Disneyland Revisited
March 26, 2007
Donald directs us to the tram...but why is he so angry?
Unfortunately, I did not get to conquer my fear of the Small World ride on this visit because the ride was closed for maintenance. I suspect that the real reason for this closure was that the dwarf creatures ran rampant and devoured a small child. Nevertheless, I did get to explore the rest of the park, and, despite some initial doubts, it was still as magical as I remembered.
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Dining options are pretty limited within Disneyland, but we had heard that the corn dog stand, located at the end of Main St., was pretty good. The price for a corn dog and a small bag of chips was $5.80, which would be ridiculously expensive anywhere outside the context of Disneyland, where all food is expensive. When you are in Disneyland, just pretend you are in a small country where the exchange rate is very unfavorable, and be prepared to spend a little more money than you are accustomed to.
With that said, the corn dog tasted...pretty much like any other corn dog I've had. It's saving grace, I suppose, was that it was enormous and filled me up so that I didn't feel like eating for the rest of the day. In terms of mass to price ratio, you are unlikely to find a better deal at Disneyland.
With that said, the corn dog tasted...pretty much like any other corn dog I've had. It's saving grace, I suppose, was that it was enormous and filled me up so that I didn't feel like eating for the rest of the day. In terms of mass to price ratio, you are unlikely to find a better deal at Disneyland.
Corn dog stand and a little kid …
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There is a little place near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride that serves clam chowder and gumbo in bread bowls. Again, the food here isn't too great, but it's relatively cheap and plentiful for Disneyland standards. The gumbo, which I had thought would have a thin soup base, remarkably had the same texture and consistency as the clam chowder. If I had to choose between the two, I'd definitely go with the clam chowder.
The bread itself is surprisingly good.
The bread itself is surprisingly good.
Expensive soup.
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This is a neat ride because it is interactive and different from what you typically see at amusement parks. You ride around in a little spaceship, which you can rotate via a joystick, and shoot little targets that light up along the ride. Your score is kept during the ride, and you get a rating based on how many points you have. Despite my amazing hand eye coordination, I think I only ranked as a junior cadet, which was third to last. Guess I need more practice battling marauding space invaders.
Overall, it's a simple concept, but it's a lot of fun. I wish more rides and attractions were this creative.
Overall, it's a simple concept, but it's a lot of fun. I wish more rides and attractions were this creative.
Entrance to Buzz Lightyear ride.
Mr Buzz Lightyear himself.
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This was probably the most exciting ride of the day. I think Space Mountain is faster, but the Matterhorn adds an extra element of suspense in that it is so jerky and old that you aren't quite sure whether or not it is going to fall apart ant any moment. Abominable snowmen and other foul creatures leap at you as you make your spirally descent down the mountain.
The Matterhorn.
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The Haunted Mansion is by far the coolest ride and attraction at Disneyland. I remember being amazed by it as a kid, and I was worried that seeing it a second-time around as a jaded, world-weary traveler would dispel the magic of my childhood memory. Fortunately, the Haunted Mansion is so well done, and the special effects are so amazing, that these fears were erased.
I really don't know how they achieve all the effects, but the Haunted Mansion looks like you'd imagine a Haunted Mansion should look. There are pictures whose eyes follow you as you walk around, thunder and rain crackling outside the windows, and translucent ghost-like beings that float around ethereally. If you allow yourself to suspend disbelief for one moment, you might even believe it's real.
My dream is to walk around the Haunted House alone, with no other group or people around. I think that that would be a sufficiently bone-chilling experience.
I really don't know how they achieve all the effects, but the Haunted Mansion looks like you'd imagine a Haunted Mansion should look. There are pictures whose eyes follow you as you walk around, thunder and rain crackling outside the windows, and translucent ghost-like beings that float around ethereally. If you allow yourself to suspend disbelief for one moment, you might even believe it's real.
My dream is to walk around the Haunted House alone, with no other group or people around. I think that that would be a sufficiently bone-chilling experience.
Haunted Mansion entrance.
Exterior of the Mansion.
Haunted Mansion graveyard.
Crazy medusa painting!
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Thunder Mountain is a rickety roller coaster set in the wild west that never really lives up to it's expectations for thrills. You'll proceed slowly up to the top of a large hill, expecting to shoot down at high speed once you reach the top. Unfortunately, the ride proceeds down the slope at approximately the same speed it crawls up it, and you never really get the thrill of going fast. It is also so jerky and fitful that there is a real danger it might give you a concussion.
Shadows over Thunder Mountain
