MadasaHatter, Oreictas, and XMAStime at Disneyland 2011

[MadasaHatter]

WHO: MadasaHatter, Melody, Helga and daughter Drake(age 13) Longtime friend and daughter like a niece to me!
WHEN: Friday and Saturday 18 &19.
HOTELS: Holiday Inn and Anaheim Hilton by the Convention Center
FLIGHT: Virgin America
WHERE: um....Disneyland and DCA
HOW: In the best holiday finery of course.
WHY: um....Disnelyand??? And of course Drakes first big competition in IRISH DANCING....you know the high stepping River Dance thingy!

THURSDAY 17th. Travel day. Helga and Drake where coming from the ROCKY MTNs. So they were already there. I got off work and headed to SFO and got a nice dinner and got on aero-plane and headed to LAX. Virgin doesn't fly to THE OC anymore and that is really bumming me out. Maybe time for another carrier to Disneyland! I got a reservation on a PRIME TIME SHUTTLE.....never ever ever again....shady lady this company.....there was a couple from SF also trying to get to the GCH to have dinner with their daughter and grandkids and asked how long the shuttle would take. Quoted as 45 minute or less IF no traffic. They asked after the Disneyland Express bus and I agreed that the shuttle would be quicker if it was indeed coming. BIG MISTAKE. They looped twice standard and ended up picking up a couple with WAY too much luggage and they crammed them into the middle seat (I was in the back) Not enough room not enough seat belts. Then they proceeded to take them somewhere NOWHERE near Anaheim. A 90 minute cramped uncomfortable shuttle ride. The couple was quite perturbed and I don't blame them. Very shady and I wish I would have waited for the Disneyland Express also. I met Helga and Drake for a drink.....they insisted but it was late. I stayed at a different Hotel because they had to get up at 5.a.m to get her ready for her first competition. Helga had asked when they should go to the park or parks. They had both been twice with me for the long gay day weekend so they weren't newbies. They were both VERRRRY excited to see itsasmallworld holiday.....and the XMAS decorations. She was dancing twice on Friday and if she got called back she would dance again and then a ceremony that night. On Saturday she was dancing 8 HANDS with a group first thing in the morningISH and then if they placed she would have to attend the ceremony at 5:30 so I suggested going on SATURDAY with only DL admission. Of course Helga bought BOTH parks......(mistake....more later.) I was staying at the HOLIDAY INN NW of Disneyland near the DLH and they of course were WAY far away behind DCA so I took a cab back to my hotel and went to bed right away. YAWN! I was going to get up and get into the park at 8am and await a text from Helga so I could see Drake dance. Very excited about Disneyland of course but also to support Drake!

FRIDAY 18th.

Up early. Grabbed a coffee made rope drop and did STARTOURS!!!! Okay here goes the famous MadReview.....I have now ridden it enough to have experienced all trips. I finally did the ICE PLANET....Hoth I think....not a big StarWars fan clearly. Love the ride though BUT.....and I did say.....BUT.......kinda big BUT.....some of the trips are much better than others. Some are fun. Others are really cool and one of the endings is awesome!!!! So if you ride it once and get an OK trip you may not ride it again. If you ride it once and get an AWESOME trip you may ride it again and get an OK trip....just saying. I still think the queue is awesome. I could watch the droid scan luggage all day. Wish it were located in a better viewing point.

I couldn't wait. The park was so goshdarned festive that I had to ride iasw. Not crowded at all that early and I rode on my OWN boat. All alone. Just me. That was a first time experience. The new giant snowman in the finale room was awesome and well.....just so festive. Loved it. And lots of holiday smells this year. SO CUTE>

THen I rode the Matterhorn. No wait at all. How could I not??? Looking forward to a serious refurb of that ride. It just needs some pixie dust on a lot of places and the new cars should be interesting. But always a blast from the past. I feel like Walt is there. Sorry for getting all hippy dippy but I think y'all know what I mean!

Got the text from Helga. Lots of drama. Drake was taught the wrong routines by her teachers for her age group and had to learn new ones in the morning. Suffice to say....she did good but they were super behind and spent the whole morning waiting and waiting and waiting. WE finally got out and she picked the restaurant.....CHEESCAKE FACTORY which is my least favorite place to go but I got a burger and it was fine. They got highly mediocre apps but they loved them so all was well.

