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Disney has released new concept art and details for San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure, which will open in phases this year! https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/02/step-into-san-fransokyo-square-at-disney-california-adventure-park-beginning-summer-2023/ At D23 Expo 2022, we announced to much fanfare that Pacific Wharf in Disney California Adventure park will turn into San Fransokyo from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award®-winning “Big Hero 6”! Those of you who have recently been to the park may have seen that this exciting transformation has already begun. Later this summer, during the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland Resort, you will be able to step into the new area — named San Fransokyo Square — and discover new offerings inspired by Baymax and friends. Today, we’re excited to tell you more about the Walt Disney Imagineering story behind San Fransokyo Square and some of the fun that awaits. San Fransokyo Square will transport you to the not-too-distant future, in a fictional mash-up of two iconic cities – San Francisco and Tokyo. As the tech industry began to emerge and the local fishing trade fell on hard times, entrepreneurs came together to reinvent the seaside canneries into a vibrant, multicultural district of neighborhood restaurants and small businesses where you’ll be able to eat and shop. An iconic landmark of the area will be the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge, which will span the tide pools linking San Fransokyo Square to the Paradise Gardens Park obelisk. Once you cross the bridge, you’ll catch a view of the floating wind turbine atop an old fishing net tannery, powering the district from high in the sky. Clues to the area’s storied and charming past can be found in the details throughout San Fransokyo Square. Outside a converted warehouse at the south end of San Fransokyo, you may have the opportunity to encounter Baymax. Today, Pacific Wharf is home to eateries featuring sourdough bread, ice cream sundaes, delicious Mexican fare, Asian dishes and more. You’ll still be able to enjoy all your favorite Pacific Wharf dining locations during this transformation. When the transformation to San Fransokyo Square is completed this summer, you’ll find familiar favorites like soups in freshly baked bread bowls, as well as many new Asian-inspired selections. The new Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería draws inspiration from its tri-cultural influences with signage in English, Japanese and Spanish. Outside will be a fun and inviting beer garden decorated with festoon lights and papel picado. The San Fransokyo Square Public Works Department is hard at work on this transformation. Be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details, and we look forward to bringing San Fransokyo Square to life in Disney California Adventure park this summer!

Yes its made in Idaho and yes you are crazy for being really excited about coaster track sitting on a truck.

I remember liking Transdemonium. It had this bizarre "devil" character at the beginning that looked like a marionette.

Universal seems to have said we still dueling but in a different but no more dragons lol. Just look at those top hats! more images here from Bioreconstruct.

Great trip report! Many happy memories. I believe that photo was from one of the themed Cottages around the boat ride, which had scenes inside. We did not find any dark ride within the castle. I vaguely remember from a previous visit a few years ago there used to be a dark ride (Searching the internet it was called Transdemonium) - James

I had a Palace Platinum Pass this past year; I didn't think it was a shit show. Yeah, at some parks, you need to go to Guest Relations to get a paper ticket first, but that wasn't a big deal. Sometimes the parking clerks were confused but they all resolved it within a few minutes. Don't forget about the Preview Night at Hershey park; you won't be spending all day at Dorney unless you're doing the water park too. I would leave the Elysburg area Wednesday morning; as you said Lakemont doesn't open until 4:30 and you won't spend more than an hour there even if both coasters are running (which isn't a guarantee). You probably also won't spend more than an hour or two at DelGrosso's, especially if you're not doing the water park.

Pretty sure you imagined that. There wasn't a proper dark ride that I could find. There was a mostly outdoor boat ride with scenes, a car ride with scenes, a walk through about the comic strip, and a mad house. The castle was one end of a short indoor section with shops that seemed like it used to have more stuff in it and maybe was once a more important part of the park. At least, that's how I remember it. Of course, we were in pretty bad shape by then, and left early. Still thought this park was pretty cool. I wonder how much more I would've liked it if I wasn't exhausted and unwell at that point.

^The parks have all been crazy busy lately. I feel like they've taken the few weeks a year that used to be 'off season dead' times and marketed them to groups, dance teams, choruses, etc.

