon! <333
hey kynt and vyxsin this looks like sooo much fun! cant wait to see u guys at CDM in a couple of weeks!! See you thenn
Hey Kynt and Vixen!!!! Bats Day looked pretty cool!! :) Its going to be awesome when you guys come to CdM again!! We had a lot of fun watching the Amazing Race at the pizza place with you guys!!!! cant wait to see you guys here at CdM!!! :)
heyy Kynt and Vyxsin!! Bats Day sounds awesome!! I'm also a student from CdM and we're all really looking forward to seeing you guys again.
I think It's absolutely great that you guys are bringing people together in such a positive way. Disneyland should be accessible to people of all cultures, no matter how out of the ordinary it may seem to the clouded eye. ~ Just reflects what kind of people you are :). I also can't wait to see you guys again (I'm a student of Sr. Rojas) Peace.
Kynt and Vyxsin!! Whats up guys?! It was totally rad seeing you guys at CdM we all want you to come back soon!!! Bats day sounds sweet!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin! wow i really want to go to Bats Day, it sounds so awesome!!!!!!!!!!! It was great having you guys at Cdm back in January, but its going to be even better when you guys come again!!!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait to c u!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin! Bats Day sounds amazing and i'm sure it was tons of fun!!! i can't wait to meet you both when you come back to CDM! you guys are awesome
Kynt and Vyxsin that looked like a pretty cool event u guys were at!!! hope you guys make your way back to CDM in the near future!!!!! wooohoooo!!!!
Kynt & Vyxsin rule !!!!!!
Kynt and Vyxsin this looks so cool!!! I cant wait to see you guys at CDM again!!! its gonna be awesome
hey Kynt And Vyxsin. bats day looks so fun!!!!! I really appreciated your time in coming to CDM a few months ago and can't wait to see you again!!!
Hi Kynt and Vyxsin!! Bats day looks like it was pretty awesome and the article is amazing. I hope to see you soon back at CDM!!!!
HII KYNT!! HII VYXSIN!! oh my gosh! why are you guys so coooool!!??!! Batsday looked like an amazing time I love the pictures..especially the girl with the oxgyen mask! Now that I know about it I'm definetly want to go next year! I am so pumped for you guys to come back to CDM for the Amazing Race reunion..ROUND 2!!! You guys are awesome!
whaddup K & V? batday sure looked like a blast, wish i could have been there...i was one of the look alikes at CdM (Team Dandrew)and i cant wait untill you guys come back to newport. PINK and BLACK ATTACK round 2 all up at CdM. Thanks again, el tigre blanco
Hey Kynt and Vyxin!!! Hows it goin!? You guys are sooo awsome...u better come back to CDM!!! We appreciate you guys talking at our assembly! You guys are amazing. Batsday looked amazing! I love the pictures! THey are really cool! Thx again!
Hey Kynt and Vyxin! Batsday looks amazing! I can't wait to see you guys again!!!!
Hey Kynt and Vyxin!!!!! Batsday sounds amazing!!!! I cannot wait to see you guys again!
Hi Kynt and Vyxin! Bats Day looks like its awesome! I'm so excited for when you guys come back to CDM. Its going to be so cool!
Heyyy Kynt and Vyxin!! Wow Bat Day looked like soooo much fun! I go to CDM and last time you guys came it was super awesome! Hope you guys can come again soon!!!!
whoa hey kynt and vyxin thanks for coming back to Cdm again soona nd setting up alot of extra cast memebers to come and everythign bat day looks awesoem i hope i can go but i hope its a blast thanks
KYNT AND VYXIN!!!! - SO good to see that you guys are out and having fun.. Bat day looked like it was amazing! I know that we are all hoping that you guys will come back to CDM and say hello. Hope you guys have a great memorial day and i'm sure we'll be seeing you soon.
Kynt and Vyxin! So I'm new at CDM and I didn't get the chance to meet you guys before, but I have heard SO much about you. Bat Day is so cool! My friends go every year, and it does sound like a lot of fun. Thanks for getting the Amazing Race people to come. Hope to meet you soon!
Hey Kynt and Vyxin!!! Batsday sounds and looks like a really fun event, i wish i could have gone! You guys are great and i can't wait for your next visit to CDM!!!!
Hey Kynt and Vyxin!!! Bat day seems like an interesting, even if temporary, addition to disneyland. I can't wait to see you guys again at our school. This should be even more fun than last time!
Kynt and Vyxin.....All I can say is AMAZing!!! Its awesome that disney still keeps it a normal day and people are so shocked when you guys show up. Wish I could be there to see their reactions!?! Can't wait to see you guys again soon at CDM, you've been soo great to us.
