TR: DLR 8/16

[ebl]

NOTE: I posted this at Westcoaster, too, so some of you may have already seen it. If so, move on...

 

I was originally going to do a photo report, but for whatever reason, even though I brought my camera, I didn't take many pictures. So, you'll have to settle for just a plain report with...words.

 

Diana's church youth group went to Disneyland and the youth pastor asked if I'd go along as a driver and chaperone. OK, I could use a day off of work anyway.

 

We got to the DLR at 9:30 and already had tickets in hand, thanks to the MWR office at the base. After getting lockers, we ran over to Space Mountain. We figured we'd get FastPasses to come back, but the FastPass sytem went down throughout the entire resort and they had no idea when/if it was coming back up. Standby was posted at 60 minutes, so we thought we'd do it now and eat lunch when we got off.

 

While we were in line, a CM passed by and announced that because FastPass was down, the wait would be two hours. Our actual wait was 70 minutes. Everyone enjoyed the new Space Mountain. For me, the ride itself was pretty much the same, but the effects make it that much better. It's darker (should have always been this dark), so you couldn't see the track. (I was fortunate to have been seated in the very front, and if you can't see track there, you can't see it anywhere.)

 

Next, the group scattered a bit. I got in line for Buzz Lightyear and waited about 25 minutes. Having been on the Florida version, I liked this one better. We stopped a couple of times in the middle of the ride, but I figured it was probably to let a handicapped person on. Final score: 12,800. Lame. That's what I get for remembering that the cars can be turned left or right---in the last 30 seconds of the ride!

 

After lunch, everyone went every which way. I rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (15-minute wait), then I figured it was time to head over to DCA (we all had a 1-Day Park Hoppers). No one else wanted to go at the time, so I went and did Soarin' Over California (25-minute wait); Mulholland Madness (single rider line, five-minute wait); Maliboomer (single rider line, five-minute wait); and my first ride on Grizzly River Run (30-minute wait). I really enjoyed GRR. Going down the drops while spinning is...different. I didn't get too wet, fortunately, and I had a good time.

 

California Screamin' is still closed, even though I've heard reports about trains cycling.

 

Back at Disneyland, I decided to ride the Disneyland Railroad for the first time in ages. I was fortunate to have my train pulled by the new Ward Kimball locomotive. Being such a train nut, I don't know why I don't ride this more often.

 

The group was supposed to meet at 6 in front of the train station. It was a bit early, so I went over to look at the displays in Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years. I should have seen the presentation, but time was short. I'll have to go back.

 

We met in front of Disneyland just inside the gate, then everyone wanted to go over to DCA. (I did a lot of park hopping today!)

 

Everyone headed toward Tower of Terror. Posted wait was 13 minutes, but we only waited about ten. It was Diana's first ride and she really enjoyed it.

 

Dinner was at the Taste Pilots Grill in Condor Flats (DCA). I've never eaten there before. The food's good, but the touch-pad ordering system slowed everything down---or maybe I picked the wrong day to come. It seemed like no one could get the darned thing to work the way they wanted it to. It wouldn't take my cash, so I had to swipe my ATM card.

 

I'd done everything in DCA that I wanted to do, so I went back to Disneyland to ride the Matterhorn and attempt to ride Space Mountain. I had to get out of the Space Mountain line because the group was meeting to watch the fireworks, and it was getting dangerously close to time. Plus, Diana was cold and I had the locker combo.

 

The Remember...Dreams Come True fireworks show was great. We watched from the Central Plaza just inside the park. When the show was over, we made a bee-line to the tram and parking structure, then headed home.

 

A very nice midweek day. Waits weren't bad, even with FastPass ending up being down for the entire day. Everyone in the car was zonked not long after we got on the freeway. Except me---I did that at home...

 

Eric

[robbalvey]

Nice TR. Good to hear the lines weren't too bad.

 

Next time...PHOTOS!!!!

 

--Robb

[socalMAN123]

Nice TR. Sounds like the lines weren't that bad, you got on a lot of things. I have no clue when they will re-open Screamin, hopefully in the next month or so.

---Brent 8)