DL trip report 1/28/05 - kinda strange.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

We headed over to the park yesterday to see the new haunted mansion effects and maybe play in the rain. We were able to do half of that, as the skies started clearing as soon as we got there. This is the second time we have headed to the park, driving in a downpour all the way, only to get there and get dissed on the rain. Oh well.

First of all, the new effects in HM are wonderful. We were pretty amazed, although I don't want to give anything away. The only disappointment is that we were led from the outdoor queu directly to the elevator, instead of hearing the spiel in the first room. I really hate when they do this and I wish this practice would stop. Anyone that was experiencing the ride for the first time missed the whole prelude. It's one of the biggest pet peeves that I have at the park. Regardless though, they did a really wonderful job on this attraction and I hope more things like this are in store for some of the other rides.

A strange thing happened later in the evening, one that kind of freaked us out. While walking down Main St. we suddenly heard the very loud noise of jet engines that seemed way too close to the park. I immediately feared that a plane on approach to JW airport was having trouble and perhaps crashing. It was that loud. I was dreading hearing an explosion but it never came. Then, a few minutes later, the same sound started up again. This time we could see what appeared to be a military jet that was flying very low and almost circling the parks. I have no idea why this plane (or planes) were flying so close to the park but it did rattle us quite a bit. We weren't alone either. Nearly everyone around us on Main Street stopped in their tracks and watched the skies for a few moments.

I guess I'm just a bit gunshy still but, ever since 9/11, the last sound I want to hear is a jet screaming toward me when I'm in a place that has been deemed a potential target. All I could think of was that the elections are taking place this weekend in Iraq and an attack on this country in protest wouldn't be the most far-fetched idea. That's probably an over-reaction but these are the kinds of things one thinks about when the whole surrounding area is shaking from this deafening noise.

We didn't stick around the park much longer as I kind of wanted to get near a radio to see if there was any explanation for what had happened. On the way home, we never heard anything about a plane on the news. I suppose it was just someone getting a bit too close to the park for my comfort.

I am curious though. Were any of you at the park last night to hear this? I want to say that it occurred around 7pm.

[surfinmuse]

MBC, Tom and I were there last night. We heard the loud jet noise, but only once. Also noticed the relatively low-flying plane, though I couldn't tell it between military or civilian. I live about 15 mins south of the LA airport and I have heard these LOUD jet sounds a few times, which I've dismissed as a plane using an alternate route or something (since the loud sounds are not a common occurence).

Not sure what the Disneyland one was about though, but I can confirm that we heard it too. 7pm sounds about right.

[surfinmuse]

Oh, and yes, the Haunted Mansion was enjoyable, rode it twice in a row.

[Kevy Baby]

Considering that DL was a prime 9/11 target, the fears are quite justified.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

The second time we heard the noise, about 15 minutes later, we were in DCA. It wasn't as loud as the first time but it sounded similar. Due to a less obstructed view at DCA, we were able to see that what we heard (at least the second time) was definitely a military fighter jet. It appeared to make a wide circle around the park. We couldn't tell if it was following the first sound we heard or if it had made an earlier pass at a lower altitude and that's what we heard. Regardless, I can't figure out at all why a military jet would be circling around this area. It just seemed strange. Still does.

[MickeyD]

The expatriate voting was at El Toro, maybe that had something to do with it? How far is El Toro from Disneyland?

I was at Disneyland during the first home game of the World Series in 2002, and when they did the flyover, I thought someone was crashing a plane into the park, it was so fricken loud!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

The ex-patriot voting was at El Toro, maybe that had something to do with it? How far is El Toro from Disneyland?


Hmm, that is certainly a possibility. I believe it is about 15 miles south of the park. Although it is rare for jets to go in and out of there these days.

[Not Afraid]

When I was working in Irvine near the 5 and Jeffrey, Air Force One flew seemingly inches away from my building in preparation of landing at El Toro for Nixon's funeral. I would suspect something going on at ElToro for this incident......however, I didn't know they were still using the airstrip at El Toro.

[MickeyD]

I don't know if they're still using the airstrip there or not. The only thing that made me think of El Toro was the fact that the voting was going on there. (That was yesterday, right?)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

however, I didn't know they were still using the airstrip at El Toro.

Yeah, that makes the most sense but I didn't know that was still a functioning airport either.

And yeah, I did hear that voting was taking place there yesterday, which also surprised me.

[Ghoulish Delight]

They are no longer using that air strip, however there are several others in the area that they still use. It's rarer than it used to be, but not undheard of for military jets to pass over Disneyland (heck, I'd bet the occasional pilot does it just for fun when they can).

[blueerica]

Haha -- I live under LAX practically...

While I'm numb to most of those sounds, in the wrong area, or one that's a little louder than others (i.e. weather effects on the noise), it can be disconcerting. Nothing was stranger than a post-9/11 LAX. Well, maybe NYC was stranger, but y'all know what I'm saying, right?

[MickeyLumbo]

I am curious though. Were any of you at the park last night to hear this? I want to say that it occurred around 7pm.

wow. am i relieved to know that others heard this. YES it was very unnerving. i saw it on the first pass and it was definitely a fighter jet. the first was at 6:35, and the second pass came 10 minutes later. it was extremely low as i could clearly see every detail of the jet. the roar was intense!

