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From:
[email protected] (Al Lutz)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney.parks,alt.disney.disneyland,news.answers,rec.answers,alt.answers
Subject: [FAQ/DL] D-I-G: The Disneyland Information Guide 3/7
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Summary: This posting provides up-to-date tips and information about the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California
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Keywords: Disneyland, amusement-park, Disney, FAQ, California
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This document is copyright (c) 1997 by Al Lutz,
[email protected] Please
refer to the copyright paragraph at the beginning of this document for
detailed information.
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11) ENTERTAINMENT & EVENTS
------------------------------------
All events weekends / holiday / Summer periods ONLY unless indicated
otherwise. PLEASE NOTE THAT DL MAY BE CHANGING THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULES AT
THEIR SLIGHTEST WHIM. Be sure to check with the show schedule available at
the front gate to confirm any of your particular favorites.
FANTASMIC! (Show):
Performed whenever the park is open until 10 PM or later:
Fri., Sat. & Sun. - 9 & 10:30 PM
(Usually performed whenever the park is open till 10 PM or later on the
RIVERS OF AMERICA from Frontierland to New Orleans Square.)
DISNEY GALLERY RESERVED "FANTASMIC!" SEATING:
$30 includes "all-you-can-eat" dessert buffet
(Reservations [first come, first served*] must be made to the left walkway
of the BLUE BAYOU entrance podium from time of official park opening, be
aware lineups start DURING Magic Morning. To attend this event, you will
enter above the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN via the stairway)
THE LION KING CELEBRATION (Parade):
Runs thru May:
Sat. & Sun. - 2 & 4:30 PM
(Starts at IT'S A SMALL WORLD, and ends on Main St., and returns again.)
FANTASY-IN-THE-SKY FIREWORKS with TINKERBELL and the DISNEY LIGHTS:
The regular run ended Sept. 1st. Will resume in May:
Approx. 9:35 PM
(The DISNEY LIGHTS are synched spotlights to music over DL.)
BIG THUNDER RANCH: (Show):
FESTIVAL OF FOOLS
Fri., Sat. & Sun. - 1:15, 2:30, 4:45 & 6 PM
Show times may change by as much as 15 to 30 minutes from the above, so
please confirm with your show schedule.
(The show is perfomed at the BIG THUNDER RANCH, is located behind BIG
THUNDER RAILROAD in Frontierland, and is also accessible from Fantasyland
if you continue past the CASEY JR. train.)
FANTASYLAND THEATER (Show):
SPIRIT OF POCAHONTAS
Last year for this event:
Mon. thru Thur. - 1:15, 2:30, 3:45, 5:45, & 7 PM
Show times may change, by as much as 15 to 30 minutes from the above, so
please confirm with your show schedule, on busy days the performances start
later and run into the evening.
(The FANTASYLAND THEATER, formerly Videopolis, is located behind
Fantasyland, next to Small World - just before ToonTown.)
THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE (Shows):
Please note these times reflect when the audience is let in, the actual
show begins 30 minutes later.
BILLY HILL & THE HILLBILLIES:
Thur. thru Sat. & Mon. - 11:15 AM, 12:45*, 2:30*, 4* & 5:20* PM
Sun. - 10:45* AM, 12:15*, 2*, 3:30* PM
(Hillbilly band plays rock & roll hits)
GOLDEN HORSESHOE VARIETY SHOW:
Tue & Wed. - 10:45* AM, 12:15*, 2*, 3:30*, 4:45* PM
(Don't let the title fool you, this is just a piano player and magician)
*Make reservations at show entrance for these times. Light refreshments
available. (In Frontierland across from the MARK TWAIN DOCK.)
TOMORROWLAND TERRACE (Top 40 / Dancing):
VOYAGER (TOP 40 / DANCE):
Sat. - Concert: 11 AM / Dancing: 12:25, 1:45, 3:30 & 5 PM
(Located at the TOMORROWLAND TERRACE STAGE, across from the ROCKETJETS)
CARNATION PLAZA GARDENS MAIN STAGE (Big Band Dancing):
SWINGTOWN or RED & THE RED HOTS, or STANFORD FREESE AND THE DL BIG BAND or
THE BILL TOLE ORCHESTRA or THE EDDIE REED BIG BAND (Your guess is as good
as mine... life is too short.):
Sat. - 7, 8, 9 & 10 PM
DISNEYLAND BAND (Tea Dance):
Sun - 12:55, 2 & 3 PM
(Plaza Gardens, left of the Castle as you face it from Main St.)
