Trip Report Magic Mountain, with a review of the NEW RIDES!

Magic Mountain has been undergoing so many changes in the past year, so I felt it was time to make the  journey out to Valencia to see what shape the old park is in.   Below you'll read my thoughts on my visit last week, plus, as an added incentive, you can read my reviews of their two newest rides:  Lex Luther's Drop of Doom and Green Lantern:  First Flight!   Caution:  Spoilers ahead!

7:00:  I start the drive out to Valencia.   Thanks to the wonders of our modern freeway system, a trip that may have taken the wagon train three hours only takes me two!   At least we are heading in the right direction.   Unfortunately, I wasn't - I was going south.  I eventually righted myself and headed north on the I-5.

9:00 AM:  I get off the I-5 and drive up Magic Mountain Parkway to Magic Mountain's auto plaza entrance.   Parking is $15.00

9:05 I drive down Magic Mountain Parkway and find a place to park in the Denny's parking lot.   I hike up the hill to Magic Mountain, then catch a one of their fiberglass trams to the main entrance.  I believe these trams are originals....   not Magic Mountain originals, I mean the first original trams built ever.   Talk about a bumpy ride!  I'm sure they will be much smoother once they discover round wheels.

10:00 I make it to the main entrance.   Admission is a mere $61.99, which includes all the rides, shows, and attractions, except those not covered by the admission fee.   All that for $61.99!   I find a hole in the fence and enter the Park.

10:30:  Six Flags Magic Mountain used to be a beautiful park...  A nice variety of rides spread about a hilly, well-landscaped 260 acres.   Then, the roller coasters took over.   The park now has 15 roller coasters, a small children's area, and relatively little else.   I was told by the brochure that this is a theme park, with nine themed lands to delight me...   But I'll be darned if I, or anyone else, could distinguish between one land or another.   Theming has been totally forgotten by this park.   Baja Ridge is described as a "South of the border barren desert landscape where three roller coasters await guests."  This area has one restaurant:   A Panda Express.  I suppose they do have Panda Expresses south of the border, if you assume the border they are referring to is Canada's.   The Goldrusher Mine Train is located in the Movie World section, while Thomas the Tank Engine is found in the High Sierra Territory section .   If I had to choose a theme for this park, I would describe it in two words:   Corporate Sponsorship.   EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE you look in this park is sponsored by something.   No item was too small to escape the sales staff.   The lampposts have banners for various snack treats hanging from them, posters on fences advertise the latest movies, local restaurants and high-speed cable, and every facility is sponsored by something.   I looked in a mirror and found out my reflection was sponsored by Windex.   It truly distracts from any theming they had left.   Which is none. 

Magic Mountain in its early days.   None of what you see here exists anymore.

 11:00:  I rent a locker.   SPONSORED BY:   Public Storage.  The had a big sign that advertised "One dollar for your first month," but this particular locker cost me $10. 

11:30:  I head for the Log Ride, one of my favorite rides in the park and the only themed one in the High Sierra Territory.  Unfortuately, they decided to tear this ride out.    I can only assume they weren't able to find a sponsor for it. 

12:00 I walk through Bugs Bunny Land.   SPONSORED BY:  Acme products.  As a big fan of the Looney Tunes, I am always disappointed that this area is so poorly themed.  Elmer Fudd operates a weather ballon ride?   Daffy Duck operates a tour bus?  And the Tasmanian Devil operates a trucking company?   UGH.   They should have a ride where you get blown up several times, and at the end you have an anvil dropped on your head.   But I guess there would be very few repeat riders.

12:30:   I come Across LEX LUTHER'S DROP OF DOOM (sponsored by the Otis Elevator Co.).   My official review comes after the photos.   CAUTION:   Spoilers ahead!

It wasn't open yet, so I couldn't ride it.   End of Review.

13:00:  I make my way past Scream (sponsor:  Edvard Munch) and Colossus (sponsor: Clearasil, which is really gross when you think about it) which are located in the "County Fair" area.  I pass by the former home of the Alpine Twist ride, which is now a pistachio orchard (sponsor:  American Pistachio Growers).  At least here, they repaced the ride with some landscaping.   There are several former rides that have remnants just sitting around:   Deja Vu is gone, but the area has yet to be cleared of foundations and queue.   The monorial stations and the skyway stations still sit, unused.   And don't get me started on the log ride. 

13:30  I walk through the DC Universe area of the Park.  It seems every hero and villian have sponsored a ride here.   It's truly a Marvel (plug).   This is where you'll find the new Green Lantern:  First Flight!  Roller Coaster, which was open and running.   I will review this ride at the end of this column.  

14:00 I make it to the Gold Rusher (Sponsor: Anne Nicole Smith.), a roller coaster that dates back to the park's opening in 1971.  Despite it's age, it's still a fun ride for the whole family.   I like the way it's spread out over the terrian, climbing hills and using the natural topography in its layout. 
As I look around the park, I'm pleasantly surprised to see how much original architecture can still be found around the park.  For example, here are a few photos of attractions that have not changed a bit since opening.   The early 70's influence now sticks out among the newer areas.  As Magic Mountain pulls more and more original elements out, (and eliminates the few family rides they have left) you'll see less and less of these:

14:30 I decide it's time to eat.   I look over the varied and stimulating offering available to me at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

14:45 I finish my corn dog and head towards Apocalypse, which is located in the Cyclone Bay area of the Park.   Really, can't this Park make some decent food?   The Park seems to have given up on producing decent food offerings, as they have brought in Panda Express, Johnny Rocket's, Cold Stone Creamery and others to manage some of their food outlets, but even these are overpriced and not up to par with their counterparts outside of the Park.  The Mooseburger Lodge makes a decent burger, I will give them that.  But nothing else.

