Favorite Ride Experience

[V.I.N.CENT.]

What is your favorite ride experience? Not your favorite ride in general, but that one trip on a ride that you will remember forever because something special happened. For me it happens to be on one of our favorite family rides, Big Thunder.

Two years ago, we were just about to board when the fireworks began. Now riding at night is one of our favorite times, its easier to see the bats and other details in the dark, and the mountain is beautifully lit. What really made this ride exciting was the boom from the fireworks during the outside parts of the ride. My daughter was screaming her head off in delight. But this was not our favorite ride experience

Halloween evening 2017. Same ride, but with a few twists. My wife is not a late night person, she turned in early from the Mickey's Halloween Party so we could stay til the end. Later that night, my daughter and I were walking the path from Fantasyland to Frontier in order to ride Big Thunder at night. We noticed that the smoke effect from the Mine Train tunnel that was running during the party completely filled the path between the two lands.

As we approached Big Thunder, the whole queue area was filled with fog. We timed the ride to coincide with the fireworks again. As soon as we hit the first drop, the fireworks started to go off. In addition to that treat, every outside area had a thick layer of fog from the Mine Train tunnel. When we got back to the station, no one was in line, they let us ride again. More fireworks and more fog!

It was only a few months ago, but my daughter and I will talk about that particular ride experience for years to come.

Anyone have similar stories? Would be great to hear, you never know what people have come up with that make rides extra special.

 

[BrianL]

I have a few. The first was at Magic Kingdom, on Jungle Cruise. We had just the most amazing and energetic Skipper ever, Skipper Alex. He was the best, very physical and telling some new jokes and even singing a little. He also let my friend's nephew drive the boat, which I know they do all the time, but this was a kid I know.

At Disneyland once, on the Matterhorn, I was in a set of bobsleds and everyone was singing Livin' on a Prayer for the whole ride. I just shrugged and joined in!

On the negative side of things, I was once stuck on POTC right in front of the "Here, kitty, kitty" pirate. We were stopped there for a while and the people on the boat started getting punchy. It was kind of funny, but we were so glad when we started moving again!

Oh, and on my last trip to WDW, my rather big and strong friend had said he had never ridden the Teacups. So, we go and I told him he can be in charge of spinning. That may have been a mistake on my part. He sure made that thing go! Other people were staring and pointing us out. "Look a those guys!" I felt like I had been on Mission:Space Orange team!

 

[A&S]

Last Year on Easter Sunday, my mum took our youngest daughter back for the night and husband and I stayed in the parks with our then 5 year old son.
He wanted to ride splash mountain. So we headed over there, no one was in line so we got the ride to our self. We went around 5 times before our son said he was done!! Every time we pulled into the station, they let us go again. It was the highlight of our trip and my son still talks about it a year later. He’s hoping when we head back there in September we can do the same thing (hopefully his sister will be tall enough). It was great Just to have some special one on one time with him and enjoying his favourite ride ever. On our way home (around 11:30pm) he grabed a late night snack (a churro) and raved about it being the BEST day of his life!
Also this isn’t a ride experience but on the same day- a lovely CM struck up a conversation with us while we waited to meet Mickey in Main Street. She was asking my then 2 year old daughter who her favourite character was and she told her Pluto but we hadn’t had a chance to meet him yet. She took her autograph book and told her Pluto was getting ready for bed but she’d go and see if she could grab his signature. She came back with her book signed and a small Pluto soft toy gift! We were so grateful and blown away by her generosity. It definitely made our Easter trip something magical! What a day!

 

[Wahlee]

In 2008 or 2009, can't remember exactly which trip it was, my sister, two friends, and I were able to board the Storybook Land Canal Boats right before the fireworks started. I think they close now with the rest of Fantasyland during fireworks, so I don't think it's possible now. In any case, when we got in line, the CM warned us that the ride would stop when the fireworks started, so if we weren't loaded before then, it would take a long time to get on. BUT, if the fireworks started when we were actually on the boat, it would stop where it was until the fireworks were finished. We decided to try be on the ride, and luckily, we were boarded in enough time. Sure enough, the fireworks started and the boat had to stop. Luckily, it wasn't in either of the tunnels-- so we got a fantastic view of the fireworks going on over our heads, and could even see a bit of Tinkerbell flying. And we all got to sit down! It was such a cool experience.

