Heading to Disneyland? Ride guide will help you plan

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/12/2010 (5625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – It’s the time of year when many families gather around the kitchen table and talk about where they want to go for their big vacation.

While some target beach destinations or extended visits with distant relatives, theme parks continue to draw millions each year.

While in the Los Angeles area during the summer to cover the E3 gaming convention, multimedia editor Tyler Walsh and I took a tour of Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure and Universal Studios Hollywood (that review and video will be posted tomorrow) to hand-pick the must-see attractions for those getting down to the short-strokes in booking flights, hotels and attraction visits.

I confess I am a late-comer to the thrill ride game. In fact, I had not visited a theme park until 1995 – a side-trip to Disneyland during a lengthy sojourn through southern California. But I was immediately bitten by the thrill bug.

Unlike some lucky ride-goers who can hop on any attraction without concern, I am prone to motion sickness. This forces me to research rides ahead of time to ensure I won’t be left lying on the sidewalk outside of the ride’s gift shop. (Yes, this has happened to me on several occasions.)

I know I’m not the only one who worries about whether I can stomach the big-ticket ride looming in front of me, based on what I’ve read on theme park forums and in the comments of YouTube videos featuring the most popular rides. This is why I decided to craft a handy guide for the frequently squeamish, and those with young ones nervous about hitting the big-time attractions at Disneyland.

Included within my reviews are ratings for the kids and for those prone to motion sickness.

The accompanying video lists my favourite rides at Disneyland and the adjoining Disney’s California Adventure theme parks. Let’s start there…

California Screamin’

This steel coaster harkens back to the classic boardwalk coasters of the ’30s, and features one looping inversion and several steep drops.

It starts with a ferocious horizontal launch at 55 m.p.h. that leads into the first hill. There are several fast turns and some airtime, but it won’t knock you off of your feet.

KID RATING: Intense but doable.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Medium – 3 out of 5. No major stomach drops and the Gs are tolerable.

Soarin’ Over California

This is a unique movie motion simulator ride that utilizes cutting-edge, large-scale Meccano-style construction to elevate riders into the cinema to recreate the sensation of flight on a hang glider.

KID RATING: Perfect for the whole family.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Movie rides can be tricky. If the timing of the motion simulator is even slightly off from the movie, your inner ear will be at war with your eyes. The result? Your body can’t make sense of the discrepancy between the two and assumes you have been poisoned… hence the intense nausea and dizziness. Having said all that, this ride is well executed and only gets a 1 out of 5 on the nausea scale.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Long considered by hard-core thrill-seekers as the weaker cousin to the version in Florida, the Tower in Disneyland still brings the funk.

Brilliant theming – a Disney staple – lifts this attraction above the typical drop ride, combining stunning ambience with the drop-dead sensation of free-falling in a modified elevator car.

You go through several scene-setting moments before zipping up to the top of the 13-storey tower and dropping and lifting again in seemingly random sequences. A highlight: as you make it to the top of the tower, the internal and external elevator doors open giving you a view of the entire park.

KID RATING: The scares are minor, but the drops are intense. You are in the dark and dropping inside of a tight elevator shaft… that will scare most people.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: If you relax your stomach by either screaming or breathing out quickly during the big drops, it will minimize the discomfort. It also helps to close your eyes during the most intense sequences, although you’ll miss the view out of the open doors. I rate it a 3 out of 5.

Indiana Jones Adventure

This was the ride that started it all for me.

I was a fan of the movies and had no idea what to expect when riding it for the first time shortly after it opened in the summer of 1995.

We waited more than three hours in the line… before the days of the brilliant Fast Pass concept that allows riders to use their theme park entrance tickets to acquire passes that hold their spot in line for a later time. The theming is so mesmerizing that we barely noticed the time in line.

Once inside the main ride area, you hop inside a large Jeep and embark on an incredible journey through the tomb, following an animatronic Indy through various scenes from the movies. You’ll encounter flames, poison darts, snakes and the giant rolling stone in an ending so awesome you’ll scream like Flanders when he saw purple drapes.

