Rayven2 CommentsTTR Website, , ,

Ariel Skywalker?

It’s been a long while since I’ve last blogged about Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Theme parks and a lot has changed to make the Disney experiences more magical than ever.

Last September I blogged about Star Tours getting a total makeover and on June 3 this became a reality. “Star Tours 2.0” as I like to call it, let’s the journey’s continue. This attraction which has long been a fan favorite has been completely revamped into a whole new 3-D experience. Passengers hop aboard the improved Star Speeder 1000 and take a journey to any one of 54 different combinations of places.

Grand Opening - June 3, 2011
The Tours will Always be With You

Being an annual pass holder, I was able to experience the ride during a special pre-event showcase in May and was allowed to ride the attraction every 30 minutes for a time span of 5 hours. This allowed me to fully appreciate the ride at its potential and give you the scoop on all of the journeys.

Several times I experienced the exact same routine with the exception of one or two small changes. I do not want to spoil it for those of you who plan to attend by detailing the exact ride but there are some common themes to each experience. For example, each ride is randomized with choice of beginning experience (one out of two) , a planetary experience (from 5 choices), a visit from a projected friend (3 choices) , followed by another planet experience and ending. I’d say at most, there are “truly” 5 experiences and not “really” 54 as they claim, as they are simply interchangeable video clips which makes each experience different in that respect. I can say for certain however that Disney has certainly raised the bar with this ride. It’s a definite must do on each visit. I have been on it at least 12 times in the last 3 weeks and every time I enjoy it. Expect that with summer hours and business at the park, the ride will be at least a 60 minute wait time.

My advice: Get to the park 30 minutes before opening, have a buddy take your tickets to the fastpass distribution line located across from the attraction while you wait in line. This way you can ride twice before your Disney day is up. Fast passes have been running out around 9:30am each day, including weekdays. Be sure to check out the new merchandise at Star Trader and Tomorrow Land Terrace is carrying R2D2 Steins and Popcorn  Buckets are at the carts nearby as well. Watch out for Rebel Spies and as always “May the Force be with You!”

Bleep Blop Bloop

Another long awaited attraction “The Little Mermaid’s Undersea Adventure” at Disney’s California Adventure also had its grand opening on June 3. This ride, although not as exciting an experience as Star Tours, certainly has brought Ariel and her friends into the 21st century. It also has elements of classic Disney “wall rides” like Peter Pan mixed with it’s a Small World.

Here, you board a clam shell and take a ride through Eric’s Ship down “Under the Sea” where parts of the movie comes alive with video screens, lighting effects, music and animatronic creatures from the film. Imagineers, those who create the Disney rides, really put their minds to work to create a true experience for tadpoles and mermaids alike. I was super impressed with the creative talents of the outside of the attraction and cues. There were mosaic tiled mermaids & starfish on the ground as you enter the cue as well as urchins on the poles holding up the line ropes. Even the plants outside looked like sea weed and mosses. I especially loved that they used a concrete that looked like sand and embedded sea shells in them before it dried. Every little touch matters to make a true Disney experience become a Magical one. Imagineers spared no expense creating this beautiful ride exterior.

This attraction is a must see! So, swim on in to Disney’s California Adventure and check out “The Little Mermaid’s Undersea Adventure” located across from Paradise Pier and boardwalk. Watch out for Flotsam and Jetsam guarding Ursula’s undersea cave… “poor unfortunate souls”

The Little Mermaid's Undersea Adventure Mural

My advice: This line at it’s longest was no more than 60 minutes. As summer begins, hours and lines get really long. There is not much shade in the outside cue so wear plenty of sunscreen & bring bottled water to quench your thirst as sodas will cost you around $3.75 each for a 20 oz bottle. Try to get to the line when the park opens so that will eliminate unnecessary wait times. The ride moves constantly, stopping only to grant handicapped access to those that need it, so the line moves pretty steadily. Remember… “Life Under the Sea is better than anything they got up there”- Sebastian.

Finally, Disney has created a new Parade just for Summer. It’s called the Soundsational Summer Parade. Make sure you check this out. I am not an avid parade watcher but this one was exciting. It has all new acts, characters from the princesses to Lion King and even has it’s own Drum Core to kick it all off.

My Advice: Get to the parade route on Main Street 1 hour before the kick off of the parade begins and find a shady spot on the West Side. We got stuck in the sun for 1 hour and 30 minutes and it was not a pretty sight. Also, if you sit on the curb along Main Street, you can remain seated the entire time. Everyone else has to stand. Enjoy and have a Magical Summer!

