Goin' back to Cali - an estrogen free journey to the Golden State

There is a special relationship between a father and son. A young boy will look up to his father as a model to be. A father is almost like a superhero - always stronger and mightier than any other man. That's when it's easy to be a Dad. It's when you can do no wrong in the eyes of your your son. You can lift him up with one arm, throw him effortlessly into the air then catch him and tickle him on the way down to the ground. You show him how to do anything, answer all the questions, and be his coach and mentor.

Then the boy grows up. The son gets bigger and stronger and smarter. The Dad is no longer perfect and no longer wears the cape. He starts to leave the shadow of the father to become his own person. It's a difficult time for the relationship. The father yearns for the blind respect and awe that was given just "moments" before while the son craves his own.

And that's where I am. I have a 15 year old son (Sterg) that is growing too fast for my liking. He has found his antlers and is testing them on the "old man". The last year has been testy as the boy in the shadow is trying to overshadow his Dad. It's his quick jabs at the "love handles" or the chest that isn't as tight as it used to be that usually ends in a wrestling match with me placing him in the "Cobra Clutch" and he pleading Uncle - only I'm breathing heavier after each match.

When the opportunity came up for us to take an 8 day trip together I knew it would be more that just a trip. We were off to California to do many things; to see new things, to meet old friends and clients, to visit "Walt's park" for the first time, to compete in a Junior Olympics Water Polo Tournament, and not the least of which - to see where our father-son relationship really was.

For more background on the trip take a look at my pre-trip report http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/fractal-son-head-west-a-disneyland-ptr.841067/page-4#post-5060735

Our trip started at the Philly Airport waiting for our Virgin Airlines flight to LAX. This is when I found out that is was not "cool" for me to take pictures of Sterg. The one's I got I had to sneak or were under threat after I reminded him of how fortunate he was to be going on this trip. The young Sterg would eagerly pose for any picture - the smart-alec Sterg of only a year ago would offer up goofy faces, but would at least pose. This version wanted nothing to do with a camera - or was it the person behind the camera?

 

[clee687]

Yay! Your trip report has started! I loved your last one and have been looking foward to this one! I visited Disneyland in 1995 for their 40th anniversary and I kept fussing about the rides being in the wrong place. I can totally imagine how disoriented you HAD to be with it being dark! And tired too?? Y'all are troopers! Your post about coming into the park and the fireworks starting gave me chills! LOVE THE DISNEY MAGIC! I can't wait for more and hope the Dad/Son trip was all you hoped for and more!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Fun fact about Disneyland's POTC: The bones on top of the headboard of the bed one of the skeletons is sitting on (fifth photo) are real. They came from UCLA Medical Center.

 

[TP2000]

If you believe the best dark ride in the world is PotC at the Magic Kingdom, it is only because you haven't been to Disneyland. There are two drops and the ride itself is about 20% longer.

WARNING: Major Disney Geek Facts Ahead!

Actually, the Disneyland version of Pirates is not just 20% longer, its roughly twice as long as the smaller WDW version. The Disneyland version of Pirates is approximately a 15 minute long journey from the time your boat leaves the station until it returns, without any backups at the lift hill extending the trip time. The WDW version of Pirates is a 7.5 minute long journey from load dock to unload dock, up to 8 minutes long if you back up a bit in the last scene before the unload dock. There are roughly 7 minutes of ride missing from the WDW version of Pirates, and Disneyland's version as the final attraction Walt Disney worked on personally before his death in December, 1966 makes it a true Walt Masterpiece never duplicated in the world.

The cave, the waterfalls, the storm scene with the skeleton pirate are just amazing. It boggles the mind to think this was built nearly 60 years ago. Sterg and I didn't appreciate it as much as we should have this time only because we were fighting off sleep deprivation.

