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Trip Report of Disneyland on Saturday, 8/14/99

To start this trip report, I am going to give a little background history so that the readers can know some of my frame of mind as I visited Disneyland.

I am 38 years old and married with two children (girl – 11 and boy – 8).  I was born in Whittier, Los Angeles Co., CA and I remember as a 4 years old visiting Disneyland the year before we left to go live in Mississippi where my father was transferred by his employer.  The one major thing I remembered of that visit was the dinosaurs you could see from the train ride.  I visited Disneyland twice as a teenager when we went back to California to visit relatives; but it has been over 20 years since the last visit.  I have visited Disney World quite a few times (several as a teenager after it opened, once with my wife before our first child, and then we try to take the children every 3 years).  We are going, again, to Disney World in November and in May (to see other things in Orlando also).  My wife and I had went to Los Angeles the year after our first child was born, but we felt, with the limited time we had, to do other sites at that time.

A few months ago, the opportunity became available for me to attend a weeklong convention in Los Angeles in August.  I started reading information on tourist sites and made plans to see different things on the weekend before the convention started and each day after the convention was done (mostly Universal Studios).  Also, I had started reading (lurking) on alt.Disney.Disneyland and msn.expedia.Disneyland to see what people thought of it.  I can tell you, that because of some of the negative comments (mostly on ADD), I had some very mixed feelings about trying to go see Disneyland.

However, during the middle of the convention, I decided that since I was already in the area and had seen most of the other things I had planned, I might as well extend my trip a day and plan to spend a full day (Saturday) at the park.  This meant having to also get a motel room closer to the park since the one I was staying at for the convention was further away than I knew I would want to drive after a long day at Disneyland.  I quickly made reservations over the Internet at the Comfort Inn & Suites (on E. Katella Way) for $69 for Saturday night.

I had planned to arrive before the 8 AM park opening (the park was open from 8 to midnight), but got delayed at the motel I had stayed at throughout the convention.  I did arrive, parked in the Pinocchio parking lot, and was in the park by 8:15.  The order of the day went like this:

1. Rocket Rods – the sign was already saying a 90 minute wait and I felt that it would be better to get it over with since there had been indications in the news groups about it breaking down and having really long lines.  Luckily, the wait was only 45 minutes.  The ride was okay, but I felt that the straight-ways were too short to get any speed up and the wheelies did not really impress me.

2. Space Mountain – the sign stated a 20-minute wait, but there was no line for it and I was able to walk (quickly) straight to the loading area and get on one.  It did seem to take 10 minutes at a brisk walk to get there, though, from the start of the line.  I really enjoyed this ride.  The music was timed to the ride and the space representation seemed more realistic in the Disneyland version than the Disney World one.

3. Matterhorn Bobsleds – the sign here stated a 30-minute wait, but I was only in line for 15 minutes.  I do not remember riding it as a teenager, but I am sure that I must have.  Since they do not have this ride at Disney World, it was like a new ride to me.  It has to be considered a slow roller coaster, at best, but I enjoyed it.  Maybe they should upgrade the snowmen, though.

4. Indiana Jones Adventure – as you should be able to see, I was trying to hit all the “E” ticket rides early in case long lines formed later.  The park was slowly filling up.  The sign at this ride stated 90 minutes and I was through it in about 45 minutes.  This was a fun ride and is worth seeing.  The items in the queue, such as the pole that says do not touch it, was working.  I did find it very jerky and bumpy, but that was part of the fun.

5. Tarzan’s Treehouse – had to see it since I was right next door.  There was no wait and the line moved slowly through the treehouse.  I was not impressed by the makeover from Swiss Family to Tarzan.

6. Pirates Of The Caribbean – the sign said 15 minutes, but I was in the boat in 5.  I like this version better than the one at Disney World; and I really like that one.  There is not really anything to see in the queue, but the scenes before the harbor fight is a lot better.  Also, the added bit at the end was a good touch.

7. Haunted Mansion – the cemetery out front is different since it deals with pets instead of people.  The sign stated a 15-minute wait, but I was inside within 5.  The queue between the elevator room (which seemed to have trouble settling on the bottom) and the ride portion was a little different.  The rest of the attraction seemed to be the same; so, I can’t really say I like one better than the other; both versions are good.  The ride did stop for a couple of minutes while in the graveyard.

8. Splash Mountain – the sign said 30 minutes and this was the only time that I found the wait longer than stated on the sign.  I actually had to wait 40 minutes.  The ride seems to be just like the one in Disney World, though it has been 3 years since I rode it there.  It is still an enjoyable ride and worth the wait.

9. Country Bear Playhouse – I checked this out right after getting off the Splash Mountain ride.  The show was just about to start and they closed the doors as soon as I walked in.  Sitting for this show after standing in line for hours was a nice break.  What was even better was how they had changed the show from when I last saw it in Disney World (hopefully, the have changed it there also).  The previous version was getting old.

10.  Hungry Bear Restaurant – I was getting hungry and decided to grab something at this fast food place.  Got a double hamburger and fries and then sat at the back watching the boats and canoes going by on the water.

11. The Disney Gallery – no wait time and I found this to be fascinating.  I liked the drawings of some of the previous exhibits and some of the plans that never came into being.  Disney ought to think about adding this type of stuff to it’s website.  They also should see about taking polls on new concepts to see how people react to them.

12. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – the sign stated a 30-minute wait and I was through the queue in 15.  Similar to the one at Disney World of which I have always enjoyed.  The only thing I can add, for the ADDers, is:  ah, the goat trick.

13. Rafts To Tom Sawyer Island – had to walk the island just to see how different it is.  Seemed to be the same, though maybe a little thinner.

14. Jungle Cruise – the sign stated 20 minutes and I was through in 10.  I found this to be the same stale ride with the same stale jokes.  Maybe this is one of the rides they should consider replacing.  I miss the submarine ride.