Went back to the park in the afternoon after a nap and SM was still closed. IT was closed all day Friday. SO went to INDY....closed....So just sort of wandered around. Too late to ride the MAIN ST. VEHICLES so I did get on BTMRR to at least ride something! Went and saw BILLY HILL and they were awesome. As always. When he announced they were doing the PUDDLE PRANCE I immediately thought Drake and Helga need to see them on Saturday. I could sit through BILLY's Many times. They were awesome. So my afternoon was not wasted! When the crowds got to be too much I went back over to the hotel and hung out with Drake and Helga....not much Disneytime but it was still cool. Spent lots of time in the parks on SATURDAY....more on that later gotta go to work!

[MadasaHatter]

FRIDAY THE 18TH

I did go back into the parks at night after I left Helga and Drake who were exhausted having got up at 5:30a.m. I did get to catch

THE CASTLE CEREMONY- That is awesome and you should plan to do that sometime in your trip. The voice over is a bit disturbing though. The kid is actually cute (I usually think the kids in VO are very treacly and sickening) but the Female voice sounds like the EVIL QUEEN disguising her voice and her over enunciation is ....well....over enunciated. I felt like I was being spit upon on the P's! Such a shame. But the castle was awesome and then it snowed! So since I didn't get the fireworks I got some snow! The lines were pretty crazy so I know I didn't ride much that night but just enjoyed the sights and sounds and smells. I had a FP for HMH and rode that again even though I knew that I would ride it with the gals. I got some hot chocolate and that was very tasty. I had bought coffee that morning at the GENERAL STORE and saved my receipt but the coffee at D-land is just so bad I couldn't even purchase a FREE ONE! Oh the humanity. I wanted to ride the Matterhorn at night but it was crazy busy so I just soaked in the sights and sounds. I had not even made it over to DCA and I was thinking of checking out the construction etc as the gals wouldn't really be into that!

[MadasaHatter]

SATURDAY THE 19TH

Okay, Drake was dancing the second event and even though she was one of the first groups we now know how behind this whole OREICTAS thingy is! So I am more confident I get a solid morning in Disneyland! Plus I have a strategy...you gotta have a strategy. We have WOC picnic lunches so I know we are going to get to see that. The plan was WOC, FIREWORKS, FANTASMIC...So....I get my stuff together and check out of the hotel and make sure I am in the park before it opens so I can get a locker. I put my stuff in the locker including my coat. I was already warm. TEN BUCKS!!! BUt at least I have a locker for ALL DAY.... Cram it on in.

I get in for rope drop again and head straight to the FP for STAR TOURS....I get one.....Then I go and ride STAR TOURS....I think this is when I had the awesome awesome ending. Then I head out to see if SM is open....Drake would be really sad if it was closed. It was open. Since I didn't ride it the day before I figure it would be cool to ride twice in a day (turns out to be a great move). Then I get off of that and really am jonesing for some coffee. Now the day prior I just had some crappy coffee and nothing to eat and that was dumb so today I am not going to make that mistake and get the famous Cinnamon Rolls at the Bakery. Crazy long line so I decide to ride a Main St. Vehicle and still a crazy long line so I just wait. I get a cinnamon roll and go eat it on the porch across the street and drink my Cappucino which is also just ok but a far sight better than the coffee. The roll is all right but way too big so the cinnamon portion to the bread is way off and the icing is good but not great. Should be split I think but I stick the whole thing in my gob!

Now it is time to get ANOTHER FP for STAR TOURS.....part of my strategy.....oh and Helga texted me and said they were behind with the boys solo dancing. GO FIGURE.....more DL Time so I get on the Monorail as it is not very full and I want to do a round trip tour of the park. Was great seeing the construction in DCA and now I am jonesing to go to DCA but will have to be patient. Get back to Disneyland and really enjoy seeing everything go.

