Jump to content
  TPR Home | Parks | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram 

Photo TR: Back to West Coast Bash--and More!


Recommended Posts

Glad to see the Ghostrider revamp as this park sorely needs a big thrill attraction to compliment Xcelerator.

 

Not that MR and Sierra Sidewinder aren't cool coasters in their own right, the park needed another good thrill coaster and I am positive that the revamped Ghostrider will deliver. Given the park doesn't appear to have tons of space, this is the perfect choice for them in terms of a "new coaster".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 65
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

Great stuff Chuck! I really enjoyed my visit to Knott's back in 2013. Great to see another ride refurb with Calico and the addition of an interactive dark ride to round out the park's collection, which I think is sometimes a little underrated. The new GhostRider will hopefully put the park firmly back on the map.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, I must of been sleep standing after that late night drive back from SFMM.

 

Had a lot of fun this day and it was great being a short walk away from a bed when it was over!

 

And, once again, you have my thanks for doing all that driving. But I agree that a short walk to Knott's beats a one-hour drive (depending on traffic) to Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, I must of been sleep standing after that late night drive back from SFMM.

 

Had a lot of fun this day and it was great being a short walk away from a bed when it was over!

 

And, once again, you have my thanks for doing all that driving. But I agree that a short walk to Knott's beats a one-hour drive (depending on traffic) to Six Flags Magic Mountain.

 

I cheated and went back to bed after packet/T-shirt pick-up in the morning.

So, yes, Chuck, I do feel bad again in your thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Disney Day(s): Bustling Around the Always Bustling Disneyland Resort

 

I can't remember that last time I rode the original Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. It seems that my last few visits there have been either in the fall during West Coast Bash or in December before Christmas. But that has given me the chance to experience the Nightmare Before Christmas version a number of times, which is OK by me. The overlay with Jack Skellington, Oogie Boogie, and the rest of the Halloweentown crew is excellent; in fact, it's so good, my older brother, Ward, who joined us on Friday, September 11 just to do Disney, wished that they'd keep it that way all year. While I wouldn't go that far, it is a great holiday tradition.

 

So great that it, along with annual passes, ensures that Disneyland will be mobbed even during a non-Labor Day Monday in September (not to mention the Friday before).

 

Yes, Eric Wilson and I spent two days at Disneyland and California Adventure--Friday with Robb, Elissa, KT, and others who came and went and the following Monday with Erik Johnson, Brad Roach, and Paul Fowler. Despite the rather large crowds on Friday and Monday at both parks, we had a great time. Eric hadn't been there since the Indiana Jones ride opened in the late 1990s, so a lot was new to him. I'd been there two years ago, but I was looking forward to a few new things:

 

Ghost Galaxy on Space Mountain: Here's another great ride overlay. Your rocket is pursued by some sort of angry, evil version of "Space Ghost." The spooky projections inside the mountain were well done, and the on-ride music was great. Plus, the coaster was running much faster than I ever remember it running before. It was so fast, that a train ahead of us was diverted into a maintenance bay for being too heavy! Even Elissa was shocked at how fast Space Mountain was that day. (I have experienced Ghost Galaxy once before--in Hong Kong. Both versions seemed about the same to me.)

 

The new "Harold" in the Matterhorn: You all remember the original Harold, the Abominable Snowman, right? The way he would stand there stiff as a board and growl and move his right arm a bit? Well, the new one, although he looks a bit cartoony, is a big improvement--much more movement. I also liked how they used "wrecked" versions of the old bobsleds in his cave. That being said, the new trains are pretty dang painful; a little padding on those seat backs might help.

 

Paint the NIght parade: Disney's new nighttime spectacle is pretty good--a decent new version of the old Main Street Electrical Parade. Some of the floats looked great, but the music was pretty weak (just generic pop versions of classic Disney tunes, with a wee bit of the old parade score thrown in). Nice, but nothing I'd bother with again.

 

We also hit the "only in California" rides, too, such as Mr. Toad, Alice in Wonderland, and, of course, Radiator Springs Racers, and even Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. Eric and I were the only two with park hoppers on the second Disney day, and we made pretty good use of them.

 

Let's take a look back.

