Thrillography Finally Goes to Disneyland Trip Report

Hello everyone! :D 

A lot has happened here at Thrillography since our last update. Everything that could have possibly happened in the last month or so has, indeed, happened! (this is good)

Thrillography has a powerful new set of wings; bigger and faster than before, and capable of taking us more places more frequently. This means lots of wild new adventures to lands far and near. Some will be planned; others will be surprises!

Not being entirely sure of what the future holds will be part of the fun, no? :}

Are you guys cool with starting this new chapter of Thrillography with a visit to the world's most important theme park? It seemed like a great place to start. :}

If you love pictures of Disneyland, you're in luck! Thrillography is now a Disneyland Annual Passholder, which means more visits to the Happiest Place on Earth are in store!

And, with all of the exciting changes going on at Disneyland Resort, there's never been a better time to be an Annual Passholder!

Disneyland's 60th Anniversary Celebration is in full swing. The event's color scheme is present in lovely little touches all over the park. 

The additional cool tones around the park really elevate the existing color schemes throughout. :}

Hi Sleeping Beauty Castle! It feels like only yesterday I was visiting your twin in Hong Kong!

With Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris fresh in my mind, the original Disneyland feels more intimate and cozy than ever. Though proportionally comparable to the original Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland felt considerably more spacious without the colossal crowds often found at Disneyland Anaheim.

The moderately-crowded Disneyland Paris trip last summer felt like a large park adequately handling its crowds in peak season. This is in stark contrast with Disneyland Anaheim, which despite an off-peak Tue-Wed visit with a handful of closed signature rides, was quite busy!

Good thing I have my amazing tour guide, Derek, to orchestrate the perfect Disney day!

Like Derek, John will be reprising his role (as himself) from our Dollywood adventure in August!

To bridge the gap between the world's renewed Star Wars fever and the opening of Star Wars Land in 2017, Tomorrowland has been thoroughly Jedi-fied! Not everyone is thrilled with this, but as far as I'm concerned, I've never not associated Tomorrowland with Star Wars. With Star Tours making up half of Tomorrowland's signature thrill-ride dynamic duo for 30 (!) years now, the increase in Star Wars energy seems perfectly natural.

Of course, not everything is Star Wars in Tomorrowland. Submarine Voyage is now on its 11th year of new adventures with Nemo and friends, and as of this posting, Autopia has emerged from a significant remodel with brand-new car bodies and a new sponsorship from Honda. :}

Star Wars Fans and Space Mountain Fans alike will find nothing to scoff at with "Hyperspace Mountain," but more on that later. :}

If a 7:10pm return time for a 12:45pm FastPass distribution (and a constant 60+ minute stand-by) is any indication, the public is quite taken with Hyperspace Mountain.

While Space Mountain is experiencing prolonged popularity not seen since its full remodel in 2005, Matterhorn Bobsleds is apparently struggling. Closed for technical review on this particular visit, the ride was crawling with Cast Members (in the station, in brake runs, etc) while it performed periodic tests. 

According to Derek and John, the public response to the ride's new trains has not been ideal. Words like "discomfort" and phrases like "hard plastic" and "spinal readjustment" have been getting tossed around a lot. 

 The 57-year-old steel coaster's unforgiving ride on unpadded inline seats is currently being addressed. Be on the look out for some much-needed cushioning on the Bobs this month!

Next time, Matterhorn!

Fantasyland is looking spry as always.

The list of differences between Disneyland's and Disney World's Fantasylands keeps getting longer. Who remembers when you could hitch a ride with Mr. Toad down in Florida? 

Hong Kong and Paris made me appreciate the number of small-scale tracked dark rides Anaheim has to offer. Paris lacks Winnie the Pooh, Hong Kong lacks all except Winnie the Pooh, and now Florida's original Snow White ride has gone the way of Mr. Toad. By making room for Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, every dark ride that has ever called Fantasyland home can still be found in Anaheim to this day. 

Hello little castle. :}

What's this?! This is new!

A Tangled-themed courtyard and storytelling theater??? Amazing! I love it!

With the midway behind Big Thunder Mountain commandeered for Star Wars construction, the fastest way from Fantasyland to Frontierland is through the new Tangled area and the Rancho del Zocalo restaurant. :}

After visiting the Rivers of America-less Hong Kong Disneyland and the Jungle Cruise-less Disneyland Paris, it's so great to be back in a park that has both!

