STAR WARS: Season of the Force - STAR TOURS

Check out my other reviews for Star Wars: Season of the Force here and here.

In keeping with Tomorrowland's recent Star Wars makeover, Star Tours has added scenes to promote the release of the new movie. 

The line for Star Tours wasn't too bad when I went two weeks ago. My friend and I went a few times to get a feel for the ride, and to see if you see the same scene every time. Yes, every ride takes you to Jakku with the Millennium Falcon, and BB-8 relays a hologram message each time. The second planet you visit will be a random planet from the regular rotation.

To begin with, I really liked the Jakku scene. The desert landscape with the crashed Star Destroyer is a great setting for Star Tours. I had no idea John Boyega was going to appear, and that was an awesome surprise for me. My friend, on the other hand, was disappointed that they didn't use Daisy Ridley.

So, apart from what I already mentioned, there's nothing else remarkable about the ride. We noticed that the animatronic C-3PO in the waiting queue was improved. They finally fixed that hand.

Anyway, I'm sure this update to Star Tours will be here for a while, so that everyone gets to see it. I hope that rather than making this permanent, they simply add Jakku to the random mix of planets in the ride at some point. Is that too unrealistic?

STAR WARS: Season of the Force - HYPERSPACE MOUNTAIN

Finally, after weeks of anticipation, I found some time to hit the park with a buddy and ride the new Space Mountain. All I can say is that my low expectations were blown away. What I feared would be a lazy mash-up of Star Wars and Space Mountain turned out to be a lot more exciting and inspired.

Keep in mind that as always, I will be discussing the ride in detail. If you wish to experience it for yourself without "spoilers", stop reading here.

The new Fastpass for Hyperspace Mountain was a pleasant surprise.

Now, having always been a huge Star Wars fan, the prospect of a Star Wars-themed Space Mountain has appealed to me for a long time. I've always imagined soaring through the void of artificial space while John Williams' TIE Fighter Attack blasts triumphantly in the background. That experience alone makes Hyperspace Mountain worth it. However, after the project was officially announced, I began to worry that a mess of ships and lasers spinning all around you via projectors would fail to capture the excitement of a Star Wars space battle. I'm happy to say that I was wrong.

What stood out were the little tricks and surprises that really drive this attraction home--from the Star Destroyer in the beginning to shooting the TIE Fighter down. Some of the effects, such as the X-Wing flyby, fell a little flat for me. However, I was pleasantly surprised overall. I will never get over that drop with the TIE Fighter roaring overhead and the startling laser fire. That was the moment I thought, "Wow, I'm in Star Wars."

My greatest fear was that this would be cheesy and overdone, and I'm pleased that this was not the case. It was paced just right, to emulate the intensity and chaos of a dogfight while maintaining the emptiness and vastness of space. It's not perfect, but for my money, it's the best Disney could have done. This will be a must-see attraction for any Star Wars fan.

STAR WARS: Season of the Force - Star Wars Launch Bay

Last month I got to check out the new Star Wars Launch Bay, the somewhat grand reopening of Innoventions. As expected, this is not a permanent attraction--merely a placeholder to showcase Star Wars memorabilia and promote the new movie. Still, I was pretty disappointed by how temporary it feels. For the way this attraction was hyped up, I honestly expected more activities. It's virtually just an expansion of the Marvel floor upstairs; character photo-ops and relics from the movies. The Star Wars costumes and props are certainly cool to look at up close, keeping in mind that they're not the screen-used props from the movies. If you were at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim this year, or San Diego Comic-Con, you've probably seen most of the stuff on display here. Although I don't remember seeing Phasma's helmet at either, so that was pretty cool.

My best hope for this place is that it continues to develop as the main center for Star Wars, for the next three years until Star Wars Land opens. I can just see Star Wars Launch Bay in a couple years, decorated with posters and promotional models for the new land. So I have high hopes for Star Wars Launch Bay, even though I was probably in and out of there in five minutes total.

For first-timers and visiting Star Wars fans, definitely check out the Launch Bay. For regulars, you probably won't need to see it more than once. Expect a review of Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours in the weeks to come.

