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Travel & Experiences

California theme parks preview for summer 2008

California's major amusement and theme parks drew more than 40 million visitors in 2007. Those numbers are expected to climb this year with more than $150 million in rides, attractions, parades and shows debuting at California parks this summer. Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Brady MacDonald critiques the new and the old. Disneyland (Anaheim) The 800-pound gorilla plans no big new attractions this year (or for 2009) after debuting the $100-million Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007. The granddaddy of theme parks, Disneyland had 14.9 million visitors last year, second worldwide only to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla. You can expect it to be packed throughout the summer. As with all theme parks, planning a midweek visit (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) will lower your wait times and raise your fun quotient. The Mad Tea Party at Disneyland was one of the original attractions when the park opened in 1955.

California’s major amusement and theme parks drew more than 40 million visitors in 2007. Those numbers are expected to climb this year with more than $150 million in rides, attractions, parades and shows debuting at California parks this summer.

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Brady MacDonald critiques the new and the old.

Disneyland (Anaheim)

The 800-pound gorilla plans no big new attractions this year (or for 2009) after debuting the $100-million Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007.

The granddaddy of theme parks, Disneyland had 14.9 million visitors last year, second worldwide only to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla. You can expect it to be packed throughout the summer. As with all theme parks, planning a midweek visit (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) will lower your wait times and raise your fun quotient.

The Mad Tea Party at Disneyland was one of the original attractions when the park opened in 1955.  (Marc Martin / Los Angeles Times)

California theme parks preview for summer 2008

Disney’s California Adventure (Anaheim)

The unloved 8-year-old sibling of neighboring Disneyland is about to go through a massive growth spurt. And it’s not going to be pretty until about 2012.

A $1.1-billion makeover will kick into full gear after this summer, and once the dust settles you probably won’t recognize the place. Plans call for a World of Color water show in 2009-2010 (think the Bellagio water show on steroids), a $100-million “Little Mermaid” indoor “dark ride” in 2010-2011 and a new Cars Land section of the park in 2011-2012 (including a $200-million Radiator Springs Racers ride), plus a 1920s Los Angeles-themed face-lift for the main entrance.

Disney’s California Adventure features some midway-style rides, including one sporting a Mickey Mouse profile.  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

California theme parks preview for summer 2008

Disney’s California Adventure (Anaheim)

The skinny: Lots of people bash Anaheim’s “second gate,” but I hold the park dear. I’ve long held out hope that, despite its rough beginnings (shortly before 9/11), California Adventure might someday realize its true potential. The coming tween years stoke that promise.

The 150-foot-tall Sun Wheel sits at the edge of the Paradise Pier lagoon.  (Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)

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Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park)

Easily my most anticipated ride of the summer, the $10-million Pony Express roller coaster straps riders to the back of a wild steed galloping at 38 mph.

Pony Express coaster riders, harnessed in with a T-shaped back restraint, take a 36-second ride from launch to brakes on an elongated figure-8 track featuring hairpin turns, whoop-de-dos and 60-degree banks.

The GhostRider roller coaster at Knott’s.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia)

The skinny: Magic Mountain, with its signature Scream coaster, has torn down two aging coasters in the last two years to make room for a family coaster coming in 2009. Officials have promised to reclaim the “roller-coaster capital” title from Ohio’s Cedar Point (considered by many coaster riders to be the best amusement park in the United States), but I remain skeptical.

Rather than add a new coaster this year, Magic Mountain dropped $10 million to overhaul X, the flawed but breathtaking prototype coaster with rotating 360-degree seats. The redubbed X2 adds lighter-weight cars and special effects.

The Scream roller coaster at Magic Mountain.  (Stefano Paltera/For The Times)

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