Disneyland Resort (DL, DLR, DCA) Discussion Thread

[SLUSHIE]

Oh cool, didn't know about the fast pass line thing. They open at 10 so getting there by 9 shouldn't be too hard, lol.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Kinda lame it's going to be down since I'm going in a few weeks. Indy isn't the reason I'm going though and I still haven't decided if I'm getting a park hopper or not. They don't have Fantasmic weekdays either now.

 

While I'm here... what do you guys think crowds will be like on the 17th? Apparently it's a day where hotel guests get into DCA an hour early or something... Does that mean fast passes will be taken already and the line for RSR already 2 hours?

 

Its the off season still, you'll have barely any crowds except in Cars Land.

 

 

Amy and I rode Indy the night it closed and it definitely was in bad shape. One odd thing was that for our final ride the fire "tornado" in the eye was working. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw it working. I visit LA about 3 times a year, so I'm definitely not an expert, but I actually forgot that the effect was even there.

 

No way, it was working!? !I haven't seen it going in so long! ...And now the ride is down lol. Ill see it in three months, haha.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Here's a new offering for Halloween Time at Disneyland!

 

Disney Parks Blog

 

Halloween Carnival Takes Over Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree at Disneyland Park

posted on September 7th, 2012 by Shawn Slater, Communications Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment

 

 

There’s something new this Halloween Time at Disneyland park, and it’s happening over at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in Frontierland. That’s where you’ll find a magical Halloween Carnival filled with fun for the whole family, with favorite Disney characters in Halloween costumes, special Halloween entertainment, amazing pumpkin carvers, activities, holiday merchandise, yummy treats and even the Disney Villains!

You can make your own Halloween mask at the craft station, and then join Mickey Mouse and his pals in a “Mask-Parade.” Try your hand at carnival games, like tossing rings on a witch’s hat or spinning the Crystal Ball Fortune Wheel to seek your own happy Halloween fortune. Everyone’s favorite Frontierland musical group joins the fun, too, as Billy Hill and the “Haunted” Hillbillies take the stage six times a day for a round of appropriately spooky tunes, all done in their inimitable bluegrass style.

The highlight of the Halloween Carnival is sure to be the Magic Cauldron Sideshow. Dare to venture into this tented area, and you may be asked to help cast a magic spell, conjuring a Disney Villain from his or her realm to meet your group before returning to worlds beyond. Disney Villains fans will want to visit more than once, since you never know which Disney Villain might be summoned each time. Sounds like a real “scream!”

The Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree opens September 14 and continues most days through October 31. Please check the park Times Guide for daily operating schedules.

[Nyteowl]

Just found out i'm going to DL and DCA this Sunday for my cousins birthday. My aunt got free tickets for us so my mom wanted to go. Despite living in So Cal, I sadly haven't visited Disney in over a year. I know that Indiana and a few others are down for rehab and that's fine. Really, I just want to see the new stuff at DCA and do a few rides there, then I'll probably be hanging out with family for the majority of the day. Any idea on how the crowds will be, and what would be the best method for getting Cars Land done in an efficient matter? Thanks in advance!

[Wes]

^ Get there early, get a Fastpass for Radiator Springs Racers the very first thing you do, as they will sell out early. Depending on the line for Luigi's and Mater's, do them in whatever order makes sense. Honestly, you only really have to worry about getting a Fastpass for Racers, or just toughing it out in the standby or single rider lines.

[coasterfreak101]

When I was there, the Luigi's line filled up much faster, and moved much slower than, the Mater's line. I would get the RSR Fastpass then walk down to Luigi's, and back to Mater's when you're done. Even if the Mater's line is full (to the entrance), it's only like a 30 minute wait, whereas Luigi's is much, much longer.

[Nyteowl]

^ Get there early, get a Fastpass for Radiator Springs Racers the very first thing you do, as they will sell out early. Depending on the line for Luigi's and Mater's, do them in whatever order makes sense. Honestly, you only really have to worry about getting a Fastpass for Racers, or just toughing it out in the standby or single rider lines.

Alright, I figured that was the best plan just wanted to confirm. Thanks!

[rcdude]

I was just there yesterday, and found people lining up for RSR Fastpasses as soon as early entry started. I don't understand why people use their hour of early entry waiting for a Fastpass when the line was only 30 minutes during that period (it later peaked at 75 minutes, and the single rider got up to 45). Luigi's averaged 30 minutes and Mater's never got above 10 minutes.

