Photo Update! Disneyland Resort w/ Derek, Jeff, & Wes!

[robbalvey]

Hey everyone!

 

Here are the photos we took from our visit to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure this past weekend:

 

http://www.themeparkreview.com/dlr2005/dlr1.htm

 

As for a quick Trip Report, here goes.....

 

We started off the day early. REALLY early! Left the house at like 6:45am, but we were at the park for opening.

 

The first thing we did is head over to the "new" Space Mountain. Now, I have to be honest, people have been hyping this up like it's BRAND SPANKING NEW. I really don't see what all the hype was about. Sure, it's GREAT to have Space Mountain back, because it's a really fun ride, but there wasn't really anything "new" that was added to it.

 

Sure there queue area has gotten a nice coat of silver paint and there's some new plastic stuff that has been bolted onto the old rocket, but the only real "new" thing in the queue area was air gates. Some stuff has been "updated" but nothing new.

 

As for the ride itself, again, nothing "new' was added. All the effects have been updated, but they are similar to the ones that were there before. Probably the best updated effect was the "spinning tunnel" on the 3rd lift hill. Before this effect was done with a light the projected down towards the train and spun, now it looks as though there are screens in the tunnel. Nice effect, not a "new" effect, but a nice update to an old effect. I also found it kind of funny that they replaced the old "hyperspace" effect with the one that's been in Florida for 25 years! Looks better, but it's certainly not "new."

 

I had heard several reports that the ride was now "smoother." Personally, I don't remember the ride being rough to begin with and from what I remember, it felt EXACTLY the same.

 

Now keep in mind that I probably only rode Space Mountain about a half a dozen times in the last couple of years the "old" one was open. I'm sure the Disney freaks who go all the time will notice subtle little differences here and there, but to someone who hasn't been in 4 or 5 years, I doubt many people will notice that much difference.

 

Anyway, still a fun ride, but certainly not anything "new."

 

Next up was Buzz, which is fun. It's pretty much the same as all the others, but in a tighter space. Good ride, nothing amazing, but loads of fun.

 

We kind of "made the rounds" and did Jungle Cruise, Indy, Splash, Thunder, and also Haunted Mansion Holiday. I actually think I like this version of Haunted Mansion better than the original!

 

Over to DCA we went and OMFG what is that HUGE Chicken Little out front!!! Scared the crap out of us! Has to be one of the creepiest looking things I've ever seen.

 

We got in the park, rode bad Tower, which is still fun, but having just been on the Florida one a couple of weeks ago, it was kind of "funny." Nice drop sequence though, you still get good airtime.

 

We wandered over to the newly trimmed California Screamin'. It's not as bad as it could have been, but yes, almost all the airtime is gone from the bunny hills. *sigh*

 

Anyway, that is our day at the park. I hope you enjoy the photos!

 

--Robb

 

PS. And, oh yeah, if you get offended by any of the photos, just remember the disclaimer at the bottom of the page!

[SharkTums]

On one hand I'm bummed I was too sick to go, on the other...doesn't look like I missed much!!!

[Erik Johnson]

Does the California Space Mountain have some nice airtime moments like the Florida one?

 

Erik "Sure WDWs Space Mountain is almost 31 years old, but its still a lot of fun" Johnson

[SharkTums]

^No, NONE like Floridas!

[PhishyBrewer]

Mmm... Disneyland goodness. Can't wait to get my fix in Jan.

[Louise]

Great pics as always. I had this weird feeling that there was something missing from the update though... Until I reached the last page, and realised that I'm just not used to going through three whole pages of photos without seeing countless pictures of Robb doing something insane. But then there he was in a net full of fish and wearing Elton's specs. Normality returns.

 

The pic of the "people-eaters".... Did anybody else notice the lady was wearing Disney bride ears? Did she get married, or did she eat some poor happy couple?

 

Wow, i've been coming here too long if I'm starting to encourage the fat jokes... :?

[oralawson]

you guys diss disneyland wayyyyy too much. i mean... ill admit, it has its defects and sometimes i get upset at what they do or change to the park but overwall its great. Ive yet visited disneyworld or any of the other disney parks beside the disneyland in anaheim so i really cant compare the rides here to the ones in florida,paris, or tokyo. But still, give disneyland some credit, i mean after all... it was the first disney park out of all of them. I definettly agree with you on the space mountain thing, it really hasnt changed at all except some new stuff here and there but mainly its just updated old stuff like you said. I think disneyland and DCA will really hit there prime peaks when they finally finish the finding nemo sub ride, do something with the peoplemover/rocket rods track, and get rid of THE RIDICULOUS INNOVATIONS spinning building of nonsense, and most of all fill in DCA. right now the cup is half empty, we need it to be half full.

 

-aris

[Louise]

^ Umm, actually I wouldn't say they dissed Disneyland at all here... Sure, Robb stated his opinion that Space Mountain was "updated" rather than "new", and he prefers the WDW ToT, but that's hardly the harshest review in history. From what I can tell they seemed to really enjoy their day.

[robbalvey]

you guys diss disneyland wayyyyy too much.

Um...I said we had a good time, what more do you want?

 

i mean... ill admit, it has its defects and sometimes i get upset at what they do or change to the park

You're agreeing with me. So basically you're saying it's "ok" for you to diss the park, but not me? How is that fair?

 

Ive yet visited disneyworld or any of the other disney parks beside the disneyland in anaheim so i really cant compare the rides here to the ones in florida,paris, or tokyo.

