Tossed in Space

Sorry, Disney aficionados if this breaks your heart or at least upsets your stomach (like it did mine), but somehow Disneyland managed to take what was my all-time favorite roller coaster ride, Space Mountain – which I first rode at age 12 in 1981 – and turn it into my all-time least favorite ride. Nothing like a ride where you can’t see anything, rendering that sought-after feeling of speeding along blindly, wondering at every twist and turn if you’re about to be decapitated. This was nothing close to the ride I remembered and revered as a kid.

The look on my face sums it up.

Also did not enjoy Star Tours nausea-inducing adventure, and California Screamin’ induced some back and neck pain I wasn’t seeking. I did like the much tamer Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Sadly the Matterhorn was closed over the entire 4-day visit (the Mouse out front should’ve told me).

For my money, the best ride at Disneyland was on the CA Adventure side – and believe it or not this was the first time I’d ever been to that side of the park; it was Toy Story Midway Mania. (Here I thought my 71,000 points was quite a feat, but I was nearly doubled by another rider in my car.) 2nd favorite ride was also on the Adventure side, a staple from the advent of the park, Soarin’ Over California, complete with Patrick Warburton intro as the icing on the Puddy cake.