60 years?!? My God man, as if I wasn't already feeling my age, I know you'd been up for 24 hours but did you have to mess up your math that bad?! Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean officially opened in March, 1967, about three months after Walt Disney passed away. (There are reports it was in soft openings for park visitors by February '67, after Walt rode through in early October '66 and demanded so many changes and tweaks be made that it missed its Christmas 1966 planned debut. New Orleans Square, except for the Pirate ride, was opened by Walt in July, 1966 as Disneyland's first new land since 1955). That means Pirates is barely 45 years old, not 60 years old. And I'm not as old as I look.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[TP2000]

We made it past the Haunted Mansion ( which is at the end of New Orleans square ) and to Splash Mountain...

...Not nearly as long as MK's and no were near the number of AA's and detail. It was also a much quicker ride - you were really moving through that mountain at a good clip, which made it difficult to take any good pics; but I still tried.

True Story: I rode Disneyland's Splash Mountain for the first time around 1990, and then rode several more times in the early 90's. And until I rode the WDW version in the spring of 1995 I honestly had no idea that there was actually supposed to be a plot for that ride! Who knew?!?

It's my firm belief that Splash Mountain is the one E Ticket ride shared by Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Park that is better in WDW's Magic Kingdom. The Disneyland version has all the thrill, but the Disneyland ride is so frantic and random and bizarre, that I had no idea what was going on until I went on the WDW version a few times in the mid 1990's. That the Disney movie Song Of The South is now forbidden to be screened or purchased in this country doesn't help.

And you may be surprised to learn this, but there are actually a lot more audio-animatronics in the Disneyland version. The Disneyland version from 1989 used nearly every animatronic from the closed America Sings attraction, but nearly all of them are secondary characters just sort of flailing about in the background, while the main characters of Brer Frog, Bear and Fox flash by without much context. But the WDW version was custom built with fewer animatronics, but a more purposeful focus on the key characters and plot development. The result is a more coherent story in WDW, with a bigger cast of animatronics at Disneyland doing a poor job of storytelling. It's interesting that you perceived there to be fewer animatronics in the Disneyland version, which tells me the storytelling in the Disneyland ride is even weaker than I thought.

On the plus side, the quick double drop in the mountain seemed quicker and is a hoot. The big drop seemed about the same but the ending scene is not as grand. Although every fricken anamitronic worked perfectly. It's not nearly as satisfying as the Florida version, but a fun ride none the less.

The generally superior upkeep of Disneyland Resort attractions is most noticeable at the big E Ticket Animatronic Spectacular attractions like Pirates, Splash, etc., or the technically involved attractions like Soarin'.

When I take trips to WDW, and then make a quick run to Disneyland within days after, I can also notice the superior Disneyland upkeep at smaller attractions like Peter Pan, It's Tough To Be A Bug, Tiki Room, etc. But even a casual visitor like yourself who hasn't been to WDW in at least a few months has already picked up on the superior upkeep at Disneyland. That says a lot, about both coasts.

 

[flynnibus]

There are roughly 7 minutes of ride missing from the WDW version of Pirates

.. of which about 5 minutes is riding through empty caverns..

 

[LindsayLoves]

Keep it coming, the review is great so far!

I was never really interested in Disneyland until about 5 years ago, I always figured the larger WDW was just flat out better, and the mini castle in Cali always bothered me. But with the awesome comparative reviews like yours and my desire to get the Coast to Coast rundisney medal I might have to make a trip out there a priority.

 

[DisneyFan1003]

Great report - enjoying your take on DL as a "first timer"! Sterg cracks me up - totally reminds me of my brothers and I growing up. I still chuckle thinking of some of your conversations and his antics from your last report!

 

[fractal]

I think that may have been the HoJo I was looking at before scrapping our Cali trip. We were just looking for something for a couple of nights at the end of a trip, but I think estrogen will rule when we get to go back.

That's nice to hear that Space Mtn there is really good. I was banking on that for the girls if we can make it out there. But it's the PotC part that really gets me. My favorite ride - so it makes DL such a huge thing we want to do.