15. Enchanted Tiki Room – this is the same show that I have seen over the years and still enjoy it.  I did have to wait 15 minutes in the queue area.  Got into a conversation with a couple from San Diego who was there with their two young daughters.  We commented on the weather that I had really enjoyed during the week.  It was nice to have been in the area with highs of 76-80 and less than 60% humidity versus the highs of 90-100 and humidity of 90-100% they were experiencing at home (Houston).

16. Innoventions – I had walked back through Fantasyland looking to do some of those rides, but I kept seeing signs of 60 – 90 minutes, so I went to Innoventions to see how different it is from the one in Disney World.  I like this version better – both the way they have used the old Carousel Of Progress and the contents they have put into it.  Maybe they should try something similar in Epcott.  Disney ought to try to show more of the latest in technology.

17.  Honey, I Shrunk The Kids – had to only wait 10 minutes for the next show.  This is the same show as the one in Disney World, so I knew when to expect the little hands-on (or should I saw feet/leg-on) part of the show.  I still like it, though.

I thought about doing Star Tours at this time, but decided I didn’t want to wait the 90 minutes that the sign was showing.  I decided to go to the motel and check in; which I did.  It turns out to be a nice hotel (Comfort Suite & Inns) and they are one of the stops for the free shuttle service to Disneyland.  I took a shower and changed clothes, phoned the wife and kids, and rested for a little while before catching the shuttle.

18. The Walt Disney Story Featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln – Had to wait about 10 minutes for it to start.  I decided to see it since I was at the entrance of the park and I always liked the Lincoln portion at the Hall Of Presidents in Disney World, so I thought this would be interesting.  The CMs there liked the tee shirt I was wearing and commented on it.  It was a limited run from the special Star Wars show at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. that I had picked up there last year.

19. Plaza Pavilion – grabbed a pot roast combination that I found to be okay, but nothing great.

20. Star Tours – the Mulan parade was going on so I decided to try again.  It took only 25 minutes versus the 30 minutes posted.  Same type of queue and show as at Disney World.  Still enjoyable.

21. It’s A Small World – this was one of the rides I had tried earlier in the day and had been showing a 90minute wait.  This time, the sign stated 20 and I got in within 10 minutes.  I thought it was interesting how the boats are loaded and unloaded in the front of the exhibit.  The rest of the attraction seems to be about the same as the Disney World version.  Always a favorite ride due to its upbeat nature.

22. Fantasy In The Sky Fireworks – saw the show from the Big Thunder Barbecue area, which was closed at that time.  Couldn’t hear the music very well, but the show was good.

23. Disneyland Railroad – Had to wait 5 minutes for the train.  This was a must do before I left the park.  I had to see if the dinosaurs were still there and if they were as I remembered them.  These are not present at Disney World.  Yes, they were still there and were between the Tomorrowland station and the Main Street station.  I thought they were on the other side of the park (near where Splash Mountain is), but, as it has been such a long time since I have been there, I could easily be wrong.  Anyway, they still hold a special meaning for me, even though they don’t “do” anything.  It’s funny what can be imprinted on a 4 years old mind.  For my daughter, when we took her for the first time to Disney World (for her 4^th birthday), it was Figment that she has always remembered.

24. Fantasmic! – Interesting show to wrap up the evening.

25. Blue Ribbon Bakery – bought a cinnamon twist.  I had wanted ice cream, but the lines were two long at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor.  I guess a lot of other people were having the same cravings I was.

After that, I went back to motel to catch about 4 hours of sleep before I had to get up to make the flight back home.

Now, some comments about the things some of the people have been saying on the news groups (especially ADD).  I want to preface this with the statement that there are a lot of positive comments on both news groups and that I did find a lot of enthusiasm for Disneyland on both, but ADD seems to get off topic a lot and seems to be more of a “chat” room.

I had read a string of comments about the restrooms being unclean or dirty and that they are not cleaned enough.  Now, I didn’t spend a lot of time in them, but I did utilize five different ones and each seemed to be in excellent shape.  I guess it depends on what you compare them to; they are not as clean as the ones at home, but a lot cleaner than most other public restrooms such as you would find in fast food places or stores.  I did see two pieces of paper on the floor in one, but since there was a constant stream of people in and out, for there only to be 2 pieces meant that someone was taking care of the restrooms.

Comments have been posted about Disneyland needing paint and upkeep in general.  It could be that if I was there for at least several days, I would have started noticing things like that, but in the one day I was there, nothing outright caught my attention.  I was impressed when, from the train as we passed it’s a small world, I noticed a CM with a flashlight picking up trash beside one of the loading paths (where it splits right before it goes to the boats) out of the plants.  Seems to me that is an indication that they are trying to maintain some cleanliness.  With the park open to guests from 8 AM to midnight, it would seem to be impossible to be perfect in keeping it clean and good upkeep.

Other comments were made about the lack of friendliness of the CMs.  I just didn’t see that when I interacted with them.  Each one seemed to be friendly and helpful (such as the two I commented about earlier in the Walt Disney Story building.  When I said “thank you” to ones that I bought things from, they each responded with “your welcome”.  One of them in the bakery (late at night after 11 PM even), named Tiffany, even initiated a pleasant conversation as she waited on me.  It was nice to see someone smiling and being pleasant at that late time because I was dead tired by then.  I’m sure that everyone has a bad day at some point and that if I went often enough, I would see some of the behavior that has been described; but, then I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t have bad days at work.

This has been a long TR and I apologize if anyone found that frustrating.  Overall, I am glad that I took the advice and stayed an extra day to go to Disneyland.  Maybe we’ll take the family in a couple of years after DCA is completed.  Those dinosaurs are still waiting.