001.jpg.419c2ed2cab6e7aceb7569df7df36aa7.jpg

Welcome to Disneyland, Walt Disney's original Magic Kingdom! But please bear in mind . . .

001a.thumb.jpg.c1db96756622ec0ec7c0427080f4307f.jpg

. . . that the Happiest Place on Earth can kill you!

002.jpg.e191854aef89e98e49fe937327ab99da.jpg

It was so hot in drought-stricken California that the snow was melting on the Matterhorn--and it's just concrete and paint!

003.thumb.jpg.84006741a7f61dd16f01a4f65e252ecd.jpg

Ward and I are on the end screwing up the illusion. Sorry about that. (This shot is from Friday.)

004.jpg.4692150ed7dfa093c7dc04cb68a68a11.jpg

On Monday, Eric W. ran over to get Fast Passes for Space Mountain, which was broken down first thing in the morning, . . .

005.thumb.jpg.8730d884a044815b0ed5a70ef7630469.jpg

. . . while the rest of us joined the other insane people in line for, of all things, Peter Pan.

006.thumb.jpg.b5382d943cd2afc82b594fb177cd3de2.jpg

At least the ride has been properly certified.

007.jpg.11afc6ed0cdb960a16dfb761dc0d743c.jpg

"I say--is Peter Pan copping a feel on my sister?"

007a.jpg.258e606d73ce1ca08088adb388b589cd.jpg

"To fly, you need to blow on some pixie dust . . . sir, on the end, you need to blow. Please, sir. BLOW THAT PIXIE DUST, DAMN YOU! YOU'RE DESTROYING THE MAGIC!"

008.jpg.a3e183627c7baab9a49fe31bb85519c9.jpg

"Blast you, Peter Pan! If anyone is going to feel up somebody, it's going to be me, Captain Hook!"

008a.jpg.0603400a95ef537544a104eadb21700c.jpg

Pan had a much longer line, but my favorite of the old-school Fantasyland rides is still Mr. Toad.

009.thumb.jpg.28e3ceb341c8480e09cfd9e3ec3ce08a.jpg

My hat's off to you, my amphibian friend.

010.jpg.ea5f89855cc14fe20ea75cf546178fd8.jpg

Yes, we're riding Alice in Wonderland. Please don't judge.

011.jpg.b125e769a362f7ac4aba9ebbaf645f53.jpg

Wait! Has this ride been certified? Didn't any of you think to check?

012.jpg.8c8f794403fd655986faf0cfa8ab9781.jpg

Uh oh! This is what happens when you ride an uncertified attraction!

013.jpg.641bf627238ea2251affab0ecfa37336.jpg

Please stop the ride! I'm not comfortable riding this part without being certain about certification! (In truth, there were walls on this portion of Alice two years ago. The ride is much better without them.)

014.jpg.755691caed4ef7bbdc721a3dfdc763bd.jpg

Yeah, things are picking up now. Fantasyland is packed with people.

015.thumb.jpg.e6c6736264643e1cf8ef5c399039a293.jpg

"Just put the body in the trash can! No one will be the wiser!"

016.jpg.79f4efd746587a1d925898b609d68b1d.jpg

This is the first time I've seen any Marvel characters in the park.

017.jpg.8c2fb54caf10779e1541ed8c26eb9937.jpg

I sense a mysterious tremor in my Tomorrowland Terrace French toast, as though a million voices cried out for syrup, and were suddenly silenced!

018.jpg.759ae31253fe2a84a2e25c3934cc4031.jpg

"Come to the Dark Side! We have syrup, extra bacon, and mimosas!"

020.thumb.jpg.8ed11d6e525b7f9c2dbb1aabc0075977.jpg

Yay! Space Mountain is up and running now!

021.jpg.99204f3d58e13077052555549d14df93.jpg

I like how the monitor in front of the station periodically "loses signal," as though it were being jammed by the Ghost Galaxy.

021a.thumb.jpg.3cb878793106888d9ead2d4add088cff.jpg

Look out! Stitch has escaped from Space Prison!

022.jpg.f8e475fa111154a0226cfdb282b848ee.jpg

Hey--how did we get to Florida so quickly?