KID RATING: The darkness, sudden dips and turns and items flying at you can be intense. Reassure the little ones that it is a just a show and they should be OK.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Even though the ride is intense, the nausea factor is not that high. Because the motion is real and intuitive, it feels natural. I’d rate it a 2 out of 5.

Splash Mountain

This remains my all-around favourite ride in any theme park, because the Imagineers nailed every aspect of the experience.

It’s a wild log ride featuring dozens of animatronic characters and music from the movie Song of the South. The theming is bang on: every scene you encounter will make you smile as the designers pulled out all of the stops.

While you drop 45 feet in the big finale, the ride is very kid friendly. You will also get wet, some more than others. Sit in the front if you are looking for a good soaking.

The complete ride experience is several minutes long and you will get lost in the world of the Brier Patch.

KID RATING: A couple of surprise drops in the dark will startle, and the big finish will make them scream, but they’ll LOVE it.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Very low… as the motion is real and you can see the big drop coming. The stomach drop is noticeable but only lasts a moment, and then you’re laughing all of the way around to the loading/unloading station. Call it 1 out of 5.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Parents enjoy this ride because it’s quiet, dark and cool. It’s relatively long so the whole family gets a break from walking and making their way through the crowds.

But that sells the experience short… it is so much more than a comfortable break from the energy of the park.

It’s a log ride that brings you casually through the world of swashbuckling pirates. And the ride was recently updated with new animatronics featuring Captain Jack Sparrow from the movie series, so it is worth another look for regular attendees.

Watch closely for several brilliant, subtle touches that set this apart from other dark rides.

KID RATING: There’s a minor surprise drop in the dark that may frighten the young ones, but it’s short and not too intense. Otherwise it’s a ton of fun for kids.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: None. Enjoy the ride.

Space Mountain

This is the ride your kids will sprint to when they first arrive at the park. And for many, it is/was their first roller-coaster experience.

While it is a relatively slow coaster, the action occurs in the dark, so you’re surprised by the dips and turns.

The ride was recently updated with new cars featuring stereo sound and new lighting effects.

KID RATING: This is a must-ride for the kids. It is a great way to test their readiness for other rides mentioned above, and kind of a pre-requisite in Coasters 101.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: If it were not in the dark, it would only be a 2 out of 5 on the Barf Scale, but because your eyes and inner ears will be at odds, it comes in at 3.5 out of 5. It might be wise to eat lunch a half-hour or so before riding.

Other highlights…

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

It’s a dark ride slash laser target shooter. The ride itself is somewhat ‘meh’ but the challenge of ringing up a high score keeps it fresh.

KID RATING: Awesome!

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Because the car can spin at high speeds, and you are in black light, it can be tough on that pesky inner ear. But you are likely having too much fun to really notice. Rated 3 out of 5 on the sick scale.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

This is another high-speed train-style coaster that the kids will love and want to ride again and again.

KID RATING: Somewhat intense but immensely fun.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Quite low… the drops are not that intense, just some high-speed turns and dips: 1.5 out of 5.

Turtle Talk with Crush

Finding Nemo was a real charmer of a movie and that charm translates in this live interactive attraction aimed at the little ones.

A digital projection interacts with guests and enthrals the kids. Parents will also enjoy the humour and the seating.

KID RATING: 10 out of 10, very cute.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Nada.

Toy Story Mania

Brilliant dark ride slash shooting game utilizing 3-D video and cars moving on tracks.

You’ll want to ride this over and over and over…

KID RATING: Are you kidding? Toy Story, 3-D video and score challenges? This is the real deal.

MOTION SICKNESS RATING: Much like Astro Blasters, the cars can spin, but it’s rare and you’re mostly kept busy firing your cannon. Low: 2 out of 5.

Remember, part 2 of the California theme park tour goes tomorrow with our look at Universal Studios Hollywood.

john.white@freepress.mb.ca