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

[QF WP]

We decided on a leisurely stroll around Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and an afternoon snack in the shade was in order.

 

[QF WP]

This is a great place for kids to play and parents to relax. Rope courses abound as well as a set of tyre flying foxes and a “cliff” at ground level for kids of all ages to try rock climbing

 

[QF WP]

Continuing on with the more sedate pace this afternoon, we decided to go back to try the Silly Symphony Swings - a tandem one with my daughter as my wife and son decided to bail on us.









It seemed innocuous at first viewing - like any other swing based ride at fetes I’d been on at home. Well that was where the similarities ended - because as soon as we were launched I knew it was a bad idea. My daughter was smiling and beaming away and I was trying hard not to consider that I was being swung around in midair much higher than any fete ride I’d been on. Having that churros and afternoon tea was looking like a decidedly questionable decision now. I tightly gripped the metal cage with my left hand whilst at the same time trying to softly hold my daughters hand in my right, hoping I wasn’t going to crush her hand and bely my increasing terror throughout the ride. Needless to say, relief was immediate when we started to come down from cruising altitude

Adult rating: 4/10
Children’s rating: 7.5/10

 

[QF WP]

I hate being lead astray by my family, but that is exactly what happened after we got off the chair ride - my wife and son had conspired to test out my blood pressure and see if they couldn’t get a payout on one of my insurance policies. Yes the little rascals had done another FastPass on the Incredicoaster because we were so close. That’s the last time I leave my iPhone with them and give them the password. Well if life was going to be short, then one might as well go out with a bang.

I can’t remember quite what my wife was saying to me as I was taking this photo but I’m sure it was complimentary about my photo taking skills - although I could be mistaken, perhaps it had something to do with the rides imminent departure. Well could I be blamed for trying to pull a swifty and exit stage right?





Well I am happy to report that I almost enjoyed the second time around on this ride and to be best of my memory kept my eyes open the whole time.

After dragging my semi conscious body off the ride, my family deposited me in a quiet place to allow me time to recuperate. Such caring souls. Whilst waiting to get my resting heart rate to lower than dangerous levels, I did get a photo of Sully from my sedentary position as I had no strength to rise up from my position of repose.

 

[QF WP]

One of the most important things we needed to do now in order to be organised for our last day FastPass day was to gain an understanding of which are the most popular rides, so that we could do as many of those as early tomorrow, as we were getting a double benefit - expedited entry at 8am (an hour earlier than normal park goers), as well as unlimited FastPasses for the length of time we were in the Parks (maximum is 2 active FastPasses in your account) - well worth it for $10USD per person.

This Customer Service desk is near to the DCA main circle / roundabout - very important

 

[QF WP]

On our way out, we stopped to listen to the band



The entrance of DCA from the plaza that sits between both parks



Downtown Disney - the third park (as such), open until 2am apparently (we didn’t get there)



For us now, the only things was to follow the signs:

 

[QF WP]

Right, there will be a bit of break in further transmissions until I hit BNE and find my time zone. Aboard VA8 at LAX now waiting for take off. Hopefully I’ll get a bit of writing done in the next 13 hours.

 

[QF WP]

Day 4 Disneyland - The Final Frontier

After reviewing the times on the Boards and which rides we wanted to go on, we formulated a plan of attack with our kids over pizza last night. We had chosen the rides we wanted to do and considered:

* The distance from the entrance (consider going to the ones that are furthest away)

* The popular ones (consider which ones would fill up first)

* The way to work the FastPasses - you should FastPass the rides with the longest lines but more importantly check when is the FastPass time - no use putting in a FastPass for a ride which is 4 hours ahead as once locked in, you can’t FastPass again until the time shown in the App (which might be another 3 hours). Go for the one with the soonest FastPass time because that will allow you to possibly have 2 active FastPasses at any given time.

After a good nights sleep we were up early and got an Uber from the hotel to Disneyland to make sure we were there in the line up by 8am. Indeed, we got there and were in beforehand, as the first photo was taken at 8am walking down the Main Street of DCA.



As soon as we were in the park, the plan was implemented. Note that you can’t arrange FastPasses until actually in the park - it must go on GPS.

So last nights consideration over dinner was to walk/run to the first one and ride it but immediately FastPass the second ride having checked our second and third ride times. By having your preferred rides in order, we found it made the day flow a little better as well as allowing us the ability to do rides that never have long lines that filled in our wait time until the next FastPass ride time. I think I’m making sense.

So the first ride which we were walking to straight away was Radiator Springs.







and as soon as we got there and knew the wait time (even starting at 8am, by the time we got to the front of the queue in the photos it took 20 minutes) we had already FastPassed our second ride for 9am (yes, you guessed it - Guardians of the Galaxy).

