Mini trip report/observations from 1/21/05

Ghoulish Delight · 01-24-2005, 11:52 AM

Went to the parks on Friday night and noticed a couple interesting things.

First, when I arrrived about about 5:30, I went into DCA to check out the ToT line, get a tortilla, and check out the Inspearations display. As I got to the entrance gate, I noticed something very odd. There were 5 gates open. 3 of them had printed out signs taped over the lighted "Entrance" signs that said, "Annual Passport Entrance". If you had an AP, you had to use one of these gates. When I got there, these lines were longer than the lines at either of the 2 gates where they were letting day pass guests in. Kind of nice for the day pass folks, certainly no skin off my teeth to wait an extra minute to get in. I crossed over to Disneyland at about 6. The signs were still up at DCA, but there weren't any entering Disneyland. And by the time CP joined me at around 6:30, they had taken them down at DCA.

The Inspearations statues were kind of fun. Most of them were blah, but there were some cool ones. My personal favorite is the Lobsta' Mouse (it's over out in front of the Tratoria) because it's creepy as all hell. Mickey with a lobster tail grafted onto his back, and mutant lobster claw hands. Another creepy one is "Mickey's Shadow" (in the amphitheater). It looks like plain-old Mickey until you walk around his back. Creepy. We did notice that it seems each one of the statues has a hidden Mickey on it somewhere (some more hidden than others). We had a fun looking for a few of them, but got bored.

After we checked those out, we went over to Disneyland. They are once again working on the facade of the Emporium, and they have blocked off the the shop that's behind the clock shop that connects from center street through to the Emporium. If you're in the Emporium, there's just a big wall. Also on the construction front, they seem to have expanded the construction area for the Plaza Pavillion, with construction walls reaching all the over to Coke Corner, blocking off that second level of seating (and bulging out into the Coke Corner seating area a little bit).

And the final observation of the night came as we walked along Big Thunder Trail towards Fantasyland. We were passing the curve that leads into the wiggling rock lift hill, and as a train approached, it seemed to trigger some really loud sound effects that we know we've never heard before. It sounded like either a loud rumble, or some sort of roar, and a squeaking noise. Very loud and noticeable. And it was only triggered when a train came by. So we rode. Unfortunately we were in the second row, and the effects weren't triggered until the front of the train was almost already past the little ante-chamber before the lift hill, where the effects were coming from. So we're unsure if there was any sort of visual to go along with the effects, but the sounds were definitely new to us.

MerryPrankster · 01-24-2005, 12:05 PM

I like to be "in the know" on the lastest happenings in the park. Very cool update!

Cadaverous Pallor · 01-24-2005, 12:06 PM

The store that's fully closed on Main Street is the "Crystal Arcade". I've never seen them fully shutter one of the connected stores like that.

I was very surprised that we could interact with the InspEARations statues. There were a tiny minority that were roped off. I guess the owners of those were more protective or something.

Sheila · 01-24-2005, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I was very surprised that we could interact with the InspEARations statues. There were a tiny minority that were roped off. I guess the owners of those were more protective or something.

From what I've heard from AVP, a few statues were broken/maimed by people hanging on them, putting their kids on them for photo ops, etc. I'm wondering if the roped-off ones were the ones damaged by visitors.

SusieP. · 01-24-2005, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

And the final observation of the night came as we walked along Big Thunder Trail towards Fantasyland. We were passing the curve that leads into the wiggling rock lift hill, and as a train approached, it seemed to trigger some really loud sound effects that we know we've never heard before. It sounded like either a loud rumble, or some sort of roar, and a squeaking noise. Very loud and noticeable. And it was only triggered when a train came by. So we rode. Unfortunately we were in the second row, and the effects weren't triggered until the front of the train was almost already past the little ante-chamber before the lift hill, where the effects were coming from. So we're unsure if there was any sort of visual to go along with the effects, but the sounds were definitely new to us.

Grumpy4 and I were in the park that morning. That new noise on Big Thunder scared the bejeesus out of me! It sounded like a dinosaur roar. I mean, people are already nervous riding that ride, do they need to make it worse? I had my sunglasses on, and I pulled them off to see if there were any new visuals as well, but didn't see anything. I'm not sure but I think I may have yelled "what the hell was that!?!" while on the ride.

Don't know why it scared me so much, but it did.

I also liked the Lobster Mickey best and the Shadow one was creepy. Reminded me of Voldemort on the back of his head.

FEJ · 01-24-2005, 10:14 PM

My fave was the TRON mickey

Cadaverous Pallor · 01-24-2005, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubergeek42

My fave was the TRON mickey

Yes! I LOVED that one! So freakin' cool.

Grumpy4 · 01-24-2005, 11:09 PM

I asked about the passholder entrance to DCA and they said they were just trying something new. My thoughts is a comparison to see the numbers of passholders vs. day-trippers. Interesting...

The sound in BTMRR was quite startling! It sounded like a huge bear and I thought one was about to jump onto the train!! Yikes!