 

[LizzyS]

The first thing that comes to mind is our one and only ride breakdown thus far when we were on the ride. We were traveling through the hell portion of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and broke down right under the demons and let me tell you, it gets pretty steamy if you sit there for very long! We had to be escorted off the last 15 feet of the ride, lol.

 

[LizzyS]

Oh and a stoppage occurred for a little while on HM and we were right in front of the Hatbox Ghost and it was our first time ever seeing him! That was really neat and I think he did his thing like 40 times while our doom buggy was stopped right in front of him.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Fun topic! I have a few...breaking down on Space Mountain and walking off with the lights on was a highlight. Another time, just got in standby line for Matterhorn, wait was probably 45minutes and a woman walked up and asked if we wanted to go with her and her kids on their 6person fast pass ticket (before maxpass). Score! We also got stuck in front of hatbox ghost when he was first brought back, DH and I loved it but DD was pretty terrified having to sit in front of him for so long. Best one was when GOTG was open for an extra hour for hotel guests. We rode it 4 times with no wait, just went back thru the queue. On the last time, when the doors opened after ride was finished, CM asked everyone if they wanted to go again and we all did so we didn’t have to get off, just rode it again. So fun!

 

[Mamato4boys]

When my now 12 year old son was 3 and he wasn't talking very much yet, we rode Splash Mountain and stopped briefly at the bottom just below the big drop where the vultures are.

They kept talking while my son sat there and listened, then he waved them off with his pudgy little hand and said,"Us no scared. Us no scared."

It is not only one of my favorite Disney memories, it is one of my favorite memories of him little.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Wednesday after CP, last day, 2013, been a cold and windy December week at Disneyland. Clouds the last night, Dumbo line was short so I jumped in line at dusk. the clouds above as pink as Dumbo. In the southern sky, floating in clouds was the ship weather vane from Peter Pan....it was moving in the clouds in the manner of a ship at sea.....a truly lovely sight from my seat high in the air. So many tiny images to capture at Disneyland.... proud to claim that Walt Disney vision of fantasy of a pirate ship in the sky floating on clouds.

 

[Congo Queen]

Oh this is such a good question for a thread. I have many favorite ride experiences as I have been going to Dland for 50 years. Let me see if I can narrow it down to a couple. In the mid 1970s, I went to Dland with my middle school boyfriend. We went on what had been one of my favorite rides as a little kid - Adventure Thru Inner Space (a fun, former dark ride in Tomorrowland). What I learned taking a spin on Inner Space on that particular day with that particular companion, is that it was an awesome make-out ride. The ride vehicle was similar to the HM doom buggies which allowed for two young people to lean back in the dark and really get to know one another's orthodontia. I remember feeling weak in the knees when we exited on the moving walkway!

How about a favorite show experience next. In the early 1990s, my uncle was fire chief at Dland (he was a retired LA County fire chief). So he was very involved with the development of F! as a new night time show on ROA which of courses involved then as it does now much fire. He worked so closely with the director of the show, that after it opened, he was able to get me, my mom and sister seats next to the show's stage manager. We sat in tall director chairs next to the show runner who was working a huge console with many nobs and who was calling cues for the show into a headset. Of course the view of F! was amazing, and it was so fun to see how it all unfolded from the vantage point of the tech board.

 

[jammyjam25]

Ooh this is fun!

1) On most recent trip in February 2018 got to ride Nemo Subs with a celebrity (Rebel Wilson). She was there celebrating her birthday and we got seated right next to her group!

2) Getting to ride the Matterhorn twice in a row because they had to pull our bobsled off the track at the end of the ride for a few minutes, so they sent us back around again once we were back on the track.

3) Getting walked off Roger Rabbit with the lights up and getting to see all the BTS stuff.

4) Riding GRR for the first time at night and not realizing its pitch black in the tunnels. Our screams were so loud they probably heard them over on Main Street!

