If there's one thing that annoys the hell out of some local passholders (i.e. me), it's getting up early to beat the rush and only finding out as you approach the front gate that it's one of those damn "Early Entry" days, meaning tourists staying in one of the Disney hotels can get in an hour early. What this boils down to is that the park is already packed when it officially opens. You know, if a warning about "early entry" was posted on the Disneyland website's calendar in advance, I wouldn't mind as much. The whole point of going first thing in the morning is to AVOID the crowds, you know? On a regular day, I can do Fantasyland in an hour. On an "early entry" day, forget about it. Arrrgh.
So, there was that, and the fact that we didn't get our promised rainfall. I love Disneyland in the rain, and it's been a really dry winter (which means increased wildfire risk in the summer).
I just found out today (via MiceAge.com which is uncannily reliable) that there are going to be a few changes to the Haunted Mansion. The changes to the seance circle and hitchhiking ghosts, I think I can deal with (hell, they actually sound kind of cool!). I'm NOT liking the Attic Bride's backstory changing. (I suppose I may be a little biased, as I find Phantom Manor's concept much more believable.) Well, they better not mess with the ballroom. I love the ballroom just the way it is. For the record, I DO like the Nightmare Before Christmas holiday overlay. There's a *huge* difference between a seasonal change and a permanent change.
I absolutely despise tourists who use flash photography in dark rides. They aren't worthy of camera ownership, let alone admission into a respectable theme park. There are several problems with this practice: 1. It's VERY rude. 2. It creates a potential hazard for cast members working in the dark ride, since their pupils become fully dilated in the dark. One flash can temporarily blind the people responsible for guests' safety. 3. It ruins the atmosphere. 4. Many pictures taken in dark rides don't even come out because of the effects. (Case in point: many Haunted Mansion riders try to take pictures of the hitchhiking ghosts in the mirrors near the ride's exit, but all they get is a picture of their flash. If only ALL stupid tourists got their comeuppance.)
Seriously, if you insist on capturing a dark ride on film, use a video camera and cover up the red light. You'll probably get a better picture and won't annoy other guests.
I've noticed a few improved effects on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride over the past few visits...the dragon at the end is 'coughing' again, and today Mr. Toad's "final destination" was warm and steamy (just like Hell?), which it hasn't been for quite some time. It's a nice touch. It also looks like the "flash" has been repainted. Hopefully soon they'll fix the nose on the Angus Macbadger plaque...
Snow White could use a little help, though. The Wicked Queen figure in the mirror scene is badly hunched over. It looks like she threw her back out or something. The cauldron scene is no better, since the "poisoned apple"is supposed to look like an apple with a skull face, and unfortunately the coloring is all screwy, so it just looks like a small white plastic skull. *I* know what it's supposed to be, but I wonder if the first-time visitors do. And is it just me or is one of the dwarfs missing a flute?
I've been going to Disneyland for 20 years, and I've NEVER ridden the Sailing Ship Columbia...until today. I've just never been at the park on a day it was running. But, the Mark Twain was down today (who knows why...could be anything). If you get the chance, go. The Columbia has a "maritime museum" of sorts down below, depicting living quarters on a ship of the period. And no it's not a pirate ship, the park just uses it as Captain Hook's ship in Fantasmic! because it's that or the Mark Twain, and pirates typically don't ride paddlewheelers. Keep an eye open for the old Gullywhumper keelboat on the far side of Tom Sawyer Island - it dates way back to the old Davy Crockett show. Its sister ship, the Bertha Mae, was auctioned off for quite a pretty penny after the boats were retired (the capacity was low, and the Gullywhumper itself tipped over back in the '90s). You know, I never did ride the keelboats...
Visitors Take Note: If an attraction isn't up and running, there's probably a damn good reason for it, so don't snap at the cast members, okay? Roger Rabbit's had problems lately, which it turned out was due to a hole in the roof (darn those weasels on the Toon Patrol, they're always up to something). Anyway, since it was raining like hell on Monday, water was dripping through the hole and ONTO THE TRACK. Having 400 volts go through you can't be too pleasant.
So, there was that, and the fact that we didn't get our promised rainfall. I love Disneyland in the rain, and it's been a really dry winter (which means increased wildfire risk in the summer).
I just found out today (via MiceAge.com which is uncannily reliable) that there are going to be a few changes to the Haunted Mansion. The changes to the seance circle and hitchhiking ghosts, I think I can deal with (hell, they actually sound kind of cool!). I'm NOT liking the Attic Bride's backstory changing. (I suppose I may be a little biased, as I find Phantom Manor's concept much more believable.) Well, they better not mess with the ballroom. I love the ballroom just the way it is. For the record, I DO like the Nightmare Before Christmas holiday overlay. There's a *huge* difference between a seasonal change and a permanent change.
I absolutely despise tourists who use flash photography in dark rides. They aren't worthy of camera ownership, let alone admission into a respectable theme park. There are several problems with this practice: 1. It's VERY rude. 2. It creates a potential hazard for cast members working in the dark ride, since their pupils become fully dilated in the dark. One flash can temporarily blind the people responsible for guests' safety. 3. It ruins the atmosphere. 4. Many pictures taken in dark rides don't even come out because of the effects. (Case in point: many Haunted Mansion riders try to take pictures of the hitchhiking ghosts in the mirrors near the ride's exit, but all they get is a picture of their flash. If only ALL stupid tourists got their comeuppance.)
Seriously, if you insist on capturing a dark ride on film, use a video camera and cover up the red light. You'll probably get a better picture and won't annoy other guests.
I've noticed a few improved effects on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride over the past few visits...the dragon at the end is 'coughing' again, and today Mr. Toad's "final destination" was warm and steamy (just like Hell?), which it hasn't been for quite some time. It's a nice touch. It also looks like the "flash" has been repainted. Hopefully soon they'll fix the nose on the Angus Macbadger plaque...
Snow White could use a little help, though. The Wicked Queen figure in the mirror scene is badly hunched over. It looks like she threw her back out or something. The cauldron scene is no better, since the "poisoned apple"is supposed to look like an apple with a skull face, and unfortunately the coloring is all screwy, so it just looks like a small white plastic skull. *I* know what it's supposed to be, but I wonder if the first-time visitors do. And is it just me or is one of the dwarfs missing a flute?
I've been going to Disneyland for 20 years, and I've NEVER ridden the Sailing Ship Columbia...until today. I've just never been at the park on a day it was running. But, the Mark Twain was down today (who knows why...could be anything). If you get the chance, go. The Columbia has a "maritime museum" of sorts down below, depicting living quarters on a ship of the period. And no it's not a pirate ship, the park just uses it as Captain Hook's ship in Fantasmic! because it's that or the Mark Twain, and pirates typically don't ride paddlewheelers. Keep an eye open for the old Gullywhumper keelboat on the far side of Tom Sawyer Island - it dates way back to the old Davy Crockett show. Its sister ship, the Bertha Mae, was auctioned off for quite a pretty penny after the boats were retired (the capacity was low, and the Gullywhumper itself tipped over back in the '90s). You know, I never did ride the keelboats...
Visitors Take Note: If an attraction isn't up and running, there's probably a damn good reason for it, so don't snap at the cast members, okay? Roger Rabbit's had problems lately, which it turned out was due to a hole in the roof (darn those weasels on the Toon Patrol, they're always up to something). Anyway, since it was raining like hell on Monday, water was dripping through the hole and ONTO THE TRACK. Having 400 volts go through you can't be too pleasant.
posted by Sally Ravenswood at 11:36 PM
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