Theme Park Thrills, Chills--and Steep Bills : Sunday in the Parks: A Survey

Disneyland

Admission: Adults: $21.50 Kids 3-11: $16.50 Seniors: $17.25 Discounts: Groups, etc.

Parking: $3.00

Additional costs: Guided tours, arcades

Fast Food: Hot dog: $1.75 Drinks: $0.80-$1.00 Hamburger: $1.95-$2.15 Fries: $1.07 Taste: C

Statistics: Annual attendance: 13.5 million Sun. attendance: Won’t tell Hot dogs served: Won’t tell Drinks served: Won’t tell Burgers served: Won’t tell Fries ordered: Won’t tell Chicken dinners: Won’t tell Other: Won’t tell

This season’s new attractions: --

Ride survey: Star Tours No. in line: 1,600 Waiting time: 60 mins. Length of ride: 5 mins. No. per vehicle: 48 Grade: A-

Closed or inoperable: K.C. Jr. Train, also Country Bear Jamboree, Steam Train, Explorer Canoes*

Temperature: 2 p.m.: 75 5 p.m.: 68

Cleanliness: A+

Courtesy: A

Adjacent or nearby Accommodations: Disneyland Hotel, $99-$197

Guide to Grades: A: Excellent (Thrilling!) B: Better (An E ticket) C: Average (Yawn) D: Barely Pass (Skip it) F: Failure (Just say no) I: Incompetent ( Yech ) * Closed for construction of Splash Mountain, due to open January, 1989.

Universal Studios Tour

Admission: Adults: $17.95 Kids 3-11: $12.95 Seniors: $12.50 Discounts: AAA Club, package tours, etc.

Parking: $3.00

Additional costs: --

Fast Food: Hot dog: $2.25 Drinks: $1.25-$2.25 Hamburger: $2.10 Fries: $1.00 Taste: C

Statistics: Annual attendance: 4.2 million Sun. attendance: Won’t tell Hot dogs served: 4,400 Drinks served: 14,000** Burgers served: 300 Fries ordered: 300 Chicken dinners: 1,200 chicken strips Other: 1,300 desserts

This season’s new attractions: Star Trek Adventure

Ride survey: Star Trek No. in line: -- Waiting time: -- Length of ride: 60 mins. No. per vehicle: 2,000 in audience Grade: B

Closed or inoperable: --

Temperature: 2 p.m.: 68 5 p.m.: 62

Cleanliness: B

Courtesy: B

Adjacent or nearby Accommodations: Sheraton Universal, Registry, $140-$160

Guide to Grades: A: Excellent (Thrilling!) B: Better (An E ticket) C: Average (Yawn) D: Barely Pass (Skip it) F: Failure (Just say no) I: Incompetent ( Yech ) **Universal Tours serves beer.

Knott’s Berry Farm

Admission: Adults: $17.95 Kids 3-11: $13.95 Seniors: $12.95 Discounts: Groups, etc.

Parking: $3.00

Additional costs: Arcades

Fast Food: Hot dog: $1.75-$2.25 Drinks: $0.95-$1.30 Hamburger: $2.75 Fries: $0.95-$1.15 Taste: B+

Statistics: Annual attendance: 4 million Sun. attendance: Won’t tell Hot dogs served: “Who’s counting?” Drinks served: 20,000 plus Burgers served: “Who’s counting?” Fries ordered: “Who’s counting?” Chicken dinners: 3,338 Other: --

This season’s new attractions: Bigfoot Rapids

Ride survey: Bigfoot No. in line: 400 Waiting time: 15 mins. Length of ride: 6 mins. No. per vehicle: 6 Grade: C+

Closed or inoperable: Bear-y Tale Playhouse, Loop Train

Temperature: 2 p.m.: 72 5 p.m.: 67

Cleanliness: A

Courtesy: A

Adjacent or nearby Accommodations: Buena Park Hotel, $68-$74

Guide to Grades: A: Excellent (Thrilling!) B: Better (An E ticket) C: Average (Yawn) D: Barely Pass (Skip it) F: Failure (Just say no) I: Incompetent ( Yech )

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Admission: Adults: $20.00 Kids 3-11: $10 Less than 48” Seniors: $10.00 Discounts: Groups, etc.

Parking: $3.00

Additional costs: Arcades

Fast Food: Hot dog: $1.99-$2.79 Drinks: $1.15 Hamburger: $1.95-$3.59 Fries: $0.90 Taste: B

Statistics: Annual attendance: 2.9 million Sun. attendance: Won’t tell Hot dogs served: 2,000 Drinks served: 35,000 Burgers served: 12,600 Fries ordered: 16,000 Chicken dinners: 13,452 chicken strips Other: 5,000 pizzas

This season’s new attractions: Ninja, Black Belt of Roller Coasters

Ride survey: Ninja No. in line: “Billions” Waiting time: 88 mins. Length of ride: 3 mins. No. per vehicle: 196 Grade: B-

Closed or inoperable: Metro Monorail

Temperature: 2 p.m.: 95 in the sun 5 p.m.: 78

Cleanliness: C

Courtesy: B

Adjacent or nearby Accommodations: Ranch House Inn, $69 up to 4 adults

Guide to Grades: A: Excellent (Thrilling!) B: Better (An E ticket) C: Average (Yawn) D: Barely Pass (Skip it) F: Failure (Just say no) I: Incompetent ( Yech )

Sea World

Admission: Adults: $19.95 Kids 3-11: $14.95 Seniors: $15.95 Discounts: Military, groups, schools, etc.