5) Riding Heimlich on my last trip. I had no idea it'd be the last time I'd ever get to ride it!

 

[NannyBeBe]

Easy question for me. My now husband and I went to Disneyland when we were 13 yrs old. We rode Peter Pan and kissed in the dark. We are now in our 70s but I still love Peter Pan for the memories.

 

[Sarahelizabeth]

I grew up in Southern California and have been to Disneyland a ton but one of my best memories was the one time my husband and i splurged and stayed at the Grand Californian with my 4 and 7 year old. Watching them sit in the little rocking chairs in the lobby watching the old Disney films while we checked in was amazing. The customer service was impeccable. They loved the pool and watching the monterail drive by our room. We usually stay off property because it’s more cost effective but that trip was so special.

Another great part of that trip was in the Redwood Creek Challenge. A CM was walking by and had plastic ducks and nets and gathered the kids and had them race them down one of the little creeks. My kids ran up and down and played with that CM for at least 30 minutes.

My daughter loved the log slides and made friends with the CM manning it. The next day we were in line for the Mickey wheel and the same CM was working there and she totally remembered my daughter and waved and said hi. My daughter thought it was so cool!

We of course love all the rides but those are the special experiences that really stick out to me.

 

[JohnR5101]

I've been going to Disneyland for 63 years (first time in 1956) so there are lots of memories. After becoming so familiar with it, and being somewhat of an engineering nerd, I LOVE it when a ride breaks down and I get to see behind the scenes. There are 2 notable times that come to mind.

First was when Splash stopped right as we were climbing the last hill. We had to get out and climb the stairs on the right side of the tracks to the nearest exit door. As we exited the door we were far above the ground so had to go down some stairs. (Spoiler Alert if you don't want to know what's behind the curtain!). As we walked down I found it really interesting to see how they constructed it - all steel beams and girders that held up the water trough and ride mechanics. And wire mesh that was overlaid on the inside (opposite where we were at that point) with what looked like paper mache stuff, but it was no doubt pretty sturdy fiberglass. Then walking in the back lot between the buildings and finally back through a service gate into the park. It was interesting to see how it was all just a hollow shell, but you can't tell that at all from inside the park. Also the area we walked through had some old ride stuff stored there at the time. I saw some old original Autopia cars, and I think (if my memory serves) some of the old flying saucers that were in Tomorrowland way back in the day.

The second and best one was when we were on Grizzly River and floating along at the highest point in the ride. The safety barriers came out and stopped the raft (they are wedges that extend from the sides of the water trough at various points where they can halt a raft). After a few minutes the water started subsiding until the raft sat on the bottom of the trough. CM eventually came and escorted us out of the raft, along a path on the mountain, then in through a door into the interior of the mountain. Inside it was like being in a concrete building structure / fire escape. Very strong concrete and steel structure with a nice long stairway down through the mountain. I had a camera with me, but alas it never occurred to me to get a picture inside - would have been awesome!

Overall, I like seeing how they build them. It does not take away from the "magic" at all for me. I can still be transported to another world when I'm on those rides.

 

[Winnowill]

Last spring, on our girls' trip. My friend and I, and our two daughters were at the rope before the hub. Our blonde 7-and 8-year old were identically dressed in the deluxe Cinderella blue dress. We'd intended heading to Space Mountain to start the day, but some CMs from BTMRR saw us and invited us to be the first riders of the day. They took us out of the queue, and got us on the ride even as the morning announcement was made. We were the only ones on the train. It was so cool. Missing SM rope drop was totally worth it.

 

[erik18]

The first time we rode Goofy's Sky School. I had no idea it'd be that fun. We laughed the entire time.

 

[agamble]

July last year (I believe), my 7 y/o daughter and I were riding Space Mountain together. Space has a very sensitive time situation with loading/unloading. For some reason our train was sent through past the unloading area and we were set to go again. They could have taken us off the track to the left, but they asked if we wanted to go again and the loud boisterous guys behind us yelled that they did. So we got to ride Space through a second time. It was an awesome experience.