Wife now likes DL over WDW?!?

[WishIwasThere]

Oh, okay. That explosion scene is pretty cool. I knew they were replacing the track; I saw photos of it here and when I was there, I looked through a tiny crack in the construction wall and saw that they were replacing the track.

The video does not show everything. There are steam (smoke) blasts that come out the sides and one final one that comes out over the train and envelopes the train as you go over the crest.

 

[TP2000]

The video does not show everything. There are steam (smoke) blasts that come out the sides and one final one that comes out over the train and envelopes the train as you go over the crest.

It's the "Digital Mapping" technique Disneyland first debuted on the Snow White dark ride in Fantasyland several years ago, and have now installed at Indiana Jones Adventure. Here's a good view of the explosive lift hill scene, at the 2:30 minute mark in this video.


And am I the only one getting those State of Illinois tourism bureau commercials on this YouTube video? And if so, am I the only one totally not impressed when that little Abraham Lincoln guy climbs up a small hill in southern Illinois and looks out over a gently rolling valley and says "Woah!"

And I'm thinking... that's just a 500 foot hill and a wooded flatland below you. And that impresses you how exactly? With all due respect Mr. President, you really need to get out more and maybe ride Soarin' Over California to see a state with truly stunning topography and natural beauty that will make you say "Woah!"

 

[Figments Friend]

Yeah, Old Abe needs to get out of the Opera House every once in a while.....and see some sights.

 

[gboiler1]

Well, I'm not the OP, but I can answer.

WOC I would get a FP for the later show. There's also a dining package option. Either one will get you to a better viewing area.

For RSR, you need to get there at rope drop and either get a FP right away or immediately hop in line. Otherwise, just use singles.

Thanks, I'm also thinking show 2 for WoC is our best bet. I've looked at the meal options on WoC pkg but my daughter is going thru a picky time in her life on food options plus the cost and time it takes for a sit down are major factors, so we'll grab our FP and stick to quick service.

Last visit to CA was long before CL. I have a pic of my daughter standing on the "C" in California!

 

[gboiler1]

For transportation, even though it was a 15 min walk to the gate, we were going to be back and forth to the hotel for dinner, etc. so we opted for the ART pass. Busses came by about every 15 to 20 minutes so it was very convenient.

We created a custom plan from touring plans.com. For RSR, there was a 20 min wait (probably not that long but looked like it) just to get the FP's. So we opted for single rider line both times we rode it (once in the morning and once at night just before WoC. There was only one WoC show the night we were there, 9:45 and park closed at 10. TouringPlan sent us to Soaring first, then we went over to the WoC FP machines before going to PP. The only deviation we had to do was TSMM shut down while we were in line and had to skip it until later. The WoC FP's put us in the blue section, which was good.

Excellent...I didn't consider ART from our location, plus we'll likely just hit a midday break if we need it. But with you taking advantage of your kitchen, the passes make sense.

I also think we'll do the customized plan which will suit us a little better than their preset versions. My goal is to do the stuff that is differs from the WDW counterpart. As for RSR, we'll take advantage of single rider with the exception of perhaps our first ride so we can experience it together side by side.

 

[gboiler1]

And am I the only one getting those State of Illinois tourism bureau commercials on this YouTube video? And if so, am I the only one totally not impressed when that little Abraham Lincoln guy climbs up a small hill in southern Illinois and looks out over a gently rolling valley and says "Woah!"

And I'm thinking... that's just a 500 foot hill and a wooded flatland below you. And that impresses you how exactly? With all due respect Mr. President, you really need to get out more and maybe ride Soarin' Over California to see a state with truly stunning topography and natural beauty that will make you say "Woah!"

That's so funny. I've lived in Illinois all my life and while the first time I saw that spot it was cute, I'm over it. I thought only I was seeing that one too because that's where I am.
In defense of my home state, there are some pretty cool places to visit, but they are few and far between for my taste which is why we vacation out of state!

 

[TP2000]

That's so funny. I've lived in Illinois all my life and while the first time I saw that spot it was cute, I'm over it. I thought only I was seeing that one too because that's where I am.
In defense of my home state, there are some pretty cool places to visit, but they are few and far between for my taste which is why we vacation out of state!

Illinois is a lovely state with fabulous offerings! I keep promising myself I'll return to do the Chicago and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture road trip I keep delaying.

But as a Westerner, when Abe climbs up on that rock on top of a small hill and says "Woah!" , I'm thinking "What's the big deal Mr. President? It's just a hill."

If a small hill does that for him, God help him if he ever scored a good room at the Disneyland Hotel and woke up to find this out his window...

 

[Californian Elitist]

Illinois is a lovely state with fabulous offerings! I keep promising myself I'll return to do the Chicago and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture road trip I keep delaying.

But as a Westerner, when Abe climbs up on that rock on top of a small hill and says "Woah!" , I'm thinking "What's the big deal Mr. President? It's just a hill."

If a small hill does that for him, God help him if he ever scored a good room at the Disneyland Hotel and woke up to find this out his window...

Love the San Gabriel Mountains.

I remember taking my Chicagoan roommate from the Disney College Program to Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time, and she asked if the mountains were backdrops.

 

[gboiler1]

Illinois is a lovely state with fabulous offerings! I keep promising myself I'll return to do the Chicago and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture road trip I keep delaying.

But as a Westerner, when Abe climbs up on that rock on top of a small hill and says "Woah!" , I'm thinking "What's the big deal Mr. President? It's just a hill."

So true. My grandmother lives in Arcadia so the San Gabriels are kind of in her back yard so its a special treat to visit and enjoy something that's not flat! I grew up on a farm.

Actually I think one of those shots might be from the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. Northwestern Illinois gets pretty hilly and then there's Starved Rock that has some interesting terrain, but no mountains, except the ones of snow in winter!

If I didn't have immediate family in Illinois then California would be my destination of choice. We have two weeks practically jammed with activities this summer and so many things we won't get to.

 

[zjer]

So none of us had experienced DCA yet, which we did on Thursday. Having been regulars to WDW we were trying not to compare it to DHS, but it was hard not to. If we were to compare, DCA blows DHS out of the water, as much as DL blows MK away. We were very pleased with DCA, even with the off the shelf rides you find on Paradise Pier. We were in awe of Cars Land and RSR was incredible. .......

DL just gained a new family of fans that are WDW regulars.

I've begun to long for Disneyland trips the same way I used to long for Disney World trips. For me it's either a 5-6 hour drive to Disneyland or a 5 hour flight to Disney World (with 3+ hours of airport time on top of that). Cars Land and the Pier at DCA at night is phenomenal. The layout of DL with all my favorite rides in one convenient park makes shorts trips so much more enjoyable. I went to WDW last month with my son for a 5 day trip (2 travel days, 3 park days) and it was discouraging how much time was spent waiting to get somewhere. From the hotel (CB) to the park, from one park to another park, back to the hotel, etc. After that trip I've come to the conclusion, that if the trip is 3 park days or less, it'll be DL every time. If the trip has 4 park days (6 days total including travel), then I'll venture East to WDW.

There is also a certain charm of DL that I took for granted all these years living in the west. I just assumed that bigger was better in regards to WDW.....