Shaggy

Yes. It was definitely a more intense experience. I think it fit the theme of tomorrowland quite well actually. The original concept was another Eisner decision. He def catered more to the thrill seeker audience. Once Disney began tying in more rides to its movies, the ride was renamed and toned down. Toned down? That's an understatement ;-) Snzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I tell everyone to skip it. It's a complete waste of time, and beneath Disney... but then so is the Stitch Character. He's every bit as annoying as their other bottom tier character - Roger Rabbit.

The difference? Probably the main difference is that Delirium was the first. MaxAir has had it's share of downtime too. Seems to me I recall it being down for a good portion of the start of it's 2nd year of operation.

Delirium is a giant mechanical device that requires engines strong enough to safely swing and spin an enormous pendulum holding 50 riders with no counterweight and requires brakes strong enough to hault the intertia developed by the movement - over, and over, and over day after day, month after month, year after year. In addition, it has an extremely complicated computer control and safety system that runs through a battery of checks and balances to make sure the unit is operating precisely and with no danger to guests. Needless to say, that's a lot to ask of ANY mechanical device - thus problems will happen, and downtime will happen. Shaggy

Honestly? The parades bore me. But the Main Street Electrical Parade is still pretty special to me. Probably because I remember seeing it as a kid with my Mom and Dad. But I will admit something... Fantasmic at Disneyland (NOT the WDW version) makes me weep. It is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. At DL, the first time I saw the "Pan" segment - I literally cried from amazement. It absolutely took my breath away! That is my favorite show! I think the whole concept is so beyond what I expected. I saw the DL version once while we were there and it is as you say simply amazing!!! We actually camped out for the first showing and stayed for the second showing after the fireworks. It was well worth it. We got ice cream from the Terrace (I think) and sat there watching people until the program....wow the fire, lights and water ,,,,,left me speechless! DWs is a close second, I have to see that one every time I go down. That and Illuminations. The WDW version of Fantasmic cannot begin to hold a candle to the DL version. I think being in a large arena with literally THOUSANDS of people around you lessens the experience. At DL, you are literally RIGHT THERE and if you're lucky enough to be up front, you gasp at the awe of it. It's much more intimate, but much more powerful at DL. The first time I saw it, I was with a good friend at the time (now the VP of ACE) and he had to sort of twist my arm to see it. He insisted on camping out early in front of the Pirates Plaza, and I just kept thinking we were waisting ride time! LOL Well, lets just say he got more than he bargained for because when the... *SPOILER* Pirate ship appears out of nowhere I literally lost it. Sobbing!!! That scene is the most amazing part (sans Malificent dragon) and it's not even in the WDW version! Oh, I haven't considered attending the KICentral bash. I will be at KI in a few weekends, so that may circumvent attending. Oh, and I'd hardly be the most popular. Now if Terpy went, I think he'd have to hold an autograph line. LOL!

Honestly? The parades bore me. But the Main Street Electrical Parade is still pretty special to me. Probably because I remember seeing it as a kid with my Mom and Dad. But I will admit something... Fantasmic at Disneyland (NOT the WDW version) makes me weep. It is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. At DL, the first time I saw the "Pan" segment, it absolutely took my breath away! I literally cried "crocodile tears" from amazement.

About 90% of the "fur" characters are girls. Mickey, Donald, Minnie, Chip & Dale etc require a petite female frame. Goofy & Pluto are frequently played by males - but require a lanky build. Here's one that always blew my mind. The original Tinkerbells that flew at Disneyland and WDW in the early years were women in their 60s & 70s. Actually, at Disneyland, the first "flying" tink was a 71 year old lady who was traned as an airealist! (sp?) Back then technology was pretty non-existent and she literally repelled down a cable and landed on a matress!

I've got more... I love Disney "Magic!" ;-) Did you know if a "head" character is seen by a guest with their head off, it's grounds for immediate dismissal? Did you know the Princesses are instructed to be the last one to let go when hugging a child? Did you know the Princesses must spend time in "fur" (play a costumed character) before they can portray a Princess? Also, most of the "face" characters are under strict regulations as to what they can/cannot do even outside the park. These face characters are advised to not go to bars, or be seen in compromising places or parties. The fear is they will be recognized by a guest, thus muddying the clean image of the character. All "face" characters are reviewed every few months. If they've changed in looks, or gained/lost significant weight - then their contract is terminated. Most "age out" by the time they are 30. Shaggy

Speaking of parades... many think that the floats are "driven" by eye down Main Street and controlled completely from within each float. However, they are actually controlled via a sophisticated sensor and satallite system. Seriously. There are sensors embedded in the pavement that align the floats, spacing them properly and triggering the sound systems within. They are monitored via a control station elsewhere in the park that relays the speed and direction of the floats. There are still drivers in each float, but they simply mantain the need for a back-up for malfunctions or emergency. Also, certain windows on the upper floors of Main Street open automatically when a parade nears to reveal hidden speakers. As the parade passes, the windows close mechanically. This too is triggered by sensor. Shaggy

The other parks do not have a utilidor. They utilize perimeter access roads & paths.

Disney offers behind the scenes tours... for a fee of course. Part of that tour includes going into the utilidors. BTW, the utilidors are literally just cinderblock wall hallways. Nothing fancy. The swedish trash system actually runs through them. That is more fascinating that the utilidors themselves - all the Disney trash is literally "sucked" through pipes and dumped into trash trucks at the rear - and carted off. Actually, the coolest part of the utilidor area is the costume dept. Its pretty darn amazing. Shaggy

It's so sad to see a loving family unti unravel. Unfortunately, I have a bad feeling the park will continue to suffer in the crossfire. Summer in Louisville was missing something that has been a staple for eons - those unforgettable family based HW commercials. Consumers related strongly to the family representation HW always had. Without it, I would expect the park didn't seem "charming" as it had in years prior. That HAD to have affected their draw. Shaggy

Did they completely alter the siding that was put up yesterday? It's a completely different color, right? Or am I losing it?

