A Slight Disruption in Theming

On our recent Disneyland trip, something seemed a bit...off...in Frontierland. I dunno, I can't quite put my finger on it...

Eeesh, look at that thing! Now we've got a better idea of what a complete track replacement at Big Thunder involves. It sure isn't just a couple of guys with screwdrivers.

Wouldn't it be awesome to get up there for some photos? Wouldn't this be a great concept for a new Mickey/Donald/Goofy cartoon?

Grizzly River Run -- Empty and Full

Our most recent trip to Disneyland Resort caught Grizzly River Run right at the tail end of its refurbishment, with the mountain's river flume empty one day and filled with thundering rapids the next.

I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the trackwork along the big drop, which keeps the speeding rafts on a straight, smooth course before releasing them back into the river to bob and bounce freely once more.

We didn't get a chance to brave the rapids on this trip, but it was great to see the river going full blast again. It certainly ties the Grizzly Peak area together and brings the whole environment to life.

The Board of Suspense

It appears near the entry to every Disney park, and sends cold chills down the spines of Disney fans worldwide.

It's the Closed Attractions Board! Don't you hate that moment when you first spot the sign and--holding your breath--you move closer to see which rides are closed...er, being refurbed....are currently unavailable.  "Currently unavailable" sounds much nicer than, "in pieces" or "temporarily dismantled."

Looking ahead, I have to face the reality that, sooner or later, Radiator Springs Racers is going to have to go down for a routine refurbishment. When that happens, it'll be interesting to see how much the downtime hurts DCA's attendance. Disneyland's got so many great rides that it can easily hold up while a huge E ticket like Big Thunder goes under the knife. DCA's a different story. Having an E Ticket like Grizzly River down hurts the younger park's offerings much more severely. When the time rolls around for Racers' first refurb...ouch.

A Farewell to the Original Big Thunder (with Fish Heads & Crumbs)

We all have one week left to ride the original Big Thunder trains through the little mining town of Rainbow Ridge. As we mentioned earlier this month, Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closes its gates on January 7th in order to undergo a massive refurbishment and track replacement. Rides on a new fleet of runaway mine trains will begin when the attraction reopens this Fall.

I'll miss the old bench-style seats and the original Rainbow Ridge (it's getting rebuilt), but I can't wait to see what new surprises might wait along that wild run through Coyote Canyon, Big Thunder Mine and Dinosaur Gap.

Goodbye for now, Big Thunder. Can't wait to see the new you. Before I get too emotional about this, here's Fish Heads & Crumbs...

The Last Weeks For Big Thunder 1.0

Big Thunder Mountain viewed from the Mark Twain

The recent Disney Parks Blog confirmation that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close on January 7th for the most extensive refurbishment in its 33 year history has me itching to get to the park for one last ride on its original rolling stock...and one last brake run through the little town of Rainbow Ridge.