Question About Maliboomer Removal

[MsTiauna27]

It is a fairly decent ride, just it is soooo freaking scary. So why is it bring removed exactly? Is it because of World of Color?

 

[PrincessYessenia]

I was wondering the same thing. When we went last year we got a chance to ride it twice and we liked it a lot, even though it was over rather quickly. So I'm kind of curious as to what exactly is happening to the Maliboomer. I'm just now hearing about this. Maybe me being all the way over here in Florida keeps me out of the loop of things!

 

[LuLusApple]

I agree with the freaky scarey I rode it once when DCA first opened and have not been on it again.
IMHO it's not very unique or themed for a Disney ride. It's very similar to 6 flags and great America rides. If disneys intent is to inject some Disney personality into DCA then they either need to yank it or give it a serious makeover. It just doesn't fit well enough.
But I think they are unsure now if they will remove it by 2011.

 

[HydroGuy]

There is a big long story behind it, but in a nutshell DCA was conceived during a time of poor leadership at Disneyland by some executives who are now long gone. They thought they knew more about building a theme park than Disney's own theme park designers, and figured they could build a theme park for cheap and slap Disney's name on it and people would come in droves.

They were wrong. And people stayed away from DCA in droves when it opened in 2001. It was embarassing to Disney and they had to resort to gimmicks to get people to come. Some gimmicks still exist such as the free park hopping for 2+ day tickets.

In any case, DCA attendance of 6 million a year (compared to DL's 14-17 million a year) is far below projections. And the poor reputation DCA holds is a drag on the whole resort.

DCA was built for $1.4 billion, with half that spent on the GC Hotel. So they essentially built DCA for $700 million. In order to build it cheap they did something that Disney normally does not do. They installed "off-the-shelf" rides rather than rides specially designed for Disney.

Maliboomer was one such ride. Most of the rides around Paradise Pier are like that.

These rides also fly in the face of Walt Disney's own personal reasons for building Disneyland - to get away from the cheap carnival-like rides that were available in the 50's at other amusement parks.

Anyways, Maliboomer just does not fit in very well with what Disney is trying to do with DCA and is a leftover from an ill-conceived original construction.

A couple years ago Disney decided to infuse another $1 billion into DCA to essentially redesign the theme of the park and turn it into a true Disney park. At that time they decided to axe Maliboomer. However, now it is not so clear whether Maliboomer is staying or going.

See Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker IX

Maliboomer removal

Project Status: To begin 2011, but may be delayed indefinitely.
Project Completion: Late 2011
​

Even with all of the doom and gloom history, IMO DCA is not a terrible park. It has a poor layout for sure, and a number of cheap carnival rides - the Paradise Pier Boardwalk Games area is a travesty IMO (AK at WDW also has an area like this BTW so DCA is not alone in this area).

But it has some positives. We like going over there but there are many rides we have never done around PP. Mulholland Madness is another poorly conceived, poorly themed, carnival-like ride. We rode it once and I never plan to ride it again.

DCA does have the incredible Soarin Over California, GRR, CA Screamin and now ToT, TSMM and TTwC. It is better now than in 2001. The Animation Studios are very cool and often overlooked.

After the park refurb is complete in 2012 it will have a different feel with a new entrance themed around 1920's California when Walt arrive in SoCal. Hopefully Disney will succeed in improving traffic to DCA. Right now they have the right people in charge.

 

[MsTiauna27]

Thanx for the help Hydrogyuy, you're awesome!!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Awesome info...totally agree...I love DCA more and more everytime I go! We have alos taken one of the YES (youth in education) series tours and they do a great job explaining for of the layout and all of the terrians for DCA.

 

[Dizneydaz]

No! Just when I thought Maliboomer was safe, once again it's slated for removal. Earlier in the release of plans for DCA they showed a parachute type ride in the Maliboomer location. (Like Knott's used to have) I was told by several CMs at Blue Sky that this wasn't happending and MBR was safe. So sad to see it no longer is.

Personally I love MBR, one reason is there isn't a line most of the time and if there is they have the Single Rider line.

Well at least my DD10 finally is just tall enough to ride it now. She reached 4'4" a few months back and now we ride it every time we are there. Usually 2-3 times. Guess we'll just have to ride it even more now that it's scheduled to be leaving.

I love waiting for it to shoot you up to the top! So awesome. And the view from the top is so beautiful. I want to make sure I take a few more videos of the ride up before it's removed.

Delayed indefinitely-maybe forever. A girl can dream!

 

[MsTiauna27]

You are definitely right about there is hardly ever a line for that ride. That is one ride you will get what you want or too much. I have never seen the view from the top of the ride because my eyes are always closed lol. That parachute ride from Knotts sux, so I hope they dont turn it into that.

