Category: Disney’s California Adventure

Dumbo Double Dare 2013: The 10K
This morning I was up before 4 a.m. to get ready for the first leg of the Dumbo Double Dare, the inaugural Disneyland 10K.    I tend to be a morning person anyway so this didn’t throw me off much — I think I prefer this to night races, at least that’s been my experience so far.

I’ve been watching the weather forecast for a while, and I have to say, if accuracy in forecasting matters I’m not sure how any of these meteorologists stay employed.   Every day for at least a week, the temperature has been significantly above forecast — 99 on a day where 90 was the forecast high, for example.

The forecast for this morning was about 73 degrees, and one of the first things i did when I got up was check the temperature.   81.   Well, it’s not going to be a PR day, that’s for sure; and visions of the Tower of Terror race came back to me.    (Actually, this is my third runDisney race — Tower of Terror 2012, WDW Half 2013, and now Disneyland Half 2013, and all 3 have been “unseasonably warm”.    I hope things balance out and give me 40 degree temps for the Wine & Dine half in November, that would be spectacular.

The bus service was a pleasant surprise — I’d asked drivers a few times over the past few days where the bus stops were going to be, and they were not really sure, which made me a bit nervous.   But when I got downstairs, there was a prominent runDisney sign in the lobby indicating our pick-up was in front of the Embassy Suites (right next door).   So I walked over and joined about 8 people already waiting; we had a full busload of 25+ by the time the bus pulled up 10 to 15 minutes later.

Our dropoff was about half a mile from the starting corrals — a nice stretch and warm up pre-race, but I suspected it would seem far longer after.   (Actually, not too bad today, but the real test comes tomorrow).

The Disneyland 5K ran before our 10K started, so they sent the 5K runners ahead to the corrals while the 10K runners were held in a pre-race staging area, with entertainment, water, backdrops to have photos taken, and tents sent up by various charities and race sponsors.   I stayed near the water tables to get extra fluids in me, the high temp and high humidity combination made me want to make sure I was hydrated, even though that probably meant I’d be making a pit stop along the way.

Pre/Post-race assembly area

Pre-race entertainment

Follow Mickey to the starting corrals

The 5Kers took off – I heard they were a bit late starting but I hadn’t memorized the schedule so I didn’t notice the discrepancy.   We then made our way over to the corrals.   I was in corral G and honestly — I never saw it.   I saw balloons for D, E, and F   (A, B, and C were off in a different direction) and started making my way to the back of F where G was supposed to be.   I never saw it, but eventually started seeing G bibs mixed in with the Fs so I just merged my way into the crowd.    By this time the early corrals had already begun running so we started surging forward to get to the start.

I started my Garmin at 6:37 a.m. so that’s when my section of the mob was crossing the start.   Sunrise has been just a few minutes earlier, the temp had dropped a few degrees (79 now) but was still uncomfortable.

Our first two miles was on surface street. We started on Disneyland Drive next to the Disneyland Hotel, and proceeded south.   We crossed Katella and turned left to run in front of the convention center, where the D23 Expo banners were still hanging.

I had a run-walk strategy of run 20 seconds, walk 40, which was slower (more walking) than the ratio I’ve used in past races.   But I thought it would give me a better chance of finishing strong.   As it turned out, the race was just too congested for any sort of strategy other than run when there’s pavement in front of you, walk when there are people in front of you.   I tried to avoid doing too much running side-to-side, but occasionally when there was obviously clear space ahead I’d occasionally make a detour to the side to get around a slower group.

We continued down Convention Way to Harbor, and made the left to take us toward the parks.    We entered Disney’s California Adventure through Cars Land.    Mater and Lightning McQueen were out for photos.    Disney employees waved us ahead with checkered flags — I appreciated the well-themed encouragement.    Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree was whirling to add a little fun and background music to the run.   For some reason I missed getting pictures of any of this, but here are a few backstage shots as we headed into DCA.

Coming into DCA

The back side of rock

From there we continued onto Paradise Pier, and made a big loop of the lagoon.   The World of Color show was going … obviously it loses a lot during the daylight, but I loved running to the music and enjoyed glancing over at the fountains.   I saw the first race photographer of the morning along here but I’m not sure if he got me.   Mickey’s Fun Wheel was also going — in both parks, a few rides were operating (riderless) just to add a little kinetic energy to those of us who were losing ours.

A loop around the west side of the park brought us to Mile 3, just in front of Soaring Over California.    We continued across in front of Carthay Circle and headed down toward Tower of Terror, where we exited the park.

