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THREE
Golden State
This area of the park covers a number of themes ranging from
Aviation, Redwood forests, Farming, Wine Growing and various California
regions. Due to the very mixed and varied sections it is a little
confusing and does not quite gel. The overall quality here though is
first rate, with great attention to detail. In all there are nine
attractions in the Golden State, but to be honest I think some are not
quite up to earning the name.
Grizzly River Run
A real ‘E’ ticket attraction at last, wonderful theming and an
exciting ride make this one of the star attractions at the park. It’s
a long and interesting journey around Grizzly Peak Mountain with some
great drops and swirls. You will get wet on this ride, but fortunately
not soaked, if my experience is anything to go by. Don’t miss this
one.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
This is probably the children’s star attraction in the park, it has
been thought out very well and will provide hours of fun for kids of all
ages. Wonderful theming and finish make this one of the most attractive
areas, and from the lowest level you can’t see any other areas in the
park. Have a slow wander round the many paths and take in the animal
sculptures.
Golden Dreams
I have read various reports on this film attraction and don’t agree
with the issues with the contents, the death and other ‘shocking’
moments are not that bad and in my view can stay. The reason I don’t
mind them staying is that I will not be visiting this attraction again,
it is very boring. I have seen many historical films that have emotion
and spirited moments, unfortunately this is not one of them. It left me
cold and totally unmoved, although the end montage of the film is very
similar to the montage at the American Adventure in WDW, it does not
have anywhere near the same impact. The main reason for this appears to
be the song, which is not up to the standard or quality required.
It’s Tough to be a Bug
Although this is a filmed attraction and a copy of the version at WDW
it is still a great show. The action comes thick and fast in this pacey
and sometimes scary attraction. I have heard that films loose their
interest after a time, but to me this one will always have appeal as
there is never a dull moment. This is also the attraction with the
biggest capacity in the park, so although the theatre was always full
during my 3 visits, waiting time was never more than 5 minutes.
Bountiful Valley Farm
This is a disappointing area, it really does look and feel like an
afterthought. It is simply of little interest to the visitor, who in my
observations just pass through on the way to somewhere else. I saw very
few children enjoying the water feature as they do in other Disney
parks, and I never saw a child on the tractor exhibits.
Golden Vine Winery
Beautifully themed, totally empty all day and the film on wine
growing is a short, cheap and cheerful publicity video. Visit this if
you need to cool down on a hot day.
Mission Tortilla Factory
This should not be called an attraction, when I visited I had my own
guide who spoke to me for 30 seconds. It then took me a further 30
seconds to see the machines, get my tortilla and leave the building. I
actually think it took me longer to eat the tortilla.
I’m not saying that it is not well done or that it should be
removed, hell it’s one of the few times you get something free from
Disney. I do think that counting it as an ‘attraction’ is a bit
much, you can spend more time in the restroom or at an ATM, will we be
counting those next.
The Boudin Bakery
This is another so called ‘attraction’ that is nothing more than
a promotional tool for the manufacturer. The day I tried to visit the
tour the sound system for the video had failed making it even less
interesting than it already was. They do now give you a small sample of
bread when you enter, but most of the guests I saw seemed to deposit it
in the nearest trash can when the exited.
Shopping and Eating
The Golden State has a huge array of place to eat and shop; in fact
there are more places to eat here than there are attractions, 11 food
outlets in total. These range from the very expensive Vineyard Room to
the reasonably priced Farmers Market.
Shopping is varied and there is a very large range of merchandise
specific to each of the sections and attractions, there is no shortage
of things to buy.
Paradise Pier
I know that this has been one of the most criticized areas of the new
park both before and after it opened. I did want to have an open mind
about this and I wanted to like it.
As you approach Paradise Pier I have to say it looks great, I suppose
you could call it ‘Eye Candy’. The problems start when you get into
the area itself and you start look at the details, or lack of them. I
was appalled at how much bare concrete was visible in lines and around
attractions. Huge expanses of wall without a poster, picture or artwork
to break up the monotony.
The worst part of the area has to be the railing around the base of
the coaster support columns. Rather than some clever and interesting way
of preventing children from climbing the supports, they have simply put
up a 7 foot high metal fence painted white. In some areas there is so
much of this fencing it feels like a prison, with more fence around you
than anything else. There are again no posters or artwork to try to hide
this, it is simple there functionally and has no artistic quality at
all.
This lack of style and finish is visible throughout the Paradise Pier
section. If anything it make this the most un-Disney like area I have
ever visited in a theme park. To be honest I have seen it executed
better by rivals to Disney, even Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the UK does
not feel this cheap.
California Screamin’
This is the other ‘E’ ticket attraction in the park. It is a long
(three minutes) and very smooth roller coaster with an incredible
horizontal launch straight into the first hill.
The loop comes about halfway through the ride and is excellent,
towards the end are some fun bunny hops that give you a little ‘air
time’. Not much more to say about this one other than ride it and
enjoy.
King Triton’s Carousel
Simply an aquatically designed carousel, good for the kids and
reasonably pretty.
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