I am going to DCA tomorrow maybe I can try to get on it without jumping out of line due being scared. I still havent rode ToT at all due to being scared.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I've never been on this ride and don't plan to. I go on ToT because of the theming involved. The whole story, the ride, ect is worth it. I've always liked Disney because they have the theming to go with the ride. This carnival rides disappointed me because you can go anywhere for that. Definately try ToT. I would think that if you could do Mailiboomer, you could handle ToT.

 

[MsTiauna27]

I guess I worry about the coming down part on ToT and also Maliboomer. I tend to start second guessing myself when I am in line and then just back out.

I feel like Maliboomer, Cali Screaming, and Tower of Terror definitely makes this park different from Disneyland because it is more of thrill rides.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Go ahead and give it a try! I close my eyes on the part where they open the doors and you can see out. Otherwise, it is just up and down. Some drops are short and some are long.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

ToT is one of the best rides out there! I especially enjoy ToT in DCA a little better than the version in DHS here in Florida. And then the view is amazing, as well. I would personally think the MBR is a bit scarier because you're out in the open, rather than indoors like in ToT. But the drops on ToT are random so the ride is never the same...it's great! TRY IT!

 

[MsTiauna27]

Okay so I will attempt to try it tomorrow and I will let you know how it went.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

Good Luck and have fun!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

These rides also fly in the face of Walt Disney's own personal reasons for building Disneyland - to get away from the cheap carnival-like rides that were available in the 50's at other amusement parks.

The lack of respect given to Walt Disney's concept of a non-carnie type park by using off-the-shelf type rides definitely bothers me. I also like DCA and we have a lot of fun over there, but I'm really looking forward to all the improvements they have in store.

If they do take out Maliboomer, I won't be sorry to see it go. I've only ridden it once. DH strongly dislikes Free Fall-clone rides, though he does NOT count TOT in that category. Probably because it's so well-themed and mostly inside. I don't mind those rides, though they usually seem far too short for the length of the line needed to ride.

We went on Maliboomer in December (DH convinced only because it was my birthday and did it as an extreme favor) and the main reason I disliked it was because of the claustrophopic feeling I had the entire ride because of the scream shields. I'm not normally claustrophobic, but I was really glad to get out of that seat.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

TOT ROCKS! it is by far my fac ride! I love it all, from the line being in the "lobby" of the hotel, to the movie room, to the next waiting room! I love that it is different every time! I have never laughed so hard as I do when I am on that ride. I giggle like a little kid!!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I love both ToT (DCA more than DHS) and Maliboomer.

MsTiauna27-just so you know-the biggest thing about both rides I think you should know is your bottom will come of the seats. I failed to tell my DD this the first time she rode ToT and she wouldn't ride it for awhile after that. Now it, as well as Maliboomer, are 2 of her favorite rides. She absolutely loves them both.

On MBR besides your bottom lifting off the seat, your legs will go up as well (another part of the fun) This won't happen on ToT since your are seated with your feet on the floor. Beware though, anything you are holding on ToT, keep a grip on-once I caught my purse just before it went over the side (front row). On MBR, you will leave anything loose (purse, bags, shoes) off to the side before you get seated.

Go ahead and do them both tomorrow-they are both thrilling. Who knows, you might even see us there as well. I'm trying to talk my DD10 into going tomorrow (yeah, I know what's wrong with her? I have to CONVINCE her to go to Disneyland! ) Unlike when I grew up, she's grown up going to DLR more than I went to McD's as a kid-seriously!

 

[bumbershoot]

Well I know that DH would be very happy to have it stay!

I don't care if things look like rides you can go on anywhere; those other places, IMO, just aren't as safe. Sure, DH could be launched into the air once a year at the Puyallup Fair, but he's not going to, because he knows I don't trust their safety as much as I do Disney and he respects that. Unfortunately he hasn't yet been able to ride Maliboomer, but if they let it stay, soon enough he will!


As for the midway games, DS loved loved loved it! I figured that it was $20 for a bunch of small plushes, but for DS it was great fun. And it's WAY better odds than at a regular midway, at which, again, I wouldn't support my family spending money!

DCA...even the parts I won't go on (Maliboomer)

 

[perlster]

Whatever you think about safety at various theme parks, the facts speak for themselves.

 

[HydroGuy]

Whatever you think about safety at various theme parks, the facts speak for themselves.

Not sure your point, but IMO Disney's safety record is pretty amazing. That does not let them off the hook for the monorail accident which it seems like they did mess up. But hindsight is always 20/20.

Personally I agree with the PP and feel safer at Disney parks than any other parks.