Go to say you've been there, then go to a real park
Written: Jun 19 '00 (Updated Jun 19 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clean and attractive park, been-there-done-that appeal
Cons: Unbelievably long lines, poor in-park transportation, uncomfortable rides, no place to sit down
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| QueenLyssa's Full Review: Disneyland |
I grew up in Southern California an hour's drive from Disneyland, so I went often to the world's most famous amusement park when I was younger. When visitors come to see us it's usually top on their list of requests and we're happy to take them there. So recently when my uncle and cousin came to visit, our family tagged along to spend a day in the Happiest Place on Earth. We hadn't been there for four years and now I recall why.
For such a happy place it's almost impossible to find a smile after 2 pm. In spite of recent expansion and the addition to a pitiful three rides of the Fastpass system to alleviate waiting time, the vast majority of time at the Big D is spent standing in lines. Let me explain Fastpass: on Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and one other ride we didn't get to, you have the option of getting a ticket to skip part of the line, redeemable during a specified time period. This was helpful on those two Fastpass rides we did manage, but we were still left with the equivalent of a long line at other amusement parks. The signs telling us how long the wait was from a certain point in the line were not helpful and proved to be inaccurate by 20-30 minutes. We went on a weekday before the traditional school year had let out and the average line time was 90 minutes. I can't imagine the weekend and summer agony.
There's no relief from lines when it comes to eating, either. It took us 30 minutes to get to the counter to order hamburgers, by which time all the kids were famished and grouchy and the adults barely more civil. The food was decently priced for a change and served in adequate portions, but the seating provided could double as a torture device, hardly comfortable after hours of being on our feet and tramping across the park.
Comfort, however, is not something that is in good supply at Disneyland. In fact, it's not there at all. There's no place to sit down in the park unless you're eating or hanging about on Main Street, USA. The only way to get the weight off your feet is to plop yourself onto a planter or find a slow ride like the train. The rides are some of the most jarring and uncomfortable I have ever been on. Now I enjoy a good rollercoaster, but I prefer to experience speed and thrills rather than bumps and bruises. Space Mountain, supposedly improved with the reopening of Tomorrowland, is one of the most poorly engineered coasters I have ever been on, turning one direction for the majority of the ride and knocking you about so violently in your seat that you emerge battered and nauseated. Even the kids were complaining after that one.
Disneyland has kept its reputation for cleanliness and attention to detail intact. Rides are visually pleasing and the park itself is attractive. However, the crowds, the long lines, and the lack of anywhere to rest make it hard to get your money's worth from the admission price due to sheer exhaustion setting in by about 3 o'clock. If you must go to say you've been there, go. Then drive on over to a park like Magic Mountain that pays a little more attention to giving the customer what they want: lines that move and give you a choice of coaster seating, quick transportation around the park, and stunning rides that give you thrills without making you feel you've just been run over by the Mighty Ducks.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
QueenLyssa
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Member: Lyssa Jaraba
Location: Riverside, CA
Reviews written: 64
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me:
It's good to be queen.
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