Flame Trooper from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Getting Escorted off a Ride

Have you ever been riding along on a Disney ride, when the vehicle stopped suddenly and the lights came on?

If you are a regular Disney-goer, this has probably happened to you before. It could be technical difficulties, or maybe something triggered the sensors that force the ride to brake.

Something rare however, is the case of getting helped off the ride by a cast member. Sometimes you'll end up waiting in the vehicle for an extended amount of time, just so they can fix the ride before you get off. It seems the park really doesn't want to have to resort to escorting guests off the ride.

The other day a friend and I were on Pinocchio's Daring Journey. The ride broke down just as we were entering Geppetto's workshop. A cast member came through and rounded up each group by vehicle. So my friend and I took this opportunity to linger behind and take some sneaky (hence pretty crappy) photos. Since Pinocchio is a small ride, we got to walk through the rest of the ride on foot--a very different experience than usual.

This was my first time actually exiting a ride in the middle at Disneyland (I have however, had a similar experience at Disney World). Did it ruin the magic for me? No way. It's cool to see the ride from this perspective. If anything it added to the magic, being able to see how everything looks up-close.

The park works extra hard to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen, but every once in a while it just might happen to you.

It's a Small World Holiday

If you go on one ride this holiday season, make sure you ride It's a Small World.

The Disney team truly went all out this year with the decorations and lights. I feel like I have never seen so many different colors in one place. The decorations and songs are totally overwhelming, and although we're still weeks away from the holiday season, this will surely get you in the spirit.

One of the many cool holiday additions is the holiday clock show, replacing the 15-minutely cuckoo clock show with a huge projection with characters and toys. It's awesome, although it seems to be the same show as last year.

As I've said before, the holiday season is my favorite time to visit Disneyland, and attractions like this are exactly why.

Big Thunder Mountain Review

I was finally able to experience the new and improved Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Going in without any expectations, all I can say is that it sure lived up to the hype.

I had absolutely no idea what this ride had in store. After a 50 minute wait, I was blown away. Anyone familiar with this classic ride will immediately notice that the new tracks are immensely smoother than before. The Imagineers managed to keep the speed and thrill intact, while enormously improving the track quality. You will no longer be crushed by the person next to you, or be sliding across your seat.

As for the effects, the design team did a fantastic job with the new aesthetics. Nothing overly dramatic or flashy was added, but it sure kicks off with a bang! Overall, I'm very pleased with the result, and I'd say this is the biggest park renovation in almost a decade.

Thunder Mountain Open for Cast Members

If you've been by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad lately, you'll have noticed that the ride is operating. But unless you work at the park, don't get your hopes up. The ride is open for cast members and their families only.

Regular guests however, will be able to ride again soon. Only a week from today, Big Thunder will be open to the public for the first time in over a year. Get hyped!

Space Mountain Exterior Changes

Space Mountain in its new state

Last month, the roof of Space Mountain was given a small but significant improvement. You may recall that a couple years back, an employee was injured falling from the roof of Space Mountain. As such, the exterior of the show building went untouched for almost a year, pending a lawsuit.

Space Mountain, before being cleaned

They've finally been able to get back to work, and now the ride looks spotless. Additionally, an extra layer has been added to the roof to more easily and safely harness cleaning equipment - to prevent future danger to employees.

It's a Small World Animated Series

The Series' Title Card

An animated series based on the popular Disney attraction, It's a Small World, launched today. A pilot which aired on Disney's website in November was the first look at this new series.

It's a Small World is a colorful and musical boat ride that appears in every Disney Park. The imaginative product of Walt Disney and Mary Blair, it celebrates diversity of all cultures throughout the globe, characterized by singing children and animals.

The premiere episode features a traveling group of children from all walks of life as they are introduced to the exotic customs and traditions of India. Check it out here.

Christmas 2013: Jingle Cruise Reaction

Over Thanksgiving break I managed to find time to check out some of the new Disneyland features and attractions. Anyone visiting the Magic Kingdom these next couple of months is sure to know it's winter, since the warm Southern California weather doesn't quite give it away.

