flyingspin

I have to add my own recent Disneyland negative experience: on Friday May 25, for the first time ever, our car was directed to the Lion King lot, then we hustled to get to the tram loading area. No queue line guides or anything, thus complete chaos. Our group of four (2 mommies and 2 young boys) stood in what we thought was a line. Some jerk with an SUV-stroller, a baby, toddler, and wife PUSHED us aside to get on the tram. I was so astonished that I did not respond. My friend and I just looked at each other and told our boys that we were going on a new adventure: the walking path! My theory is that some folks travel a long way, spend a lot of money, and believe that they have the right to act any way they want on their vacation, and to heck with anybody else. What is this world coming to???

My husband thought I was crazy to ride California Screamin alone 3 times in a half hour last December, but our passes expired that day, and I don't know when we'll get back there. Love that single-rider line!

Good God! I barely let my 6 year old on that Drop Zone ride at Adventure City. Anyway, congrats to Rob and Elissa. They grow up fast! Seems like yesterday my son was newborn, and now he's in kindergarten. Tomorrow, he'll be flippin burgers at In N Out and going to a CSU. Enjoy every moment!

Here's my first attempt Help! Yetiball's being eaten by the Legoland Dragon!

Gravity: 15 years old and 12 pounds of feline fury. Gravity the cat

That Jack Sparrow sure looks like Freddie Mercury... and I just read somewhere that Johnny Depp is considering playing Mercury in a bio-pic.

Hmmm. Seems a lot like Legoland's Knight's Tournament http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/legoland/21589/

I'm glad I rode Screamin 3 times last weekend! (love that single rider pass).

We finally made it to Disneyland and DCA on my son's 6th birthday. We rode Indiana Jones first, and he didn't like it very much -- too much turbulence and darkness. In this photo, he's rating Indy a "thumbs sideways." We also rode Tower of Terror, which freaked out all of us, including my son! We were all wobbly afterwards. My son now calls the ride "the terrible tower of terrible terror." We're going back after the Matterhorn reopens (and before our APs expire). The little dude gives Indy the "thumbs sideways"

I know what you mean about kids wanting to go on rides versus parents making them -- over the last year I've been an AP I've seen so many people bring screaming toddlers and babies on Pirates and the Haunted Mansion rides, and I get upset every time I see that. My son only wants to ride these 2 rides because his Dad will be with us. We already told him that it's okay if he changes his mind. If he'd rather go climbing on Tom Sawyer island, that's great!

I had read about some incidents on themeparkinsider.com. Anyway, I appreciate the feedback. I'll be more scared than my kid on TOT!

What's your opinion? Our family is going to DL and DCA for my son's 6th birthday soon. He wants to go on both the Indiana Jones ride and Tower of Terror, and he's tall enough. Based on your experience, are these 2 rides really safe for a 4-foot tall kid? I ask because I haven't been on the Indiana Jones ride in 5 years, and I've never been on Tower of Terror; and I know there have been a few "incidents" on these 2 attractions. FYI: my kid's already been on Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, and Big Thunder Mountain RR dozens of times.

It's interesting to get the mixture of replies to my report. BTW, my son had nothing to do with the button pushing. He didn't even notice when the woman in black talked to me because he was too busy looking at the red car. In the end, I think it's a case of the stupids and science-center-itis (we visit the local science center frequently and I got used to pushing buttons to see what happens). I won't argue that it's wrong to touch unknown buttons. I posted to find out what exactly the button does and why the staff person was so abrupt with me. Now I know. I've already told my kid the whole story and explained why it's wrong to touch unknown buttons. P.S. my mother-in-law touched a stalagmite in Carlsbad Caverns in 1974, and got reprimanded by a park ranger. The family has never let her forget it!

jackskellington101, thanks for the insider info. I still don't know what possessed me to touch that darn red button (perhaps: a day of crowds + + coaster riding + junk food = sh*t for brains), but at least I know not to touch another one!

I have to say that I was so taken aback by the security guard's reprimand that I just took my son and walked away. It was the first time I had done something like that, so I was too embarrassed to question it! I just wish I knew what that button really does. BTW this isn't a dare to go push it, either! I was hoping a cast member could post a scoop.