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!!! Very interesting article! Bats day sounds cool! I can't wait to see you guys again!
omg Kynt and Vyxsin i love you guys so much you guys are soo cool. i go to cdm and meeting you guys was such an amazing experience. you guys have such an exciting lifestyle.
Kynt and vyxsin, I think it is very cool what you guys are doing here, and with everything you are doing for our school, Thank You so much for everything you have done.
Heyy Kynt and Vyxsin!! I go to CdM and cant wait to see you guys again! Thanks so much for coming to our school and helping to get other fellow AR contestants to come too! Btw bats day looks pretty sweetttt
Hey Kynt and Vyxin! Next year I am definitely going to bats day, that would be dope. I'm so excited to see you guys at CDM pretty soon! P.S. when I go to Bats day, I want Vyxin to do my makeup =]
Hiiii Kynt and Vyxinn!! Im a student at Corona del Mar.Bats Day at Disneyland sounds like a really cool event. Hope to see you back at CdM soon!!@#!@#! !!!
HEY KYNT AND VYXIN!! im bummed i didnt know about this earlier, it sounds awesome! i hope it was loads of fun, and that you guys showed alot of people that everyone should be created equal! i miss you guys and cant wait to see you again at CDMHS. you guys are the best!!
hello kynt and vyxsin i dont really know what bat day is so i think i'll read up. i believe i will be seeing you guys in a few days at CDM. so see you then.
hey guys, Jaycee from CDM here! not only does that sound like a blast, but i would pay to see some of the more tightly wound moms respond to all the mohawks! but seriously, thats pretty cool that you two are apart of helping people accept each other...can't wait for you to come visit again, it will be AMAZING!!!
hey guyss!!!!! disneyland looked like sooo much! i wish i could've gone! well i can't wait until you guys come to CDM!!! see you soon!
Hi Kynt & Vyxin! I am a CdM student and Bats Day sounds really fun! I bet the reactions of the people there are absolutely classic, you guys set such a great example for acceptance. Hope to see you soon at CdM!
hey kynt and vyxsin, that looks a pretty awesome day to be at disneyland, i would for sure go next year, cant wait to see you guys at CDM soon!
Hey, Kynt and Vyxsin! I am a student from Corona Del Mar, and I think that you guys are awesome. Bats Day, which I haven't heard of before, sounds really cool, and judging from what I read, it would definitely be a great opportunity to visit Disneyland. Hope you guys return soon!
Hey, Kynt and Vyxsin!! I'm a student at Corona del Mar High School and Bats Day sounds like so much fun!! I bet that you guys had a great time!! We can't wait to see you guy soon!!
hey kynt and vixsin!!!! i cant wait to see you again at the next comic con or if you come back to cdm! Bats day looked super fun.. hopefully i can make the next one!
KYNT AND VYXSIN!!!!!!!!!! i have been to disneyland soooooo many times, and have never heard of this! sounds awesome! can't wait for you guys to come and see the cast of this seasons Amazing Race!
KYNT AND VYXSIN! Bats Day looks like soooo much funnn! Sounds look you all had a blast :) cant wait till you come down to CdM!! see you soon!
KYNT AND VYXSIN!!!!!!!!! That sounds sooo cool. I'll bet you had a lot of fun being there huh and getting new ideas for your style. I bet you were a huge idol to everyone there too. I love disneyland and I wish i knew about this. I cant wait to see you guys during our amazing race!!!! BYEEE, Annika
I love disneyland!!! i wish i had been there it seems really intreseting!! im excited for you to come back to CdM again we really enjoy having you and getting to know you.. hope to see you soon!! :]
Kynt and Vyxsin! Bat's Day sounds really interesting, I would love to get to experience it one day! I'm a student at CdM and I cannot wait for you guys to visit again! It's so fun whenver you guys come. See you soon!
KYNT AND VYXSINNNNNNN!!!! You two are just amazing! My teacher talks about you two almost everyday and all the wonders you do for my fellow students with helping us get the TAR 14 cast out at our school! Thank you for EVERYTHING! You two are FABULOUSSSSSSS!! <3
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!! I'm Karl Fletcher from Corona del Mar High school. Bat Day sounds really cool I wish i couldve of gone and seen all the surprised people! Im looking forward to seeing you and other cast members from AR soon!!
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin!! Whats up I'm a student at Corona del Mar High School. Bat Day sounds like sooooooo much funnnn. I wish I could've gone. When are you guys gonna come hang out with us again??? We miss you!!
HEY Kynt and Vyxsin!!!!!! Bat day looked like so much fun! And i'm looking foward to seeing you at our school!!