Oh and the drive through Hollywood- hysterical Can't wait to read more.

I would also check into the Best Western and the Chatteu Hotel - both of which are closer to the entrance. Space Mountain was fun and I enjoyed the ride itself - the themeing of Tomorrowland however was a dud. Pirates is awesome!

Frickin' teenagers!

 

[Billy6]

Pirates was my "better than MK" ride when I went....by no means is the MK one a sloutch, just enjoyed the length and some of the other scenes I liked a lot. Didn't go on HM as it was closed and Splash was too... Now, Space Mountain I liked but I'm a huge fan of the MK ride...call me crazy or old fashioned but I just prefer that one... DL's elements are kind of redundant, helixes and slight dips, that I didn't much like...

 

[fractal]

Yay! Your trip report has started! I loved your last one and have been looking foward to this one! I visited Disneyland in 1995 for their 40th anniversary and I kept fussing about the rides being in the wrong place. I can totally imagine how disoriented you HAD to be with it being dark! And tired too?? Y'all are troopers! Your post about coming into the park and the fireworks starting gave me chills! LOVE THE DISNEY MAGIC! I can't wait for more and hope the Dad/Son trip was all you hoped for and more!

Thanks! Yeah, it was kinda like getting up in the middle of the night for a glass of water, "Hey, who moved the sofa?".

I'm glad I decided to video that walk up MainStreet!

WARNING: Major Disney Geek Facts Ahead!

Actually, the Disneyland version of Pirates is not just 20% longer, its roughly twice as long as the smaller WDW version. The Disneyland version of Pirates is approximately a 15 minute long journey from the time your boat leaves the station until it returns, without any backups at the lift hill extending the trip time. The WDW version of Pirates is a 7.5 minute long journey from load dock to unload dock, up to 8 minutes long if you back up a bit in the last scene before the unload dock. There are roughly 7 minutes of ride missing from the WDW version of Pirates, and Disneyland's version as the final attraction Walt Disney worked on personally before his death in December, 1966 makes it a true Walt Masterpiece never duplicated in the world.



60 years?!? My God man, as if I wasn't already feeling my age, I know you'd been up for 24 hours but did you have to mess up your math that bad?! Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean officially opened in March, 1967, about three months after Walt Disney passed away. (There are reports it was in soft openings for park visitors by February '67, after Walt rode through in early October '66 and demanded so many changes and tweaks be made that it missed its Christmas 1966 planned debut. New Orleans Square, except for the Pirate ride, was opened by Walt in July, 1966 as Disneyland's first new land since 1955). That means Pirates is barely 45 years old, not 60 years old. And I'm not as old as I look.

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks for the Geek Facts!
I thought Pirates opened late 50's early 60's - plus I wanted to see if you were paying attention.

True Story: I rode Disneyland's Splash Mountain for the first time around 1990, and then rode several more times in the early 90's. And until I rode the WDW version in the spring of 1995 I honestly had no idea that there was actually supposed to be a plot for that ride! Who knew?!?

It's my firm belief that Splash Mountain is the one E Ticket ride shared by Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Park that is better in WDW's Magic Kingdom. The Disneyland version has all the thrill, but the Disneyland ride is so frantic and random and bizarre, that I had no idea what was going on until I went on the WDW version a few times in the mid 1990's. That the Disney movie Song Of The South is now forbidden to be screened or purchased in this country doesn't help.

And you may be surprised to learn this, but there are actually a lot more audio-animatronics in the Disneyland version. The Disneyland version from 1989 used nearly every animatronic from the closed America Sings attraction, but nearly all of them are secondary characters just sort of flailing about in the background, while the main characters of Brer Frog, Bear and Fox flash by without much context. But the WDW version was custom built with fewer animatronics, but a more purposeful focus on the key characters and plot development. The result is a more coherent story in WDW, with a bigger cast of animatronics at Disneyland doing a poor job of storytelling. It's interesting that you perceived there to be fewer animatronics in the Disneyland version, which tells me the storytelling in the Disneyland ride is even weaker than I thought.



