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*
After that we had lunch which pretty much wrapped up our visit!
I hope you enjoy the photos!
--Robb
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*
After that we had lunch which pretty much wrapped up our visit!
I hope you enjoy the photos!
--Robb
