Hi all!
don't forget to check out our WWW page at:
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Rob and Cindy
()_()  ()~()
 (_)    (_)
Disneyland Trip Report May 18th-23rd
By Rob and Cindy Collier
this may not be reprinted anywhere without my permission.
Well, here are we just less than 24 hours back from our trip To Disneyland
and I just felt we had to tell everyone a little about our trip.
We had decided to take our trip on the dates above to try to avoid the
big crowds and maximize our fun. I think it worked pretty well. Saturday and 
Sunday saw the biggest crowds of our entire trip. We had booked our trip 
through Triangle Travel in Beaverton, Or. and flew Alaska Airlines. Both 
worked very well for us and I highly recommend them for excellent service.
 We stayed at the Ramada Maingate which is one of the BAZILLION hotels 
located within walking distance of the Maingate to Disneyland. They had a 
nice room, pool, spa. A Millie's restraunt and McDonalds are both right next 
hotel which we used a lot instead of spending a small fortune on park food. 
We had taken advantage of the 5 day "Flexpass" that is currently being 
promoted and since I had never been to Disneyland thought it would be fun 
to also see theMain Street Electical Parade before it went away. 
When Cindy and I went to WDW in Oct 95', I was one of the lucky people 
to be chosen to be an extra in the Indiana Jones Stunt Show at MGM Studios.
 So when we decided to go the Disneyland, I really wanted to check the 
Indy ride out. Part of the 5 day flexpass only allows for 1 "early entry" 
ay.
This is were local hotel guests using the pass get access to certain 
(but not all) rides 1 1/2 hrs before the general public.
We took this on Tuesday, a typical less crowded day, and made a beeline 
for Indy. We were lucky enough to be one of the first ones on. There were 
times
Saturday and Sunday that the wait time for Indy was 1 1/2 hrs. WOW! This was 
a little much for us. I would really hate to waste a good portion of my day 
waiting in line for a 3 1/2 minute ride when there is so much more a person 
can
do at DL. Don't get me wrong, Indy is a EXCELLENT ride and I couldn't wait to 
do it again, but Cindy and I HATE waiting in long lines. 
Being Thirtysomething, without children, this really allowed us a certain 
freedom to have a different kind of fun at DL, and boy did we have FUN! 
One thing that wasn't fun about the entire time at DL was getting character 
autographs and pictures with them. Yes, I expected there to crowds of kids 
and their parents all wanting the same thing as us, but we saw a bunch of 
PUSHY, OVERBEARING, and downright RUDE parents. We would patiently
 wait for some of the smaller children to get their autograph and hug and a 
picture with Mickey (or whatever character) but then as we were about to 
hand our autograph book to a character and get our picture, one of the above 
mentioned types of parents would just SHOVE their kid in there and try to 
push us out of the way to get that picture that probably will not turn out 
that
well anyway (at least I hope they didn't!).
Not all parents were like this, but it only takes a few to really leave a bad 
impression. There were also some parents who we laughed and joked and talked 
about "all things Disney" with, like a woman named Stacie and her 2 friends.
We were on our 2nd time down Splash Mt. and started talking to 
them in line. When we got to the main entrance where the line splits, we went 
l
ft 
and they went right. OOOPS! As the line moved, they got WAY ahead of us. 
About 
1/2hr later we caught up to them, but then they ended up getting on the ride 
ab
ut 
5 minutes before us. I guess we should have stayed with them. Oh well!  
I remember on our last night in the park, we had just rode Splash Mt. for the 
t
ird 
time, this time during the daylight. We were looking at the videotape we had 
ju
t 
shot of the last big drop at the end, when a family who also just rode it 
notic
d us 
and asked if they could see the drop because the lady in this group had 
closed her eyes as we saw in the photograph they bought when the ride was 
over.
I proceded to rewind the tape so she could see the actual drop and even that 
sc
red 
her. We were all laughing! I also showed to the 2 little boys with them and 
the
 