 

Anyway, Sunday will probably be quite a bit more crowded, so I'd recommend getting there 30-45 minutes before opening. If your family all wants to ride RSR, get in line for Fastpasses as soon as you can (they ran out within an hour yesterday). If you can, give all the tickets to one person and go do Luigi's and possibly Mater's while they wait (I don't know how long Luigi's will take). If you're by yourself, you're probably better off skipping the Fastpass line and going straight to Luigi's. Afterward, use single rider on RSR, then do Mater's. If you get lucky and most of the early entry crowd is at RSR or in the Fastpass line (leaving short waits at the flats), you could be done in an hour. However, I'd allow two hours to get all three rides done (if Luigi's has a line, it will move very slowly and RSR's single rider could be very long, although it generally moves fairly quickly).

 

Other rides at DCA will probably be busy, but with the draw of Cars Land you probably won't see more than 45 minutes for other rides. Single Rider is available on several rides, and using these lines will usually cut your wait to around 10 minutes (except for Soarin' and RSR). Disneyland will likely be a little less crowded since 2 E-tickets are down (Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones Adventure), but still expect 30-45 minute waits. If you have a full day and use Fastpass efficiently, you shouldn't have a problem doing everything. Just try to minimize backtracking, and ride the Fantasyland rides (if you're doing any of them) during a parade or after the fireworks.

[WFChris]

I have noticed the last few visits that the fastpass queue for the RSR ride is still a good 30 minutes long. Waiting a half hour for the FP and another half hour to ride doesn't make a lot of sense to me unless you really want to ride with your group. Single Rider is the best way to experience it with the least wait. I understand that this does not work for families, though

[alpengeist04]

^I say families need to suck it up. Heck, a 15-20 minute wait is a hell of a lot better than 2 hours. Just think how many other rides you can go on together with that time saved with the single rider line. Then again, I rather they not use the single rider line so it's shorter for me.

[Nyteowl]

I was just there yesterday, and found people lining up for RSR Fastpasses as soon as early entry started. I don't understand why people use their hour of early entry waiting for a Fastpass when the line was only 30 minutes during that period (it later peaked at 75 minutes, and the single rider got up to 45). Luigi's averaged 30 minutes and Mater's never got above 10 minutes.

 

Anyway, Sunday will probably be quite a bit more crowded, so I'd recommend getting there 30-45 minutes before opening. If your family all wants to ride RSR, get in line for Fastpasses as soon as you can (they ran out within an hour yesterday). If you can, give all the tickets to one person and go do Luigi's and possibly Mater's while they wait (I don't know how long Luigi's will take). If you're by yourself, you're probably better off skipping the Fastpass line and going straight to Luigi's. Afterward, use single rider on RSR, then do Mater's. If you get lucky and most of the early entry crowd is at RSR or in the Fastpass line (leaving short waits at the flats), you could be done in an hour. However, I'd allow two hours to get all three rides done (if Luigi's has a line, it will move very slowly and RSR's single rider could be very long, although it generally moves fairly quickly).

 

Other rides at DCA will probably be busy, but with the draw of Cars Land you probably won't see more than 45 minutes for other rides. Single Rider is available on several rides, and using these lines will usually cut your wait to around 10 minutes (except for Soarin' and RSR). Disneyland will likely be a little less crowded since 2 E-tickets are down (Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones Adventure), but still expect 30-45 minute waits. If you have a full day and use Fastpass efficiently, you shouldn't have a problem doing everything. Just try to minimize backtracking, and ride the Fantasyland rides (if you're doing any of them) during a parade or after the fireworks.

Sounds good! Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I'll let you know how it was when I get back on Sunday.

[HighRoller]

Finally sorting myself out after race weekend, and wanted to share a few observations.

 

Caveat: I'm normally a WDW person, my last visit to Disneyland was 25 years ago.

 

In no particular order:

 

Space Mountain was outstanding. Far superior to the MK version. Glad to see that they did a better job the second time around. Don't get me wrong, I very much like Space Mountain at MK - it's just that the trains, themeing, and actual darkness, plus the starfield, made this the better ride.

