My M&MRR experience and brief park report (2-26-23)

[WonkaKid]

As many of you now know, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway no longer requires a boarding group/uses a virtual queue. I’d yet to ride it so yesterday I decided to rope-drop it.

Incidentally, crowds were slightly larger at RD than usual. But not crazy. Certainly it was chilly .

So: at rope drop I rushed to M&MRR. Upon arrival, I was slightly surprised to see that the early morning entry folks had already formed a line of at least 100. However, I got in quickly. We had to walk the entire queue but we didn’t stop until we got the attraction boarding point. I waiting there for less than a minute and then was able to board.

I won’t give away too much about the ride. Presumably there are other reports and a number of videos that will provide that. Suffice it to say that I really enjoyed it. It was fun to ride something new. We don’t get that opportunity often. There’s one thing I will say: I loved the part where we go down a rushing stream and then over a waterfall. I’m told that there are several experiences to be had to I’ll probably ride it again soon.

On my first round of Buzz, I went over 2,097,000 by about 50,000, which means that my score was reset. Then on my next four rides there were various problems with guns, targets or both. But finally I was able to get two good scores, both slightly more than 2M. So for most of the morning I had the two top scored.

Some pics.

Pics from the M&MRR queue.

 

[WonkaKid]

More pics.

 

[WonkaKid]

And a few more.

Nice Space Mountain post card.

Not so nice price. $7 for a postcard now? Come on, guys.


I've mentioned in at least one previous post that I haven't been able to find any decent postcards in the park (or at WOD) in several weeks. When I asked about them at a few places, I was told that they haven't had any in about three months. Seems like an odd item of which to be sold out. There was the one above, but, as I wrote, it was $7. The last few times I've bought postcards, they were around $2.50 with my AP discount. Note: They also have a few at Disneyana but they're more artistic renderings of DL (and are also grossly overprices). I want something basic. Like Mickey and Minnie in front of the castle. You know: like they used to have. I wonder when or if they'll ever come back.

 

[Kit Jackson]

And a few more.
The last few times I've bought postcards, they were around $2.50 with my AP discount. Note: They also have a few at Disneyana but they're more artistic renderings of DL (and are also grossly overprices). I want something basic. Like Mickey and Minnie in front of the castle. You know: like they used to have. I wonder when or if they'll ever come back.

In 2015 I remember having trouble finding postcards too. I wanted to send one to my grandmother. Finally, in a small store across from one of the rides, I was able to find Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald and maybe one or two other characters in front of the castle. It was exactly what I was looking for, because I knew they would be characters my grandmother would recognize. The prices must have gone up significantly since then, because I do not remember thinking the postcard was crazy expensive.

 

[WonkaKid]

In 2015 I remember having trouble finding postcards too. … The prices must have gone up significantly since then, because I do not remember thinking the postcard was crazy expensive.

I think that once they get the basic ones back in stock - presuming they ever do - we’ll see the reasonable prices return. At least that’s my hope.

 

[Pluto468]

Great pictures! Looks like a beautiful day. I can't wait to try Runaway Railway. I've heard even the queue is fun. $7 is crazy for a postcard. I always used to buy those for souvenirs & they're on my fridge. They used to have a big selection.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Beautiful pics, Rob! Everything looks so fresh and clean. So weird about postcards but it’s probably another item they don’t make enough profit on, demand isn’t high enough, etc. They just don’t want to see to do things anymore just for nostagic reasons. Hence, no fudge, only one type of big sucker, I could go on and on. Most people are relegated to going to one of the nearby gift shops (off property) for affordable souvenirs and postcards. But, then, it really isn’t a postcard from Disneyland, is it? It’s a funny old world these days…

But as always, I love seeing your weekly posts and seeing your scores!

 

[BrianL]

I won’t give away too much about the ride. Presumably there are other reports and a number of videos that will provide that. Suffice it to say that I really enjoyed it. It was fun to ride something new. We don’t get that opportunity often. There’s one thing I will say: I loved the part where we go down a rushing stream and then over a waterfall. I’m told that there are several experiences to be had to I’ll probably ride it again soon.

Just FYI, the experience doesn't really differ that much, but depending on which car you get in, you will have a different vantage point. The cars return in a different order than they go out too, but you won't see any differing projections or anything. It's more of a point-of-view thing.

 

[DnA2010]

Great pics Aas always Rob, do you know "NAP" ?

 

[chezcurrie]

I swear I saw postcards at the gift shop at the Grand Californian, but I also could easily be hallucinating that. Glad you enjoyed M&MRR!

 

[WonkaKid]

Great pictures! Looks like a beautiful day. I can't wait to try Runaway Railway. I've heard even the queue is fun.

Thank you! Yeah, the queue is kind of fun. Certainly the theming is spot on.

$7 is crazy for a postcard. I always used to buy those for souvenirs & they're on my fridge. They used to have a big selection.

They sure did. I wonder if it's a deliberate choice not to stock them or if it's simply a supply chain issue.

 

[WonkaKid]

Beautiful pics, Rob! Everything looks so fresh and clean.

Thank you !

So weird about postcards but it’s probably another item they don’t make enough profit on, demand isn’t high enough, etc.

I can't believe that it's a question of profit. I suspect that they're all made in China for around 14¢ per card, landed. Marked up to around $2.99, that's an astronomical profit -- a margin of 95%. Now: as to demand, you may be right about that. People take their own pics and text them. But I like to surprise old friends with an occasional card in their letter box. Usually once I've sent them, I forget that I have. It's really nice to be reminded when I get a pleasant text from my friend to thank me.

 

[WonkaKid]

Great pics Aas always Rob, do you know "NAP" ?

I don't. I would have liked to have met her/him. I'll keep an eye out the next time I go.

 

[WonkaKid]

I swear I saw postcards at the gift shop at the Grand Californian, but I also could easily be hallucinating that. Glad you enjoyed M&MRR!

They may have them. I didn't check. But my feeling is that if they don't have them at Emporium or WOD, they're unlikely to have them elsewhere; I feel that they'll have them in several stores or none at all. At Emporium, for example, they simply sat at the checkout counter. There's nothing there now so it can't be an issue of an opportunity lost due to space.