also jumped backed from the viewfinder! We laughed so much!!
I guess I shoot some good video huh?! :)
Speaking of video, during our 5 days in the park, we shot about 8 hours of 
vide
.
 We got most of the rides that we went on, some more than once, like Splash 
Mt.
which we rode 3 times. Twice at night, shooting the whole thing as best as I 
co
ld, 
during the third time I only filmed the big drop at the end in the daylight.
Here is a list of the rides and attractions we went on during our 5 day stay 
at
DL:
Indy: This is quite a ride! I don't like rides that just spin you around til 
yo
 get sick, 
but this is a BUMPY ride. Hold on tight and prepare for a thrill. Get to the 
pa
k 
early, the lines are long if you don't! The video came out too dark. 
opppss.
Space Mt.: I didn't get a chance ever to ride this before the new light and 
sou
d 
enhancements, but if you liked it before, you'll love it now. There are 
speaker
 
in the car behind you head and the music is great!
Star Tours: I am a BIG Star Wars fan. I figure this is as close to the real 
thing as I'll ever get. Was that Paul Reubens as the droid?
Matterhorn: Feels about the same as Space Mt. but is only 2 minutes long. 
Best time to ride is in the daylight.
Fantasmic!: Not really a ride but if you get a good seat, It will take your 
bre
th away!
 Don't try to watch from the Patio Diner on the edge of Frontierland. You 
have 
o be 
seated and the section in front of you on the walkway gets to stand, this 
block
 your 
view. Try to next to the rails around the River of the Americas or on the 
walkw
y by 
Pirates of the Carribean. The BEST view is those $30.00 each seats at the 
Disne
 Galley.
In order to sit at the Gallery, you MUST get there when the park opens to 
ake
your reservations. The 2nd time video came out GREAT!
Big Thunder Mt. Railroad:Rode this twice early in the day. It a bit jarring 
but
not too bad. Video came out great both times. Watch out for falling rocks! :)
 
Pirates of the Caribbean: Excellent on a hot day if the line is not too long.
Goes down under the park and is still fun even on the Bazillionth time. 
Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, a pirates life for me!
Haunted Mansion: Rode this twice. A classic. I still laugh at the 
"hitchhiking 
hosts"
My attempt at taping came out poor through :(
Golden Horsestage Stage Show: Tell "Tex" I said Howdy. A good 'ol vaudeville
 style 2 man show. Make reservations early in the day.
Jungle Cruise: This was cute, although the guide sounds like a bad comedian.
 The Animatronics look great. Beware of headhunters!
Capt EO: Even if you don't like the gloved-one, check it out on a hot day. 
The 3-D effects are still really fun.
Autopia: Do all the cars have really bad steering? I turned the wheel 1/2 or 
mo
e 
before it moved the car. I was trying to videotape also! It is fun for the 
litt
e kids 
in the group. Long lines all day.
Snow White Grotto: Be sure and stand near the wishing well and wait for 
Snow White to sing her song.
Mickey's Toontown: Minnies House, Jolly Trolley, Town Square, and general 
walki
g 
around trying doors and buttons and laughing and joking.This area is mainly 
for
the kids.
 If you are near City Hall and the Mickey Clock goes off, watch for 
haracters
 to come out to sign your autograph book and take pictures with.
It's a Small World: Yes, we even rode this--twice. Ride itself and the 
animatro
ics
are great, but how long do I have to hear that song? I believe about every 15 
m
nutes
the Clock outside the ride goes off and the animatronic children of the world 
p
eform.
The Penny arcade
Swiss Family Treehouse: This is a long walk upstairs. Save it for the 
beginning
or 
end of the day if it hot.
Frontierland \Shooting Arcade
Sailing ship Columbia: We videotaped this and even though the boat ride is 
fun,
the video is BORING! Take a few pictures instead. Make sure you go below 
ck.
Sleeping Beauty Castle: I thought this was bigger than it really is. I still 
li
e it 
anyway. looks wonderful as a backround with your spouse in the front.
*Some the things to do when you start getting tired of walking and waiting in 
l
ng lines.*
Both Circle-vision Movies: Wonders of China during the morning til about 
1:30 and then the American adventure.
Great moments with Mr. Lincoln
Walt's tribute to his favorite President in a theater seating.
All the Main Street Vehicles
Disneyland Railroad (the ONLY way to travel the park!)
Enchanted Tiki Room
*More for the kids than adults, but still fun to do.*
Alice in Wonderland
Mad Tea Party
Pinocchio's Daring journey
King Authur's Carrousel
Thanks for reading!
... "And now your host, Walt Disney..."
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