023.thumb.jpg.290c403aa116c02a73bf3ec7d3e38866.jpg

I really like what they've done to Disney California Adventure. This looks much better than the big "hubcap" that used to be in the entrance plaza.

024.jpg.d29f53a11b39ceca3c98bd7bdcbd35f9.jpg

I'm not a big fan of the movies, but Cars Land itself is great.

026.jpg.ef17593c68b251d08b7143ff76cda18c.jpg

The Luigi's Flying Tires/Flying Saucers Memorial Wall. Never rode this, but such is life.

027.jpg.69fba74fffe6efefd6399ae007dd2022.jpg

Besides, this is what we're really here for.

028.jpg.93a4c2c9cc183faca73461753feedd31.jpg

The theming of Cars Land, and this ride in particular, is some of Disney's best work.

029.thumb.jpg.b25fd5b3e7cadbe081eed0980894c031.jpg

We picked up Fast Passes for later than day, then got in the single-rider line.

030.jpg.a5cb872737373decca0ab4ecb97e3c3b.jpg

Every park has a photo that guests are required by law to take.

031.jpg.ef693cde84a15787caa9ec85c4b90d63.jpg

Wow! You can see all the way to Hollywood from the desert today!

032.jpg.173decf4e1d9a97e362835bebdcbf60b.jpg

"Hi there! We're two characters that you probably don't remember from the movies. In fact, we're not sure we were in the movies at all, but here we are!"

033.jpg.19eb99f0262668d1ebbc9846ce5790f5.jpg

It's not surprising that it took a few years to build this ride.

034.jpg.b1162d0790697fcd2c7df5e8aca86a9b.jpg

The amount of detail is remarkable.

035.jpg.31baaefd3db75d193c496bdecba020c0.jpg

I wish it went as fast as Test Track at Epcot, but it's still great fun.

036.jpg.604710a497e64572012702db468d00c3.jpg

And we win! Note that if you enter the paint shop, instead of the tire shop, during the dark-ride section, you always win. This means that paint is more important than tires when it comes to racing.

037.jpg.78d558a2acec5d950cf8a3d81379b364.jpg

The last room is cool, too.

038.jpg.f6409bdb388e0c849ac1eb6fe94cb576.jpg

Radiator Springs Racers is one of the best rides in the resort. More to come.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's a lot more Disney to go yet, so you better get to blowin' that pixie dust.

039.jpg.2d37dc4d2b3980c0ee0122ca6bb64760.jpg

Not as impressive a building as they have in Florida or Orlando, but the ride is still great . . .

040.jpg.15ab6e2ba9192bdb2934a82f3475d2a5.jpg

. . . and certified.

041.jpg.f6aadc2f0b15f41ded5de6baff53d94c.jpg

Sheesh! They dust less often than I do here!

042.jpg.46702e84fb3e02fba9f3201de7bed949.jpg

"Hello. I'm dead Rod Serling. When this ride is over, I'm going to haunt the crap out of you!"

043.jpg.28d07276074e6772c08c9174baa19aab.jpg

This boiler would fit in well with Toontown.

044.thumb.jpg.f470849d36f5b165ea05d16b2e52bbd9.jpg

The Mad T Party . . . sorry, I just don't see the appeal.

045.thumb.jpg.878cdd9611c1d5d9958d5c3262a783ca.jpg

"Bah! Hulk guzzle puny water tower dry, then smash it!"

046.jpg.c53a15b3a8d33d6e1c97174709a29a30.jpg

Looks like Grizzly Peak is taking a rather painful dump. Maybe that's why the ride wasn't working while we were there.

047.jpg.127ee472d2e97876d7a5d98de0e87853.jpg

Oh well--time to get Eric another credit.

048.thumb.jpg.efed9e11e0b9bc88319f20ef8ad363c2.jpg

Looks like Goofy is a deadbeat doesn't pay his bills. Is anyone surprised by this? Looks like Mickey will have to bail him out yet again.

049.jpg.3666981c6136aeed71c83e71c252f96e.jpg

Yes, Goofy's Sky School is on Fast Pass. Go figure.

050.thumb.jpg.61277f8e9c586d2e7e1bab09610dff6b.jpg

Ka-freakin'-ching!

051.jpg.57889cdaa538219007439dd25f6d44e5.jpg

The photo op is broken?