A few of my favorites were Wyland's, Fess Parker's, Lobsta(but it was freaky), and Dave Koz's

. I do remember laughing at Ellen DesGeneres' because the t-shirt said Disneyland on it with Disney crossed out and Ellen written above it in the Disneyland font! It was funny.

On a sad note, I heard a small DL goer comment that a lot of rides were closed(Sunday morning). He was about 7 or 8 walking from AL to FL and I was walking the other way. As I turned the corner, Indy was down. I'm sure it was a momentary thing, but bad timing.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 01-24-2005, 10:14 PM

I saw both CP and GD walking by the Mark Twain dock....

Bwaahhhaaaaa!

Cadaverous Pallor · 01-24-2005, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

I saw both CP and GD walking by the Mark Twain dock....

Bwaahhhaaaaa!

What are you, Uncle Dick? Come say hi.

01-24-2005, 11:52 AM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Mini trip report/observations from 1/21/05 Went to the parks on Friday night and noticed a couple interesting things. First, when I arrrived about about 5:30, I went into DCA to check out the ToT line, get a tortilla, and check out the Inspearations display. As I got to the entrance gate, I noticed something very odd. There were 5 gates open. 3 of them had printed out signs taped over the lighted "Entrance" signs that said, "Annual Passport Entrance". If you had an AP, you had to use one of these gates. When I got there, these lines were longer than the lines at either of the 2 gates where they were letting day pass guests in. Kind of nice for the day pass folks, certainly no skin off my teeth to wait an extra minute to get in. I crossed over to Disneyland at about 6. The signs were still up at DCA, but there weren't any entering Disneyland. And by the time CP joined me at around 6:30, they had taken them down at DCA. The Inspearations statues were kind of fun. Most of them were blah, but there were some cool ones. My personal favorite is the Lobsta' Mouse (it's over out in front of the Tratoria) because it's creepy as all hell. Mickey with a lobster tail grafted onto his back, and mutant lobster claw hands. Another creepy one is "Mickey's Shadow" (in the amphitheater). It looks like plain-old Mickey until you walk around his back. Creepy. We did notice that it seems each one of the statues has a hidden Mickey on it somewhere (some more hidden than others). We had a fun looking for a few of them, but got bored. After we checked those out, we went over to Disneyland. They are once again working on the facade of the Emporium, and they have blocked off the the shop that's behind the clock shop that connects from center street through to the Emporium. If you're in the Emporium, there's just a big wall. Also on the construction front, they seem to have expanded the construction area for the Plaza Pavillion, with construction walls reaching all the over to Coke Corner, blocking off that second level of seating (and bulging out into the Coke Corner seating area a little bit). And the final observation of the night came as we walked along Big Thunder Trail towards Fantasyland. We were passing the curve that leads into the wiggling rock lift hill, and as a train approached, it seemed to trigger some really loud sound effects that we know we've never heard before. It sounded like either a loud rumble, or some sort of roar, and a squeaking noise. Very loud and noticeable. And it was only triggered when a train came by. So we rode. Unfortunately we were in the second row, and the effects weren't triggered until the front of the train was almost already past the little ante-chamber before the lift hill, where the effects were coming from. So we're unsure if there was any sort of visual to go along with the effects, but the sounds were definitely new to us. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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01-24-2005, 12:05 PM	#2
MerryPrankster Swanky Panky! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hell's Kitchen Posts: 541	I like to be "in the know" on the lastest happenings in the park. Very cool update! __________________ My advice to the women of America is to raise more hell and fewer dahlias. ~~ William Allen White
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01-24-2005, 12:06 PM	#3
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	The store that's fully closed on Main Street is the "Crystal Arcade". I've never seen them fully shutter one of the connected stores like that. I was very surprised that we could interact with the InspEARations statues. There were a tiny minority that were roped off. I guess the owners of those were more protective or something. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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01-24-2005, 10:14 PM	#6
FEJ Living Now Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 563	My fave was the TRON mickey
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01-24-2005, 11:09 PM	#8
Grumpy4 Come Fly With Me Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Groovin' with the Rat Pack Posts: 144	I asked about the passholder entrance to DCA and they said they were just trying something new. My thoughts is a comparison to see the numbers of passholders vs. day-trippers. Interesting... The sound in BTMRR was quite startling! It sounded like a huge bear and I thought one was about to jump onto the train!! Yikes! A few of my favorites were Wyland's, Fess Parker's, Lobsta(but it was freaky), and Dave Koz's . I do remember laughing at Ellen DesGeneres' because the t-shirt said Disneyland on it with Disney crossed out and Ellen written above it in the Disneyland font! It was funny. On a sad note, I heard a small DL goer comment that a lot of rides were closed(Sunday morning). He was about 7 or 8 walking from AL to FL and I was walking the other way. As I turned the corner, Indy was down. I'm sure it was a momentary thing, but bad timing. __________________ I've got the world on a string, Sittin' on a rainbow. Got this string around my finger What a world, what a life, I'm in love. -Frank Sinatra
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01-24-2005, 10:14 PM	#9
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	I saw both CP and GD walking by the Mark Twain dock.... Bwaahhhaaaaa!
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