The generally superior upkeep of Disneyland Resort attractions is most noticeable at the big E Ticket Animatronic Spectacular attractions like Pirates, Splash, etc., or the technically involved attractions like Soarin'.

When I take trips to WDW, and then make a quick run to Disneyland within days after, I can also notice the superior Disneyland upkeep at smaller attractions like Peter Pan, It's Tough To Be A Bug, Tiki Room, etc. But even a casual visitor like yourself who hasn't been to WDW in at least a few months has already picked up on the superior upkeep at Disneyland. That says a lot, about both coasts.

It is hard to believe that there are more AAs in the DL version. The other "complaint" was in the last scene, if you look up the ceiling opens revealing duct work, etc. That's funny about not knowing the story but I can certainly see that.

I am going to comment on Soarin' later in my report. It brought me back to the first time I rode it.

 

[fractal]

.. of which about 5 minutes is riding through empty caverns..

Yeah, but those caverns and waterfalls are cool!

Keep it coming, the review is great so far!

I was never really interested in Disneyland until about 5 years ago, I always figured the larger WDW was just flat out better, and the mini castle in Cali always bothered me. But with the awesome comparative reviews like yours and my desire to get the Coast to Coast rundisney medal I might have to make a trip out there a priority.

Each has it's pluses and minuses. Sounds like a great excuse, I mean, reason to go!

Great report - enjoying your take on DL as a "first timer"! Sterg cracks me up - totally reminds me of my brothers and I growing up. I still chuckle thinking of some of your conversations and his antics from your last report!

Thanks! Yeah, he's a treat allright...

Pirates was my "better than MK" ride when I went....by no means is the MK one a sloutch, just enjoyed the length and some of the other scenes I liked a lot. Didn't go on HM as it was closed and Splash was too... Now, Space Mountain I liked but I'm a huge fan of the MK ride...call me crazy or old fashioned but I just prefer that one... DL's elements are kind of redundant, helixes and slight dips, that I didn't much like...

The car and smoothness of the ride were big pluses for me ( probably because I'm getting older and bigger ) I also enjoyed the audio. The themeing is definately better @ MK though.

 

[Brwneyedgirl72]

Loving your trip report because so much of your impressions are the same as mine where on my first trip to DL in November, 2011. We loved it so much, and after being a die-hard WDW fanatic since my first trip at age 3 in 1976 - DL actually became my favorite Disney park. It is just magical in a really special way. Can't wait to read the rest of your report!

 

[Billy6]

The car and smoothness of the ride were big pluses for me ( probably because I'm getting older and bigger ) I also enjoyed the audio. The themeing is definately better @ MK though.

Agreed.....I do like the side-by-side seating and the loading area, though...I think my daughter(6) would go on MK Space if it was side by side, we tried in June but she wanted to sit next to someone like BTMRR....

Did you make it on Radiator Springs Racers?

 

[DznyRktekt]

So... I know you are going about this chronologically, but how did the water polo tournament pan out? Hopefully the miles logged, walking from E-ticket to E-ticket, gave young Sterg the warm-up he needed.

 

[fractal]

Sterg reminded me that on the first day we did sleep a couple hours on the plane and we took a nap in the car while parked in a parking garage. So we were not up quite 24 straight hours, but it was still a looong day.

The next morning I woke up around 8:30. Sterg woke up but told me he wanted to sleep in some more. I told him to call me when he was up and I headed out for DL.

Not much of a crowd that early - the "chatter" I overheard from other guests was that DCA was more crowded during the first part of the day, then DL gets packed later.
The Main Street vehicles were out in full force...

Now that I was more "adjusted" to Disneyland compared to Magic Kingdom, I started to appreciate the beauty of this park. Exploring Adventureland was next...