052.jpg.527e9a36dc2d076670b47f286b4da3b9.jpg

At least the Fun Wheel is working (and the line wasn't that long).

053.jpg.25b8e11c17e6fd1cbc586437c94af7f3.jpg

Great! We're getting Goofy again.

054.jpg.0529e75d2e3d7ad2afbbec57b4b3e4d3.jpg

This one sure swings a lot more that Deno's Wonder Wheel in Brooklyn.

056.jpg.772aa0c55b79670659fc3a0be8fc4cfd.jpg

We cooled off a bit in the Animation building.

057.jpg.a6078b821053f4ce18ffb7121cd16142.jpg

And if Eric were a Disney character he'd be . . .

058.jpg.8fddb315c8b102a8259aa3a6fba1f8d9.jpg

. . . Marlin from "Finding Nemo."

059.jpg.c578f7fad5ce667add4eee04492bfffb.jpg

I found out that if I were a villain, I'd be Gaston from "Beauty and the Beast." Never knew I was such as arrogant jerk.

059a.jpg.581ed8df9b88420231b6c6580d98442f.jpg

The gift shop is still very good.

060.jpg.95295aaf5bf0010501b7e44944751921.jpg

Robb, would you like to be alone now?

061.jpg.a2876cb792a7ddd891ff58e6fed7d9d2.jpg

Time to hop back over . . .

062.jpg.a2cced9770822e46c9220cbbe2d0e7d3.jpg

. . . and get some Mansion Fast Passes.

063.jpg.91a360ae3563a4f0adab88e5154f3e14.jpg

I really like what they've done to Big Thunder.

064.jpg.8328e79ace451c8a39c62f6367e4bf3e.jpg

The "earthquake" on the third lift hill have been replaced with some great "dynamite" effects. The older version never worked quite right.

065.jpg.4046a211ea8b68a4f03f48b020aeae54.jpg

Remember the old Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland? It used to rumble through this tunnel

066.jpg.d0734665f643301a2c6d2db7f0bebed1.jpg

Toontown is conveniently located next to . . .

067.jpg.173175b3271fbcbf389b2cf04618cff1.jpg

. . . STROLLER HELL!

068.jpg.518fbdb0fd105bb606b8bf7eb43ec44d.jpg

Long line + one train + blazing sun = skipped credit for Eric W. One more set of photos to come.

Edited by cfc
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Time to wrap this up, as the pixie dust is making me sneeze.

069.thumb.jpg.d2c436be9ec8b65d17885ced930e3823.jpg

Once again, don't judge.

070.thumb.jpg.a9cb9a2c47f1aff5a251344c5188db0d.jpg

No comment necessary. ;)

071.thumb.jpg.e732a06646796365f48f3c671bbd726b.jpg

"Little does Prince Philip know, but Disney is going to make me a good guy someday!"

072.jpg.2378526e1324b68793f70c060ef19afc.jpg

There is one very cool thing about the Enchanted Tiki Room. You can take Dole Whip inside.

073.jpg.1a241ef96efb503ada1f86921846de4c.jpg

Dole Whip is all "well la-dee-da, they sell souvenirs of me now!"

074.jpg.822b322b78d1ab36bcf19a49ccba47eb.jpg

Well, Whip, they sell souvenir trash cans, too.

075.jpg.09e2f79601e06d9d30e830fd4bb5e461.jpg

Oh, the humanity. Adventureland was not meant for stroller parking. It barely has room for people!

076.jpg.dcf25c8c24ab0cff187401d5528bd767.jpg

I wonder what part of Tarzan Jane is checking out?

077.jpg.a6eb66511d3ea522d4fef9e4f40d12c6.jpg

Yay! Time to use our Fast . . . oh, it's broken. We'll come back later.

078.jpg.7362a4a934e60526eccedb126ca577cc.jpg

Eric and I squeezed in some more DCA time. This park, even when it's busy, seems more laid back than Disneyland.

079.jpg.da3dd58e0e35faab019d31cb669a8695.jpg

Aw, me too!

080.jpg.2bf250eb76010d86746bf640f52c1972.jpg

This ride was a very pleasant surprise.