ANd then there it is......AUTOPIA.....Mouseplanet's favorite debate! Loathed and loved by many. Tinklover says the outside track is the best so that is then the one that I shall try. I followed the queue with my eyes and kept to the left. THe gal in front of me got a purple car.....D'oh!!!!.....she scored.....I get a camel pee yellow car.....Really? What's wrong with Sunshine Yellow? The teen or young man gets out of the car and I ask if it was a good trip and he says it is a stupid ride (one vote against) but I have been looking at the kids in the queue and cars and I counted at least 30 ELATED faces so from shear crowd projections the AYS have it. Also they don't allow alcohol in the parks and I tell you I think I got high waiting for the ride. I was a little dizzy but it wasn't a good high....but high nonetheless so I suppose there IS that factor! I read somewhere that the pedals are hard and cramped. I had no problem with the pedals. I am amazed at how fast the car stops when you take your foot off of the pedal. It is actually a pretty long ride and it is a pretty cool view. It would be much more fun with a kid driving that is for sure but I liked it and I vote to keep it and I also vote on a change of cars to electric or magnetic or SOMETHING a little less toxic. It was fun. A lot of CMs to staff that puppy!

Then I go to buy them their XMAS presents. I see the ear hat this year is GINGER BREAD MICKEY with PEPPERMINT swirl ears. Could you just die!!! I want one too but those things are way to expensive and I am already buying two AND I have my really cool Mickey Mouse Santa ears on so I take a pass. I go to the MAD HATTER on Main ST. OF COURSE I DO! And I see no gingerbread ones!!!! WHat the.....they tell me they have them at emporium. Hmmmmmm. Strange that a store that ONLY carries ear hats doesn't have the full line....So I go and decide to get one GINGERBREAD and one SANTA ears which isn't as cute as it is Santa's Belt. But IT has a jingle bell !!......what???....no embroidery.........but I can go back to Mad Hatter and get it embroidered.....Ok.......no problem.......what?........I can't get the Santa hat embroidered because of the BELT!......and what in the heck is a belt doing on your head anyway.....isn't that a little strange.......Ok........hey Emporium,.......sorry but can I exchange this Santa Belt Ear Hat for another gingerbread.....oh, great , yeah......thanks......hey Mad Hatter people......I'm back......no discount on embroidery???.....Ok......no problem......why is that???( I am also wondering )but I'm not angry just think it is strange.......and boy do they look cute.......Helga has a XMAS COOKIE party every year so this was the right choice!

Ok, Now I get the text that they are in the room so bring my stuff on over. So I walk on over with my stuff leaving my jacket in the locker. She dances and boy does she dance great with her group. They are a C group as they have only been dancing together for a short while. Her school almost always takes a first place in many events so they also have an A group and a B group. They all compete together. No call backs but if she gets an award she has to return that evening in full makeup, wig and dress......her Mom whispers she hopes she doesn't place and I think to myself how flawless their performance is.....I think you can guess what happens. SO we hightail it to the room and gather our stuff...two gals.....quite the effort. Since we have a locker Helga brings way too much stuff. Gals. Helga yells at Drake to not forget her Ear Hat that Uncle Hatter bought her and not be such an ingrate....they love them by the by!.....so we get on a shuttle and it is packed we have to stand......and Helga complains all the way over there how itchy and icky her ear hat is and when we get to the locker she is very upset that she wants to leave it and keeps telling me how much she loves it and me and Drake really just find this amusing and slightly annoying only because she is infringing on our DL time but it is great poking fun fodder so the Hat goes in the locker.....

