ECZenith

Congrats! Being a ride operator is definately a lot of fun, it's definately the most rewarding job I've ever had. I just found out on Friday that I will be learning "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad" starting this coming Sunday, that's attraction #3 for me!

I am definately interested in trying this attraction out next time in vegas, I just have to wonder how much they're going to charge for a "jump". Given what they charge just to ride the elevators I can only imagine it won't be cheap.

I'll be working at Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland, I practically live there so I'm sure I'll be dispatching on a day you're visiting. Stop by the temple and say hello!

I know, right?

From working Indy, Trains, parades and special events, I have spotted/dispatched (and spoken to some) the following celebrities. They're easy to find, just got to look out for the plaid tour guides... Snoop Dogg Adam Sandler Rob Schneider Leonardo DiCaprio Kelsey Grammar Kate Moss Miley Cyrus Billy Ray Cyrus Kevin Jonas Hugh Heffner + Playmates Howie Mandell Lawrence Fishburne

I was riding into work on the cast shuttle today and noticed both ears on the Screamin' Mickey head were completely gone. All that's left now is the main circle behind the loop. You know it won't be long before that gorgeous new sign is put in its place. Also I'm not sure if this is old news but Mickey's Fun Wheel has an official opening date of 4/24/09 according to the cast reference guide. I miss riding the ferris wheel, can't wait to see the pier this spring with it's new updates.

^^^ If Maliboomer was removed for a tower ride of similar height, like a parachute tower, I would assume the most economical thing to do would be to keep the existing foundation. It wouldn't have to be removed. The parchute tower, while not set in stone and just one of many ideas, isn't just a placeholder on the model. I'm sure I've seen concept art of the paradise pier parachutes in Glendale. I hope they go through with it! This wouldn't happen anytime soon, Screamin' would obviously have to close for demolition of Maliboomer and construction of its replacement. A good estimate would be that it wouldn't even close until Little Mermaid opens. If they don't remove Maliboomer, I'm sure they have some kind of overlay theming to help it blend into "Paradise Pier 2.0".

Hey! Since when has Disneyland not had exciting rides? I can think of a certain ride that a certain someone here works at...

I sometimes work parade guest control shifts at Disneyland, this one will definately be interesting to work. According to entertainment cast members, the parade will run for 1 HOUR, including 3, 15 minute show stops so guests can party in the street with the characters. Should be interesting, can't wait till the floats arrive!

I am almost positive that Maliboomer will come down within the next couple years. I wouldn't expect to see demolition start on it until the rest of the pier is done and they have both Mickey's Fun Wheel and Silly Symphony Swings completed. It wouldn't make sense to have it come down while other nearby rides are under the knife. I see more reasons for Maliboomer to go than stay... There is never much demand for this ride and it typically only runs one of its three towers. The fact that Knott's has a very similar, arguably better version of this ride is noticed by guests. The ride generates a lot of noise and the scream shields are just... ridiculous. It will look very out of place amongst the refurbished buildings and attractions. As far as I know there are at least three alternative plans for Maliboomer: 1) Retheme it to blend in with the new Paradise Pier, 2) Remove the ride for a rest area, and 3) Remove the ride for a replacement attraction, possibly a parachute tower during phase 2. As much as I think the ride is fun, I think they could make better use of that space. I'm just hoping if it goes, maybe Anaheim can compromise and let DCA take those silly tunnels off of an otherwise beautiful California Screamin'.

Amanda and I decided to check out progress on Paradise Pier's 2009 projects today including World of Color, Games of the Boardwalk, and of course, Mickey's Fun Wheel which I am looking forward to later on this year. One last shot of Mickey's Fun Wheel The new bright yellow color is being overlayed on the sunburst. I would guess that the painting of the main structure will be done some time in February. I personally love the red and black colors, Mickey's Fun Wheel will certainly stand out on the skyline. Crews are working behind these walls and high above Paradise Pier transforming Sun Wheel to Mickey's Fun Wheel. The Games of the boardwalk will match the structure of TSMM when they reopen in the spring. The sooner the ears come down, the sooner the beautiful new Paradise Pier sign can be put in place. The waves won't be splashing along Screamin's launch run for quite some time. I hope the finished product will include the rockwork tunnel as seen on the model. A lot of concrete was being poured for the water jet foundations today. In front of this wall, the beginnings of the primary viewing area for World Of Color are taking shape. Me and the girls couldn't resist going next door to visit our Indy friends and take a jeep into the temple. Thanks for checking out the photos! More to come as the Pier continues to transform.