As one would expect, the line for Jungle Cruise was packed. Patrons were eager to take in the holiday-themed attraction in its debut month. In terms of decorations however, only the queue showed up for the holidays. The rest of the ride seems to be exactly the same.

Don't get me wrong though, it's always refreshing to hear new jokes from the skipper on Jungle Cruise. Though they try to update the spiel every so often, frequent riders get tired of the same jokes over the years. At least for this short window of time, we'll get a new ride experience. With the minimal amount of changes done to the ride overall, I wonder if changing Trader Sam's name to Trader Santa really warranted a new poster.

New World of Color and Passholder Event

Likely to promote Disney's upcoming animated film, Frozen, World of Color will have a winter-themed show coming next month called World of Color: Winter Dreams.

Annual Passholders will be able to get Fastpasses by showing up at the Fastpass distribution near Grizzly River Run. Remember that Fastpasses are one-per-passport, so make sure everyone has their Annual Passports with them if you all want to be able to catch the show from up front.

World of Color: Winter Dreams will be shown at 9PM on 11/15, 11/16, 11/17, 11/22, and 11/6, and 7PM on 11/18, 11/19, 11/20, 11/21, 12/2, 12/3, 12/4 and 12/5.

Jingle Cruise Poster Unveiled, Still No Changes to Ride

The ride poster for the holiday edition of Adventureland's Jungle Cruise has officially been unveiled.

Anyone else find it funny that there's snow in an African jungle?

This is obviously an altered version of the original poster (seen below). But this poster isn't the only thing to receive a Christmas makeover. The queue of the ride is now adorned with Christmas lights and ornaments, and a flag with the ride's slogan, "Jungle all the Way". Strangely however, the ride has not yet been decorated, or changed in any way. Still, it's a little early in the season for Christmas anyway, so we'll have to wait and see what the Jingle Cruise has in store.

Original poster

Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy

Every year around Halloween time, Disneyland makes some pretty big changes. One noteworthy makeover takes place in Space Mountain. Each fall, the ride portion of the beloved attraction becomes spookier than usual.

You enter a dark tunnel -- pitch black -- and are greeted by a fiery skeletal ghost. You're followed all around by demons chasing you through the galaxy. At the end, there's a startling surprise.

Unlike the Haunted Mansion's Halloween decorations which make it a fun and cheerful experience, Space Mountain becomes even scarier at this time of year. So if you're looking forward to some Halloween thrills with the kids, or if you like quality amusement park entertainment, check out Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy before it's too late.

The Golden Age of Disneyland

Disneyland is perhaps the most celebrated, and certainly the most iconic amusement park on planet earth. More than 16 million guests of all ages walk through those gates each year, to live the dream that Walt promised on opening day - that Disneyland would be "a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

Last week, Disneyland commemorated its 58th anniversary. It has enchanted guests for nearly 60 years. I decided that to celebrate the occasion, I would look back on all 58 years of park history and single out Disneyland's best year. Obviously I haven't been around to experience all 58 years of Disneyland, so this choice is subjective. I will be choosing the best year based on what attractions were present in the park, thus, what year was the most ideal to visit Disneyland. Let's begin.

In the 1960s, the park was just beginning to come into form. The cherished It's A Small World came in 1966. New Orleans Square and Pirates of the Caribbean appeared in 1967. The Haunted Mansion came in 1969. However, the only true thrill ride in the park was the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and by 1969 it had already been around for a decade. In addition to the Matterhorn, 1959 had also brought about my all-time favorite ride, the Submarine Voyage. Disneyland had only just begun pandering to its older guests by the end of the 60s.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, which opened in 1963

Well, the 1970's were probably the biggest decade in Disneyland history. Long-haired males were finally allowed into the park, following the lifting of the ban that tried to keep hippies out. To start things off in 1970, the "yippies" invaded Disneyland, forcing the riot squad to show up and close the park early. In 1972, a copy of Disney World's Country Bear Jamboree appeared in Bear Country. Though Splash Mountain wasn't to be seen for many years, Tom Sawyer's Island and Frontierland now offered more than just hayrides and live animals.