Being away from any source of news i was trippin out, waiting to get to the car. and like you said, not a word mentioned on the news.

the jet was just north of the park on the first pass, near Lincoln...flying west and then south. since i was indoors during the second pass i did not know what flight path it was on. but i about pissed my pants! i thought, "WTF!"

i have no answers as to why it was there. there was no ball game. yes, the el toro base was being used as a polling place, and perhaps it was added security for that event. but why it was over Disneyland is beyond me.

good to get it off my chest 'cuz it really freaked me out.:eek:

[MickeyLumbo]

Haha -- I live under LAX practically...

While I'm numb to most of those sounds, in the wrong area, or one that's a little louder than others (i.e. weather effects on the noise), it can be disconcerting. Nothing was stranger than a post-9/11 LAX. Well, maybe NYC was stranger, but y'all know what I'm saying, right?

YES! very strange and eerily quiet and still...except for occasional sounds of fighter jets overhead. i was grateful to know they were US jets! that was a very strange time in our lives that we will never forget.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Thanks for sharing, Lickey. Nice to know that we aren't the only ones that reacted in the way we did. It's about the only time ever that I didn't want to be at Disneyland, and that is saying a lot. :)

[MickeyLumbo]

[post removed at request of poster]

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Indeed, I do. :)

[wendybeth]

Yeah, MBC- that would have been very disconcerting- I don't blame you at all for being a little freaked out.

We are on a turnaround flight path for Spokane International, and so it was so weird post 9/11 to not hear planes circling overhead. A few days after the flight blackout, all the sudden we heard wave after wave of planes flying overhead- we went running outside to see, and they were taking off from Fairchild AFB and flying in a direct path over our house (Which is something they never do). It was just plane after plane going, and I remember thinking that this was what it must have been like during WWII. Not a word was mentioned on the TV or radio, but every resident in Spokane knew something was up.

[Grumpy4]

That's crazy to hear a military jet that close to DL. I think it's a bit weird when any plane flies over because isn't DL a No-Fly zone? I thought that no planes of any kind were allowed to fly over DL since 9/11. Anyone?

[Kevy Baby]

I confess... it was me.

I was bored, so I drove down to Miramar, stole a jet, read the manual on how to fly it (I have never flown a plane before), flew all around Southern California (including my beloved Disneyland - it's really cool from the sky) and then returned the jet when I had to pee.

Somehow, nobody noticed.

[Morrigoon]

You rascal, you!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Somehow, nobody noticed.

Well, if it is any consolation, Kevy, we definitely noticed. :)

Considering how low the plane was flying, we probably could have passed you a corn dog.

[Gemini Cricket]

I confess... it was me.
That was my gut reaction reading MBC's thread. I thought, 'I wonder if Kevy... nah, couldn't be.'

[Kevy Baby]

To clarify: no one at MIRAMAR noticed http://home.mindspring.com/~kevin_elder/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/evil.gif

Considering how low the plane was flying, we probably could have passed you a corn dog.That's why I made the second pass - I was hoping someone would!

[wendybeth]

MBC- don't encourage him- he's just doing it for attention!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Ah, good point! ;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

That's crazy to hear a military jet that close to DL. I think it's a bit weird when any plane flies over because isn't DL a No-Fly zone? I thought that no planes of any kind were allowed to fly over DL since 9/11. Anyone?
This is one of those things that people say constantly because everyone else says it. I have seen and heard aircraft fly over DL since 9/11 a few times, including but not limited to military aircraft. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

[MickeyLumbo]

I confess... it was me.

I was bored, so I drove down to Miramar, stole a jet, read the manual on how to fly it (I have never flown a plane before), flew all around Southern California (including my beloved Disneyland - it's really cool from the sky) and then returned the jet when I had to pee.

Somehow, nobody noticed.
did you notice when i mooned you?:D

[Moonliner]

The area above Disneyland IS a no-fly-zone (http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030511-disney01.htm) although there seems to be a bit of contention as to the need and reason behind that.

As for the flights, of course the "no-fly" edict is for commercial aircraft and not military fly-boys. In this case I would have to guess "joy ride". If you were a cocky fighter pilot (that's a given for fighter pilots) on a flight path that took you near Disneyland wouldn't you be tempted to buzz the place for a good look? Try to get the tail number it it happens again :)

It's possible it was an "interdiction" of a civilian aircraft that got too close but I REALLY doubt the area is that closely monitored. I base that opinion on the fact that here in DC we have had a many cases (http://standdown.net/frontier737flewtooclosetothewhitehouse.htm) of planes flying OVER/near the Whitehouse before and after 9-11. In each case they were intercepted only after the event in most cases by a polite radio message to land at a specific airport and come talk to the nice gentlemen in suites.

[Kevy Baby]

did you notice when i mooned you?:DYes...

And I was going to mention that corndogs aren't supposed to go there. At least not in public.

[BarTopDancer]

Theres a slight chance the plane was on the way to the Los Al Air Force base, though I don't recall them landing fighters there. They do have a strip that will accomodiate a C130 though. Man those are loud.

[MickeyLumbo]

Yes...

And I was going to mention that corndogs aren't supposed to go there. At least not in public.

ha! well i didn't bring my purse that day and my capris didn't have pockets.

[mhrc4]

sorry for chiming in late, but there is an airstrip in fulleton, there is a possibility that it was a misguided private airplane headed to either fullerton, or i guess for that matter, could be long beach.

judging by the common sense of people who land at Fullerton, that would be my guess (we have had people landing at fullerton hit a number of things, including a radio tower, a building adjacent to the airport, and a lake..)

[MickeyLumbo]

good thinking there, but this was a US fighter jet and Fullerton airport is a bit out of their league... but, you had a good guess if it was a smaller plane.;)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Yeah, what ML said. :)

It was definitely not civilian.