MICKEY'S MATTERHORN CLIMB:
On hiatus.
(Mickey actually climbs up the mountain to have lunch with Goofy. In full
costume. Amazing. Performed before the first Lion King parade. This event
is not listed in the Disneyland Today schedule. Confirm with City Hall as
to scheduled time. Best view and sound is from the walkway between
Fantasyland & Tomorrowland leading up to the Matterhorn.)
SWORD IN THE STONE CEREMONY:
Daily - 11:45 AM, 12:45, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 & 5:30 PM
(Show times may vary by 15 to 30 minutes. In front of the Fantasyland's
KING ARTHUR CAROUSEL at the Sword in the Stone. Please note that this event
is no longer listed in the Disneyland Today schedule. Confirm with City
Hall as to scheduled time.)
FLAG RETREAT CEREMONY:
Daily
(This event is no longer listed in the Disneyland Today schedule. Confirm
with City Hall as to scheduled time. Main St. Plaza in front of the Train
Station)
There is also live music performed all over the park with (among others)
the DL BAND, the COKE CORNER PIANIST (if it's Rod, you're in for a treat),
the BRASS BROTHERS, and the Tomorrowland Top 40 band(s). The TRASH CAN
TRIO, dons sweeper attire and does a percussion act with trash cans and
such. Performance schedules vary by season and park attendance.
STORYTELLING:
TINKERBELL TOY SHOP: Up to four times a day either the Alice, Cinderella
or Belle walk around characters sit on an antique chair in the Toy Shop
and host a story telling session for the little ones. Look for a small
sign near the Tinkerbell Toy Shop in Fantasyland for scheduled times.
AT ALADDIN'S OASIS: Up to five times a day (usually on the hour
beginning at 1 PM) the Aladdin and Jasmine walk around characters host
a storytelling session for the little ones in this former restaurant.
Look for a small sign near the entrance of this location in
Adventureland for scheduled times.
Both of these events, which right now seem to alternate, are a wonderful
idea! I always feel the Disney magic is best when it gets more personal
like this - and many of the kids leave with a delightful experience.
RESERVATIONS for THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE, THE BLUE BAYOU and the DISNEY
GALLERY'S FANTASMIC! balcony seating / dessert buffet may be made at
starting at time of park opening. (The BLUE BAYOU may sometimes open for
reservations in off-peak periods as late as 30 to 45 minutes after park
opening.) The advance reservations for the Disney Gallery's FANTASMIC!
seating, now taken in the Pirates exit walkway door adjacent to the BLUE
BAYOU are critical since they sell out regularly. Please check the section
detailing this event for new reservations location.
THE TIPS & TRICKS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DAY...
----------------------------
12) PLANNING AHEAD
----------------------------
For many people a day at DL only means long lines and never enough time to
see everything. If you are willing to invest a little time in planning your
day, you can see and do a good deal of the park, with time to relax and
enjoy this wonderful place. Listed below are some tips and tricks that can
make your visit one to treasure. (Keep in mind these tips are written for a
busy day, if you are visiting during the week or on off periods - it will
be much easier.) Please note that only selected key attractions have been
covered in detail in order to keep this document to a workable length.
PICK A GOOD DAY TO GO: Summer, ANY Saturday & holiday periods are usually
the busiest. Sundays (my vote!) are usually half the crowd, with a very
quiet morning but with all the entertainment and events that are available
on Saturdays / holidays. During the week attendance is much less than the
weekend, but usually (unless it's a holiday or Summer period) you don't get
any of the added shows or parades. DL has had quite an extra boost in
attendance lately due to many admission deals and constant promotions, so
keep that in mind also.