America Sings replaced the Carousel of Progress in 1974, so the Carousel Theater was being put to more use than ever. As we all know, Tomorrowland is currently in desperate need of renovation. But in the mid-1970s, Tomorrowland was in its prime. Following the moon landing in '69, the popularity of space age technology and culture was in full swing.

The Rocket Jets soared above Tomorrowland. The Peoplemover was as vibrant as ever. The awesome Adventure Thru Inner Space was still in operation, and would remain so until 1985. Tomorrowland was still relevant, and still futuristic. Imagine a time when Tomorrowland truly felt like an advanced world, and not a dilapidated remnant of what the 80's would consider futuristic. So we can easily say that Disneyland's prime was sometime after 1974.

Unfortunately, the beloved Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland disappeared in 1977. It was said to be one of the most popular rides in history, and Walt Disney's personal favorite ride. Being one of the most classic and inventive attractions in Disneyland's history, the day the Mine Train shut down was a dark day in Disneyland. So I suppose we can determine that Disneyland's best year was between 1974 and 1977. But how to narrow it down further?

It seems that yet again, Space Mountain is the game changer. Space Mountain debuted in 1977, between the short window of Mine Train's closing and the birth of the 1980's. With this, it stands to reason that 1977 was indeed, the best year in Disneyland history.

Let's recap:

Frontierland
•Tom Sawyer's Island
•Country Bear Jamboree
•Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland
•Mike Fink Keel Boats
•Rivers of America

Fantasyland
•Vonroll Skyway
•Motor Boat Cruise
•Storybook Land Canal Boats
•Dumbo
•King Arthur Carousel
•Captain Hook's Galley

Tomorrowland
•Submarine Voyage
•America Sings
•Rocket Jets
•Adventure Thru Inner Space
•Mission to Mars
•Space Mountain
•Peoplemover

Adventureland and New Orleans Square
•Swiss Family Treehouse
•Jungle Cruise
•Enchanted Tiki Room

•Pirates of the Caribbean

•Haunted Mansion

So there you have it folks! Whether it's 1977, or 2013, Disneyland will always be a special place. Let's hope the next 58 years are just as magical.

Where Do Rides Go When They Die?

Where do the old Disneyland rides go after they die? This is a question I asked myself many times as a child. I remember watching many rides come and go. The Rocket Rods, the Mike Fink Keel Boats, and of course,  my all-time favorite ride: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Submarine Voyage (may it rest in peace).

The answer is more simple than most would imagine. They are dismantled, and the parts are sent back to the Disney boneyard, recycled for use in other attractions. Anything unusable becomes scrap, and is never seen by the public again. Many ride vehicles such as PeopleMover trains and Mr. Toad Cars are sold to collectors. Others remain in the park, re-painted and decorated for guests of newer generations to enjoy, and older generations to remember. Like this Rocket Jets pod and Midget Autopia car.

Others suffer a more tragic fate; they are silently discarded to rot in an empty lot where they will rust away for many years. The forgotten attractions of the past are sometimes truly forgotten.

Sometimes they are just placed arbitrarily in Disneyland for use as decoration, where guests can watch the decay firsthand.

Article here

But surely some rides can still be used after their run, right? Sadly, most of the time this is not the case. They are often rebuilt or replicated in other parks so that they can be enjoyed by others, in a fashion reminiscent of the old days at Disneyland, but not quite the same. The rides are hardly ever salvaged entirely for use in another park, the only example coming to mind being the Carousel of Progress which is now located at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The reason for this is that the rides simply wouldn't survive the cross-country journey. Take for example the tragic remains of the once beautiful Progress City. What used to be a gorgeous working model with moving parts and spectacular lights, is now a third of its original size with none of the functions that it had in Disneyland.

So you see, sometimes these attractions aren't always built to last. The problem with today's Disneyland is not that newer, more up-to-date attractions are taking over. It's that they are trying to fix what isn't broken. Timeless rides that aren't outdated shouldn't be scrapped. I have nothing against basing rides on Disney movies, but if you're going to do that make sure it's not something that will become stale in a few years. All but a few of Disney's oldest rides are not based on films, they're based on imagination. I couldn't see attractions based on Lilo & Stitch or Cars to last much more than a few years before they become antiquated.