Here we descended and ran through a tunnel I didn’t know existed — I’m not sure exactly where it’s located but it seems it must be running under the shuttle bus drop-off area at the East end of the Esplanade.   Coming back up, we were in backstage areas surrounding Disneyland — I saw Cast Scheduling and Cast Costuming buildings, along with others that weren’t as prominently labeled.    We went from backstage to the Esplanade, through an open gate, and then under the train tracks onto Main Street USA.

Head toward the light

Cast Costuming, Cast Scheduling buildings

This is starting to look familiar

Running down Main Street was obviously a highlight so I stopped for a few pictures, then made the turn into Tomorrowland and continued around to it’s a small world.   From here we went backstage again, and passed a succession of interesting areas — vehicle maintenance, parade floats, seeing the backside of various areas such as ToonTown, etc.    At this point I checked my timing and realized I had enough of a buffer that I didn’t need to fear the sweepers … so I started taking more pictures, talking to those around me more, and just enjoying the morning walk.    I’d still take off at a jog when there was clear space in front of me, but that wasn’t happening all that often.

Main Street USA

Train Roundhouse and Monorail Barn — all 4 trains were visible but this photo really only captured one.

A nice display put on by costuming shop

Loved seeing vehicles awaiting maintenance.

Doom buggies

Bobsled

More bobsleds

Parade floats

Makeshift petting zoo

Custodial employees lined the backstage route to cheer us on. Now I want to go back and pick up that water cup I dropped.

Behind Mickey’s Toontown

Mickey’s Toontown backdrop

We came back onstage into Mickey’s Toontown and made our way through Fantasyland. Dumbo was running, appropriately. Of course, getting a picture running through the castle is one of the great shots everyone hopes to get, but I think after some couple decided to quite literally jump in front of me and mug for the race photographer’s camera I probably missed that opportunity.

We headed through Frontierland and then were backstage again .. I remember seeing what I assume is an employee commissary and Imagineering, as well as the back side of Indiana Jones.   We then came out into Downtown Disney for our final mile (or so).    A lot of the early finishers had made their way back here to cheer on those of us bringing up the rear, and with that motivation I did a bit more running along this last mile than I’d done for miles 4 and 5.    When I turned the corner past the ESPN Zone, I could see the finish line, and kept my slow jog going until I crossed the timing mat.

From the finish, we were herded through the finisher chutes where we picked up first our medals, then Dumbo wristbands for those racing again tomorrow, then water.   Race photographers were there to take pictures with the medals, the lines were a bit long but I felt it was worth the wait.   Then we picked up our runner refreshment boxes and were turned loose into the wild to reunite with family and friends.    I’m solo on this trip and while I know several other people who were running today, I hadn’t made any plans to meet up with them. So I decided that heading back to the hotel for a shower and some rest was the way to go … and then see what I felt like after that.

A few hours of rest and I made my way back to Disneyland, wearing my 10K race shirt and finisher’s medal.   I hadn’t checked out the photo ops available in Fantasy Faire before, so I thought this would be the perfect time.    I got pictures with Cinderella, Snow White, and Aurora, took in a few rides, and then decided to head back to the hotel again rather than spending more time on my feet.

10K Finisher’s Medal

10K Finisher’s Medal and ribbon

I’m very happy with today’s result — and more than a little worried about tomorrow’s.   It’s supposed to be cooler, but I have zero faith in the forecasters on that.   We are scheduled for an earlier start and that will also help with the heat and humidity.    I think I will again start by trying to do 20:40 intervals, although in the early going it’s quite likely there won’t be space enough to stick to any predetermined pattern.

Should be an interesting, and challenging, morning.   Looking forward to it!

Related articles
- Disneyland Half Marathon and 10k Courses Are Here! (lifelaugheatrun.wordpress.com)
- DDD Race Goals (prairieprincessrunners.wordpress.com)
August 31, 2013
Disney Christmas: West Coast Edition

I’ve been a regular visitor to the Walt Disney World resort during the holiday season for many years; but this year is the first time I’ve made a similarly timed trip to the Disneyland resort.    I was excited to see what would seem familiar and what would be different about experiencing Disney holidays west coast style.

In just a few days I’ll be off to WDW, so this will be a bi-coastal Disney Christmas year for me … truly a Jolly Holiday.   A follow-up posting on the East Coast version of Disney Holidays will be following soon.

