Media Day at California Adventure (w/ pictures)

[DannyB]

I was able to attend Media Day at California Adventure June 14, thanks to winning an online contest. Unfortunately my wife couldn't get out of work, so I took my two sons, and a friend of theirs who had never been to California Adventure. Micechatters were helpful to me in knowing what to expect, so I felt I should share a bit about our trip...

We arrived plenty early and had to wait to be let in... then we headed straight toward Radiator Springs Racers. First time we had a 20 minute wait. 2nd time we had a 30 minute wait... Two of us rode it again later in the day, using the single rider line. The two youngest, meanwhile, rode Grizzly River Run 5 times. The youngest in the group had ridden it once several years ago and kind of freaked out about going down the last hill facing backward, so this is the first time since then that he has ridden, and now he loves it. It was also the first time he'd ever ridden Goofy's Sky School, and he loved that as well.

I myself could have ridden Radiator Springs Racers several more times, but since we had a DCA first-timer, we were sure to see the whole park. Even after the conversion of Mulholland Madness into Goofy's Sky School, that ride seems so out of place in the same park as Radiator Springs Racers. And the queue for Screamin', and several other parts of Paradise Pier where the theme is still lacking, stand out much more now that the wonderfully immersive world Cars Land is open.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree had a 10 minute wait. It was fun, but not outstanding. Luigi's flying tires had a 30-60 minute wait, so we skipped that.

CarsLand was filled with media folks, and those of us who got in yesterday were there as part of the scenery for their cameras. Don't know who all these media folks were, but there sure were a lot of them, clogging up the pathways. But we were grateful to experience the park with a small crowd, so definitely no complaints there.

I enjoyed the veggie sandwich at Fifer, Fiddler & Practical Cafe. I gave the kids (picky eaters, all) some money and they went over to Taste Pilots Grill and brought back a tray of burgers for themselves. We ate while the News Boys did their show in front of the Carthay Circle Theatre. I agree with what I read elsewhere here on MiceChat, that the overpowering bass beat that accompanies the show very nearly ruins it. It's so out of place. But otherwise, we enjoyed lunch, the show, Buena Vista Street, Carsland, and the whole day.

We did see John Lasseter, checking out the merchandise in Ramone's. He seemed preoccupied with getting the displays in the store right. I think he and everyone at Disneyland are doing everything they can to make sure the next few days, with the massive crowds that are expected, go smoothly. I wish them luck.


Here are some pictures from the day...

[peagreen]

Thanks for the report! Looks like you guys had a good time! Can't wait to experience it myself...

[ScottG]

Great thread! I'm surprised the lines were that short.
What did the kids think of everything?

[DannyB]

Lines were short because the park was closed to the public that day. I heard that only 8,000 people were invited in, though I don't know if that's accurate or not.

The kids, of course, enjoyed it, although I was surprised that two times on Radiator Springs Racers was enough for the two youngest, who are in middle school, and that they choose to ride Goofy's Sky School and Grizzly River Run more than Radiator Springs Racers.... I think that, for them, those two rides offered more of a thrill than the Racers did.... However, I did notice one young girl getting off Radiator Springs Racers in tears. I'm not sure what it was that scared her, but I think that for some young children, the indoor slow section of the ride might be the scariest ... particularly when you meet Frank. It's a scare factor that for some kids might be right up there with Indiana Jones. The outdoor portion is fun and fast, but not particularly scary.

[peagreen]

I'm surprised the lines were that short.

This was yesterday, right? The day the park was closed to the general public?

[DannyB]

This was yesterday, right? The day the park was closed to the general public?

Correct. We won tickets through an online contest. (There's a thread on that contest here somewhere, titled something like "Who wants to win tickets to Carsland June 14?")

[LittleImagineer]

Very cool! I'm happy you guys got to go and enjoy it! It's so pretty, you definitely have to take your wife soon

[DannyB]

Very cool! I'm happy you guys got to go and enjoy it! It's so pretty, you definitely have to take your wife soon

Yeah. She went to DCA with a friend last year, and I tried to tell her that she got to see World of Color and I still haven't seen it (since our tix only allowed us to stay until 6pm yesterday), so we're even ... but she didn't buy that.

[NettyVal09]

Looks like you had a really cool and fun time! Love the photos!

[sbk1234]

Looks awesome. Can't wait.

[Jetlife]

We were there.

Great day.
We got to meet Mamabot too, that was very nice.
Her kids were nice enough to go on a few rides with my boys.
RSR was awesome.
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, I guess that would that be MJJ?
MJJ was also very good.
Luigis Flying Tires was fun, but the line was a little too long.
Enjoy the Beach Balls, I bet that they won't last a year. (too tempting to unbuckle your seat belt in order to go get one)
The town of Radiator Springs is beautiful, and the Queue for RSR was great.

[mratigan]

^ 100% all the way