(Jungle Cruise is closed right now for refurb, but still. Next time!)

The transition between Frontierland and New Orleans Square has got to be one of the most beautiful spots in Disneyland.

I SEE YOU, SPLASH!

I SEE YOU, THUND! 

We met more of our squad out in front of the first ride of the day! Doug and Jackie are back, and they're joined by a new Thrillography friend, Michael (Mayo)! 

My thought process here was the same as it was in Paris:

Haunted Mansion first, everything else second. 

I think Haunted Mansion might be the single-most beloved Disney ride in the world. Could anyone really argue against that? :}

The next biggest priority was Splash Mountain, which I had not ridden in over 10 years.

SPLASH I AM COMING FOR YOU!

I had forgotten how much I loved this ride. Not just because it's awesome and detailed and classic and sentimental, but in recent years log flumes have become my favorite non-roller coaster park attraction.

Winning is waiting in the single rider line and getting seated with your +1 anyways. :}

Woohoo! Time for Pooh!

Oh look here's the great selfie that John DELIBERATELY HID FROM BECAUSE HE IS A SILLY-WILLY. I'M CALLING YOU OUT, JOHN!

Soon Critter Country won't be a dead end. It will lead into Star Wars Land and then connect all the way back around to Big Thunder Mountain. Amazing, right? :}

For lunch we went back to Fantasyland to hang with Pinocchio. :}

Behold! A loaded BLT flatbread and a Monstro frozen cotton candy lemonade.

<3 

Before we rode Pirates of the Caribbean, we ran into more of Derek and Doug's local friends:

Amazingly, we all fit into one boat with room to spare! :}

Left to right: Derek, Grant, Rena, me, Allan, John, Lesley, Lee, Doug, Jackie, and Jeffrey!

(Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!)

Crowds can be tough to deal with at some parks, but honestly I love seeing Disneyland full of guests. Makes for better pictures. :}

Big Thunder time!

Since my last ride on Big Thunder, major trackwork and thematic enhancements have been added! The ride looks great and it runs SO WELL!

There were some noticeable moments of airtime that I didn't previously recall. Shows just how fast this thing runs now!

BIG THUND SELFIE! Thank you for cooperating this time, John. :P

Little castle is so pretty. :}

Tomorrowland is so pretty. :}

 Matterhorn is so closed. x}

Disneyland Paris's Discoveryland gave me great appreciation for the look of our Astro Orbiter. :}

YES! IT IS TIME!

Honestly I'm far from a major Star Wars fan, but there is something about Star Tours. I love it so so so much. I think I may actually love the movies because of the ride. ;}

When Star Wars Land is complete, Disney is going to turn their attention to Tomorrowland for a refresher. They've got to do something about this situation right here. 

And there's rumors that Star Tours will either move to Star Wars Land or be phased out entirely from Disneyland. Say it ain't so! 

Hopefully there's no truth to the rumor. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is way too good to nix!

I feel like I have ridden Buzz Lighter's Laser-y Something-or-rather so much lately. It's certainly a hit in Hong Kong as well as Paris.

Derek is so good he can shoot with his eyes closed!

<3

TIME FOR HYPERSPACE MOUNTAIN!

In a rare instance, we got to see the transfer station in use.

Hyperspace Mountain is so great. I love the original ride soundtrack, but the Star Wars score coupled with the new effects takes the cake.

Night is falling! Know what that means?

PAINT THE NIGHT PARADE! :D

Feels like I'm back in Hong Kong. :}

The Disneyland version of Paint the Night is slightly larger, featuring two new floats (including this one).

Mike and Sully are back with the spinning doors!

Watch out for Randall! 

Lightning McQueen and Mack are here to get us pumped for our first visit to Cars Land tomorrow! #notsosubtleforeshadowing 

Mack and his tractor trailer discotheque are ready to party. 

Unlike Hong Kong, Disneyland's Paint the Night Parade does not feature show-stops. I think the show stops worked really well in Hong Kong, but I think here it would just make the parade run too long. 

Not that there's anything wrong with a lengthy parade, it's just that Disneyland just doesn't have the space to keep midways roped off for longer than half an hour. Too much congestion!  

