Park crowds and the OC Fair + park pics

[WonkaKid]

Park crowds were lower than I expected yesterday. Initially I ascribed that to the heat. But a CM I spoke with told me that many of them have anticipated lower weekend crowds due to the OC Fest, which runs July 14 - August 13. A friend and her family will visit the park next weekend so I hope that’s accurate.

I was the first in the park yesterday for the first time in a long time (vacant Main Street pic below). While the heat wasn’t horrible, it also wasn’t great. With my northwestern European roots, I tend to get uncomfortable once temps exceed about 75°.

Scoring on Buzz wasn’t working for anyone yesterday. For my first three rides, I through it was just me, since the leader board appeared to work. After the fourth ride, I look at other riders’ scores and saw that everyone was effected. Hopefully it’s fixed by next weekend.

I rode BTM early, another thing I hadn’t done in awhile. Next weekend I plan to continue doing things differently.

I’ve got sets of park maps for anyone that wants them. Domestic preferred. Otherwise postage costs skyrocket.

Park pics. The last one was taken when I was stuck on the POTC final hill. Sat there for about ten minutes.

 

[WonkaKid]

More pics.

 

[WonkaKid]

Lastly, I just learned last week that the oldest McDonald’s in existence is in Downey on the way home from the park. I’m a longtime vegetarian but I thought it would be neat to check it out. I worked at McD’s as a teenager and loved it. I texted some of the pics to an old friend whom I’d met there. In fact, he and his wife met at McD’s as well and have been married now for nearly 30 years.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Great visit to the park! Very cool to see the oldest McDonald's, too bad things do cost now what they did then! I do like the design of the building, but I tend to like mid-century modern design.

 

[Lisa24jks]

Scoring on Buzz wasn’t working for anyone yesterday. For my first three rides, I through it was just me, since the leader board appeared to work. After the fourth ride, I look at other riders’ scores and saw that everyone was effected. Hopefully it’s fixed by next weekend.

Oh, I'm so glad you said so! I was at the park Sunday night (just a short visit for like 4 rides, fireworks, a snack and some browsing), and my Buzz score was AWFUL. I'm nowhere near your tier of Buzz scores, but I've been steadily improving my high scores and Sunday night was PATHETIC. And I knew I was aiming well, but it just wasn't registering. So frustrating!

I love Buzz, but it could use a bit of a refurb (let's start with those terrible quality pictures they take of you first lol).

 

[Diana ZP]

Park crowds were lower than I expected yesterday. Initially I ascribed that to the heat. But a CM I spoke with told me that many of them have anticipated lower weekend crowds due to the OC Fest, which runs July 14 - August 13. A friend and her family will visit the park next weekend so I hope that’s accurate.

I was the first in the park yesterday for the first time in a long time (vacant Main Street pic below). While the heat wasn’t horrible, it also wasn’t great. With my northwestern European roots, I tend to get uncomfortable once temps exceed about 75°.

Scoring on Buzz wasn’t working for anyone yesterday. For my first three rides, I through it was just me, since the leader board appeared to work. After the fourth ride, I look at other riders’ scores and saw that everyone was effected. Hopefully it’s fixed by next weekend.

I rode BTM early, another thing I hadn’t done in awhile. Next weekend I plan to continue doing things differently.

I’ve got sets of park maps for anyone that wants them. Domestic preferred. Otherwise postage costs skyrocket.

Park pics. The last one was taken when I was stuck on the POTC final hill. Sat there for about ten minutes.


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Wow! I cannot believe Main Street being so empty! I love Big Thunder, my favorite sort of roller coaster! Thanks for the great pics, as always!

 

[Diana ZP]

Lastly, I just learned last week that the oldest McDonald’s in existence is in Downey on the way home from the park. I’m a longtime vegetarian but I thought it would be neat to check it out. I worked at McD’s as a teenager and loved it. I texted some of the pics to an old friend whom I’d met there. In fact, he and his wife met at McD’s as well and have been married now for nearly 30 years.
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oh man, I remember our McDonalds looking similar. I was always so sad that they "modernized" it! We had Herfy's here in Washington, the western part at least, and they had a similar look and feel to the old McDonalds. Again great pics and memories!

 

[WonkaKid]

Wow! I cannot believe Main Street being so empty! I love Big Thunder, my favorite sort of roller coaster! Thanks for the great pics, as always!

It was like that for a few precious seconds. Then the hordes arrived! ;-).

 

[WonkaKid]

oh man, I remember our McDonalds looking similar.

When I was quite young in Chicago, there was a McD's like that close to us (walking distance). But even then it felt a bit dated/antiquated. In fact, I think the one above is only the second I've ever seen with the classic "golden arches."

 

[skellinton]

When I was quite young in Chicago, there was a McD's like that close to us (walking distance). But even then it felt a bit dated/antiquated. In fact, I think the one above is only the second I've ever seen with the classic "golden arches."

We had one in Portland, it wasn’t functioning, but it was in the parking lot of a McDonalds. It was left as a visual museum. I couldn’t believe it when they tore it down a few years ago, maybe 5 or 6. It was really cool to look at, fun to drive past and really wasn’t impacting their parking lot *that* much.
Fun to see the photos above. Glad they kept that one.

 

[skellinton]

oh man, I remember our McDonalds looking similar. I was always so sad that they "modernized" it! We had Herfy's here in Washington, the western part at least, and they had a similar look and feel to the old McDonalds. Again great pics and memories!

I loved Herfys. Ours had saddles to sit on, did yours? The one closest to my house still looks the same on the outside, no arches, just a very 60’s-70’s looking style building. It is now a Thai restaurant, after it was Herfys it was Arctic Circle.
All this talk about fast food and I want French fries!

 

[skellinton]

Love all the photos but what are those red and black cookies supposed to be?

 

[WonkaKid]

Love all the photos but what are those red and black cookies supposed to be?

No idea. They may have been upside down Mickey ears made of Rice Krispies treats. I don't eat sugar so I've never tried them (or any of the other treats).

 

[LKing]

Love all the photos but what are those red and black cookies supposed to be?

Cinderella's carriage. The bottom cookies are the wheels. It is supposed to look like this.

 

[skellinton]

Cinderella's carriage. The bottom cookies are the wheels. It is supposed to look like this.

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Well good gravy, the ones pictured above are like the Wish version of the one you pictured. Yikes.

 

[Diana ZP]

I loved Herfys. Ours had saddles to sit on, did yours? The one closest to my house still looks the same on the outside, no arches, just a very 60’s-70’s looking style building. It is now a Thai restaurant, after it was Herfys it was Arctic Circle.
All this talk about fast food and I want French fries!

Herfy's was the best! I remember going to the first one in Everett, all yellow and white tile...it was a huge treat! And they served the sundaes in yellow bowls. We still have a few around but they are not really Herfys! And now I want french fries!