Disneyland

My favorite part of the Disneyland Christmas experience was two attractions that are re-themed with holiday overlays .. the Haunted Mansion and it’s a small world.   While both of these attractions are also at the Magic Kingdom in Florida, it is only at the California park that they get a full makeover for the holiday season.

While both are well done, the Haunted Mansion holiday is to me the hands-down winner for best extreme makeover.   The Haunted Mansion is taken over by Jack Skellington and other characters from the Nightmare before Christmas.   Every scene in every room is made over — from the stretching room to the graveyard, it’s an entirely new attraction.   Calling it an overlay just doesn’t do justice to how completely the attraction is transformed for the holidays.

The few pictures below don’t begin to convey the full effect — this is something you have to experience!

The second attraction to get the holiday overlay treatment is it’s a small world. Here, the soundtrack now includes both the attraction theme song and Jingle Bells, alternating back and forth for the duration of the ride. (As we pass Ariel in one scene, the words changed to Jingle Shells — I wonder if there were any other variations that I missed?)

Other than these two attractions, the area of the park most transformed for the holidays is Main Street. Garland is hung across the street along the entire length; there is of course the giant Christmas Tree in town square, and Sleeping Beauty Castle is adorned in holiday decorations. It was interesting to note that the same Castle Dream Lights treatment is done at both parks, but the presentation is quite different. At the Magic Kingdom, once dusk falls and the castle is lit, it is given the full dream lights treatment. At Disneyland, the dream lights are held back until the finale of the fireworks.

Disney’s California Adventure

At DCA, the Buena Vista Street area provides traditional Christmas decor and entertainment — the obligatory giant tree in front of the shops, a wreath hung on the Carthay Circle Theater’s tower, and garland adorning the buildings and lamp posts.   A wandering group of bell ringers (who are also carolers) provide festive holiday entertainment.    The decorations and entertainment are well matched to the theme of 1920s and 30s Hollywood.

Back in Cars Land, we get a far more whimsical and fanciful Christmas.    The cars have decorated their land as only cars would — with traffic cones, hubcaps, air filters, and whitewall tires for wreaths.   It’s impossible to spend time in the area without breaking into a big grin at the cleverness of the decorating.

That’s it for this brief look at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure during the Christmas season.    A look at the Florida parks is coming soon.

December 17, 2012
A First Visit to Cars Land and Buena Vista Street

A while back I visited the Cars Land and Buena Vista Street areas of Disney’s California Adventure for the first time.

Buena Vista Street

Buena Vista Street is a nice addition to the park; it does a great job of setting the mood and transporting the visitor to a different time and place.    The area is filled with references to Disney history, such as Oswald’s gas station and the Elias and Company store.    There are no rides or attractions here; the area serves the same purpose as Main Street U.S.A in the Disneyland park — the transition from the outside world of reality to the world of imagination and possibilities.   Oh, and to sell you some souvenirs.

The centerpiece of the new Buena Vista Street area is the Carthay Circle Theater — a reproduction of the theatre where Snow White premiered in 1937.    Here, the building serves not as a theater but as a lounge (downstairs) and restaurant (upstairs).   The restaurant is the nicest of any inside a Disneyland Resort theme park (at least any open to the general public — I unfortunately haven’t had the experience of Club 33 to make a comparison).

I did have a chance to have dinner at the Carthay Circle, and found it elegant and very enjoyable.    I look forward to returning and trying more things off the menu there, and perhaps writing up a review after I’ve given it a few more visits.

Cars Land

While the Buena Vista Street area is a nice addition, it’s Cars Land that has really completely transformed the park.    No longer will guests complain that DCA was better as a parking lot.   With this expansion, DCA has finally become a worthy sibling to Disneyland — what it lacks in legacy and history it can now make up for in theming and the appeal of great ride experiences.

The thing that really stands out about Cars Land is how immersive the theming is.   The rock work is incredible and sets the mood for the entire area. It’s impressive during the day, but at night it becomes truly breathtaking. Every detail of Cars Land — signage, road signs, the single blinking traffic signal — helps create the illusion that you’re in Radiator Springs.   I don’t think Disney has ever done theming this well — and while I’m sure Universal’s Harry Potter gets some of the credit here, having heard John Lasseter talk about Cars Land at the 2011 D23 Expo, I know that he was the driving force behind making the theming as thorough and immersive as it is throughout the area.