Ariel, Sebastian, and King Triton are on deck!

And here comes Slinky Dog on his Lite-Brite/magic carpet thing! 

This is new! Look at this thing! 

Next is Belle and her entourage. 

<3 

This is new too! Look at this train of princesses!

*_________________*

This is the greatest parade float to have ever happened.

Here come Mickey & Friends on their giant…dancing…balls. 

Hi Mickey! looking good! 

The conclusion of the parade leads into the nighttime show. Let's do this! 

Disneyland Paris's nighttime show is big on castle projections. Since Disneyland's castle doesn't have much room upon which to project...

… they project onto the buildings of Main Street instead!

The results are dazzling. Honestly I think it's even more amazing than the Paris show. 

Things start out with Rapunzel,

and then lead into Winnie the Pooh! 

"I'm so rumbly in my tumbly! Time for something sweet!"

"A Heffalump or Woozle is very confusel! A Heffalump or Woozle's very sly -sly -sly!"

"They come in ones and twoosles, but if they so choosles, before your eyes you'll see them multiply -ply -ply!"

"…………..NAAAAAAAAATS INGOYNAAAAAAAMA BAGITHI BABA!"

"Step in time! Step in time! Step in time! Step in time! Never need a reason! Never need a rhyme! Step in time! You Step in time!"

Okay, so this part was really cool. Main Street transforms into the aquarium from Finding Nemo.

Nemo is challenged to face the summit of Mt Wannahockaloogie! (he succeeds)

IT'S SNOWING! IT'S SNOWING! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS???

*me, extremely loud and off key*


"LET IT GOOOOOOOOOO! LET IT GOOOOOOOOOOO!

CAN'T HOLD IT BACK ANYMOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!!"

Great show! Lots to see. :}

Woohoo! :D

Disney went full meta with these tea cups (coffee mugs). I kind of want them all. 

The next time you're at Disneyland, take a good look at the shop windows after nightfall. You may be in for a surprise. :}

Goodnight Disneyland! We'll be back bright and early for more tomorrow! 

Bam! Here we are!

We decided to start our day with a stroll through the Disneyland Hotel. 

Look at this amazing park map!

               The map animates with the help of several tiny projections! 

Now THIS is a lobby!

Need something? Small World's gotcha covered. :}

Today our focus is on the NEW Disney California Adventure! Things have changed a LOT around here since my last visit! I can't wait to check out all the new stuff!

………!!!

….is this the same park??

This place looks amazing! 

First order of business: FastPass for the park's most popular ride, Radiator Springs Racers!

Time for Derek to show me around Disneyland Resort's new pride and joy, Cars Land!

The life-sized incarnation of Radiator Springs and the surrounding areas is a feast for the senses! 

There's so much to do and see! Everything from the movie is fully realized here in Cars Land!

And of course there are some great rides!

And great food!

Perhaps the most impressive of all, though, is the atmosphere. Disney really has a way with taking small spaces and making them feel huge!

Ok! Let's see what all the fuss is about!

Here we go!

#SingleRiderSelfie

Radiator Springs Racers is superb. This amazing hybrid attraction fires on every cylinder and exceeds all expectations! Absolutely one of Disney's greatest achievements to date!

We'll be back for more Radiator Springs Racers later. Now for something totally different!

Cars Land may be new to me, but the area's now been the shining star of DCA for a few years. 

However, this relatively new land now has a fresh-out-the-box new component!

Derek and I are teeming with excitement! Do you know what it is??

It's "Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters!" A state-of-the-art flat ride that just opened a few weeks ago!

Utilizing Disney's industry-leading trackless ride system (like Mystic Manor in Hong Kong and Ratatouille in Paris), Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters turns Casa Della Tires into a swingin' dance party!

Also, there's a garden with a race car topiary! What's not to love? :}

Luigi has invited all of his cousins from Italy to dance under the string lights to the beat of several delightful original songs! Luigi even provides some vocals!

The cars drift and shift in perfect synchronization, sometimes within just a few feet of each other!

The cars are mesmerizing to watch, and it's hard not to move to music while standing in line!

Let's cut a rug, Derek!

There's a good bit of conga-ish action followed by some salsa-ish stuff! 