Kynt and Vyxsin! Bat Day looked like it was amazing! Thank you so much for still being connected with cdm and i cant wait for you guys to come again! Thank you so much for everythingg :D
hey Kynt and Vyxin! Bat day looks awesome. We had such a great times with you guys at corona del mar. I cant wait until you visit us again!
Hey kynt and Vyxsin! Bat Day lookes really fun. I am a student at CdM. I'm glad we could stay in contact with you guys and I look forward to seeing you two soon in the future!
Kynt and Vyxsin! You guys are awesome. So great seeing you guys at our school couple months ago. Bat Day sounds pretty fun, I must admit. Looks crazy guys, but I bet it's a blast. Can't wait to see you at Corona del Mar High School again! Rock and Roll \m/
KYNT AND VYXSIN!!!! I had so much fun with you guys when you came to CDM a few months ago, and I cant wait for you to come back :) Bat Day sounds like so much fun. But yeah i cant wait to see you guys again. YAY!
I totally was at Disneyland on the same day as Bat day three years ago. It's crazzzzzy to see! EVERYONE loves Kynt and Vyxsin! They're awesome and even more awesome for coming out to CdM :)
Not to be repetitive but I am from cdm as well! Bat day does sounds fun, I wish I would have heard of it; you guys are crazy and awesome. That is why we love you; can't wait for you and the rest of the AR cast to come visit.
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin! i'm a student at corona del mar high school and i wanted to say that I loved the bolg, especially the part about the different spontaneous events that popped up around the park. don't you just love that!? kinda spices things up a bit. anyways, we all here in newport beach hope to see you both very soon and am so appreciative of the special contacts youv'e been making regarding the amazing race cast members. Thanks again you guys and we'll see you soon! <333, Carlie Rinehart
Hey its joey from CdM. Mr. Rojas keeps talking about how you two are coming back and I am so excited to hang out. Disneyland looked sweet. see you soon!!! much love yo. peace out.
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin. Bat day looked pretty awesome. I can't wait untill you come back to CDM and hangout with us. See you then.
HEY IM A SENIOR AT CORONA DEL MAR HIGH SCHOOL AND I AM A GREAT FAN OF KYNT AND VYXSIN...BY THE WAY I CANT WAIT 2 SEE U GUYS AGAIN...BATS DAY SOUNDS PRETTY AWESOME, HOPE 2 SEE ALL THOSE CRAZY COLORZ AND RANDOMNESS..CANT WAIT 2 BE THERE NEXT TIME :)
Kynt Vyxsin! Bat day sounds like a blast haha. I bet there were a lot of people really intruiged by your group! Can't wait for you guys to come back and hang out at CDM. We are all really excited for our amazing race next week! See you guys soon
Hey Kynt and Vxysin!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a student at CDM and just really want to thank you for everything you have done with Amazing Race, and cant wait for our next Amazing Race get together!!!!!!!!!!
hey im a junior from corona del mar high and one of the huge fans of kynt and vyxsin here. hope to see u guys soon...the article on bats day sounds pretty cool, so hopefully i can go next year. i'm really into music, so i think i'd really enjoy it! peace. :D
Holaa Kynt and Vxysin!!! Bat day sounds soo fun. CANNOT wait to see you guyss back at CDM soon!@#!#@!
Hey K&V! I'm from CdM. Great article! I had no idea about Bat's Day before. I thought the only way to see so many alternative styles in one place was to head to Chain Reaction for a show :) It sounds like so much fun!
Hey Kynt and Vxysin!!! Bat day looks super awesome and it would be a really fun experience to go on bat day and encounter these rare breed of humans. It would be like an emo jungle safari. Crikey Mate!! Its gunna be "amazing" when you guys come back to see us at CdM. Cant wait! -Gavin
Hey guys! Thank you sooooo much for hanging out with us CDM students! I had sooo much fun with you guys! You are awesome! Hope you had fun at Disneyland! I can't wait to see you guys again! -Tiffany
Hey Kynt and Vxysin, Bats Day seems so great! Can't wait to see you guys, Massimo's Pizza was fun! Hope to see yopu guys race the Rojas Amazing Race with us! Thanks!!!! -Piper
Hi!!! I am a student from student from CDM. Looks like Bat day was awesome!!! Can't wait to see you guys again at our school. You guys rock!
hey kynt and vixen! i cant wait to see you guys at our amazing race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whats up kynt and vyxsin!!!! this is shelby bracho from corona del mar high school!!! this is so cool!!! i wish i would have known about it! i would have loved to go!!! but it sounds like you had a ton of fun!!!! i hope i get to see you guys soon!! :]]]
Hey Kynt and Vyxsin! my post earlier didnt go through:( so i came to say hi again! Bats Day looks super fun! and i cant wait for you guys to visit CDMHS again! You guys are so cool!