I had forgotten that....I've only been to California Adventure one time....don't you back into the elevator shaft which is the main ride. And then you travel to a floor with a room size mirror to view as your elevator load disappears on screen....then you travel to the hallway where little what's-her-face (the child star) sings and the hallway becomes a starfield...and I'm not mistaken the ride seems way more out of control than the Fl version in it's sequences. Darn it.....time for me to go back for a visit!!!! All this Disneyland talk has me a itchin to go yonder....LOL *Spoiler* The most noatable difference is that the elevator car never leaves the elevator shaft in the CA version. In Florida, when you reach the top floor, the car exits the lift shaft, travels through a corridor and then enters the drop shaft. In CA's version, the same shaft is used to take you up, and drop you down.

Interesting that you mention that. The concept originally was supposed to use the same system as Demon Drop. They actually went to an elevator company, I think Otis Elevator for a demonstration of how to get belly drops from an elevator, and the company was shocked because they had spent their entire careers perfecting elevators that wouldn't cause that sensation. That is when they started looking at the ride that looks like an elevator instead of trying to turn an elevator into a ride. The ride doesn't drop but is actually pulled down and pulled upwards. The lobby of the hotel is modeled after the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. The library sequence is based on the Twilight Zone episode of "It's a Good Life". Items in the library room and in the store room at the end of the ride refer to different episodes of the show. And much much more!!! ...and the version in CA is a VASTLY different "elevator experience" than that at WDW's Hollywood Studios.

Actually, they have a point. It does look like a Hoveround!

As Terpy said... Pshaw! I can assure you that my sentiments are my own, are always honest (to a fault and sometimes brutally so) direct and heartfelt. I always say what I mean, and mean what I say. I pride myself on being a man of my word. Oh... and my advance speculating continues. Would you like me to share what I forsee as an obvious forthcoming change to KI property? Naaaah, lets let 2014 things simmer a bit for before I drop that on you ;-) No need to shake things up just yet. LOL!

The concrete pad behind the queue at the right of the pic is indeed the spot where Road Runner Express once stood. (Look for the dumpster) However when they say they cleared the area, they actually mean the space in the rear of the photo. That is where, until recently, the loop and spike of Greezed Lightning was. Of course Six Flags removed Road Runner a long time ago... but ed Harts group just finished removal of Greezed Lightning. Also, to the left of the concrete pad is the area where the Skyfler once stood. It was removed shortly after Six Flags vacated, as it was only leased. In the bottom right of the picture in front of the queue was the entrance plaza to Road Runner, and the footing at the bottom middle was the anchor for the themed entrance to the attraction. Shaggy

LOL.... I knew of the legend prior, but also got that email. (I ordered one... can you say "Suckerrrrrrr!") LOL!

I have to agree. Nostalgia and historical significance aside - the Brooklyn Coney Island Cyclone was one heck of an awful ride when I rode 4 years ago. Eeeeeouch - I tried 3 different places in the train - none was any less uncomfortable. That having been said, I've ridden some doozies - some barely standing, some with duct-taped restraints (Looping Star at Beech Bend), some with seats missing, some with crooked lifts etc etc etc. Many I took one ride on only to "check them off" I figured surviving once was pushing my luck. The old Williams Grove coaster was pretty bad. The old multi-looper at SFGAm had a horrific transition into the mid-course breakes that would nearly break your neck. The Dipper at Camden always seemed as though it could fall at any minute. Sky Princess at Dutch Wonderland was a long drive for a coaster you could take a nap on. Snzzzzzzzzz. Hercules at Dorney was baaaaaaad. The Boss at SFStL rode like it had gravel all over the tracks. Oh, if you count those horrible Toboggan rides as coasters - well my last turn on one was, well, my last. Those are deathtraps! Finally, once upon a time, the infamous Terpy and I were at Indiana Beach with some other folks when "Lost Coaster Of Superstition Mountain" reopened. He coined a description about that ride that I still laugh at. He described the experience as being as much fun as "Getting pushed over the side of a cliff in a shopping cart!" Remember that Terpy? Classic!

*Cough* Phantom Theatre *Cough*

PART of the WDW and DL Mansion story NOW revolves around an ill-fated love... but when they opened, that wasn't a focus of the attractions - rather just a minor part. The storyline of the Bride in the mansion has evolved over time, mostly since the opening of Euro Disney which built the entire Phantom Manor attraction around the storyline. Actually, where the Bride figure exists now in the DL version is where the Hatbox Ghost was originally placed. (I believe.) Oh, and the ring you mentioned at the WDW version - gone. It was removed/paved over years ago. Many argue that it was actually not a ring - rather the remnant from a former gate post. Who knows. Anyways, here's a pic of the former "ring."

The 50 foot platform has not been reopened, to my knowledge, since the tragedy. The reason it is not open to guests has very little to do with the fatality. More to do with ADA, staffing, etc. Also, it currently houses electrical equiptment for things such as lighting etc.

Awww shuks! ;-)

Well, I know of the plates... but don't think that would be the largest. Isn't Everest at AK a large hidden Mickey? (Look at it from the aierel perspective.)

I've ridden both the WDW and DL versions. WDW's is a tad bit longer than DL. Of course DL's is the original, so that makes it special. It's funny because I prefer the WDW version of Haunted Mansion (both interior and exterior)... but I prefer DL's version of Pirates of C. As Upstop said, you can see something different and new everytime you ride the Mansion... and not just the hidden Mickeys. ;-)