081.jpg.5ee87498c27786bc772a0484782b9bdc.jpg

I'm pretty sure Mater had these signs made. Call it, a hunch.

082.jpg.42dcffc340bcd49ee466693affbb4d32.jpg

I'm not a flat-ride fan, but this one is fun. I had no idea that the tractors could switch from one revolving platform to another.

083.thumb.jpg.72961526392293a1848b02c8e7165469.jpg

The sun is setting on Radiator Springs.

084.thumb.jpg.8c8e71e56ffcf917b341bf62dcfb6de9.jpg

OK, that's just wrong.

085.jpg.495c6b5ee2aa2a37f1a1ccde9cf50989.jpg

This is the second dance party we've missed today. Darn.

086.jpg.67f37c17b1fa3b9c8bf8775f7c6ac8e0.jpg

They should build a Cozy Cone Motel at WDW. I'd stay there.

087.jpg.0ef4693ee411e55d8d0d58dcaa8a669f.jpg

Cars Land looks great after dark.

088.jpg.81af97475a3a6465d9c3d73979ce93ab.jpg

Good night, DCA!

088a.jpg.d7ef27e83b8cd953b66ad5c35dd64b2b.jpg

We tried to grab a bite in Downtown Disney, but every joint was mobbed. On a Monday night. In September.

089.jpg.bd0bbc7cbdcfe370b4dbce565344acca.jpg

Space Mountain looks especially ghostly at night during the fall--and makes a lot of scary noises.

090.jpg.8e849e1cf1d2c7af0c92d1c5b66deac2.jpg

The "Monsters Inc." float for "Paint the Night" was pretty impressive . . .

091.jpg.d89bbbeb2e0925f48c281c56d7c66bba.jpg

. . . as was the "Toy Story" float.

092.jpg.757d2637b833ed93f1203094fcd8d269.jpg

Er, would you two "sisters" like to be alone?

093.jpg.2a32075681e8fd2b73418e9f27195fba.jpg

Yay! Mansion is open again! And all the people with old Fast Passes are queuing up!

094.jpg.ee4171792fa98fa678872dc5cdea85e7.jpg

"Merry" or "Scary" Christmas? You make the call.

095.jpg.c7708aca4dd269a781a4fce1cd0d15bd.jpg

I thought the projections in the stretching room ceiling were very well done.

096.jpg.d05bb60ed567b1b0fe10506d689c986f.jpg

Well, let's give Oogie Boogie the last word. It was a great day at the DL Resort. SeaWorld San Diego awaits . . . for another day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chuck, not including your airfare, is there a "rough estimate" of how much you spent,

to put this trip altogether? The WCB passes, the hotel, extra tix for Disney.

 

I have no idea what I want to do travel-wise next year. But the idea of doing at least one

WCB has been in my head for a few years, now. And I think that this trip will let me (ahem)

"coast" past Coaster #700, which is great! So next year's may be The One to go to.

 

I'm just curious as to an idea of what's in $tore for my$elf should I decide to go. Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I totally agree with you on Cars. At home we are real Disney/Pixar geeks, however Cars just doens't work for us, Cars Land does! Only visited once and it blew me away. DL was beautyfull and had a real nice charm, however DCA really was our highlight. In a way it just works. Never been there before the make-over, so can't compare.

 

Thanks for your report!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chuck, not including your airfare, is there a "rough estimate" of how much you spent,

to put this trip altogether? The WCB passes, the hotel, extra tix for Disney.

 

I have no idea what I want to do travel-wise next year. But the idea of doing at least one

WCB has been in my head for a few years, now. And I think that this trip will let me (ahem)

"coast" past Coaster #700, which is great! So next year's may be The One to go to.

 

I'm just curious as to an idea of what's in $tore for my$elf should I decide to go. Thanks.

 

The WCB tickets were around $109 for both SFMM and Knott's (I have a Cedar Fair pass, so I got a discount for Knott's). The Knott's Berry Farm Hotel was $83/night, thanks to Groupon, as opposed to around $100/night without the discount; we stayed six nights. A two-day park hopper for the DL Resort is currently $225. We rented a car, too, and went to SeaWorld San Diego one day.

 

I hope this is helpful.

Edited by cfc
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/116-terms-of-service-please-read/