TIP: It's raining? Or you can only go alone? Go anyway! If it rains, the
crowds will be smaller, and even if they close the park early, there will
be few lines - if any - at all. (Just make sure to bring rain gear, it's
expensive there!) The only major loss during a rainy day is that any
outdoor shows and parades that may be normally scheduled will be canceled,
and a few outdoor rides, such as ALICE, DUMBO, the TEACUPS, and CASEY JR.,
will shut until the rain stops. Besides, if it really pours, you get to see
Main St. flood. Going alone is something everyone should try at least once
in their lives at DL. You will usually ride by yourself in most of the
attractions since CMs won't make you share a ride unit. Plus you can see
what you want to see when you want to see it. Fair warning, you may get
spoiled by this and never bring anyone else along again.
THINK BEFORE YOU DRESS: Three words - WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. The number
one medical complaint at DL is foot blisters from people who don't take
into account just how much walking and standing they will be doing all day.
Some folks even keep a pair of fresh shoes and socks in a locker or their
car to refresh their feet in the late afternoon before a long evening. Yes
the weatherman may have said it will be a nice day - but be prepared for
how cold it gets in Anaheim at night, even during the Summer! If you wear
shorts, bring along a pair of sweatpants you can keep in your car or locker
until evening. Also bring a warm jacket, FANTASMIC! for example can get
bitterly cold with the water mists that get blown over the crowds during
the show, and if you get wet during an evening ride on SPLASH MTN. you may
freeze the rest of the night.
We don't need to remind you how expensive theme park apparel items can be,
and face it, that Goofy sweatshirt is tough to justify as a fashion
statement anywhere outside of Anaheim or Orlando. Sunblock is also a good
idea since so much of DL is outdoors. Make sure you cover those spots that
burn easily, like the top of a bald head, tops of ears and arms, along with
your nose. Bring your own since it's expensive to buy there.
TIPS: Save money and buy your film / extra videotapes and batteries
beforehand. Gum is not sold anywhere in the resort due to the fact it gets
stuck everywhere, if you need some - bring it with you, and dispose of it
properly won't you?
Overheating - and need a moist towlette? Head over to the FESTIVAL OF FOODS
eating location (formerly BIG THUNDER BBQ) and go over to the end of the
chow line - you'll find a huge basket of them - so pocket a few for the day
as you need them. [Open seasonally]
CHILDREN UNDER 3: Awhile back on the RAD groups someone posted about what a
problem a smaller child might be during a DL visit. Lisa posted this
response, which she was kind enough to allow me to quote here:
"Our daughter, coming up on 3, is already a Disney veteran. She experienced
D-Land at 23 months and WDW at 30 months (thank frequent flyer miles...)
She *loved* Mickey and all the costumed cast members, Dumbo the Flying
Elephant & the Carousel (both parks), all of Mickey's Toontown and Mickey's
Starland that she was big enough for (the crawl/bounce/slide houses say
kids 3 and up but she was more than up to the challenge), she was just
crazy for the parades, and Fantasmic...
Of course, there was some planning involved. We made sure we wouldn't be
touring the parks during the busier seasons, and so we avoided interminable
waits in line. We made sure to go back to the room for a nap at lunch
(Disneyland) and arranged for a sitter several times at WDW. (I know, nice
if you can afford it. Next time we are going to try to travel with another
family and switch off babysitting.)
The point is, you as an adult can keep going long after the little one
should stop, and you have to accommodate that or everyone will be
miserable. (OTOH, at 12 months, our daughter would just fall asleep in
place and be just fine in our arms or a well sun-screened stroller, This
changes somewhat as they get older. :^0 )
Looks like my husband may have a business trip to Anaheim this year, and I
hope we can make it another family event. Our daughter definitely remembers
and talks about the previous visits. Disclaimers: I'll mention that we just
happen to be the lucky parents of a happy, fearless toddler.
It could certainly be different with a more shy or temperamental child.
This is definitely a YMMV situation, and I really don't have the experience
to say how a 12 month old would do in this situation. I can only say that I
don't agree with any generalizations and as for the business about waiting
until they are old enough to remember every "first", well, by the time our
daughter is 6, for all we know we could be living in Idaho with no frequent
flyer miles. Seize the day, rent a camcorder..." Thank you for your wise
posting Lisa!