I need some perspective on a perplexing DCA security experience: Last Saturday I was in DCA with my son and "Cars" movie cars made a photo op appearance. Guests were invited to touch and pose with Lightning McQueen and Mater. In an admitted momentary lapse of reason, I pushed an unmarked red button near Mater's rear bumper. Mater didn't do anything (we were hoping he would talk or make a sound). Then suddenly, out of nowhere a petite woman wearing all black clothing and sunglasses appeared, pushed the red button again, turned to me and snapped, "don't ever touch anything you know nothing about." Now let me say that we're at the end of our annual pass year, and we weren't going to renew anyway, but I was really amazed by the security person's warning. Sure, that button may be some kind of panic button or could have made the "vehicle" move suddenly, but why was there no warning painted near it, etc.? Some folks at intercotwest.com's DCA board advised me to go straight to DLR Guest Relations with my complaint, but I don't think we'll get back to there before our passes expire. Anyway, I would love some inside information on that button!

A good description of how to get a fastpass for a Disneyland attraction (and how the system works in general) is at Disney fan site Laughing Place: http://www.laughingplace.com/Info-ID-DLFastPass.asp At the bottom of this page are comments from guests that are worth reading.

I've gotta add the OC Fair was really clean when I visited this year, but it was a Sunday morning at opening time. The lemonade stands shaped like lemons had stacks of cases of lemons at their doors, the carnies were just waking up--it was quite charming. ; - )

I noticed the crazy thrill rides that have over the shoulder harnesses and whip the riders around, kind of like Knights Tournament (Legoland)--one was next to the spinning wild mouse ride. Anyway, I had to look up "Mondial Swinger" (found it at http://www.flatrides.com), and I don't think it was at the OC Fair this year. The old Himalaya ride was there, but I didn't get a photo. I do remember that it was really beat up, and many of the seats were covered in duct tape. Ha, Giant Boob Lady--she's still at the Cuckoo House alright!

Here I've been checking Mouse Planet and MiceAge, and this forum had the best advice I've seen on visiting Disneyland. For example, the most recent news I'd read about Matterhorn's closure was August 28. I'm glad to know it's open a little longer than that, since we're visiting soon too. Thanks!

Warning: I like to take pics of objects without people around them. If you like ghost towns, you might enjoy this trip report. Visited July 2006, first-thing on a Sunday morning. my next photo TR: Adventure City! A little bit of everything: chair lift, ferris wheel, some kind of spider ride. Take a good look and notice the track for this dark ride. Painful ticket price for the haunted house. Hey, there's people in this picture, darn it! The ghost pirate ride. Spooky. Another shot of the ghost pirate ride. Here's a fun (?) house. Beatles impersonator Robbie Simmons. Check out his cheeezy website: robbie simmons site: http://www.sandiegoprn.com/New_Vintage.html Yummy fair junk food concession Scary clown trash bin The most thrilling (and probably dangerous) ride at the fair: The Hi-Miler. Another shot of the Hi-Miler. Aawww, the little dipper coaster. Good ole reliable (?) snake coaster Good ole reliable (?) dragon coaster. No, wait--that's the snake coaster. The spinning wild mouse coaster. Actually the safest-looking ride in the park--it had decent supports, compared to the other carnie coasters. lonely track Mega ferris wheel near the fair exit.

I remember the Nut Tree from 1970s family trips too! It's funny how roadside landmarks can stick in your memory. Thanks for sharing the info.

Grizzly River Run in DCA is my favorite. Not only is the theming amazing, but the drench-factor is huge (you WILL get SOAKED!), and sitting in a round boat with people you've never met is an adventure! The warning sign at GRR

Ridden Desperado at Buffalo Bill's lately? I rode it in March, and it was a ROUGH ride. First, the seatbelt wouldn't close at first, but finally snapped shut. Then the barely-tall-enough kid in front of us kept turning around and laughing at us, so I was worried sick that he was going to get some serious airtime and fly out of his seat! I don't think this ride has been inspected in ages, and the paint was chipping everywhere. The G's were punishing enough, but the roughness of the track multiplied the torture. Only for masochists!

Yeah, this was a classy event. The savvy Catholic school event organizers had much beer available, which brought in lots of money for the school (or to pay for Peter Frampton!).