My youngest and I visited UO and IAl from 2/12 to 2/15, staying yet again at Cabana Bay. About half of my visits to the parks have been in February and it was a great time to visit, but that may no longer be the case. The 13th and 14th were extremely busy, I'd say the 13th rivaled summer crowds to the point I bought Express passes for the first time I've ever been visiting the parks. The 14th was a bit better but definitely not low crowds, and the morning of the 15th seemed similar. Apparently it quieted down later in the week so maybe just bad luck on my part but this was my son's birthday trip and it was a bit of a downer to be so crowded on his first trip to the park, although we made the best of it. Everything was running except Jurassic Park River Adventure since it's under refurbishment. Hagrid's never went below 80 minutes that we saw but Velocicoaster was surprisingly under 30 rather frequently and it's just as amazing as everyone has said. Most of my pictures are of my son, and most of the ones that he's not in are ones you've all seen a million times before, so just a small selection of things I found interesting: Since we almost always visit off season, I dont get to see the parks at night very often; they really do a wonderful job of lighting. Badgers! The water tunnel in Poseidon is still awesome, my son was in awe. Spiderman queue has such great stuff in it. One thing I discovered is the Express line goes through a couple unique rooms that you'd never see in the normal line, so that was pretty cool. Didn't take the sting off the extravagant (for us) expense but you take what you can get. Celestina and the Banshees bringing the fire as always. We also sat for the Three Brothers puppet show, just such a great story. Despite the business of the parks, we took time for Jurassic Playground. My son would have spent half a day just in there. A real plant finding purchase on the fake roots and rockwork. Life finds a way. Mardi Gras was in full swing. Secret evil avocados are best avocados. Most of the Simpsons area staff are actually really nice; one of the guys running the games was helping kids out, etc. My timing was just a second or two off but got this clip from the line of Pteranodon Flyers with both coasters hitting their high points at the same time. 20230215_081801.mp4

They return before Labor Day in the suburbs, by late August. I think Chicago Public Schools started in August this year too for the first time. Go the last week in August if possible. Wisconsin schools do not start until after LD though, some of those families might be there.