Janna Nichols
[email protected] also answered on RAD.parks a posting about
taking your children in the off-season to avoid the heat and crowds of
summer. Basically the original question was "What do you do about taking
your kids out of school for a week (or whatever)?" Here's the nuggets of
wisdom she offered:
"Ah, I feel qualified to answer this one! I have four children, one in High
School, one in Junior High, and two in Elementary School. Taking your kids
out of school takes planning, but it can be done.
We have taken our children out of school almost every year for either a WDW
or a DL trip. There have never been any problems with the kids' teachers or
school administrators (although I thought there would be!) until this
year...in High School. Some classes just get too intense to be able to miss
them at this level. We also noticed our Junior High son had some trouble
catching up after we came back this year.
So, I think our days of taking the older ones out, are gone, sad to say.
However, I do not hesitate to still take the ones in Elementary school out.
We have NEVER had problems with that. Tips:
- Notify teachers about 2 weeks ahead of time. Arrange for your child(ren)
to start their makeup work BEFORE the trip. Coming home to piles of work
isn't too fun.
- Try not to tell your child(ren) about the trip until about a week ahead
of time. If you do, the time they spend in school, before the trip is shot
since they are so excited! :(
- Insist that your child do work (if they have it) on the plane/in the car
going *TO* WDW or DL. Once you are there, not much will get accomplished!
(at least we found that to be true of our kids) They just cant seem to
concentrate when on a Disney vacation!
- If your trip is planned to WDW, go heavy on the emphasis (when teachers
ask where you are going) that you are going to EPCOT! (oh, and I guess we
will visit the rest of WDW while we are there, too.) *smirk!*
- Our kids teachers have had them all keep journals, and got credit for
that also. Sometimes the kids have had to give a brief presentation to the
class of things they learned there, so 'educational chatter' between parent
and child is a good idea... so they can be prepared to tell what they have
seen and done, above and beyond what rides they went on. :)
Hope some of this is useful!
Thank you Janna, who by the way is proud owner of three FDC titles: FDC
Rolly, FDCMuck Rolly, and infamous FDC Churro Cart Vendor.
ARRIVE EARLY: Try to get there an hour before the park's announced opening
time. On busy days (weekends / holidays / Summer) DL may open anywhere from
60 to 30 minutes early. (Sometimes Main St. is opened to absorb crowds
until the official opening time too - a great time to get a cup of coffee
or a muffin if you need one.) If you are staying at the the DL Hotel or on
a Walt Disney Travel Co. package at a another local hotel, inquire about
the early entry "Magic Morning" that may be available to you. The park gets
its greatest influx of crowds in the hour just before and just after 12
noon. Getting there early also benefits you since you will be parked closer
to the entrance gates.
They've added a new "parking lot finder" to the kiosks that normally
feature the movie posters at each side of the gate - each section of the
parking lot that was utilized that day is shown on a plexiglass map, and
the arrival times for the cars in that area are written in with grease
pencil. By remembering what time you came into the lot - you should be able
to locate the parking section you were placed in.
USE DISNEYLAND TODAY: This full color combined attractions map / show
schedule will help keep you on track all day. It's available to you as you
enter thru the turnstile. Don't lose it! If you do, copies are available at
City Hall on Main St., and from some of the shops and Cast Members (CM's
for short) roaming the park. Also keep your ears open for the P.A. around
Main St. if they make any added show / event announcements as sometimes
this happens when crowds exceed estimates.
TIP: Just like in Florida, on busy days DL now maintains a board in the hub
area (across from the Plaza Pavilion restaurant between Main St. and
Adventureland) detailing wait times for all the most popular attractions.
Updated every 30 minutes by a host with a walkie-talkie this is a great way
to keep track of shorter lines as they pop-up during the day in the park.
The person manning this board also has extra show guides (also in other
languages) available for the asking. Keep checking the postings here so you
can plan for minimal wait times.
RIDE EARLY: Ride the DL mountain range (SPLASH, THUNDER, MATTERHORN, SPACE)
EARLY and then popular rides like PIRATES only if the lines are short.