So instead of giving me shit for it, how about appreciating my opinions because I CAN base them against all the other Disney parks?

 

I definettly agree with you on the space mountain thing, it really hasnt changed at all except some new stuff here and there but mainly its just updated old stuff like you said. I think disneyland and DCA will really hit there prime peaks when they finally finish the finding nemo sub ride, do something with the peoplemover/rocket rods track, and get rid of THE RIDICULOUS INNOVATIONS spinning building of nonsense, and most of all fill in DCA.

Wow, you diss disneyland wayyyyy too much!!!

 

--Robb "Just calling it like it is!" Alvey

[DerekRx]

Awesome update, as it describes our day perfectly in photos and not words. Its a shame that Elissa was on her death bed, but at the same time, we got to be free. No one demanding that we eat at McDonalds, no one insisting we stop to gawk at Chip and Dale, no one yelling at us because we like Florida stuff better than California, and best of all, no one to yell at us "WATCH YOUR SPEED!" as we're FLYING down the freeway to make it to Disney in time to meet Wes! Though in a way, it was kinda sad she didn't make it. Jeff was especially heartbroken when it finally came time to ride the Matterhorn, he decided to sit it out.

 

A big thanks to Wes for waking up early to meet up with us, Jeff for hanging out, and Robb for taking me down there even without his poor sick wife. Sorry you were sick, Elissa, and that I didn't get to say goodbye. At least you're still alive, unlike the lady on my flight home! Hope you feel better; and I'm only kidding about us speeding on the 5, we were only keeping up with traffic! But the next time I come out to Disneyland, you ARE going with, and I'll bring the Zithromax, "Idiot's Guide to Tonsilectomy", surgical blade, and morphine as insurance!

[Blazen_AZN]

lol, robb!!^^^

 

Nice photo's! especially those extremely morbidly obiece "people" (hey, at least i didn't call them fat, fat is politically incorrect!"

 

 

I really want to go to a park in the next few weeks, but your SFMM photo updates have me scared for crowds, and ive heard disney gets uber crowded during December, but of all the so cal parks, what would you suggest from DCA, DL, SFMM, or Knotts around now?

[DATman]

Glad to see that you guys had fun-I always enjoy a good trip to DL

[Mr.Six]

Nice TR! Looks like you guys had fun! Yeah, it is great to have space back! I actually didn't like the spinning tunnel effect on the 3rd lift. But I guess I don't like them in mazes either. The soundtrack is the biggest change in my opinion; not bad. But I prefer the old Rock and Roll one over the new "James Bondish/Disco" one!

 

Its a shame that they trimmed down Screamin! I remember the airtime on those hills was insane! Oh well, at least its still a great ride.

_six

[Wes]

I need to start practicing looking not retarded for these updates.

 

EDIT: Which is going to be very hard to do.

[Mr.Six]

I need to start practicing looking not retarded for these updates.

 

EDIT: Which is going to be very hard to do.

LOL. Don't bother; I try NEVER works!

_six

[Wes]

^ It's definately Robb's camera, not my (our) bad genetics.

[What Now]

Sue Robb's camera!

 

Oh, and I totally agree regarding both Space Mountain and California Screamin'.

[hifalling]

Oh My Laundry! I'm in the trip report! Thanks alot Robb! It was nice to finally meet you! My co-workers will be jealous! Thanks for the kind words about Screamin', its true, it could be alot worse! But I hear they are trying to work out the few bugs it has. We are constantly testing! Hope to hang in the parks sometime soon, but until then...I am a slave of the Mouse! Not so bad really!

 

Chuck "The quick dispatch kid" Garcia :O)

[Eunuch Provocateur]

Do you think the four turnstyles only, the closed shaft on Tower, etc, was because of their lack of staffing in the parks right now? Or is that not as bad as it seems...?

[Angry_Gumball]

It's too bad you didn't catch a POV of the *New* (refurbished) Space Mountain. As mentioned as seen in pics and stuff, just the theming is updated, effects updated and fresh track is installed. I saw on another POV that the "Explosion" tunnel at the end is just a black tunnel with some silver holographic strips instead of the trippy redish orange light-up tunnel (which I preferred).

[Scaparri]

Great TR. I must say, the photos were really good. Robb, I have to ask, how do you pull off so many pictures of such obese people without them knowing? Or are you just balls up and take it real quick and then walk away? Once again, great TR.

[robbalvey]

I saw on another POV that the "Explosion" tunnel at the end is just a black tunnel with some silver holographic strips instead of the trippy redish orange light-up tunnel (which I preferred).

Yeah, I have to be honest, I didn't even NOTICE the ending until Jeff pointed it out. And then I was like "Oh yeah, I DO remember the red tunnel!" I too actually liked that better.

 

--Robb

[Guy T. Koepp]

I found nothing offensive about this posting whatsoever.

 

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: JESUS F***ING H. CHRIST ON A POPSICLE STICK!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Guy "I'm choking on the lard." Koepp

This woman is huge! She's so fat that she probably has her own orbit. My God woman get a "rascal" to ride around in. Oh, I'm sorry... do you need help pulling it out of the rolls of flab around your ass cheeks?

[Guy T. Koepp]

I found nothing offensive about this posting whatsoever.

 

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: JESUS F***ING H. CHRIST ON A POPSICLE STICK!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Guy "I'm choking on the lard." Koepp

 

I hang my head in shame at that last posting.

 

Guy "Can you all ever forgive me?" Koepp

[DATman]

^once I stop laughing, sure

 

though, that was a little over the edge