Rayven3 CommentsTTR Website, , , ,

I Do Believe in Spooks! (and Mickey Mouse)

Haunted Hollywood Hotel Window

I Do Believe in Spooks! (and Mickey Mouse)

October is finally here at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World which can only mean one thing “Halloween Time!”  This is the extra “spooktacular” time of year when Disney Magic transforms its parks with Pumpkins, Coffins and “Candy Corrrrn” (Insert Heimlich Voice) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCewwVvtpWg .

Beginning October 1st you can visit the park and enjoy an array of tricks and treats including one of my all time favorites: coffin-shaped, chocolate mousse deserts from the French Market complete with edible dirt (cookie crumbs) and worms, gummy of course.

Some of the fabulous rides have also been haunted like the popular Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and the Haunted Mansion is themed for Tim Burrton’s Nightmare Before Christmas complete with an edible gingerbread house in the main ballroom. They are certainly worth the wait!

For your boys and ghouls Disneyland has moved its ever-so-popular “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” to the Disneyland Resort this year. Since 2005, Disneyland’s California Adventure has hosted the annual party but due to the popularity of their new attraction “World of Color” and extra construction around the park, Disney officials have moved the party across the esplanade. Yes, for an extra $54.00 admission price (on select dates in October, presale price) at 6p.m. or 7p.m. until 11p.m. or 12 a.m. (dates and times vary) you can have Disneyland all to yourself. Most rides will be open and there are special places for your little zombies to go trick-or-treating.  There is even a costume parade and dance party in Tomorrow land Terrace.

Annual Passholders, like many of us local Disney-philes are, will not be allowed into Disneyland for the party without a ticket. Annual passholders can, however purchase discounted tickets on the Disney website for $44.00. We are waiting to see what the numbers are like and how popular this event becomes since its move to Disneyland. With the park closing hours before regular schedule for the Halloween Party and the economy, it will be interesting to see if they turn a profit. Last year, Halloween Time through Very Merry Christmas Times were seasonally packed with park hoppers and at times parking lots and parks were at capacity.

My advice for Halloween Time: Get to the park before 10am as parking lots get closed when they are half full. Disney park officials have been known to close lots to save spaces for attendees that come later in the day and force park goers to park several blocks away to eliminate lack of space in the Mickey and Friend’s Parking Structure.

Secondly, take plenty of water and snacks as lines will be extra long  for food and attraction cues are generally double wait times. Fast passes are HIGHLY recommended.

Finally, enjoy your Disney Experience! It only comes once a year!

PS: Check out the two new Mickey Ears designs this year: Pumpkin Mickey and Franken Mickey

HAPPY HAUNTING!

Rayven2 CommentsTTR Website, , , ,

Don’t Boba Frett

If you haven’t been to Disneyland, California or Walt Disney World, Florida in the last few months sadly, you missed the final Star Tours trip to Endor on the Star Speeder 3000.

Yes, Rex, the beloved robot who took riders on a journey reassuring them each and every time “Welcome aboard… if it’s your first flight, it’s mine too” has been retired. He has been replaced by a new Droid style robot AC-38 or “Ace” for short. Also, C-3PO has been removed and in his place, a W-7 Waitress Droid from Attack of the Clones has been inserted.

We hear she adds an element of comic relief while passengers eagerly wait in the long cue lines on their way to the boarding dock. There are several other Droids that have been strategically placed throughout the ride but we will have to wait until 2011 to see and experience the full potential of this remodeling of an old time classic.

Star Tours 3.5, as it has been named was scheduled to be remodeled as Star Tours 7 after the release of the Episode 1, on May 19, 1999. However, Disney Imagineers thought it best to wait and see what George Lucas had in store for us finishing up the Legacy. After Episode 3 was finally released, the project was continued and as of August 2010 has been under construction. From what we “Disneyphiles” have been hearing through internet rumors, and the new Official Disneyland Fan Club affectionately known as “D23,” the new Star Tours 3.5 will be an even better, more technologically advanced pod racer type ride.

It has been said on some of the more popular Disney blogs that they have even replicated a Star speeder 1000, an earlier version of the 3000, which is sure to entice Disney and Star Wars fans. Maybe this time they will “Use the Force” to take us on a galactic journey to one of the other popular locales; I myself have always wondered why we have never been able to explore Tattooine or journey to Naboo. In all, although the final tour to Endor has come and gone, Star Tours 3.5 will be bigger and better. Disney fans can’t wait to hear “Star Tours is Now Boarding.” Grab yourself a ticket in 2011, and perhaps you will be one of the first riders of Star Tours 3.5!