And then the ride finishes with a group pirouette, for which everyone throws their hands in the air! What a fun ride! :}

Next we hit up the Cozy Cones for a snack.

Behold! Pizza flavored popcorn! :D

Oh yeah! There's totally the rest of the park to visit too! I can't wait to ride California Screamin' again!

I really love this new World of Color viewing area. it's just beautiful! 

Heeeeeere's Mickey!

Mickey Mouse and the sun have changed places! I miss the ears, but Mickey definitely looks better on the Ferris Wheel than the sun face.

The sun face lives on in miniature form on the Paradise Pier sign, however. :}

*excitement*

I've gotten older and launch coasters have gotten faster, but I still adore this ride. For all the flaws that California Adventure had in the beginning, at least they can say they nailed the coaster!

Off they go!

Those familiar with California Adventure may notice something is missing.

That's right! The Silly Symphony Swings are MIA! The ride has been sent on holiday and will be back this summer. :}

This woman on the left looks really apprehensive about the life choices that lead her to riding this roller coaster. 

More newness! It's Toy Story Mania!

I know I'm late to the party, but Toy Story Mania is AWESOME!! I'm not usually a fan of shooting dark rides, but this one is amazing!

…and I knew it would be! The only other non-Disney ride using this system is the exquisite "Maus au Chocolate" at Phantasialand. I think I liked Midway Mania just a little bit better. :}

I think my favorite "game" is the Army Man Plate Smash. There is just something so satisfying about throwing baseballs at fine ceramics (even if it's just pretend). :}

This is such a nice touch. I love this kind of stuff. 

God bless California Screamin's single rider line. Walked into the station, took the elevators, and then sat right down!

Next time!

The kitschy fast food wasteland once occupied by Burger Invasion and Pizza Ooh-Mau-Mau is now the very classy Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.

There weren't a lot of people in the area at the time, but the air was filled with beautiful live Latin music!

Class is in session! It's Time for Goofy's Sky School! 

Spoiler Alert: It still sucks.

It may be a MACK Mouse, but frankly this set up doesn't do anything for me. And I swear this one is more painful than most.  

Oh well. Moving on. :}

There's still more new excitement to discover!

Like this fabulous little dark ride right here! I think Little Mermaid has the best music of any Disney film, so it's only fitting that there's a ride devoted to the film's most iconic musical sequences.

Not only is The Little Mermaid a delightful ride, but capacity is so high that it never has a line! 

I see you ToT. You ain't slick. 

Can't forget about Soarin'! Still a great experience! 

Who else is excited for Soarin' Over the Horizon soon??

Hello Hollywood!

Anaheim and Paris's towers are identical, so this is just some review. 

The only real differences between the two that I can ascertain are these:

1. DCA's lobby is covered in dust; Paris's is spotless

2. Paris's is more aggressive (like every other thrill ride there)

ToT looks great from A Bug's Land, too. :}

Who's up for a Junkyard Jamboree?? :D

This ride is honestly one of the best ideas ever.

A Cuddle-Up + A Whip = Perfection and Giggles. 

This is what happens when you're trying to take a selfie and the tractor takes a sharp right! 

One of the shops in Cars Land has a great model of Radiator Springs!

Who's ready for more Radiator Springs Racers??

The pathway alongside RSR is just incredible. This kind of atmosphere is serious Disney Magic at work!

And if you like to watch racing, you're in luck! There's a race, like, every thirty seconds! 

People come from far and wide to watch!

#Twinning

Ok, so I know I've been abusing the tilt-shift effect in this trip report. I'm sorry! I can't help myself! It's too much fun!

Let's go in for a closer look!

Yeeeehaaawwww! 

#TwinningAgain

#B&W

If you haven't already, put Cars Land on your bucket list! Pictures don't do it justice!

…aaaand we're back! 

I need more Fantasyland in my life. :}

"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears!"

"It's a world of hopes and a world of…strollers…?"

it's a small world gives me life. <3

And so do these flowers, tbh.

I so love the original small world. Hong Kong's version is pretty stellar, but the beautiful hedge gardens and outdoor loading dock of the Anaheim version really set it apart. 

It's toon time. :}

Ahh, Toontown. The only place in the world where I feel normal. :}

Mickey and Minnie Meet & Greets each had a 45 minute wait!