Having never seen any version of the Enchanted Tiki Room, I was tempted by the signs and themeing.

But I pressed further into Adventureland. DL version is small compared to MK. The pathway is tighter and shorter, but the themeing is wonderful. In the morning with a small crowd, Adventureland was a feast for the eyes. I saw 10 minute wait for Jungle Cruise and found out it was literally a walk on.

 

[fractal]

Waiting for our boat and captain.

Looks like the jungle is inhabited...

Our skipper did a good job of being witty, believable and very "dry". I should have gotten a picture of him but was focused on other things.

snakes and spiders, yikes!

I liked this guy coming out through the trees -

and his friends...

Then we saw some royalty.

Here come the hippos with their wiggly ears...

 

[fractal]

We ran into some natives - friendly or dangerous I wonder?

Definitely dangerous!! I loved the effects here - it really sounded and felt like we were under attack.

After that close call we floated into a pool of piranha. These effects were perfect! I wasn't quite able to capture a picture of the fish "jumping" out of the water.

Then this guys to close out our journey.

This Jungle Cruise is simply amazing. If you would have told me that it was a brand new version they just built I would have easily believed it. Everything was in perfect condition and working. It was also convincing and actually "thrilling" in some parts. Whereas a big part of the ride in MK is the schtick by the skipper. People often say that you "need to get a good skipper" - here it is the ride that is the undisputed star.

 

[chrissyw14]

I love all the added commentary about how you viewed Disneyland after going to WDW all those years and how it was confusing because of MK. I play Disneyland Adventures for my Xbox kinect so maybe I will have an easier time getting around Disneyland my first time haha. Your trip report is definitely making me want to go to Disneyland! Its just that WDW is sooo much easier to get to being in NJ. Have to pick the best airport to fly into and the best hotel for the price, WDW is just easier to plan! Hopefully sometime soon I will get to go.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Wow, you really liked Jungle Cruise, huh?

 

[TP2000]

This Jungle Cruise is simply amazing. If you would have told me that it was a brand new version they just built I would have easily believed it. Everything was in perfect condition and working.

Don't they do a great job with that kind of stuff at Disneyland?!

The absolute perfect Disneyland is the one in Tokyo, although the mind-boggling cleanliness and upkeep of that park is due in large part to the Japanese culture. But for American culture in the 21st century, Disneyland USA in Anaheim does a fantastic job of keeping things fresh and clean and firing on all 8 cylinders.

Disneyland isn't perfect, but it's close, and compared to the upkeep and maintenance of most of WDW's parks it's a noticeable difference. I've been noticing it for years.

It's quite telling that you as a lifelong WDW visitor also noticed it - and noticed it blatantly - within your first few hours of your very first Disneyland visit.

It was also convincing and actually "thrilling" in some parts. Whereas a big part of the ride in MK is the schtick by the skipper. People often say that you "need to get a good skipper" - here it is the ride that is the undisputed star.

I'm reminded of a favorite Walt quote here... "Disneyland is the star. Everything else is in the supporting role." -Walt Disney

The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland has a lot of heritage behind it, as the very first Jungle Cruise from 1955, and the one Walt kept coming back to and plussing right through the mid 1960's until his death. It helps that Disneyland management keeps it well maintained and plussed up and looking fresh. The WDW skippers have to lean heavily on their shtick and corny jokes because the scenery and ride they are touring is looking threadbare and rickety, whereas the Disneyland skippers can let the ride be the real star while they supply the witty commentary just below the main plotline. And that's a winning combination and exactly what Walt had in mind for the ride! Disneyland for the win.

And yes, it's impossible to take good pictures of the jumping Pirahnas. And no, don't think I didn't pick up on your comments about how pleasant Adventureland is in the morning when it's uncrowded. Adventureland on a summer late afternoon is a madhouse of people and strollers and frenzy.