Day 11: Parc Astérix (part I): we got up and ate breakfast, and then got ready to head down to the bus for 8am departure for Parc Astérix. I realized I hadn't taken any pics of the IBIS Airport hotel on the 1st night (or at least thought I didn't. . I didn't bother to go back and check). . so snapped some quick pics before we left the room. James ready to go for the day, and showing off the beds in the room. small, but functional shower tho it was like an airplane bathroom. I guess appropriate for an Airport hotel our view - facing away from the runways, but we had a view of the train station (not that it mattered today, as we were taking a bus to the park) a shortish drive, and we were pulling into the empty lot for Parc Astérix. we were getting there a bit before opening, as Robb had arranged for us to meet up with the Park reps at the onsite hotel, and we were going to be doing some pre-opening rides on the newly refurbished "Tonnerre 2 Zeus" - the park's massive wooden coaster. A lengthy years long refurb that altered the layout, added more airtime hills, and reversed the final car of the train so the seats face backwards! speaking of Tonnerre 2 Zeus. . here it is coming into view, as we go around the back of the park to the hotel. and here we are at the entrance to the Parks Hotel/Resort. the theming is really heavy here - which was an indicator to me of how heavily themed the park itself was going to be (and let me say here. . it did NOT disappoint. Disney Level (or more in some places) level of theming in this park). this is the interior courtyard of the hotel! (yeah) while we were waiting for the park reps to meet us. . some of the Astérix characters (the King and Queen?) came out to meet hotel guests. (and us, since we were there. . . so did I get in line for a picture?). duh! of COURSE I did. and I felt so thin too! (thanks to Andy for taking this for me) Eventually our guides arrived, and we headed into the park via the hotel entrance - which comes in right under Goudurix - an absolutely gorgous, and infamously awful, Vekoma. it SURE is pretty tho, looks are completely deceiving we were running a bit behind schedule, so the park was already getting ready to open to guests in the next 30 minutes, and several rides started testing, including Goudurix, so was able to get some nice pics with the train. this is a fairly new attraction, I believe. . it's a lifting sky-bar. you sit under the hat at a circular bar, and it lifts up to the top. I didn't do this, but some of the group did partake and said it was fun, with a great view. and before we knew it, we were in front of Tonnerre 2 Zeus, with it's famous queue-line . . that you enter between the legs of Zeus hmmm. . but it didn't seem to be running yet? we patiently waited, and judging from these pics, either others from the Hotel entrance had come in shortly after us, or the park had opened and people were starting to make their way over to T2Z. (I think it's this 2nd one). while the park was trying to get the coaster going, I continued to snap pics. remember I noted the queue famously goes thru Zeus' legs? yeah. . they put panties on him. Pink panties with yellow duckies! BWAAA-HAAAA-HAAAAAA I honestly can not recall if we were able to get the morning ride in on Tonnerre 2 Zeus, as I think they were having maintenance issues. But I really DO think we weren't able to get the morning planned rides, and as a "we're so sorry" the park reps decided to lead the TPR group to several of the other coasters, to let us cut in and get rides as the park had just opened to the public. Our guide bypassed Goudurix (which had stopped testing strangely, so maybe it too wasn't ready to open yet), and brought us further back into the park. but again look how beautiful it is: along the way, I noted the fantastic theming all over the place. this is Thor's throne. I love me a throne, so of course stopped for a pic. This is the face one makes when the entire throne starts vibrating your butt. . . and then starts pouring out smoke. . . LOL awww.. a little baby carousel, that no way would my fat ass fit on. but snapped a pic as we went by. wowza. . so many nicely themed areas! another carousel. . this one more normal sized, but still rather small (I can't recall if this one ever operated the day we were there. . I'm guessing no, as I don't have any pics riding it) this giant themed structure is a restaurant. the buffet where we would be eating lunch later in the day, actually. and this seemed to be a show/ride experience that appeared to have been shut down, but since it fit in with the Bazzar theme of the area, they just left it up. or maybe it was just off season (tho middle of Summer, as we were there in late June) look back at the restaurant from the other side. Oxygenarium was an inflatable raft ride. . it reminded me very much of the Penguin's Blizzard Falls ride that Astroworld used to have. (you sit in a giant blow up raft, and it's a water ride, but no one gets wet really). I rode this later in the day, and it was . . ok. looks like it would be way more exciting than it was. . but I mean, look how exciting it appears from the queue line! we were headed over here to the Egyptian area. . . as the Park Reps were gonna give us a ride on Oziris - the parks Suspended B&M. think Montu, but with heavy Egyptian theming thruout the area. the park reps brought us thru the exit line, and we took advantage of the "never in America" fluffy fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo (ie: locker) system. yup. you just dump your stuff into a luggage cart at the load station, then they just wheel the cart into the exit queue so anyone can grab anything they want out of the carts sitting there filled with stuff. (I mean.. not even an operator on that side watching the bags) I guess Europeans are just more willing to follow basic human decency and not steal each others crap? regardless. . I thought it was interesting that's how they handle it. the ride