Now keep in mind that it is 12:30 and the park is packed to the gills. SO we go and get the gals on STAR TOURS......Helga gets very upset that I am not going with them. I assured her that I went twice already and that the line is 90 minutes . THe 90 minute wait makes her happy to have a FP and I take the tickets and go and get a SM fast past for them and they are already not returning until 5:00! So that was a great move! They really like the new ride. NOW WHAT NO WHAT they scream at the tour guide.....and since iasw was closed on Helga's last trip and it is all Christmasy I say let's do iaswH. SO we do! Helga literally loses it. Loses it. THat is the best ride ever. Ever. She proclaims she just wants to ride that all day and Drake rolls her eyes! Oh Drake remembered that Pinocchio was her favorite ride in FL so we rode that and SWSA the other lines were long and I took them through the CASTLE which they had never done. THey really dug that. BOth of the gals say they are really hungry but I let them know we need another FP at all cost before leaving the park to get our WOC picnic lunches. SO we ride BTMRR....it says it is a 25 minute wait but we waited longer....not much but longer. Great ride. We also decide to ride SPLASH the last thing so no FP and then if we get wet back to the hotel room! Restroom break and TIME....got get the HMH FPs and the line is super long to get in at that time so the gals are very happy about the FPs. OKAY.....off to DCA...we head on in and Helga loves arts and crafts (her house is Arts and Crafts) so she loves the look of the new DCA.....WE got in and immediately get a SOARIN' FP. Then head to get the lunches. Helga claimed she would NOT share her lunch of cheese and antipasti and DRAKE and I are sharing our lunches of that and the veggie options. Helga goes to get wine. SHe has also bought a cheese plate when we return?????? Are you nuts. Yes. WE are going to plugged for weeks. SHe asks to share. WE do not relent. I have a second glass of wine. We are having a great time. We hit LITTLE MERMAID. OK, I love that ride. Even on a busy day the queue moves so fast and the animatronics are amazing as Helga and Drake commented on Ursula. Really cute! They fixed the Ariel during UNDER THE SEA so it doesn't look like ALIEN is coming out of her belly. The call comes. They placed! They beat the B team. The awards are at 5:30. It is about 3:00 now and we tell Drake not to freak that they are always behind. We are all very excited. So we go ride Screamin' The wait was only 30 minutes. So we don't do the single rider and it seems more like 40 minutes. WE get off the coaster and Drake is really freaking about getting back. I bring up the point that they were already wayyyyy behind. THen we realize they have to get the stuff out of the locker anyway! SO back to DL. I ask Drake if she wants me to be at the ceremony because I will come or I can get FPs with their tickets! She opts for FPs. OF course I can only get them for DL since when they leave they cannot go into DCA. No problem. Really the only ones we needed were INDIANA JONES as we had HMH and SM and rode the other FPs with the plan to get on Splash at close. So off they go.

Now I also was going to meet my SoCal buddy Melody at some point so that was also a consideration. I was bummed that I didn't get to see much music on this trip. The Miner 49ers and the MARIACHI DIVAS are always a must see but now I am sort of stuck in DL. SO I go and get our INdy FPs and then start to go to DCA when what do I stumble upon but the FLAG CEREMONY! I DO get to see the DAPPER DANS after all and I am not the most patriotic dude but I think that ceremony is pretty darn amazing. I love all the Veterans that step up and if you have never seen it give it a go! What a treat. I can't leave now so I duck into the Main St. Cinema and watch some of those new fangled motion picture shows....they say they are going to replace vaudeville but I don't know about that.... I have to check out the castle again...... The crowds are getting crazy for the parade and since I didn't bring my earplugs(that song drives me Madder than a Hatter) so I start to leave when I spot the Ragtime pianist. I have only seen him once with the Dapper Dans. SO I sit next to a couple where I can see him jamming on the keys. I don't know why the piano faces that way??? Watching his fingers fly is amazing. There was a cheerleader pre parade that came out of nowhere and the look on Alan(that was his name)'s face was hilarious. He was like....breacktime! So I had a nice little chat with him and the pre-parade ended quickly so he finished up. Very cool. So I actually was feeling pretty darn good about my music selections this trip despite the loss of the 49ers and Divas.....

The Parade starts. I hightail it outta there. It is 5:30. I get a text from Melody.....traffic terrible on my way and Helga....Ceremony really delayed can we change our WOC 8-to the 9:15???. SO I head over to DCA and kick around the Paradise Pier and TSMM is out of control long. SO I ride Silly Symphony Swings. The new theming on that is AWESOME and the view of the Park is awesome. Melody calls. We grab her picnic lunch and I get a cocktail in the lounge above the BLUE SKY CELLARS> Melody is WIPED OUT so begs off a drink. IT is now around6:30. The ceremony has not started. WE walk catch up and around 7:15 we go to look for one of Melody's students (she knows tons of park CMs being a music teacher) who is working the WOC to see if we can swap 9:15 WOC passes. WE don't find him. The ceremony has started. They tell us to watch the WOC if we can't swap them but we have both seen it and don't really care either way. So we go ride TSMM. The wait is 40 minutes but what do we care. The wait ends up being a solid hour. But we love that ride. WOC has already started so we just kick around the PP and slowly start heading out of the park when we get the call that the gals are on their way. WE meet them in the front as I have their tickets. So it is now 8:45. They would rather see FANTASMIC then try to get into WOC and ride rides in DL and DCA ( That is why I told Helga to NOT get the DCA tickets but ......oh well) We go into DCA and Drake can pick one ride. But she wants to ride Soarin, TOT and TSMM.....choose one! The park closes in 15 minutes. SHe OF COURSE chooses TSMM at the back of the park so Melody and I say give us your SOARIN' FP and we will meet you when you are done. We head over to DL. Helga just wants to ride iasw but we have FP for HMH so we go on that and Melody is going to TRY and save us a space for F! Not a huge crowd! But it takes forever DOWNSTAIRS to get on the Doom Buggies and they stop like 5 times on the one ride. But we make it back to see F! and Melody has been taking up a lot of space is kind of panicking! I am tall so tell the gals to skooch up with Melody. They of course LOOOOOVED F! Deemed it a huge success. So now it is 10:45 and time is of the essence. Drake wants to do SM and Storybook. ANd Helga is exhausted and says no more loud or roller coasters so Melody and Drake do SM and Helga and I do iaswH again. We get to see the show on the front of the ride. Actually when we walked up the whole ride was powered down and dark so the lights came back up in 5 minutes and that was awesome. Then the light show started while we were waiting and Helga loooooved that too. It is pretty awesome. We met the other two and rode the STORY BOOK boats. SO now it is about 11:45 ish so I say shall we end on SPLASH or try INDY.....and Drake and Helga proclaim they cannot walk another step and want to go. So we all get CHili Dogs and Hot chocolate and Helga buys her Husband a new Grumpy T-Shirt. WE walk back to the hotel pass out. I wake up. Pack. Get on the Disneyland Express. Go home to SF. THe end. Whew.