Absolutely beautiful photos of a beautiful park. Well done !

Hydra's jojo roll is awesome and cruely slow, definately wins it for me.

He's not so bad... and at least he's original. I mean... he's no talking mouse but whatever. I thought the commercials were amusing, I just hate the damn Vengaboys.

Intamin megalites look amazing, I want one! (here in the US)

RCFreak is dead on, some nights the park may even be open till 1 am but hours are not finalized yet. Even if you're not going the week of Easter the week before and after will still be quite busy as a lot of school's spring breaks vary. Take advantage of fastpass, especially at Space Mountain and Indy, most attractions will have queue times of 30 minutes + so keep that in mind. Our new parade will be AN HOUR LONG!! and run twice a day so that will be a great time to hit the rides! If you would like any specific tips, please feel free to message me.

Sorry about the weird sizes, I messed up on photoshop when I was resizing them. Still getting the hang of the whole photo thing...

It's easily Kingda Ka for me.

Amanda and I had the day off today and thought it was time to visit the parks as a guest. Both California Adventure and Disneyland were not very crowded and the weather was sunny and 80 degrees! We started off at DCA... LOTS of work going on in the dry lagoon with a large construction crew continuing to prepare World Of Color. Work is also being done on the future seating area next to the former Golden Dreams theater. Over at Disneyland, Main Street continues its repaving/retracking project with walls up around the eastern half of the hub and the western side of town square. Parades, main street vehicles, and horse-drawn streetcars will be down until early March. In March, our new parade: "Celebrate! A Street Party" will run twice a day featuring 3 ten minute long showstops. Also, for those of you Lincoln fans out there... rumor has it he's coming back this year so keep your eyes peeled! Now on to some photos... We ended the day with a ride on Matterhorn. Thanks for reading! Autopia had no line! Amanda and Argonaut Another 30 minute wait We got the back row this time. Space Mountain had a 30 minute wait for most of the day. On the way to Tomorrowland we passed by the closed Haunted Mansion. It will open next month. I know what I want to ride next... Weeee! We love Splash We decided to do the rest of the mountains next... The first lift hill on Thunder Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, I'm being trained here very soon! We rode Indy a bunch of times... Off-season at my all-time favorite attraction and workplace means a 15 minute queue time. Me in the boss' favorite chair Amanda in Minnie's House. It's kind of dark in here... This month Last month... This month. The new walkthrough attraction is great, if you haven't seen it yet, check it out! Last month... I win! Well... everybody wins. Toy Story Midway Mania is just awesome. 20 minute wait... well worth it. It had been a long time since I rode Screamin', my favorite ride at DCA. We walked right into the library, no line! This is my new girlfriend Amanda, she thought a ride on ToT would wake us up. Good Morning DCA... View of Grizzly Peak and Tower Of Terror from the Grand Californian.

Screamscape has a great shot of the enormous mid-course brake run... http://www.screamscape.com/html/uo_-_project_rumble_0.htm

^ Oh , I may have been in the control tower, a lot of the times I'm put up there because I have a lot more enthusiasm about my work than some of the other cast. I'm either in the tower or at one of the two dispatch positions, you'll almost never find me working in the queue as long as I have any say on where I'm stationed for the day.

^^ LMAO Reminds me of when me and my girlfriend were arguing if the rolling ball at Indy is "real" or not. She insisted it was a hologram or a projection and I had always thought it was an actual physical object. On my first day of training for a position at IJA, I confirmed it but it just landed me in the doghouse.

1. Disneyland (obviously, I'm there most of the week, ) 2. DCA 3. Universal Studios Hollywood 4. Knott's Berry Farm First new credit of the year was Pony Express... yay.

I remember hearing "on beams of light" when riding the conveyor belt out of it's exit but I'm not 100% sure. If it were the Anaheim version I'd be a much better help!

Is it a bad thing that it looks like an Intamin? This coaster is turning out to look extremely impressive! The layout is amazing and it's getting tunnels? That's just gravy!