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This past weekend, Dave and I joined some friends in Disneyland (and DCA) for a short vacation. We were there only 3 days from Sunday to Tuesday, but visits are much different now that I am an AP-holder. I find more enjoyment in just being in the parks than I used to, and can have a fulfilling day at Disneyland without going on a single attraction.
That said, there was one attraction that I HAD to go on this trip: Radiator Springs Racers. (We drove down on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, then went straight to DCA in order to make the AP early entry. I have never gone without sleep so willingly.)
The line was long, but not too bad. It was listed as 45 minutes when we got to the wait time sign, and that was very accurate. And yes, this was having gone straight to the queue with no delays on the way. We weren't running (Cast Members were leading the way, so no one was running) but we weren't slouches either. We actually enjoyed having a short wait (yes, 45 minutes is a short wait for this attraction) so that we could look at the details built into the queue. There are plenty! We found ourselves wondering how many of the things they'd put in the queue were replications from things Pixar had found along Route 66 during prep-work for Cars, and how many things were created from the brains of the Imagineers.
I love the details added to the queue!
The ride itself was fabulous. I'm not going to go into a walk-though of it, as that can be found elsewhere. But I do have to say that I was not disappointed by Racers, and I think it's my new favorite attraction. It has an incredible dark ride mixed with a thrill ride, and set into an amazing backdrop. I couldn't help but fall in love.
After Racers, the park was almost open, so we got in line to get fastpasses to ride it again. We also rode Luigi's Flying Tires, since the line was the shortest it was likely to be all day.
We finally got to ride the flyingsaucers tires!
No one in our group had trouble figuring out how to operate the tires. We didn't have any trouble getting them to go where we wanted them to. The only trouble we had was picking up the beach balls during the ride - you have to get them off the ground in order to pick them up, and they're not exactly predictable.
Beach ball, or shade umbrella?
I've been anticipating the flying tires ever since before they were announced. I've wanted Disney to bring back the flying saucers for ages. And then I read many, many pre-view and early rider reports about how they were underwhelming.
I totally disagree with all those people.
I had a blast on the tires, and went on them twice in two days because I enjoyed them so much. The first time was about a 5-10 minute wait, the second time nearly an hour. And you know what? It was a blast, and worth it. The attraction is more fun when you are on it with friends in other tires, so you have people to throw the beach ballsat to, or bump into.
The final attraction in the new land, and the last we went on, is Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.
I had to get my picture taken with a baby tractor! So cute.
This was an unexpected hit. I didn't really know, heading into it, whether or not I'd like it. Crazy spinning rides aren't usually my cup of tea. (Speaking of tea, I'm the type of rider who will often go on the teacups and make them NOT spin at all.) So would I like Mater's? I had no idea. And the verdict: I loved it. The only comment I would make is that when you ride this attraction, put your backpack, or purse, or something between you and the wall. Otherwise, youmight will run into it at high speed when the trailers whip around. Both times we rode this, we couldn't stop giggling. Well, unless we were shrieking, of course. It was a blast. Loved it.
After the attractions, we made time for food. There was breakfast at Flo's, and lunch at the new Carthay Circle restaurant. I'm going to start this thread now, and will have a report on the food in a sec.
That said, there was one attraction that I HAD to go on this trip: Radiator Springs Racers. (We drove down on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, then went straight to DCA in order to make the AP early entry. I have never gone without sleep so willingly.)
Everyone was in line for RSR...
The line was long, but not too bad. It was listed as 45 minutes when we got to the wait time sign, and that was very accurate. And yes, this was having gone straight to the queue with no delays on the way. We weren't running (Cast Members were leading the way, so no one was running) but we weren't slouches either. We actually enjoyed having a short wait (yes, 45 minutes is a short wait for this attraction) so that we could look at the details built into the queue. There are plenty! We found ourselves wondering how many of the things they'd put in the queue were replications from things Pixar had found along Route 66 during prep-work for Cars, and how many things were created from the brains of the Imagineers.
I love the details added to the queue!
The ride itself was fabulous. I'm not going to go into a walk-though of it, as that can be found elsewhere. But I do have to say that I was not disappointed by Racers, and I think it's my new favorite attraction. It has an incredible dark ride mixed with a thrill ride, and set into an amazing backdrop. I couldn't help but fall in love.
After Racers, the park was almost open, so we got in line to get fastpasses to ride it again. We also rode Luigi's Flying Tires, since the line was the shortest it was likely to be all day.
We finally got to ride the flying
No one in our group had trouble figuring out how to operate the tires. We didn't have any trouble getting them to go where we wanted them to. The only trouble we had was picking up the beach balls during the ride - you have to get them off the ground in order to pick them up, and they're not exactly predictable.
Beach ball, or shade umbrella?
I've been anticipating the flying tires ever since before they were announced. I've wanted Disney to bring back the flying saucers for ages. And then I read many, many pre-view and early rider reports about how they were underwhelming.
I totally disagree with all those people.
I had a blast on the tires, and went on them twice in two days because I enjoyed them so much. The first time was about a 5-10 minute wait, the second time nearly an hour. And you know what? It was a blast, and worth it. The attraction is more fun when you are on it with friends in other tires, so you have people to throw the beach balls
The final attraction in the new land, and the last we went on, is Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.
I had to get my picture taken with a baby tractor! So cute.
This was an unexpected hit. I didn't really know, heading into it, whether or not I'd like it. Crazy spinning rides aren't usually my cup of tea. (Speaking of tea, I'm the type of rider who will often go on the teacups and make them NOT spin at all.) So would I like Mater's? I had no idea. And the verdict: I loved it. The only comment I would make is that when you ride this attraction, put your backpack, or purse, or something between you and the wall. Otherwise, you
After the attractions, we made time for food. There was breakfast at Flo's, and lunch at the new Carthay Circle restaurant. I'm going to start this thread now, and will have a report on the food in a sec.
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