Places, Earth
Disneyland, 70th Anniversary
Disneyland, 70th Anniversary
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Places, Earth
Disneyland, 70th Anniversary |
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Disneyland and I are the same age and I try to go on the decade celebrations, 50th, 60th, and this year, the 70th. We actually went last April, but the "Celebration" didn't start until May, so this was part 2. We left home a little before 6:30 expecting traffic on a Wednesday. We got on the tram at 8:30 and entered the park by 9:00. After a few photos of the 70th Anniversary displays, we entered the Opera House. Here are displays of early Disneyland concept art which I enjoyed as a want-to-be Imagineer. Then we sat down to watch Walt Disney - A Magical Life. After a video about Walt's life and career, an Audio-Animatronic Walt talks to us. I felt it could have looked more like Walt, but the animation was much improved from earlier works. After, I returned to the lobby to better view the artwork. I wanted to ride the updated Space Mountain, but my wife avoids roller-coasters in her old age. I pointed her to the train and I walked to Space Mountain. It took some effort, but I finally found the single rider line. My wife only had to wait for me in New Orleans Square a short time. We walked to Tiana's Bayou Adventure which had broken down twice while we were in line last April. The wait wasn't too long and we enjoyed the ride, except my wife would have preferred to get less wet. The ride has been completely redesigned (except the route) from the earlier Splash Mountain which was themed on Song of the South, now considered not politically correct. I admit that I have never seen either movie. Next, a short walk to Star Wars, Galaxy's Edge. Up till now, the queues were quick, Rise of the Resistance was a 70 minute wait. We first rode this attraction at Walt Disney World and again at Disneyland last April. This attraction is in multi-parts, a simulation in which we are captured by the First Order, then a vehicle ride through the destroyer as we try to escape, which then parks on a platform and becomes another simulator. We enjoyed it again. We then walked to Adventureland where, after a restroom break, my wife got a Dole Whip at the Tiki Juice Bar. This was something she didn't accomplish last April. One by one, we were checking off the things we didn't do last April. It was a two minute walk to the Jungle Cruise with a 30 minute wait. I've done this many times, but it is still a favorite. This ride is famous for the corny jokes and puns. "The zebras are so old, they are still in black and white," It was a short walk to the Enchanted Tiki Room, another of my old favorites. This animated show of singing birds and flowers was groundbreaking when it opened in 1963 and is still entertaining. From here is was a short walk to lunch at River Belle Terrace. We both got the American Breakfast (scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, sausage, French Fries). I wanted to ride Tianna's Bayou Adventure again since we couldn't go in April. My wife didn't, so after a quick restroom break, she got another Dole Whip and I rode Tianna's again, meeting back at Pirates of the Caribbean. It was a little frustrating because the Single Rider line for Tianna's was slower than the Standby line and most of the people in the Single Ride line were groups. Eventually, I was in the last seat, a little drier, but felt more bumps. It was just as much fun the second time. I found my wife and we queued for Pirates of the Caribbean. A few years back, it was updated to make it politically correct and Jack Sparrow was added. Where once pirates actioned captive women, they are now auctioning hens the women are holding and where pirates once chased women, they now chase women with food. Pirates get hungry. We used the restroom and queued for the Disneyland Railroad in New Orleans Square. We got the third train and road it around one and a quarter times, getting off at Toontown. From here we walked the short distance to Toontown and got in line for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. We first road this in Walt Disney World and again at Disneyland last April. The queue in filled with props from Mickey's film career. Giant keys and salt shakers from Mickey and the Beanstock, costumes, and other memorabilia are displayed. Then the queue got strange. Disney always themes the queue, so everyone was surprised when the queue moved to what looked like a temporary space outside the building next to a parking area. We could see the exterior of the offices above the usual queue area and could see other support buildings. We didn't experience this last April and there was unused queue inside. A section of the queue is a theater with concession stand with a perpetual popcorn popper that I assume circulated artificial popcorn. There was spilled condiments made of realistic looking plastic resin. The queue continued. Finally a short pre-show before another short queue and then the wild ride. The cars move independently so each ride is a little different. We enjoy this ride, but the queue was over an hour of the estimated 35 minutes. Next, a short restroom break before Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin. My wife was running out of energy and the previous queue wore her out, so she sat this one out. The queue took about 30 minutes, but it went quickly and there were things to see all along the way. The car follows a track but you are able to spin the car using a large wheel. I found my wife where I left her and we dragged ourselves a short distance to our next destination. We have been on It's a Small World many times, but it has been recently updated. International stars from animated Disney movies have been added to the appropriate areas. I actually like the catchy theme song and we sang it as we traveled to our dinner location. We were a bit early for our reservations at Carnation Cafe, but they were busy, so we waited until the reservation time. We had never eaten here before and enjoyed this restaurant off the center of Main Street. I enjoyed my Chef's Salad and my wife enjoyed her Beef Stroganoff. The light show was starting shortly before we finished our dinner. The parade was about half through when we finished dinner. We worked our way to the Opera House to see the Walt Disney - A Magical Life again since it will alternate with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and may not be available on our next visit, but it turns out that it closes at 8:00 pm and it was now 9:00. People were pouring in for a light show against the Castle and they were piling up in front of the Opera House and Mad Hatter, so we had to push our way through since we were not waiting for the parade to end and the route to open. We finally reached the Mad Hatter to get our 70th Anniversary Mickey Mouse hats with our names embroidered. We now have 50th Anniversary, 60th Anniversary (but didn't get the 60th embroidered), and now the 70th Anniversary. We watched the last of the parade while our hats were being embroidered. A quick search for buttons and a watch, both failed. My wife was tired so we skipped the light show. We exited the park, waited for a tram to the parking lot, a last trip to the rest room, found our car, and exited. We had accomplished most of the objectives remaining after our April visit. Had our dinner reservations been 15 minutes later, we would have done the Tea Cups. My wife was worn out or I would have gone back for the Astro Orbiters and I was unable to see the Walt Disney - A Magical Life a second time. Maybe, in a few years, we will get a park hopper admission and finish. |
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