Lines only grow longer for the mountain range as the day goes on. If you
are nimble, you can do most of them before 11 AM. The longest lines now are
for the new INDY ride, and after that SPLASH MTN.. Working it this way
allows you to see those smaller, quieter, and less crowded rides &
attractions (like CIRCLEVISION) where you can relax, from noon on, when the
heat, lines and crowds are at their peak.
RIDE LATE: It's a well known fact that your eyes tend to close up with
bright sunlight. Waiting until nightfall to ride INDY, PIRATES, HAUNTED
MANSION, SPLASH MTN. and IT'S A SMALL WORLD reveals more detail in these
dimly lit attractions. BIG THUNDER MTN. and the MATTERHORN at night make it
hard to see where you are going on these coasters, increasing the thrill.
THE SPIRIT OF POCAHONTAS show at the Fantasyland Theater, showcases
terrific theatrical lighting effects best after dark.
TIP: Save STAR TOURS for the end of your day. For some reason, (Efficient
loading? The thrill has worn off?) this line ALWAYS diminishes as the
evening goes on. If the line ends right at, or inside the entrance door,
you have about a 20 minute wait, perfect for taking in all the detail in
the pre-show area. This evening line "wind-down" also applies to INDY,
along with IT'S A SMALL WORLD, SNOW WHITE'S SCARY ADVENTURES, PINOCCHIO'S
DARING JOURNEY and most of ToonTown's attractions, probably because the
younger set goes home early.
AVOID the first performances of any shows or parades, as they are the most
heavily attended. AVOID the Frontierland / New Orleans Square train station
as it is always the most crowded, with the Tomorrowland station coming in
second. (The ToonTown station is the least crowded.)
TIP: Want to ride the Monorail and avoid a long line? Exit the park (after
getting your hand stamped of course), and take the shuttle tram over to the
DL Hotel. After visiting the hotel, you can board the monorail there to
return to Tomorrowland. You'll miss the trip over the parking lot (big
deal), but you'll still get to sight-see from the winding track inside the
park. (If the line to board DOES gets long at the hotel, you'll still get
to wait in the shade, which you can't do in the park.)
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Anyone can ride the monorail round-trip at the hotel for
$3 - without having to buy a Park admission. It's a nice way to peek into
DL without having to pay for the whole day. Tickets are sold only at the
hotel ticket booths.
TIP: If you need a cocktail, (and few don't after a day full of kamikaze
strollers and screaming kids) the Hotels are the only place that offer
them. (Not cheap.)
A GOOD PLAN OF ATTACK: When the park opens- AVOID Indy first, because
almost everyone makes a bee-line for it, and since it usually is open for
the Magic Morning crowd it already has a line when the park opens to the
general public. If you wait to ride during a parade or just before closing,
that's when they usually post a 90 minute or less wait time, which usually
means an actual 50 minute wait. The only day this may not work is on a Fri.
when the park opens late into the evening - since most arrivals on that day
hit the park after 2 PM, and the line only begins to grow until closing.
The plan: If you want to reserve the FANTASMIC! Dessert Buffet go to the
Disney Gallery first then - 1) Head over and ride SPLASH MTN., (You should
make your BLUE BAYOU reservation on the way over or back), 2) Ride
"Pirates," 3) Ride "Big Thunder Mtn.," 4) Do the HAUNTED MANSION, 5) Head
over to TOONTOWN and ride ROGER RABBIT'S CAR-TOON SPIN, and possibly do the
MATTERHORN either on the way there or back. That should complete your
morning. Save INDY and STAR TOURS for dinner time or during a show or
parade. (Keep parade and show times in mind while making reservations so
you won't miss anything.)
Don't be afraid to keep checking lines all day either as most times parades
or shows draw off enough guests to allow lines to shorten. The ONLY rides
guaranteed to have a long line ANYTIME you try to go are: PETER PAN (It's
my favorite too...), MR. TOAD, DUMBO, INDY, ROGER RABBIT, GADGET'S GO
COASTER, AUTOPIA (both of them), the MATTERHORN and both SPACE & SPLASH
MTNS.
