California Adventure

To break up the days, we spent yesterday at California Adventure.  If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be LOUD.  From the minute you walk into the park, you are bombarded by loud music.  At the risk of sounding negative, I agree with others reports that this park is definitely lacking in some Disney magic.  The only two attractions in the "Hollywood Back lot" are a Monsters Inc ride that seemed an afterthought and the Tower of Terror.  We had a fast pass for the Tower but learned that once you get into the ride itself and go through the first room, it can be a half hour wait to experience the ride.  Not fun when you've left Isaac and the youngers in another area of the park!  The ride though, was an interesting experience.

Because the crowds were small, the rides in the Bugs Life area were walk on.  It's a good thing too because they're basically the kinds of rides you find at the fair with some additional fancying up on the exterior of the cars.  It looked like there's be long waits for the rides on busy days.  There were lots of benches scattered around which were great for our tired feet.

bumper cars

  We watched the Bugs Life 3D movie.  It had lots of special effects with wind, water, smell, and feeling things under our seat.  But, the magic was a bit ruined by the too loud volume.  Anastaya complained of her ears hurting afterwards and she was spot on. 

buggy 3D glasses

Dode, Jacob and I enjoyed the big roller coaster at the Paradise Pier area.  The initial acceleration was quite a kick in the gut.  While at Paradise Pier, we learned that not even Disney can make the loading/unloading of a Ferris wheel quick.

We also encountered this one of a kind action figure at Paradise Pier

and this box of assorted figures

The family favorite ride was Soaring over California.  It's a flight simulator type of ride where you are facing a big IMAX screen.  Miriam and William kept asking when they could go flying again.

The evening entertainment was the World of Color fountain show.  We had front row seats to the show, which meant when it was over we were soaked.  There's fountains flowing at different rates, colored lights to light the water, projections of movies on water screens, and explosions of fire on the water.  Jacob said it was worth missing the season premier of House to watch it.  High praise from a teenager! 

There weren't as many characters at California Adventure but we did find a few.

We got back to the hotel by 9:30, everyone was soon asleep, and it's now 9:30 AM and Dode and I are the only ones awake.  Time to wake up the troops so we can do it again tomorrow!