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

There are three attractions in Cars Land; the first one you encounter is Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree.   The ride consists of tractors pulling wagons; guests ride in the wagon. The tractors are on turntables, similar to the teacups ride at Disneyland.   The tractors actually transition from one turntable to another, interleaving with the other tractors. The wagons swing first to one side and then the other as the tractors change direction as the weave around the turntables.   It’s quite a fun ride and the experience is enhanced by the soundtrack — a variety of songs sung by Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) provides the music for what I suppose is a giant tractor square dance.

Luigi’s Flying Tires

The next attraction is Luigi’s Flying Tires.   I never got to experience the Flying Saucers ride at Disneyland, and always felt that I’d missed out on something special.   Now I feel like I’ve had the chance to experience something very similar — and it turns out, I guess I hadn’t missed that much.   The ride sounds much better in concept than it comes across in execution.   The ride vehicles are giant tires. The surface is in essence a giant air hockey table, where air jets (rigged to open only when a tire passes over them) lift the tires, allowing them to float on a cushion of air and glide around the ride area.   The problem is, this ride moves so slowly that the motion is barely perceptible.   A joystick that allowed the riders to spin the vehicles was removed before the ride opened (apparently it made operating the vehicles too confusing).    Movement is controlled by leaning in the direction you want to travel.    I’ve heard there is some skill involved here, and perhaps with practice it’s possible to get the tires moving at a more rapid clip — but if true, I didn’t see anyone managing that during the time I rode or watched the ride.

When we rode, there were giant beach balls that you could bat around the area, in an attempt to create some sense that something was moving, even if it’s not you.   The beach balls disappeared only a few days after we were there … apparently some riders were getting a bit too aggressive with them.

I’ve read on other blogs that the spinning mechanisms (essentially dead weight since the joysticks were removed) are being removed, which will lighten the vehicles somewhat.   I’ll give Luigi’s another try next time I visit; maybe with practice, and lighter vehicles, there’s a fun ride here.   But my initial experience puts it a distant third to the other two attractions in the area.

Radiator Springs Racers

Now we come to the E Ticket attraction.   The basic mechanics of the Races is obviously borrowed from Test Track at EPCOT.    Test Track is a great ride … it’s always been popular, and when I first heard that the Radiator Springs Racers would have a top speed only about half what Test Track achieves, I thought the Racers would end up being the inferior ride … I expected it to be a nice, enjoyable ride, but didn’t think it would come up to the high bar set by the WDW inspiration.

Well, I was wrong.   I think what Radiator Springs Racers does is shows how critical story is to making a truly great ride.    Yes, Test Track has a story line, and it’s well done … but let’s face it, nobody rides Test Track because of the story.    And I doubt many people ride for the various story-related scenarios that you’re put through in the first half of the ride — it’s all about crashing through that barrier and getting to the high-speed outdoor segment.

With Radiator Springs racers, the slow, more story-driven part of the ride is every bit as enjoyable as the race.   Right as you start, as you wind your way through the hillsides and take in the spectacular waterfall, you realize you’re in for an amazing ride.    (This part of the ride is especially enjoyable at night).   You then ride through the town of Radiator Springs (not the one you just walked through to get here … there’s another recreation of the town inside the ride).   Many of the characters from Cars make appearances, and set up the story of the race that’s about to take place.    There are some nice effects here, although a few weren’t working properly during my visit … giving me a reason to make a return trip soon.

After getting new tires or a new paint job (depending on which fork in the road you take), you pull up to the starting line and the race begins.   Although the speed isn’t as great as Test Track, the course is more compact — with tighter turns and quick elevation changes, your need for speed will be satisfied.

Radiator Springs Racers is very popular — Fast Passes were running out within the first hour the park was open, and the standby line was regularly over two hours.   But it is without a doubt worth it.     The ride is best at night — when we were there, fast pass return times weren’t being enforced, so you could get a fast pass first thing in the morning and then ride late at night.   Unfortunately, I’ve heard this is no longer permitted, and that the return times are now being enforced.

Dining: Flo’s V8 Cafe and the Cozy Cone Motel

There are a couple of dining options in Cars Land.   For quick service, there are the cones of the Cozy Cone motel.   For a counter service, sit down meal, there is Flo’s V8 Cafe.   Flo’s has a much nicer menu than is typical for counter service — turkey and dressing, pork loin, etc.    It can get quite crowded at peak times.

Wrap-up

I really enjoyed my first visit to the new Cars Land and Buena Vista Street areas of the DCA park.   I’m looking forward to visiting again during the holidays, experiencing all the attractions again and seeing how the these areas are decorated for the Christmas season.

November 12, 2012