 

Matterhorn trains: the Disneyland fanboys have a point on this one. While the basic setup is the same as the trains from Space Mountain, MK, the big difference is in the choice of noodles. On Space (MK), the trains have lap bars, which are anchored behind the seat in front of you, leaving plenty of space (pun intended) to slide your feet alongside the seat in front of you, unless you have exceptionally long legs. By contrast, the trains on Matterhorn have seat belts, which, naturally, are anchored next to your own hips. The upshot of this is that while the seatbelt may be a more comfortable restraint, there is no room alongside the seat in front of you to slide your feet - leaving you "in the stirrups" (ladies know what I'm talking about) with your knees in the air during the entire ride. This also causes your butt to slide around on the seat, making the imperfections in an ageing ride more noticeable.

 

Fantasmic!: This is a show that should not have been brought to DHS in the first place. Seeing it at DHS just makes me go "WTF?" while seeing it on the Rivers of America ties the while thing together. Add in the Sailing Ship Columbia and "Murphy" (rather than the gigantic marionette at DHS) and the show is truly enjoyable to watch. The "Glow with the Show" ears add another fun element. This is Fantasmic! as it was meant to be - and it makes so much more sense now. Yay!

 

On the subject of the "Glow with the Show" ears - they're quite a bit of fun with both Fantasmic! and World of Color - but they need to figure out some way to get more people wearing them. There were only about 3 people in my range of view during WoC and about a half dozen during F! each time (saw it twice). Seeing the videos with everyone wearing them made me realize just how much more fun they'd be if we could up the normal number to maybe 15-20%.

 

Small World and Pirates were, as everyone says, much better at DL. The only thing about either that I wish for would be to hear the second verse of small world a bit more - it's only available in two places, and if you don't catch it at the right time, you'll miss it.

 

Tower of Terror and MuppetVision made me miss DHS, but only for a few moments.

 

World of Color was lots of fun - it's my favorite water-based night show that Disney does here in the states, beating out Fantasmic! (RoA) by just a little bit. Fantasmic!(DHS) is not in the same league.

 

Splash Mountain - another example of doing a better job the second time around - it's just that the second splash is at MK. I made the mistake of thinking it was an identical ride - and got soaked. I like the fact that at MK you get sprayed, but never soaked. The two across boats at MK vs. the single-file boats at DL make the difference.

 

Voyage of the Little Mermaid - I get the complaints about this ride, in that there's a great bit of the story missing. Given that Pinnochio, Snow White, and others of the classic dark rides in Fantasyland do the same thing (they get you to the darkes part, show a book saying "And they all lived happily ever after"), I can't see why this is out of character. It's very much in the same vein as Fantasyland, just in a different part of the resort.

 

Cars Land - I know this has been reviewed to death, but just a few sentences for my take: RSR is a great ride. Makes much better use of the system than Test Track, IMO. Looking forward to when they get it back up to full speed. MJJ is lots of fun. The line often looks long, but given the fact that they actually installed a double ride (two full sets of the jamboree on their own set of four turntables), it moves very quickly. A great new twist on a classic Whip. Luigi's Flying Tires - lots of fun. I wish they had done the same thing here as they did with MJJ - because it's such a popular ride that the line gets to 30 - 45 minutes regularly. A second table would go a long way. Also, there seemed to be 1-2 too many tires on the table, as the center was always clumped up, and whichever end of the table you were on was where you were. There was no way to hit all four corners in a cycle, not due to the length, but due to overcrowding on the table.

 

It seems that Paradise Pier is now in need of some upgrading - the only time that it was full was during WoC (and the race, but more on that in a minute). Toy Story Mania, California Screamin', and Mermaid seemed to be the only really popular rides, though Mickey's FunWheel did draw about a 15 minute wait. CS and VoLM are both capacity monsters, so the short-to-no lines don't really seem as much of an issue. But when you have semi-standard flat rides (and goofy's sky school) that were walk ons, it says something about that potion of the park. Some incremental upgrades over there seem to be in order.