[houseofmouse]

My friend and her daughter were there for Oriectas as well and did DL. Sounds like fun!! She dances for Martin Percival.

[MadasaHatter]

My friend and her daughter were there for Oriectas as well and did DL. Sounds like fun!! She dances for Martin Percival.

Cool. From Colorado too? I guess Denver and Colorado Springs have loads of Irish Dancing!

[candles71]

Great report, but you do know that the passes once activated for the day at either park are then good in FP machines in both parks? This was asked and verified when WOC premiered. You can send a FP runner from one park into the other and they do work. (Unless I misunderstood what you said. :p)

[MadasaHatter]

So I could have taken their passes over to DCA and got FPs for them even though they did not go into the gate??? It wouldn't have mattered anyway and I sort of was seeing that so it wasn't a big deal as the only one we didn't have was TOT.....but good to know....

[houseofmouse]

Yup Mad, tons of Colorado girls Irish dance. I love watching Hard shoe the most. :)
On the pass subject if they are not activated at all, you cannot get Fast Passes. Has anyone tried to get fast passes when say you only have been to DL and try at DCA.

[candles71]

This was the example HoM. You and your family/party (whatever) go into DL in the morning, everyones ticket has been activated at a turnstyle. Then 10 am rolls around and yes you can send one FP runner to DCA to get FPs. Whether they be WOC or ToT..... As long as they have been activated at a Turnstyle.
Hatter, I got that it didn't matter in the end, but figured you would like clarification for future use. ;)

[houseofmouse]

sorry Candles, I misread what you posted. I read it as you or someone had just asked and were given an answer, not actually accomplished the goal. :) My bad. Good info to know.

Hatter, how long of a drive is it from SF to DL?

[MadasaHatter]

It's been a long time since I drove but it is about 7 hours going pretty much non stop if my addled brain recalls.

[candles71]

That sounds about right Hatter. We are technically a bit North of you (across the state), it takes us about 8 hours.

[Tink Lover]

Hi there, Sir Mad! Glad to see you posting another great trip report, in the typical style I've grown so fond of ...

Uncle Hatter, hahaha, I love that! How lucky Drake is to have you! You sure treat your kinfolk well ... though come to think of it, I don't think I've seen you mention the TEA CUPS very often if at all on those visits, I'd think that might be a ritual for you ... One of my favorite pix of the teacups has a picture of you (? or somebody impersonating you?) as just a bit of a speck in the crowd, as you are watching the teacups in action. At first I couldn't see you in the crowd, but then I did, and now the subtlety of your presence just tickles me ... maybe I can hunt up a link to that pic, I'm not sure ...

Anyhoo, reading this particular report reminds me of that cartoon where you see a guy talking to a dog in one panel, and then you see what the dog "hears" in the other one: blah, blah, blah, good dog, blah, blah, blah, Fido, blah, blah, blah, dinner. Have you read that one? For me, *this* report was kind of ... blah, blah, blah, AUTOPIA, blah, blah, blah ... I was so curious to find out what your experience was going to be! ... and dreading what I would do if you HATED it, lol.



