03.13.2008 | 8:03 am
Having now spent three days at Disneyland, I can safely say I know enough to offer advice. As a public service, I hereby offer this wisdom to you.
- Be certain to injure yourself or a loved one before going: The best way to avoid long lines is to have someone in your party be riding a wheelchair. You generally get sent in through the exit line, and then do the ride, during which time people not in wheelchairs have moved forward in line approximately nine inches.
- The best rides: The best rides, according to a very scientific poll I took of my children yesterday during dinner, are:
- California Screamin’: It’s a traditional roller coaster with a loop-the-loop in the middle. The classics are classics for a good reason. We’ve done this one twice so far.
- Tower of Terror: You’re seated in an elevator that rockets upward and downward in an unpredictable manner, often in the dark. Great special effects and the Twilight Zone theme that leads up to and through this ride make it not just exciting, but hilariously entertaining, too. We’ve done this one four times so far.
- Soarin’: Your hanging chair is lifted up so the giant curved screen you’re facing completely fills your vision and then you’re taken on a virtual flight. A little wind machine and smell-o-vision (orange fields, pine trees, ocean air) add to the feeling that you’re really flying as your chair tilts and surges to match the camera’s angle. We’ve been on this one three times so far.
- Indiana Jones: If you were to close your eyes, this ride would actually seem kind of mild. Your car jerks around the course about as much as an average teenage driver. However, the dark ambience and good humor of the ride make it one of my kids’ favorites.
- Star Tours: If you loved Star Wars as a kid, you’ll love this ride. The line is as great as the ride itself.
- Space Mountain: This is a very old ride — I’m pretty sure I rode this when I was a kid — but it holds up great. A roller coaster set in the middle of a planetarium. It’s great.
The worst ride: Why do Ferris wheels even exist? I mean, I understand that they’re big and call attention to the amusement park, but they’re just awful rides. Simultaneously boring and need-to-barf-making.
A lame ride posing as a good ride: The longest line at Disneyland these days is the “Finding Nemo Submarine Adventure.” It’s about an hour wait, even during weekdays. Yesterday, we went to try it, just to see what the fuss is all about. Even with Susan’s magic wheelchair, we still had to wait half an hour. And you know what? The ride is just the same as it was when it was some other Submarine Voyage, except now it has built-in ads for the Finding Nemo movie sprinkled throughout. I found myself checking email halfway through the ride. I then asked my children if it would be OK for me to walk along the line telling people it wasn’t worth the wait, but they begged me not to.
Three days is just about right: On day one, we went to Disneyland park. On day two, we went to the Disneyland California Adventure park. On day three, we hopped between the two parks, doing the rides we liked best from day one and two. The thing is, we have another day here, and I’m not all that excited to do any of the rides again.
Eventually, the music will make you insane: The soundtrack they play at certain places along the park never varies. Along one path, for example, they’re always playing “California Girls.” Along another, it’s “I love LA.” If I were an employee of Disneyland, I would almost certainly gouge out my ears within a week.
At Disneyland, you pay in dog dollars: After a while, you stop recoiling at the fact that lunch for your family of six — a McDonalds-esque lunch, but with clever names — just cost $98.00. Each day, I have brought $150 in cash with me into the park. Each day, I have come back with change and a few $1 bills. ($1 bills are not legal tender in Disneyland, since nothing can be purchased for that little money.)
It’s been a great vacation, but I haven’t slept in my own bed in about two weeks. I’m looking forward to going home. And to riding my bikes.
And to writing in this (award-winning: ha!) blog about riding my bikes.
Comments (43)
03.12.2008 | 2:33 pm
Only moments before, we came across Pocahontas. I told my 14-year-old
he should go get his picture taken with her. “As you pose with her,” I
said, “tell her that her name should be ‘Poca-hotness’.”
He declined.
Comments (14)
03.12.2008 | 8:50 am
A few pictures taken while we were at the “California Adventure” part of Disneyland yesterday:
Katie, cooling down at one of the water fountain play areas. Temperature here was about 75-80 (F) yesterday.
Brice, Nigel, and my Mom (sorry about cutting you out of the picture, Mom!) on the Ferris wheel. This has got to be the coolest-looking Ferris wheel ever. It’s huge. Unfortunately, it’s as lame to ride as every other Ferris wheel.
Carrie and Susan in the Ferris wheel. Isn’t Susan looking great? (Both Susan and I got seriously motion sick from the start/stop motion of the Ferris wheel, coupled with the random rocking motion. So far, this is the only ride I have not enjoyed.)
Carrie gives Mickey a big hug. Katie would not go near any of the characters; she finds them disturbing. As do I.
3D Glasses. AAAAAGGGH!
Comments (21)
03.11.2008 | 5:44 pm
And of course a brotherly pair of horns.
Comments (16)
03.11.2008 | 8:04 am
I’m not going to pretend that it’s not a big deal to me to have won one of the 2008 Bloggies. I campaigned relentlessly for it, including negative ads and misleading press releases.
And now I’d like to say “Thanks.” And I’d like to say it in such a way that you know I mean it.
So how’s this: I’m going to (practically) give away 100 Fat Cyclist T-Shirts and 100 Fat Cyclist Water Bottles. Starting right now.
Seriously, I am.
Have a T-Shirt or Bottle, On Me
OK, here’s how it works. Starting right this moment, the next 100 Fat Cyclist T-shirts (any size, either gender), cost a penny (because Twin Six’s shopping cart doesn’t know how to do free), plus shipping.
Same thing goes for bottles. One penny, plus shipping.
Don’t Be Greedy
I’m not doing this with the idea of giving 100 T-shirts or bottles to one person, though. So: one per customer. You can order one bottle and one T-shirt at this price. If you order more than that, you’ll still just get one.
And don’t go doing multiple orders, each with one T-shirt in the order. In short, be cool.
As Long as You’re at the Site
My friends at Twin Six will be packing and shipping these orders, and they won’t be making a penny doing it. So, as long as you’re picking up a free T-shirt and/or bottle, why don’t you check out the cool jerseys and shirts they have on their site and buy yourself something in the same order.
Where to Order
Here are the links to the T-shirts and bottles:
And again, thanks for voting me the best sports blog for 2008.
UPDATE: It turns out that people like free stuff. Who’d have guessed? All 100 shirts and bottles are already spoken for. Thanks again for reading!
Comments (83)
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