 

Finally, the race itself. I loved that we could walk to the starting line - no buses like for WDW race weekends. I miss the fireworks for each corral start, which WDW does and DL does not; The only starting line pyro was during the National Anthem (The rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air). I thought going in that the rest of the race would be a downer, with the run through the parks being over by mile 4 - but I was totally wrong. First off, in the parks, though dawn was breaking, they had the fountains going and glowing, with the World of Color soundtrack being played, as we entered DCA through Paradise Pier. The Neon was still (or again) lighted in Cars Land, and there was so much energy, even without a lot of spectators in DCA. As we crossed the esplanade to DL was the first massive cheering section. more energy here. We ran through Disneyland in a mirror of the pattern we use at MK - here it was MSUSA, Frontierland, Big Thunder Trail (3 mile mark), Fantasyland and trhough the Castle, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland past It's a Small World, through Toontown, and out the north side. At this point, my expectations were blown away. Cheerleading squads were present beginning at the crossing over of I-5 and intermittently throughout the course - with the final group of them at the underpass back under I-5, where the cheers reverberated for about half a mile. There were several Bands, a polynesian dance exhibition, a latin dance exhibition (I was running by too fast to take enough notice to know exactly who or what they were, but I could recognize the region and costuming). Also, for about a mile (or more?) prior to us passing the Honda Center, there were classic car enthusiasts out with their cars parked along the side of the road - pretty much any car you've ever heard the Beach Boys sing about and more. Also, the entirety of the tenth mile (Mile marker 9 to mile marker 10) was at Anaheim Stadium, home of the Angels - and from the time we entered the parking lot, the route was lined with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, probably 8-10 deep. The entire lower deck along the first base line, as we entered the stadium was filled with more scouts. Talk about motivation. Also, as you passed the third base dugout was the camera that was hooked up to the JumboTron - putting all of the runners up on the big screen. Whether or not you like baseball at all, it's an amazing section of the course.

 

I know this has been a wall of text, but hope you enjoyed reading!

[azza29]

It seems that Paradise Pier is now in need of some upgrading - the only time that it was full was during WoC (and the race, but more on that in a minute). Toy Story Mania, California Screamin', and Mermaid seemed to be the only really popular rides, though Mickey's FunWheel did draw about a 15 minute wait. CS and VoLM are both capacity monsters, so the short-to-no lines don't really seem as much of an issue. But when you have semi-standard flat rides (and goofy's sky school) that were walk ons, it says something about that potion of the park. Some incremental upgrades over there seem to be in order.

 

Goofy's Sky School is OK but nothing unique. The midway games are fun albeit a little overpriced, and the prizes look like Disney knock-offs!

 

The Zephyrs are underrated. And yes, CS capacity and load/unload efficiency puts every other park to shame. NPH launch voiceover always makes me laugh.

 

One solid dark ride would really help this part of the park to shine - difficult to find something that fits with the 'boardwalk' theme though.

[Someotherguyuser]

One solid dark ride would really help this part of the park to shine - difficult to find something that fits with the 'boardwalk' theme though.

Maybe something along the lines of a D-Ticket "Villian's Lair" type dark ride would be a nice fit. It could have a nice "Freak show" theme.

[Wes]

It's funny, Paradise Pier got two dark rides over the past 5 years (Toy Story and Mermaid) and now we need another?

 

I think the area that needs the most "help" now is Hollywood, especially the back area by Muppets and Monsters.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

It's funny, Paradise Pier got two dark rides over the past 5 years (Toy Story and Mermaid) and now we need another?

 

I think the area that needs the most "help" now is Hollywood, especially the back area by Muppets and Monsters.

 

The former Maliboomer spot is a pretty big dead spot in the park that could certainly use a dark ride of some sort. Also, those shops along that stretch of Paradise Pier still need to be updated to match the Toy Story Mania area.

 

Paradise Pier still lacks a highly immersive "E" ticket ride, Hollywood land already has one in Tower of Terror.

[Gnome]

and I'm sure in time, Disney will develop something in that Maliboomer dead spot, but I don't think it's the priority for the resort at the moment. I think hollywoodland will likely be the next main focus as with the grizzly river area.

[azza29]

Hollywoodland is definitely the Tomorrowland of DCA. Some good attractions but they're all indoors so the area can get very quiet. Entertainment areas are empty 90% of the time which kills the atmosphere - replace one of the stages with a good flat ride and the area would get a nice "buzz" during the day that it currently lacks.

[HighRoller]

Interesting thoughts re: Hollywoodland, but it seemed to hold a crowd much better than Paradise Pier. I'd submit that, rather than a dark ride (of which it has two), it needs more B-C ticket rides that will actually draw a line. Agreed in that Zephyrs is underrated, but perhaps a few more rides in a similar vein to the fantasyland/tomorrowland outdoor rides that consistently have a 10-15 minute wait would be more useful.