ANd then there it is......AUTOPIA.....Mouseplanet's favorite debate! Loathed and loved by many. Tinklover says the outside track is the best so that is then the one that I shall try. I followed the queue with my eyes and kept to the left. THe gal in front of me got a purple car.....D'oh!!!!.....she scored.....I get a camel pee yellow car.....Really? What's wrong with Sunshine Yellow? The teen or young man gets out of the car and I ask if it was a good trip and he says it is a stupid ride (one vote against) but I have been looking at the kids in the queue and cars and I counted at least 30 ELATED faces so from shear crowd projections the AYS have it. Also they don't allow alcohol in the parks and I tell you I think I got high waiting for the ride. I was a little dizzy but it wasn't a good high....but high nonetheless so I suppose there IS that factor! I read somewhere that the pedals are hard and cramped. I had no problem with the pedals. I am amazed at how fast the car stops when you take your foot off of the pedal. It is actually a pretty long ride and it is a pretty cool view. It would be much more fun with a kid driving that is for sure but I liked it and I vote to keep it and I also vote on a change of cars to electric or magnetic or SOMETHING a little less toxic. It was fun. A lot of CMs to staff that puppy!


So it sounds like you were able to follow my crazy directions, and made it to the outside queue. But I guess Drake couldn't make it with you, huh? That's too bad, but I guess it's really "too good" because she was doing so well in her competition. I guess I'd have mixed feelings being in such a competition AT DISNEYLAND of all places. On the one hand, such a great place to go for a trip, but on the other hand, you are almost punished for doing *well* because that means less time in the parks. And she not only did well, she had to learn a whole new routine from scratch? Pretty impressive. Did you chat with her at all about Autopia and how she likes it? And about the weird mission you were on to investigate it? :fez::cool:

I love the fact you were watching all the kids in the line and noticing their excitement. It's funny the things we normally notice versus the things we normally don't. Maybe that's my gift to you, getting you to notice the kids in Autopia a bit more, in exchange for you getting me way more excited to notice the musicians all around the park.

Funny how you "check out" the car that you're going to ride, whether or not "it's a good one" before you get in it. I think we all do that, it's nice that you can laugh about getting "a camel pee yellow car" - actually, it shows your depth of recognition as an artist, I don't think I could recognize that particular shade myself :p, but it's such a great description.

I also kind of love that you got to experience a teenager who hated the ride on the trip - the full "circle of life". I'm convinced, there is something about finally getting the *real* driver's license that toggles the "attitude toward Autopia switch" in that age group, all of a sudden it becomes a "dumb ride for babies". Human nature is fascinating. I pretty much felt the exact same way myself until I became a parent, and then I started to see the ride so differently. I guess the toggle switch must gets toggled back around that time, :-)

The leg cramping would be less for you because you are tall and driving your own vehicle. There is something contortion-like that you have to do when you sit next to a kid who cannot reach the pedal, it's not quite so bad when you are driving your own car. I think my DD always sat on my left when we shared a car - I think that's how it has to be because of the steering wheel. Using my left foot to press the gas felt "weird" because it's normally the brake foot - using it for the gas just feels *wrong* - and also was difficult as I recall (maybe my left foot is out of shape, lol). So I think I'd end up trading off and also using my right foot sometimes too, but since the pedal was "to the left" of where I was sitting, using my right foot to press the gas pedal meant I had to stretch over using muscles that I don't normally use with a certain amount of pressure to get the dang pedal to stay down. It's difficult to explain, but it was hard! I'm 5 7 myself, not exactly a midget, but it was still a bit of a relief when DD was tall enough so she could reach the pedal on her own. Yes, the car "responds" pretty well to the gas pedal - take your foot of the gas, and you stop right then. But some of the cars "respond" less well to the steering wheel, sadly, so little kids trying their best to "drive well" have to experience banging into that track-thingy that ensures that the care stays on the road, even when it's not really "the driver's fault".

Again, enjoyed your report. Thank you for taking some time to re-experience Autopia and share your thoughts!

ETA: OMG! OMG! I found the picture ... check it out (http://www.flickr.com/photos/coreydorsey/4747297488/in/set-72157614395100025) You look so very handsome!