LONGEST LINE / SHORTEST RIDE?: GADGET'S GO-COASTER in TOONTOWN wins hands
down at up to a 45 minute busy day wait for a 50 second load/ride cycle.
Second longest line is the ANNUAL PASSHOLDER renewal line at the Bank of
Main St. ;)
SHORTEST LINE / LONGEST RIDE?: PIRATES during a FANTASMIC! performance,
everybody gets so involved in the show the ride sits empty.
--------------------------------------------
13) PHOTO WITH MICKEY / CHARACTERS
--------------------------------------------
CATCHING MICKEY: Want a photo with the head cheese himself and don't want
to crawl over acres of strollers and fight camcorder-crazy parents to get
to him? Head over to Mickey's ToonTown in the evening hours when the crowds
thin out and visit Mickey's house. At the end (after watching a few cartoon
trailers) you will be ushered into a room as a small group and get a chance
to meet and take photos with Mickey. A CM there will gladly help with your
camera so you can all get in the shot. So civilized. There are four Mickeys
actually, in four different outfits and "movie set" rooms: a) FANTASIA, b)
BAND CONCERT, c) STEAMBOAT WILLIE, and d) THROUGH THE MIRROR. Three of the
rooms are hidden behind movable shelves full of film cans before you enter,
so you don't get to choose since not all Mickeys may be available at the
time of your visit. Collect them all! (Mickey also appears for up close
photos on Main St. near the Opera House, and from a distance climbing the
MATTERHORN on weekends just before he appears in the parade, and in the
FANTASMIC! show.)
NEW MICKEY & ME, POOH & PRINCESS PHOTOS: Photos with Mickey may also be
taken for you by a DL photographer when you visit Mickey in his house,
Pooh over in CRITTER COUNTRY, or any of the Disney Princesses over the
in ALPINE GARDENS area between the entrances of Tomorrowland and
Fantasyland.
They are developed while you enjoy the rest of your day at DL and then
may picked up as you exit the park at the souvenir stand next to the
Bank of Main St. Ask the CM attending to your visit with Mickey for
details, prices run $10 for a 5x7" or $15 for an 8x10" photo.
You are not obligated to purchase the photos if you don't like them -
and if you wish you may try several visits and then choose between the
different shots before you leave DL for good, as they are kept on file
for a few days. (Un-sold photos are recycled.)
CHARACTER PHOTOS: There several areas during the day where you can
almost always count on finding Characters to take photos with:
1) In front of GREAT MOMENTS WITH MR. LINCOLN.
2) The area around the hub from Main St. to the
TOMORROWLAND entrance.
3) TOONTOWN.
4) FANTASYLAND (Princesses in the Castle courtyard).
5) FRONTIERLAND (Chip, Dale & Goofy in front of the Riverboat
landing).
6) CRITTER COUNTRY (Pooh & Friends).
7) BIG THUNDER RANCH (Hunchback).
All locations will usually be totally mobbed, with characters clearing
out just before parades to avoid congestion. At night you will usually
only find characters available at the first three listed locations.
ALSO: Deactivated AUTOPIA cars are placed outside of the Autopia queues
for photo opps. If those cars are too modern for you, a MR. TOAD ride
unit is now parked outside of his attraction for photos - nice! A DUMBO
ride unit is placed behind the ride for photos also. There is a
POCAHONTAS photo area near the Fantasyland Stage.
CHARACTERS TODAY is a new section that has been added to the DISNEYLAND
TODAY brochure given to you when you enter the park. Be sure to take a
look at it for details as to where and when specific favorites may be
located in the park at that day. A nice new addition!
CHARACTER MEALS, (at the park and hotels) where you can meet, greet and
take photos are detailed in the MEALS section of this guide.