 

[QF WP]

Again, another ride that we all enjoyed immensely and understandable why it is such s popular ride. Fast and furious in cars reminiscent of the movie (and a great background built).







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

 

[QF WP]

Now we were looking for a fill-in ride until our first FastPass ride at 9am, so we opted for one we’d already done - Grizzly Rapids. It was close by and we got there at 8:44am to find no line - we walked straight into the final part of the line to the rotating platform and got on.



In hindsight there’s a reason it’s probably not as popular early in the morning (even on a fine day) - the water is cold. Plus, as you are spinning, there is no good seat for not getting splashed other than not directly next to the openings. Hindsight has 20/20, right....but we all enjoyed it as much as previously. In fact we did this one twice as there was no one waiting on our return and we didn’t have to exit the ride.

Ratings from both adult and kids - unchanged

It also gave us the point in time (9.05am) where we could action our second FastPass of the day - yes, I had to do both of my favorites again, back to back...

 

[QF WP]

So back to Guardians we went - me looking forward to this about as much as having a tooth extracted. Actually no, I like dentists so let’s change that to voting in an election. Let’s get it over with now already. Took just 20 mins to get to one of the chambers of hell.



I’m sorry but I just don’t like this ride and my rating is never going to change higher - I can’t say I would EVER enjoy the ride.

The anticipation of what was about to happen to me was excruciating. I’m reliving every single second as I write this, so I’m coming to a shuddering stop here NOW.

 

[QF WP]

My family took pity on me and we changed it up by getting on the Tram towards our next ride





and we could FastPass the next ride at 9:50 so we added a ride we hadn’t done yet

 

[QF WP]

Well it is possible to start enjoying some previously bowel-wrenching rides and I finally cracked it - yes, I can proudly announce I enjoyed the Incredicoaster - just look at the difference in my photo here compared with my previous days...



I sat with my son this time who was like me and really had no desire to ride it and there was almost some coercion to get him aboard. I wished I could have held his hand during the ride but I squeezed his arm before we got strapped in and told him I was just as scared. He is a silent person on a scary ride, unlike my daughter...who in this photo told us she thinks she passed out momentarily...probably from all that screaming.

My rating probably went up to a 7.5/10, the others are unchanged.

 

[QF WP]

We had a snack break now and partook of another churros - I agree @Denali what is it with Red Velvet? What an abomination. Not on my recipe list.

Since it was our next FastPass, nearby and a popular ride, it would have been remiss not to try the Toy Story attraction.

Even with our FastPass, the line up was still 20 mins.






This was fun and fired up my competitive edge as you are using a laser gun mounted on the ride to try and hit targets each with various amounts (from 100 to 2,000 were the ones I saw). Someone had been busy getting some astronomical high scores so they must be a regular on the ride. I only just beat my daughters score....







We all enjoyed it and would do it again.

Adult rating: 8/10
Kids rating: 7.5/10

 

[QF WP]

Time to head to our next FastPass ride (12:40pm Matterhorn over in Disneyland Park) and on our way, we encountered the Green Army. These guys are painted green, have green overalls and it must damn hot doing their thing. But immensely entertaining as drummers and getting the involvement of kids in their act.

 

[QF WP]

More photos

 

[QF WP]

It felt like coming home to a hot cuppa. The Matterhorn was as good as I remembered it. FastPassing it was an incredible win when considering the regular line stretched the entire circumference of the mountain - a solid 60+ mins.

Everybody enjoyed it and rating remains constant

 

[QF WP]

Given it was now 1pm and the beginning of the hottest part of the day, we treated the kids to a slushie. We like it that they can have their colours and flavourings early in the day so they can work them out of their systems.



They also worked some out just being in a photo in front of the Castle.



We then walked down through New Orleans and our packed sandwiches were devoured as we had a date with another FastPass ride





we were having lunch and sat next to some service dogs in training

 

[QF WP]

We never tried to get there at the designated FastPass time, experience showed that everybody wanted to be there exactly on the designated time and often a line up developed at the FastPass entrance with people lining up early and blocking the queue for others. We were a lot more chilled and this seemed to work. Plus at this point, we were waiting for our next access to a FastPass at 1:30pm so always best to have another ride lined up before entering the current FastPass ride.







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This attraction was a lot tamer than we thought it would be, without wanting to give too much away. Enjoyable but definitely not a massive screamer, which is what I thought my daughter would be doing.

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

 

[QF WP]

We were having a chill start to post lunch given the next ride is a sedate drift on a boat through different parts of the world doing a take on the dong that the ride advertises. Was good to get out of the sun











Adult rating: 6.5/10
Kids rating 6.5/10

(The song became really annoying after the 20th time and I tuned out)