Here we have Chip n' Dale's slide-less Tree House of Shame. 

Situated next door is, of course, the acorn ball pit of shame.

Shameful. I loved the acorns when I was little! And the slide!

Both the slide and the acorns have been gone for a good 15 years now. It's amazing to me that nothing has replaced the acorn pit.

I believe Donald's Houseboat had a slide too. Just like Paris's Alice in Wonderland Maze! All of these slides must've seemed like a good idea at the time...

Okay! small world time!

If Tim Burton made an it's a small world movie, this is kinda how I'd picture it. 

Who's ready for the happiest cruise to ever sail 'round the world? :}

I only have a few pictures from inside. Taking pictures inside small world is a losing game. x}

Some of them turned out ok. :}

<3

There is just something so comforting about that face. :}

The small world toy shop is my favorite shopping venue at Disneyland. 

Oooh! Now here's one I've not ridden in a while!

I'd forgotten how much fun this ride is! Why aren't there more spinning dark rides out there?

I have no idea what's going on. 

More popcorn! Traditional style this time. :}

Adventureland! I haven't seen you at all yet this visit!

The original Adventureland feels quite small compared to the massive Adventurelands of Hong Kong and Paris!

We came over here to get FastPasses for Indiana Jones (which I failed to take any pictures of due to my shortcomings as a person). It's the only ride in the area right now with Jungle Cruise under referb! 

Good day, Moley and Mr. Toad! Shall we go for a drive in your motorcar? :}

It was on this particular riding of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride that I noticed you literally drive through the library fireplace. There's little embers that scatter and everything! 

I love this picture of Nowhere In Particular. :}

Let's see what Alice is up to.

The Mad Tea Party looks to be well underway!

In a world full of Mad Tea Party rides housed inside glass atriums, let us all recall that the real deal is under a canopy of vines. 

If you squint, it kinda just looks like a picture of a normal insect chillin in a shrub.

This was my first adventure through Wonderland since the Caterpillar offramp widening project.

I hear the morning commutes are much smoother these days.

If you look to the lower left of this central tree, you'll see Cast Members hard at work adjusting Matterhorn. 

Caterpillar selfie!

And back to DCA!

This park seriously went full Neville Longbottom. I don't think anyone in 2001 ever imagined the park looking this amazing. 

How about a twilight stroll through Cars Land?

This place is even more arresting at night. Just gorgeous. 

The Cozy Cone has settled in for the night.

Off in the distance you can hear Radiator Springs Racers giving incredible night rides!

The neon in this area is so on point.

Have you ever seen such a pristine lighting package??

Anyone up for a tattoo? :}

*swoon*

I can't handle the beauty.

I know that, realistically, rocks don't normally glow red.

Somehow Disney has made this effect seem totally natural. 

Let's take in one last round of magic before we call it a night!

The incredible Paradise Pier at serves as a backdrop for one of Disney's most acclaimed shows: World of Color!

Paradise Pier is still as guests eagerly await the show!

You ready? Here we go! 

*o*

*______________*

Well, I love it so far!

Niel Patrick Harris is on hand to host the specie 60th Anniversary edition of World of Color.

Let Alice lead us down the rabbit hole, per se. 

The fountains and lights and projections are endlessly captivating. 

The fountains can go very high!

Awwww Walt!

Cars stuff! 

Princess and the Frog! <3

Wreck-It Ralph! <3

HORRIFIC FISH THING

My personal favorite. :}

I forget what's happening here, but it looks great!

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!

LET IT GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

LET IT GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

AND I'LL RISE LIKE THE BREAK OF DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWNN! 

We have now reached the rides portion of our program. :}

"All the birds sing words and the flowers croon! In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room!"

"Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate's life for me!"

"Is this haunted room actually stretching?"

"Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize!"

"it's a world of laughs! It's a world of color!"

* Star Tours noises *

FIRE!

Castle! <3

Walt + Mickey :}

Time to say goodbye!

FINALE!!!

Well that was awesome. 

Last stop: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! 

That's all for now, folks! More Disney is in the works for later this month!

Tomorrow is part two of this quick and dirty LA adventure! You know we couldn't venture to these parts without at visit to Six Flags Magic Mountain! See you there! :}