ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dozens of people are spending three days living on a sidewalk outside of an IKEA store in anticipation of its grand opening Wednesday morning.

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IMAGES: Shoppers Hit IKEA Store

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For the first time ever, Orlando police went through training to prepare for the opening of a furniture store. Officers attended the grand opening of an IKEA store in Oregon.

"We want to be prepared to be able to direct traffic for IKEA and divert it off the interstates," Orlando police Sgt. Barbara Jones said.

An IKEA representative said several thousand people could be at the store's front doors by opening day.

"It took them 17 years for them to get to Florida but they are here and so am I," shopper Susan Perry said.

"We have been planning this for two months," a woman said. "I will be here until Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. with a few breaks for showers."

The added security and traffic control is being paid for by IKEA.

"It is no different than when we work the Citrus Bowl and work the Florida Classic," Jones said. "It is just another big event that we host where a lot of people come to Orlando and we will be prepared for it."

IKEA officials said they also hired a parking firm to direct drivers, similar to those used at Orlando theme parks.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.