Taking a Ride Online

Before you ever stand in line this summer, you can preview many of Southern California’s most popular attractions via the Internet.

The mouse you click may find it really is a small world after all when you connect with Mickey and Minnie on the official Disneyland site. These pages, found at https://www2.disney.com/Disneyland, include extensive park details, safety considerations and even a guidebook for guests with disabilities.

On the more interactive side, you can pay a visit to each of Disney’s lands and view a QuickTime VR of Disneyland’s exclusive Club 33.

For an unofficial perspective of Disneyland’s offerings, click over to https://www.best.com/ ~dijon/disney/parks/disneyland. The site is compiled by park fans, who offer information not on the official pages, such as recipes for five popular foods sold at the Magic Kingdom. For the latest group discussion on the park stop by the Internet Usenet newsgroup found at alt.disney.disneyland.

Knott’s Berry Farm has two cyberspots. Neither is official or as extensive as the Disney site, but both are well-intended. The pages, at https://www.goldpage.com/travel/californ/knotts/knotts.htm, give an overview of Knott’s primary areas, such as Camp Snoopy and Fiesta Village. At https://copper.ucs.indiana.edu/ ~lstoffel/ you’ll find historical pictures, including the original berry stand and a photo of the Knotts and their park’s Jaguar roller coaster.

Those anticipating the arrival of Southern California’s next thrilling coaster will enjoy Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Web site, at https://www.sfmm.com. Focusing on the building of Superman--The Escape (opening June 1), the site offers photos of the construction in progress along with a brief overview of this first-ever 100-mph coaster.

Universal Studios, which has been presenting tours for more than 30 years, is doing the same in cyberspace by previewing highlights of the park online at https://www.mca.com/unicity. Information on all the major attractions is available, including the Beetlejuice Graveyard Review, E.T. Adventure, Jurassic Park--The Ride and Waterworld: Quest for Mariner.

Speaking of a water world, the Queen Mary has its own Web pages at https://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/sterling/. The site, maintained by the Queen Mary Foundation, functions as an interactive tutorial guaranteed to enhance anyone’s visit to the ship.

If theme parks in general appeal to you, then consider these other cyber-destinations. For a history of amusement parks, go to https://www.sgi.net/napha/, the home page of the National Amusement Historical Assn. Roller coaster enthusiasts will love the World of Coasters page, at https://www.rollercoaster.com/text/. The Usenet group devoted to the topic is rec.roller-coaster.

And for general discussion of theme parks and amusement parks, there is the catchall Usenet group of rec.parks.theme.