Parking: Free

Additional costs: Skyride, $150; Skytower, $1.50

Fast Food: Hot dog: $1.75 Drinks: $0.99-$3.50 Hamburger: $1.99 Fries: $0.99 Taste: C

Statistics: Annual attendance: 3.3 million Sun. attendance: 12,500 Hot dogs served: 1,000 Drinks served: 13,000** Burgers served: 1,500 Fries ordered: Won’t tell Chicken dinners: -- Other: 600 sandwiches

This season’s new attractions: Nautilus Amphitheater

Ride survey: Skytower closed due to winds of more than 17 m.p.h. No. in line: -- Waiting time: -- Length of ride: -- No. per vehicle: -- Grade: --

Closed or inoperable: Skytower

Temperature: 2 p.m.: 65 5 p.m.: 60

Cleanliness: B

Courtesy: B

Adjacent or nearby Accommodations: Princess Resort, $125-$280

Guide to Grades: A: Excellent (Thrilling!) B: Better (An E ticket) C: Average (Yawn) D: Barely Pass (Skip it) F: Failure (Just say no) I: Incompetent ( Yech ) ** Sea World serves alcoholic beverages.

Queen Mary & Spruce Goose

Admission: Adults: $14.50 Kids 3-11: $8.50 Ages 5-11 Seniors: $13.50 Discounts: Handicapped, groups, etc.

Parking: $3.00 ($5 Oversize)

Additional costs: Guided tour of Queen Mary, $5.00

Fast Food: Hot dog: $1.75 Drinks: $1.00 Hamburger: $1.95 Fries: $1.00 Taste: B

Statistics: Annual attendance: 1.2 million Sun. attendance: Won’t tell Hot dogs served: Won’t tell Drinks served: Won’t tell Burgers served: Won’t tell Fries ordered: Won’t tell Chicken dinners: Won’t tell Other: Won’t tell

This season’s new attractions: --

Ride survey: Spruce Goose No. in line: 20 Waiting time: 5 mins. Length of ride: -- No. per vehicle: -- Grade: B-

Closed or inoperable: Time Voyager

Temperature: 2 p.m.: 74 5 p.m.: 70

Cleanliness: B

Courtesy: B

Adjacent or nearby Accommodations: Queen Mary, $84-$150; Suites$165-$600

Guide to Grades: A: Excellent (Thrilling!) B: Better (An E ticket) C: Average (Yawn) D: Barely Pass (Skip it) F: Failure (Just say no) I: Incompetent ( Yech )

San Diego Wild Animal Park

Admission: Adults: $12.95 Kids 3-11: $6.20 Ages 3-15 Seniors: Variable prices Discounts: Groups, packages, etc.

Parking: $1.00

Additional costs: --

Fast Food: Hot dog: $1.25-$1.75 Drinks: $1.25 Hamburger: $1.85 Fries: $1.05 Taste: C-

Statistics: Annual attendance: 1.5 million Sun. attendance: 4,938 Hot dogs served: 1,800 Drinks served: 7,500 Burgers served: 3,000 Fries ordered: 2,500 Chicken dinners: 350 Other: 1,000 popcorn

This season’s new attractions: --

Ride survey: Monorail No. in line: 475 Waiting time: 33 mins. Length of ride: 62 mins. No. per vehicle: 125 Grade: C

Closed or inoperable: Note: Six of 10 monorail cars running, but one broke down at 2 p.m.

Temperature: 2 p.m.: 70 5 p.m.: 57

Cleanliness: B

Courtesy: A

Adjacent or nearby Accommodations: High $20s-mid-$50s in Escondido

Guide to Grades: A: Excellent (Thrilling!) B: Better (An E ticket) C: Average (Yawn) D: Barely Pass (Skip it) F: Failure (Just say no) I: Incompetent ( Yech ) The Calendar Crew

Our team who went along for the rides on Sunday: Pat H. Broeske (who wrote this report) at Magic Mountain, Elizabeth Hayes at Disneyland, Lee Margulies (assisted by Sue Martin) at Universal Studios Tour, Bill Steigerwald at Knott’s Berry Farm, John Voland at the Queen Mary & Spruce Goose, Jack Mathews at Sea World, Mike Granberry at Wild Animal Park. This project was edited by David Kishiyama.