THE BIG RIDES AND SHOWS, AND HOW TO BEST SEE THEM...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
14) INDIANA JONES ADVENTURE - TEMPLE OF THE FORBIDDEN EYE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
INDY is DL's newest thrill ride. If you can imagine the STAR TOURS
simulator technology built into a jeep and driving you along inside of a
detailed Pirates-type of attraction at bumpy MATTERHORN speed, then you'll
have a pretty good idea of what all the excitement is about. You'll even be
amazed at the work they put in the line, since you will be walking through
a queue with extremely detailed movie-type settings and interactive
elements throughout. (There are even booby-traps that can set off by
touching or grabbing things that signs tell you not to.) Ride sponsor AT&T
no longer provides everyone with a souvenir wallet card at the entrance to
keep you busy decoding all the wall writings and carvings - so see the
section BRING DL HOME for details on getting the Mara font for your own
computer so you can create your own decoder.
When you reach the massive high-ceiling boarding area, you'll load onto a
Jeep-like military Hummer-type 12 passenger "troop transport" which takes
you inside an ancient jungle temple, where you are warned NOT to look into
the eyes of the goddess Mara. Since of course it is impossible for anyone
to avoid this due to those clever Imagineers' design, all hell breaks loose
as the goddess wreaks all sorts of havoc making for a very wild, almost
brutal, chase inside the temple. (Although it only supposedly travels at 12
MPH, the stunning hydraulic effects help to simulate speeds of up to 60
MPH.) BEWARE - this is the most turbulent ride Disney has ever created, it
can make STAR TOURS and the MATTERHORN seem very tame. If you have back or
neck problems, stay away, it's merciless.
Notably this is also the first time an amusement park ride has been
programmed like a video game, with many event variations. You'll drive each
time through one of three different doors, and each vehicle has then also
been programmed to move and react differently in where and how it delays,
stalls, bucks or turns over the same track in the three-and-a-half minute
ride. Even Indy himself will have one of several different things to say to
you each of the times you see him. There really are some great illusions
here, (if you're not just holding on for dear life) and for the first time
this ride also lets you actually FEEL some of those special effects that up
until now have only been seen on the big screen. This is simply an amazing
new ride experience. Whatever you do at DL, don't miss it.
Even with a top loading speed of about 2400 people an hour (more than
"Pirates"), this ride gets quickly swamped with huge lines in the mornings.
It is best to AVOID this attraction first thing in the day - and use the
time to ride all the other empty attractions in that area of the park. Save
riding Indy for the lull that comes during parade or show times, or even
better yet, just before the park closes. Thankfully the line moves quickly,
so you won't have time to get bored. (Currently during peak times the line
starts thru the middle of Frontierland, snakes and then wraps back and
forth on the hub between Adventureland and Frontierland, wraps a couple of
times again in the entrance to Adventureland across from the Tiki Room,
snakes through and wraps in Adventureland -- with moderated breaks to allow
"Fantasmic!" and other crowds through -- and finally, but not always, into
its own proper waiting area in front of the temple.)
TIP: Keep in mind that because this ride is new, you can expect breakdowns
(of about 20 to 30 minutes - this has been improving lately). Best advice
here is to keep waiting, since they are up and running very quickly for the
most part. Also they are posting much longer waiting times in order to keep
crowds short, sometimes estimating waits 30 minutes longer than they actually
take. If you see a 90 minute wait time scheduled, go for it, it will be about
an hour.
-------------------
16) SHOWS
-------------------
FANTASMIC! This is simply one of the most dazzling shows DL has ever
produced. It's huge, (with a cast of over 50, and a support staff of over
150) and bone-rattling loud in its use of special effects. In a word, it's
22 minutes of WOW! I won't spoil it for you by telling you any more. Keep
in mind that the first show is ALWAYS over-crowded, with some silly souls
staking out seats at 5 PM for a 9 PM show. (Most people will end their DL
day after this performance, which is why you should do all of the
attractions in the Adventureland / Frontierland / New Orleans Square /
Critter Country part of the park early in the day to avoid this mess.) The
first show is also the one most prone to glitches, i.e. effects not
working, fireworks not lighting, boats missing cues, etc. (complex is the
operative word here). Usually problems are fixed by the following show. It
will be canceled if winds are high or if it rains, listen for announcements
at river's edge during these kind of conditions.
----- END [FAQ/DL] D-I-G: The Disneyland Information Guide 3/7 -----