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.amusementtoday.com/the-national-roller-coaster-museum-obtains-the-holy-grail-of-artifacts/

 

More than 53 years after opening the world’s first tubular steel roller coaster, Disneyland is donating two vehicles from the iconic Matterhorn Bobsled ride at Disneyland to the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives. First open in 1959, the 1/100th replica of the real Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland, was a dream of Disneyland founder Walt Disney.

 

“This is the ‘holy grail’ of artifacts for the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archive (NRCMA),” NRCMA Chairman Gary Slade said. “The Matterhorn started the modern era of roller coaster design and launched the themed ride industry.”

 

Tame by today’s standards, the Arrow Dynamics/Disney Imagineering designed Matterhorn remains a thrilling ride for young riders and a memory-maker for families. Described as a roller coaster ride to an icy encounter with the Abominable Snowman, the Matterhorn speeds two-car sleds 18 miles-per-hour along its nearly 2,100 foot track.

 

“We’re delighted to provide these pieces of Disneyland Resort history to the National Roller Coaster Museum, an organization that celebrates our industry,” said George A. Kalogridis, president of the Disneyland Resort. “The Matterhorn Bobsleds vehicles and California Screamin’ signage represent two of our most beloved attractions, from the first tubular steel-tracked roller coaster in the world to one of the longest and most thrilling.”

 

The Matterhorn Bobsleds was a marvel of engineering when it opened at Disneyland. The 14- story “mountain” was built like a skyscraper with multiple floors and cooling units.

 

In addition to the bobsled cars, Disney graciously donated signage from the California Screamin’ roller coaster from Disney’s California Adventure. California Screamin’, built by Disney Imagineering and Intamin, is the second longest steel roller coaster in North America. It features a musical soundtrack and the only outdoor inversions at any Disney park in the U.S.

 

The official presentation of the donation was made at the Golden Ticket Awards at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. on Sept. 8, 2012.

[SLUSHIE]

I'm assuming they are donating the cars that were recently removed? Still cool, but I would think the 'holy grail' would be the vehicles that it opened with. not the ones from the late 70's

[Jew]

^Is that place ever really going to open? Or just stay a warehouse for ACEr's to keep collecting stuff for themselves?

[SLUSHIE]

They randomly changed the closing time from 8pm to 9pm next Monday, IDK if I should see that as a good or a bad thing.

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/cruise-371075-jungle-state.html

 

A 5-year-old girl's fall into the Jungle Cruise waterway prompted the state to order safety changes to the Disneyland ride, according to a state report.

 

Crews recently added bumpers to the Jungle Cruise boats and minimized the gap between the dock and vehicles to make it easier for visitors to get on board. Jungle Cruise was closed for a week during construction and reopened in early August.

 

"We regularly look at ways to enhance the safety and show aspects of our attractions," said Melissa Britt, a spokeswoman for the Disneyland Resort, in a statement. "The work on the Jungle Cruise was underway prior to the state inspection, and has been completed to our mutual satisfaction."

 

The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which oversees theme park rides, received a complaint that a 5-year-old had fallen into the water between the dock and the boat while trying to get on the Jungle Cruise ride on Nov. 5. "No injuries were reported but the safety of the passengers was of concern," the report states.

 

Disney changed its procedures for loading visitors to reduce the gap after the November incident, but before the Jan. 12 investigation began.

 

Over a five-year period, two other people fell into the water and 15 others had "part or parts of their body" slip into the gap, which could be up to 9 inches, investigators reported. The water is four-feet deep in the load area.

 

The state ordered that Disney shrink the gap.

 

During 2009 and 2010, the state investigated 10 reports of injuries or medical problems of Jungle Cruise riders. The Jungle Cruise was one of 10 theme park rides in Orange County with 10 or more reports during that two-year period.

 

Also, an Orange County Superior Court lawsuit is pending from a couple saying they were thrown from a seat when a Jungle Cruise boat hit an island.

 

The Jungle Cruise takes visitors on a seven-minute boat journey along a river with views of animatronic animals while skippers making corny, pun-filled jokes. The Jungle Cruise opened on Disneyland's first day in 1955.

[kidcoaster 2]

Also, an Orange County Superior Court lawsuit is pending from a couple saying they were thrown from a seat when a Jungle Cruise boat hit an island.

 

How does a ride on a track hit an island?