My final trip report...
Among the four WDW parks, we chose to do this one last on 4/8/02, and kind of suffered for it because after touring AK, MK, and Epcot (with an entire day off thrown into the mix on 4/6), we were starting to drag.
First of all, what a nice surprise to find a park you can cross from end-to-end in less than 10 minutes! The only rub in the "smallness" factor is that the park looks deceptively crowded.
Then again, maybe it was, and everybody was just staying off the rides. Longest wait we saw in Stand-by for ToT=30 minutes. Longest wait for Stand-by RnRC=35 minutes. And we ventured to this end of the park on more than one occaision.
So first of all, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster goes down in my books as the greatest coaster I've ever been on--and I live 15 minutes away from Six Flags Magic Mountain (current record holder for most coasters in one park). I love that it's inside like Space Mountain. The speed on the loops are incredible--it's like flying. No B.S.. I rode with my father-in-law who is a former Air Force fly boy (Vietnam era) who said that this ride is as close of a feeling to flying an Air Force jet as he's ever encountered. I instantly decreed that this coaster is worth the price of admission alone.
Adding to the fun is the Tower of Terror--one of the most hard to explain rides I've ever encountered. You can kind of tell people about it, but really need to ride it to appreciate how tremendous it is. I still like RnRC better, but this is yet another example of Disney at is finest.
Muppets 3-D was another mega-hit. It's so nice to have a 3-D movie that is kid friendly.
The Stars & Motorcars Parade was great, too. Nothing too flashy, but the themed-out cars were a lot of fun, and where can you ever find Star Wars, Muppets, Playhouse Disney, Monsters Inc, Toy Story, Atlantis (my daughter has a Kida fetish like you wouldn't believe) AND most of the regular Disney guys in one place? Oh yeah, and villains! They even had Hades, Pain & Panic from Hercules. Cool!
Fantasmic is something we regularly see at Disneyland. Interesting how they've made the changes to this show to fit Disney Studios. Everyone really liked this Fantasmic, but those of us from California missed the Peter Pan/Captain Hook ship-board stunt fight that Disneyland offers over the Pocahontas bit. I did like that they incorporate the more recent movie characters into this one--for some reason Disneyland's ends with Little Mermaid/Beauty & the Beast.
Mama Melrose's gave us our second favorite overall meal. Total surprise since we got reservations spur of the moment in order to get the Fantasmic Dinner Package Passes. Great food. Great service. A totally hidden half-full on a crowded day gem that they've tucked into an obscure corner of the park. I'd definately eat here again (and I am harsh when it comes to Italian food--gotta be good or I get real snobby). This is the real deal.
Star Tours at any park is always a hit. But I really think the exterior to the ride at DS is awesome! We took photos and videos of all the outside (sorry, we're total Star Wars Geeks!)
Little Mermaid Show and Playhouse Disney Show were both excellently done. Pip & Pop rock my world!
Only mediocre experiences were the Back Lot Tour (too much jibber-jabber not enough to see--although I thought the Roger Rabbit dip-mobile was kind of cool), and also the Great Movie Ride (which my seven year old has since redubbed the "So-so Movie Ride.") I liked the GMR, but the other members of my party didn't. The only thing we all agreed upon liking was the Wizard of Oz scene. But I guess after all the top-of-the-line cutting-edge stuff in all the other DS attractions, this one does seem a bit dated/a lesser experience.
Last, I also want to say yet again how blown away I was by all the detail in this park. I live in the exact area that they are recreating here (albiet a scarier, messier, older version of what they recreated) and I have to say, they really got everything beautifully right. If only our dumb politicians out here would get a clue.
Now if I can only get my little one to not go into hyper anxiety mode at the mention of "Indiana Jones." We missed the stunt show because she happened to see about a half hour of "Raiders..." when it was on ABC a few weeks back, and, suffice to say, Gillian DID NOT think the movie was so hot. Lordy, how I'm ever gonna con this child into ever riding the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland (still the most awesome Disney ride ever) is beyond me. Maybe she'll outgrow her anxiety. Then again, once that kid gets an idea in her head...
Sorry...I digress.
A great time was had by all. We're difinately coming back not only to Disney Studios but to WDW. If you see a large group in matching very colorful tye-die in another year or two, that will probably be us.
Thanks for reading.