itself is great tho. . intense in all the "right" spots, and was fun. tho again, it really reminded me of Montu. the area looks fantastic. While still in the Egypt section, after our ride on Oziris, we were walked over to take a ride on SOS Numerobis - a Zierer family coaster. whee! it's another one of those with the really long trains.. .I think 18 rows? the park had been open for a little bit, but before we were cut loose in the park, the Reps wanted to take us over to one more ride. So we left Egypt and followed him. this looked like a fun Shoot the Chutes ride so stopped and took some pics of the splash down. (when riding it later, we realized it's not JUST a shoot the chutes. . . it's a full on boat ride thru a hidden area up top in the foliage, with a really great last drop). passing under more theming! loved this park. and we passed by a TON of rides, that I would come back to later, with a group of folks and we'd ride. we'd made a giant loop of the park. . so got a nice view across the central lake area of where we'd come in behind Goudurix. if this show was running during our visit, I don't recall it. this is the sign for the park's Flying Carpet ride - Cheval De Troie (I don't recall riding it, so maybe wasn't operating?) our final ride with the VIP treatment from the Park Reps as "Vol D'lcare" which is a bobsleigh type coaster, that appeared to be themed to the story of Icarus. it was a fun little coaster, and it was April's 300th! I'm guessing I have to thank Elissa for this pic. Look how happy I am! (or maybe I'm just happy that Myself and Andrew got our own seats, and Ian/Daved & Jere/James had to share rows in the car behind us :p) while waiting for the rest of the group to cycle thru, snapped some pics of the "monster" ride next to Vol D'lcare. Again, really nicely themed. We all gathered at the entrance, Elissa told us when / where to meet for lunch, and we were surprised by an option to do a behind the scenes tour of the new coaster (just about to open I believe, but under construction when we were there), the newest Intamin, "Toutatis" Anyone that was interested was welcome to join the tour after lunch - and TPR was the first "outside" group of folks that would be able to see the coaster up close. thru Robb's magic, we got a bonus from the park of some evening rides on Tonnerre 2 Zeus, as well as several skip passes each to ride it during the day - to help make up for the late start to the morning. and with that, we were let loose in the park. . heading over towards Tonnerre 2 Zeus to see it's status, we were greeted by this line - yeah. . remember the ENTRANCE to the queue is under the Zeus statue. we certainly didn't want to be "ugly Americans" and use skip passes - certainly not as a group at the same time - so we decided we'd ride some other things first. and tho we KNEW it was awful. . . it was a first time park for me (and others) and I really wanted to ride ALL the coasters. so we headed over to Gourdurix. only to find it closed for technical issues! the park op was a great sport so posed for a picture for me that I could share with the rest of the TPR group on the trip: and our reaction to discovering it was closed, after we had made a good faith effort to ride it Since we were over on this side of the park, and we all really wanted to ride it. . we headed back over to Tonnerre 2 Zeus and saw the line, while really long still, was no longer spilling out under the queue entrance. So went ahead and got in line using our skip passes bringing us right up to the station. originally we had gotten only 1 pass each that allowed for a back car ride (an upcharge for the reverse queue, I believe). . but the operators told us the skip passes would allow us to sit anywhere, including the back row (so I did end up getting a couple of back row rides). here's how the train looks in the station, from the wait for back row. . with back car flipped backwards after our rides, we noticed behind us were more TPR folks, including Robb & Elissa. (that Robb is filming, tells me my memory isn't so bad.. we must not have gotten to ride in the morning, otherwise he would have filmed at that time. (and that guy on the left with the camera? - that's the park rep group that has the camera on him. . so yes, he absolutely had permission to film on this coaster, people) the line never really got any shorter than this thruout the day. . but thanks to the skip passes, we got a number of rides in rather quickly before going elsewhere in the park to ride lots of other things. Front row was great too. here's Ryan & Jere enjoying it. Andrew and Ian in the back row. Myself and Jon in the back. I DID really like the ride facing backwards. it was fun, and not knowing where you are going was great. But I honestly did prefer it facing forwards. In the forwards position, you *really* feel the 90 degree turns, and the drop into the tunnel. Something you don't really notice when facing backwards - probably because you're hanging on for dear life, and laughing the whole way. one final ride for the moment. . . this time waiting for Front row. From the station queue: Whee! Ian and I on our front row ride. (unfortunately, when riding backwards, the camera can't get a pic. . LOL). you can see how much we loved this coaster. Great job by the park. . from what I understand? the coaster had gotten a bit rough. this refurb was really great! and they even left one of the old trains, on an old section of the original track (remember the refurb changed the ride layout a bit. . so this section of old track, with the old train, is just sitting there in the middle of the coaster! it's freaky when you pass it!). pic from a still from Robb's video but that's only the 2nd greatest thing about this coaster. the 1st greatest thing? yes, you can actually buy a pair of Zeus' pink panties with the duckies on it at the photo / gift shop. to be continued. . .

Raging Bull says hello. One of the most underrated first drops in the industry.