15:00 I ride Apocalypse, and I survive.  If I had ridden Psyclone, the former roller coaster in this locale, I would really be making a shoking statement.   This roller coaster is a huge improvement over the Psyclone, which was rickety, badly maintained and very unpleasant to ride.  Apocolypse used to be named Terminator: Salvation, but it lost that sposnorship.   It is now sponsored by Falling Skies, a new show by Steven Spielberg. 

15:30 I start climbing the hill in the back of the Park up to the Rapids Camp area.

16:00 Still climbing

16:30  Still climbing

16:45  Still climbing

17:00  Contemplate suicide...   decide to continue climbing.  Sponsor of Hill:   Dr. Kevorkian.

18:00  I remember that I left my wallet at Apocalypse.   I decide it's easier to assume a new identity than to go back and get my wallet.  Continue climbing.

18:30   I make it to Rapids Camp.  This is actually one of the better-themed areas of the Park, if you ignore the entrance to Tatsu that is inside the camp.   The trees are grown in, the food is barbecued,  and the buildings resemble a logging camp in the wilderness.  One of the first ever river-rapids rides is located here, and it is one of the best.  Sponsor:  Bounty Paper Towels.

19:00 I made it back to the front of the Park.   Here we find what you think is a classic antique carousel.   However, it seemed suspicious to me...   all the horses looked the same.  Eventually, I figured it out:  Magic Mountain made fiberglass copies of one of the horses, then sold the original wooden horses and replaced them with the fiberglass replicas.  UGH.  Well, at least the frame is original, built in 1912.   It's just that so much work has been done on it that it's hardly reconizable.   Sponsor:  Joan Rivers.

Now it's time for my reveiw of Green Lantern, First Flight.    After a few pictures, read my review of Green Lantern!

REVIEW:   I didn't ride it.   It looks too scary.   End of Review..,. and end of this Trip Report.  

Restaurant Review - Cupid's

I'm a fan of a good hot dog, and in particular, a good chili dog.  Today I'll be telling you about my current favorite spot for chili dogs:  Cupid's. 

Cupid's Hot Dogs is a  small chain of hot dogs stands in the Los Angeles county.   They started out as Walsh's Hot Dogs in 1946, owned and operated by Richard and Bernice Walsh.  Soon after opening, Robert changed the name to Cupid's Hot Dogs, naming the stand after his wife Bernice, who was nicknamed Cupid.  The family operated three stands until the son, Robert Jr. took over.   He added a fourth location and began franchising Cupid's across Southern CA.   Now there are only three Cupid's left, with a fourth rumored to be opening soon.  The specialty is the chili dog. 

Because of the franchising, it is said across the internet that the quality of Cupid's varies from one location to the other.   However it is agreed that the Nothridge location is the one truest to the original Cupid's with the original chili recipe in use.   So, naturally, that is the one I visited.   Cupid's Northridge is a small stand, with only a few outdoor tables for seating.  I ordered the chili hot dog and a lemonade - no fries here!   They do sell chips, but I can buy a bag of Lay's anyplace.  I was here for the chili dog.

Here is a picture of the chilidog I received:

Here is the same chili dog 15 seconds later:

This is, hands down, one of my favorites.  The hot dog is the old-school variety, with a skin that snaps when you bite it.   The chili itself is an odd neon orange color that doesn't show so well in the photo, but trust me, it is ORANGE.   However, it's an all-beef chili that compliments the dog perfectly.   The buns are steamed and are the final ingredient to this tasty dog.  

Now, I admit, Cupid's isn't perfect.  If you are looking for a Chicago hot dog, you may find Cupid's lacking in condiments.   If you looking for chili fries, well, you may have to settle for Frito Pie.  But if you want a good chili dog, plain and simple, you can't do much better than Cupid's.   Plus, the chili dog itself was only three dollars.   I ended up eating nine dollar's worth.

I have yet to try the other Cupid's hot dog stands to see how they measure up...   I hate to tempt fate.  Why ruin a good thing?   However, to satisfy my curiosity , I will visit the other Cupid's in the coming months and report back.  

Saturday Morning Cartoon - Redux Riding Hood

In 1997, Disney quickly and quietly released "Redux Riding Hood" into the festival circuit.   It was originally meant to be the first of a series of updated, adult fairy tales, but this one proved too weird even for Disney.  Although it was nominated for an academy award, Disney gave it very little exposure and then quickly hid it away.   Recently, the creator of the cartoon, Steve Moore, posted it on his blog, and I am now posting it for you here.   Stick with it, it starts slow but builds to a great finale.   Listen for Adam West, Mia Farrow, Don Rickles, Fabio, Garrison Keillor as the narrarator and Michael Richards as the wolf.  Disney made quite a few cartoons around this time that got limited release.  It's a shame, because many of them are quite good.      Enjoy this one, from Disney's Television Animation division.