[MadasaHatter]

Whew....I was getting worried that you wouldn't post anything there TINK LOVER.....It was the big debate over AUTOPIA that got me thinking about it. Had to try it so I could weigh in on the issue. OF COURSE I noticed the kids because that is what the whole thread was about. SO excited to ride that ride. There is nothing wrong with having a ride for kids at Disneyland and for all of those who don't like it they should be happy that the crowd there is making their wait for SM or POTC etc. a lot less. Sheesh people.

As for my screen name. I love ALICE IN WONDERLAND. DREAM CHILD is one of my favorite films and I have read the book many times. I like Disney's version too. The tea cups aren't as much fun anymore because you have to really crank those puppies to make them spin. I love ALICE IN WONDERLAND and that is a must ride but MR TOAD is probably my favorite Dark Ride with MONSTERS INC a close second. Alice isn't the same without the cool track that they covered up. Ah well.

[Tink Lover]

Sorry for the delay, Mad. I was traveling for Thanksgiving ... Yes, you are exactly right, we sure did have a big debate about Autopia (and I'm sure it will go on forever) ... good for you for deciding to get the facts for yourself, and I'm glad you got to see so many ELATED children along the way :p I completely agree with "There is nothing wrong with having a ride for kids at Disneyland and for all of those who don't like it they should be happy that the crowd there is making their wait for SM or POTC etc. a lot less.", but I suspect you already knew that :-)

Playing devil's advocate though: after thinking long and hard, i don't think folks mind that there is a ride that makes kids happy that they personally don't like -> we don't hear people complaining to take out the carousel or Casey Jr in the same way that folks were complaining about Autopia. It's the fact that Autopia lies in tommorowland which causes the complaint, I think. There really isn't that much "tommorrow" in "tomorrowland", if you know what I mean (and I know you do, because I've seen your posts). It's that "thirst for more tomorrow" (i.e. the "space age" kind) combined with the spirit of "what could we do to fix it" that makes some people hate Autopia so much. If Autopia weren't "there", I think they reason, then we might have something else instead (i.e. something more "tommorrow"-ish). I think if the exact same Autopia we have today was located elsewhere in the parks (such as the new CARS LAND) then the vitriol against it would diminish greatly. It's not really the ride and people not caring whether kids have fun or not -> it's the fact that it is taking up precious space in tommorrowland. IMHO. On the other other-hand, though, I think that some folks don't truly appreciate THE ELATION that autopia brings to many little ones, and therefore also THE ELATION that it brings to parents and grandparents of those little ones. There is something wonderful about seeing your child's face lit up with joy. Have we beat this completely to death now? :fez:

Changing the subject: I am a huge movie buff, but I've never seen DREAM CHILD so I'm adding that immediately to my todo list. To be honest, Alice the story never really rang my bell - it was ok, but not one of my favorites. Make that double for the Mad Hatter, I didn't really appreciate him until good old Johnny came along and showed me who he might have been. I really enjoyed that movie (which I got to see in 3-D on a Disney Cruise, lucky me!) Agree with you 100% about Mr. Toad (although, it wasn't until one of your older posts that I realized that he was in a book, THE WIND AND THE WILLOWS, so now that's another item on my todo list).

I know what you mean about the TEA CUPS. They are fun, they are a classic, but they are also too much work these days. But now you are sounding very logical, which makes me concerned. I hope you are feeling ok (you are MAD, after all).

[MadasaHatter]

Mad? Quite.

For Tomorrowland to remain truly TOMORROW-ish it would have to be one big giant innoventions and house of the future and even though that was cool in 1955-1960 it doesn't seem feasible to me. Personally....I dig Space Mountain, Star Tours and BLAB which all have nothing to do with Tomorrow but are just plain cool. Autopia really is TOMORROWLAND for the kids so out of all the rides in that land I think that one is rather apropos....but then again....I am QUITE mad....

[MidwayManiac]

The tea cups aren't as much fun anymore because you have to really crank those puppies to make them spin. .

Hence the reason God invented Francis' Ladybug Boogie.

and I loved the trip report as always.

[candles71]

Hence the reason God invented Francis' Ladybug Boogie.

and I loved the trip report as always.
If you want to go faster on Francis', you put all the weight towards the door. ;)

[EJ4Disney]

Just found your wonderful report. Thanks so much.
Ellen