Photo Gallery: Bats Day at Disneyland

In honor of Bats Day at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, (you’ll know what we’re talking about once you read below), Kynt and Vyxsin (who you might recognize from Season 12 of The Amazing Race) documented the event for us. What did Kynt and Vyxsin think?



“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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