QF WP’s do Disneyland (LA), Seattle and beyond

[QF WP]

Forgot to add the App details for Snow White:

 

[QF WP]

After this ride, we went up to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and at 5:15pm put in our next FastPass (time we got was 6:15 to 7:15pm), so back to some other rides with earlier walk up availability to fill in the time.













Adult rating: 6.5/10
Kids rating: 7/10

 

[QF WP]

Then as soon as that was done, hot-footed it back to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad so we could be in the FastPass queue for when out time ticked over:

 

[QF WP]

More photos from this ride:







We all loved the ride, fast paced but always felt well in control. Definitely one to do again on our MaxiPass Day

Adult rating: 8.5/10
Kids rating: 8.5/10

 

[Milboo]

Where do all those employees live? Nearby to the park or they travel every day? So many staff.

There is staff accomodation provided for cast members.

My cousin spent over a year at Disneyland Paris, primarily as a princess, and they all lived in self contained share housing (like a mini estate) near the park. Shuttles were provided to get to the park.

 

[QF WP]

After such a good ride, we needed to have a calming influence and we found it in the nearby river boats. We couldn’t ride them now, just took some photos (my wife wanted to ride them both, but no takers from the kids - not to exciting enough)

 

[QF WP]

Next set of photos:

 

[QF WP]

Nothing like goofing around with this character

Yes, you’ll see the Disney characters wandering around with one or two escorts (to ensure they get to where they need to be on display, crowd control etc)



Ahhh, do so have to?



One of the best family ones I took

 

[QF WP]

As we were back down near the entrance and we wanted to gain an idea about the size of the park, we took a ride on the train as our final gesture for the day. We‘d felt that 17K steps in a day over 9 hours was enough.

Only took a shot of the New Orleans quarter stop.

 

[QF WP]

Dinner time and by the time we got back to our Hotel, it was late and we wanted a quick but decent meal, so off to the Denny’s only half a block away and meeting our kids desire to eat there.

Much better than McDonalds and whilst more expensive, that comes with table service and no packaged cookie cutter burger.

 

[QF WP]

Disneyland- Day 2

After Disneyland yesterday, time to experience Disneyland California Adventures today.

Well it’s always easier on any subsequent day - you know better what to expect, know your way around a little and more confident with having learned the ropes. Yes, not an expert but surely feel comfortable not wearing the “first timers” badge. This is a different park, after all









But nothing had prepared me for this ride, one we had seen was popular yesterday and we thought we’d start with it. Well it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Previous attendees would remember it as the “Tower of Terror” and it has been re-born with no less terror, just a facelift. I was really having fun until we were strapped into the metal chambers of horrors and then preceded to be thrown around like a weightless person. I’m not one for feeling out of control and this was just the first ride of the day.

Being catapulted multiple stories at a time in either an upward or downward trajectory then being instantly stopped, only to have a millisecond to rearrange my internal organs before being thrust in the opposite direction is nowhere near my idea of a fun ride.

Then some smart person thought it would be fun to have a photo taken of all riders after the highest ascent after the doors were opened so you could of see how high up you are, only to have to them endure the greatest free fall to the bottom.

The photo of my first ride accurately showed me hanging on for dear life, with an expression of abject fear and white knuckles clasped onto the metal handhold and a face completely drained of blood. Needless to say, the ride had the opposite effect on the rest of my family. Well as sure as s*^% I’m not going to be riding that one again today.

I won’t bother you with the photo, I’m sure you don’t want to see it - nor do I want to show it. Gut wrenching is an accurate description. Did I mention this is all done in the dark?

Adult rating: split decision. Me 2/10, Mrs QF WP 9/10
Kids rating: 9/10

 

[Denali]

D...... until we were strapped into the metal chambers of horrors and then preceded to be thrown around like a weightless person......Being catapulted multiple stories at a time in either an upward or downward trajectory then being instantly stopped, only to have a millisecond to rearrange my internal organs before being thrust in the opposite direction .....

]

 

[QF WP]

Well one doesn’t want to disappoint ones children and have them think that Daddy is a wuss. I don’t know who was hanging on tighter in the first go. My son, who had kept his cap on, had it hit the top of the cage on the way up at one point, then it ended up in my lap at the end of the ride after bouncing around for the 30 seconds of sheer unadulterated terror.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Okay, I will definitely put the Guardians of the Galaxy ride on the list of things NOT to do at Disneyland.

The chips at Denny's look very interesting. I've never seen chips cut that way. Do they call all chips in USA "fries"?

 

[QF WP]

Okay, I will definitely put the Guardians of the Galaxy ride on the list of things NOT to do at Disneyland.

Sensible idea. The going up at speed was okay but knowing it is followed by a weightless drop where your legs come off the floor is the worst part of the experience. Multiple times and you can’t stop the ride to get off.

But wait. I ride it again (twice) over the next 2 days at Disneyland

The chips at Denny's look very interesting. I've never seen chips cut that way. Do they call all chips in USA "fries"?

Yes fries it is. Chips are more likely to be known as potato crisps. American English

 

[QF WP]

After stopping my leg muscles shaking and looking at the photo from our ride, we exit into the shop for the ride and back out into the sunshine - something I wasn’t sure I was going to experience again.

Time to find a close by ride to being the kids off their adrenaline rush and allow me to sit down, gather my thoughts and process what just happened.



Pretty tame and definitely caters for the youngest riders

Kids rating: 5/10

 

[QF WP]

Okay, my heart rate is down to acceptable levels and as it was a warm day, time to amp it back up. A bit of a walk to the next one but we’d heard from other guests that it was a good ride.











This looks like fun...

 

[QF WP]

We’re in and dry



The calm before the drop at the top (splashed a couple of times by this point)



What happens (not us)



The aftermath (he got the wettest)



You are rotating slowly most of the time during the ride, until the drop. We were all worried about going down backwards but that’s the most fun

Adult rating: 8/10
Kids rating: 8/10

 

[QF WP]

One with an airline theme









I loved the wait once we got inside as it has photos and back stories on a number of aviators- I’ll post a couple

 

[QF WP]

It certainly helped pass the time reading about them:







Here we are, at the ride entrance...



then everything grinds to a halt. The attractions CSA’s are on walk-in talkies and going into recessed electronics bay. Then an announcement: “Unfortunately guests the ride has broken down. We have tried to fix it but it looks like taking longer than anticipated. Please exit via the signs and accept a FastPass each with our compliments”.

So they use their PDA’s to load them onto our App.



We’re off and out of here - maybe we’ll come back tomorrow. What’s next kids??