Among the four WDW parks, we chose to do this one last on 4/8/02, and kind of suffered for it because after touring AK, MK, and Epcot (with an entire day off thrown into the mix on 4/6), we were starting to drag.
First of all, what a nice surprise to find a park you can cross from end-to-end in less than 10 minutes! The only rub in the "smallness" factor is that the park looks deceptively crowded.
Then again, maybe it was, and everybody was just staying off the rides. Longest wait we saw in Stand-by for ToT=30 minutes. Longest wait for Stand-by RnRC=35 minutes. And we ventured to this end of the park on more than one occaision.
So first of all, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster goes down in my books as the greatest coaster I've ever been on--and I live 15 minutes away from Six Flags Magic Mountain (current record holder for most coasters in one park). I love that it's inside like Space Mountain. The speed on the loops are incredible--it's like flying. No B.S.. I rode with my father-in-law who is a former Air Force fly boy (Vietnam era) who said that this ride is as close of a feeling to flying an Air Force jet as he's ever encountered. I instantly decreed that this coaster is worth the price of admission alone.
Adding to the fun is the Tower of Terror--one of the most hard to explain rides I've ever encountered. You can kind of tell people about it, but really need to ride it to appreciate how tremendous it is. I still like RnRC better, but this is yet another example of Disney at is finest.
Muppets 3-D was another mega-hit. It's so nice to have a 3-D movie that is kid friendly.
The Stars & Motorcars Parade was great, too. Nothing too flashy, but the themed-out cars were a lot of fun, and where can you ever find Star Wars, Muppets, Playhouse Disney, Monsters Inc, Toy Story, Atlantis (my daughter has a Kida fetish like you wouldn't believe) AND most of the regular Disney guys in one place? Oh yeah, and villains! They even had Hades, Pain & Panic from Hercules. Cool!
Fantasmic is something we regularly see at Disneyland. Interesting how they've made the changes to this show to fit Disney Studios. Everyone really liked this Fantasmic, but those of us from California missed the Peter Pan/Captain Hook ship-board stunt fight that Disneyland offers over the Pocahontas bit. I did like that they incorporate the more recent movie characters into this one--for some reason Disneyland's ends with Little Mermaid/Beauty & the Beast.
Mama Melrose's gave us our second favorite overall meal. Total surprise since we got reservations spur of the moment in order to get the Fantasmic Dinner Package Passes. Great food. Great service. A totally hidden half-full on a crowded day gem that they've tucked into an obscure corner of the park. I'd definately eat here again (and I am harsh when it comes to Italian food--gotta be good or I get real snobby). This is the real deal.
Star Tours at any park is always a hit. But I really think the exterior to the ride at DS is awesome! We took photos and videos of all the outside (sorry, we're total Star Wars Geeks!)
Little Mermaid Show and Playhouse Disney Show were both excellently done. Pip & Pop rock my world!
Only mediocre experiences were the Back Lot Tour (too much jibber-jabber not enough to see--although I thought the Roger Rabbit dip-mobile was kind of cool), and also the Great Movie Ride (which my seven year old has since redubbed the "So-so Movie Ride.") I liked the GMR, but the other members of my party didn't. The only thing we all agreed upon liking was the Wizard of Oz scene. But I guess after all the top-of-the-line cutting-edge stuff in all the other DS attractions, this one does seem a bit dated/a lesser experience.
Last, I also want to say yet again how blown away I was by all the detail in this park. I live in the exact area that they are recreating here (albiet a scarier, messier, older version of what they recreated) and I have to say, they really got everything beautifully right. If only our dumb politicians out here would get a clue.
Now if I can only get my little one to not go into hyper anxiety mode at the mention of "Indiana Jones." We missed the stunt show because she happened to see about a half hour of "Raiders..." when it was on ABC a few weeks back, and, suffice to say, Gillian DID NOT think the movie was so hot. Lordy, how I'm ever gonna con this child into ever riding the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland (still the most awesome Disney ride ever) is beyond me. Maybe she'll outgrow her anxiety. Then again, once that kid gets an idea in her head...
Sorry...I digress.
A great time was had by all. We're difinately coming back not only to Disney Studios but to WDW. If you see a large group in matching very colorful tye-die in another year or two, that will probably be us.
Thanks for reading.
