Disneyland Without Kids » roller coaster

Tower of Terror

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:19:20 +0000

Type: Seated Drop Ride (Roller Coaster)
Thrill Rating: 5/5
Location: California Adventure (Front, Left Side)
Fastpass: Yes
Smiles: There’s a camera at the very top when you’re looking outside

Basics: Tower of Terror is themed after the old twilight zone tv show and done up in a 50s style décor. Guests are seated in 3 rows and buckled in with seat belt style restraints. The ride takes you up to the top of the building and all the way down at least once with a few other randomized drops in the process. It’s great for flipping your stomach upside down.
The line: You start outside and do a series of switch backs partially shaded. The ride then goes inside for a few more switch backs and then into a large room for a short film setting up the theme. After that you’re inside for the final part of the line.

California Screaming

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:17:00 +0000

Type: Metal Looping Coaster (Roller Coaster)
Thrill Rating: 5/5
Location: California Adventure (Back, on the boardwalk)
Fastpass: Yes
Smiles: Yes, just near the end in one of the last hard turns
Basics: This is your typical high speed, looping roller coaster and is the fastest ride you’ll find in the park. It starts hard, goes upside down, drops and spins and all right over the California Adventure boardwalk.
The Line: Entirely outside, this is a switch-back heavy setup designed to save space and is almost all covered but often very warm.

Star Tours

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:13:27 +0000

Type: Simulator (Roller Coaster)
Thrill Rating: 2.5/5
Location: Disneyland Park (Tomorrow Land)
Fastpass: Yes
Smiles: No
Basics: This is a classic and one of the early park roller coasters so you’ll have to excuse the limited speed and deal with a lot more kids. Guests are taken on a tour of the galaxies with the help of a very bad pilot who, after decades of riding, still thinks this is his first trip. You fight the death star and leave victoriously all while moving around in a simulator with a giant screen.
The Line: When very crowded starts outside with some switch backs but generally is inside and takes you around the building past a lot of Star Wars décor.

Big Thunder Mountain

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:12:08 +0000

Type: Wooden Coaster (Roller Coaster)
Thrill Rating: 4/5
Location: Disneyland Park (Frontier Land)
Fastpass: Yes
Smiles: No
Basics: This is your typical wooden coaster where the outside temperature, seat and time of day will all impact the experience. While not the biggest wooden coaster in the world it does pack a punch and all said is one of the longer rides. Themed up like the old west it’s a pretty cool visual experience too.
The Line: Almost entirely outside this line walks you through an old west setting but tends to move fairly slow and gets hot.

Space Mountain

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:11:08 +0000

Type: Pitch Black Metal Coaster (Roller Coaster)
Thrill Rating: 5/5
Location: Disneyland (Tomorrow Land)
Fastpass: Yes
Smiles: Yes, at the very end in the tunnel as you stop
Basics: Space Mountain is a high speed roller coaster in the dark – how cool. You won’t go upside-down or do crazy turns but its fast and in a small space and that really gets your hear thumping. Many people consider this the best roller coaster in the park and it’s definitely a blast.
The Line: Starts outside, ends inside. In the middle is lots of mostly outdoor switch backs, some covered, some not.

Indiana Jones

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:07:17 +0000

Type: Car Based group Coaster (Roller Coaster)
Thrill Rating: 4/5
Location: Disneyland (Adventure land)
Fastpass: Yes
Smiles: No
Basics: You’ve looked into the eyes and now you’re doomed! Luckily Indiana Jones is here to help you as you race through the underground expense, past the giant snake, by the poison darts and back to the start. This ride is setup with individual cars holding just over a dozen people and takes one of 3 similar start paths. Lots of jerks, turns and bumps.
The Line: Starts outside with a very long set of switch backs before you go inside for a themed experience. There are a few interactive features in the line… pull the shinny bamboo cane hard and the ceiling collapses down; yank the rope that says “do not touch” and you’ll kill the guy at the end other end.