Expert: Steve Summers - 6/9/2002

Question
Hi,

I live in Santa Barbara, haven't been to Disneyland in 15 years at least, no doubt lots of changes since then, including the new next-door attraction - California Experience, I think it's called?  Heard the new place is going broke, so hoping to get an opinion about the place before venturing down there and spending a fortune on admission. Also info on what Disneyland is like now, compared to my last visit.  At the prices they charge, definitely want to research!

Also need camping advice for the general area - do I need to go clear to the coast for anything and yet be reasonably close for the Disneyland area trip?  Any favorite spots to camp in CA (especially), NV, OR or WA? I've travelled extensively in CA in the past, hoping to get back on the road again soon. I have a little Toyota Chinook mini-RV with a popup top, so would be drycamping since no fridge and am self-contained.

Thanks...any and all info would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Oh, my goodness, yes! After doing the research, I was quite surprised at all the changes that Disneyland has undergone. I think, for the most part, that you will be pleasantly surprised. Here is a list of changes since 1985:
-Splash Mountain:Log ride in Bear, er, Critter Country that gets you very wet. Opened 1989.
-Star Tours: Replaced aging "Adventure to Inner Space", opened 1987. Simulated ride to moons of Endor. Great ride. Things to watch for: Look carefully as your Star Tours vehicle takes a wrong turn through a maintenance bay. You can see the "Mighty Microscope" from the Adventure through Inner Space ride in the background. The voice of trainee pilot REX is Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman. In the final scen when the Starspeeder 3000 comes screeching to a halt, the guy who dives behind the desk and re-emerges is George Lucas. You might have to ride this several times to see all this.
-Indiana Jones Ride: Adventureland, next to Jungle Cruise. Opened 1995. Another great ride. Took up Eeyore parking lot.
-Fantasmic: In Frontierland, a show that runs during summer. Has lasers, fog effects, water screens, and fire!
-Toontown, geared for 3-10 year olds, opened in 1993:
--Miss Daisy Houseboat, Goofy's Bounce House (let your kids work off a little energy here), Gadget's Go Coaster, Mickey's (& Minnie's) House, Jolley Trolley, Chip N Dale Tree House.
-Astro Orbiter: Opened with new Tomorrowland, 1998. Looks a lot like a contraption found in "The Dark Crystal". Not a ride, per se, but old rocket jets are under it.
-Honey, I Shrunk the Audience: Tommorrowland, opened 1998, Magic Eye Theater, replaced Captain EO.
-Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin: Toon Town, opened 1994. You ride in Lenny the cab. Little boy was hurt on this ride a few years ago.
-Innoventions: Tomorrowland, opened 1998, replaced old "America the Beautiful".
-Observatron: Opened 1998, looks like space junk. Located where Rocket Jets used to be.
-Tarzan's Treehouse: Adventureland, opened 1999, replaced Swiss Family Treehouse. New generation, new movie theme, same tree.
-Autopia:Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, opened 2000. Updated to look like those Chevron cars. Cars are noticeably better to drive.

Walt said that Disneyland would never be "finished". As for California Adventure, I would pass on it unless you get a two-day pass for both parks. CA was geared more for upscale folks, rather than the working and middle-class people that keep coming back. Disney is learning its lesson, and retooling the park. Wolfgang Puck's restaurant and a couple of others have been closed and reopened under different guises.

As for camping, I think that your best bet is to camp along the coast. After a busy day at Disneyland, I think that your best bet is to let the waves put you to sleep, and maybe watch the sunset from the beach. There is the Anaheim Resort RV Park (anaheimresortrvpark.com), but that's not my idea of camping. It's more like parking. Check out www.reserveamerica.com, and check out Bolsa Chica (Parking lot camping, but at least it's at the beach), Doheny, or San Clemente State Beaches. Bolsa Chica is the closest, but I would try for Doheney first.

It's funny that you are from SB. My favorite camping spots are there. I LOVE camping at Carpinteria SB, and also enjoy El Capitan and Refugio SB. In Carp, we eat at The Spot, The Fish Barrel, and Giovanni's. Nice, little small-town places. For a lark, we visit Jalama Beach (www.jalamabeach.com). Also enjoy San Simeon SB and Juilia Pfeiffer Burns SP in Big Sur. Further South, South Carlsbad and San Elijo beachfront (on the bluffs) sites are excellent for their views. San Clemente is very nice, too. Avoid San Onofre. Check all of these out at www.reserveamerica.com.