Alas, there is one more fate of a beloved Disney ride that this article has not yet explored. Specifically, one from Walt Disney World in Florida. The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarine Voyage.

When the ride closed in 1994, the submarines were first left in the boneyard along with the likes of many other old attractions. But a number of them found new homes. One was on temporary display in MGM Studios, in the queue for the backlot tour. But perhaps more interesting is one particular Nautilus, which has found its way out to sea. At the tropical Bahamian port for the Disney Cruise Line known as Castaway Cay, a Nautilus sub was painted red and submerged to the seafloor (for those unfamiliar with how light works underwater, red wavelengths are invisible below 30 feet, so red becomes green in deep water).

So there it is, sleeping peacefully on the ocean floor where it truly belongs. Maybe Captain Nemo finally hit that whirpool and met the watery grave he was destined to meet. I don't object to this display at all, as most of the other subs were shredded and destroyed. It was a long run, but it finally made the journey out to sea. Just another way that Disney has enchanted the aching hearts of 20kL fans once again.

But what happened to the submarines from Disneyland? I think that's a story better left untold...

*Shudder*

Splash Mountain: Animatronics Still Broken

The singing crocodile is nowhere to be seen

I visited Disneyland recently and noticed something wrong. For the past several weeks, there has been a glaring aberration on Splash Mountain. Many of the famed audio-animatronics have yet to be fixed. Everyone's favorite hitchhiking croc, the porcupine playing the happy turtle like an instrument, and even Br'er Bear, are completely stationary. Normally, Br'er Rabbit would push his handcar from side to side just as the riders pass underneath, but he too has lost his momentum.

In this scene, Br'er Bear is supposed to tip his hat and bob up and down, but now we see no movement at all. I remember first noticing these malfunctions during the 24-Hour Monstrous Summer event, on May 24th. That was 49 days ago. I think that the obvious reason the Imagineering Department is hesitant to fix these, is that it would mean shutting the entire ride down. With Big Thunder Mountain under construction, Disneyland would lose another of its most popular rides. Especially during a hot summer like this one, losing Splash Mountain would be a huge blow. Just remember that most of these animatronics were made in the 1970's for America Sings, and they're not going to last forever.

Many of the animals in the ride's grand finale are frozen like this

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room 50th Anniversary

Last month, Disney celebrated the 50th birthday of the beloved Tiki Room attraction. For those outside the United States, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is an audio-animatronic show complete with music and talking birds. It first opened on June 23rd, 1963, and remains relatively unchanged to this day.

The Tiki Room was a showcase for the groundbreaking audio-animatronic technology seen in many attractions today. 50 years later, the technology has paved the way for countless Disney attractions around the world, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, and Splash Mountain. So what did Disneyland do to commemorate this occasion?

Aside from holding many events and galleries, the Opera House lobby on Main Street has been decorated with Tiki Room concept art and images from throughout the years. It even contains memorabilia from the original attraction, like the original barker bird.

Notice the wires dangling below his feet

The barker bird was the Tiki Room's host, who sat perched outside the gateway to Adventureland enticing guests to stop in and watch the show. The novelty of his puns and character made him a very popular attraction, and guests would stop to listen to his spiel. Eventually, this caused too much pedestrian traffic in Adventureland and he was removed. But here he is once again, hopefully to stay.

The show also features a gallery of concept drawings and paintings from the early 1960's. Some show that the Imagineers were going for a more realistic look for the birds and settings, while others demonstrate a cartoony aesthetic. It seems they went with a combination of both.

More Tiki Room memorabilia

I love that we can visit Disneyland and not forget about the past, but be able to see it right before us. Though the park changes drastically year after year, it still holds tight to its wonderful history. Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is proof that these old attractions are delighting families the same now as they were 50 years ago. I hope that for the upcoming 50th anniversary of Pirates of the Caribbean, we can expect the same sort of look back at history.