Disney's California Adventure:

Disney's California Adventure:
My Guide to Visitors by Sean

California Adventure, Disney’s newest park, which opened in 2001, was new for Lara and me, who just got around to going last weekend. By the way, thank you Autumn again for your wonderful gift—tickets. We had enough for lunch, dessert and a souvenir for James, too! Thank you! Just last year we visited the Golden Gate Bridge, which is actually the first thing you see when you enter California Adventure. We have been to the a couple wharfs on the Pacific Coast and we have seen some grizzly terrain, trees and scenery. We have become experts driving Interstate 5 and Highway 99. But is CA Adventures like the real thing and does it compare to the places we have visited?

Did Lara tell you that the park opens up at 10:00? Wait, we have to be there when the park opens, which is 9:00, or so I thought. Ok, I like to show up early so we can get the first parking space in the lot, and yes, the new park opens up at 10:00, Disneyland opens at 9:00. She was right! All right, that means time in Downtown Disney for an hour before we can get to the Golden Gate Bridge and Screamin’, the very cool and fast roller coaster. Did you see me trying to open the big vault in Downtown Disney? I almost got in! But I need longer than an hour. Maybe we should go sit by the fire in the California Grand Hotel instead? It is freezing out here!

When we entered California Adventure, the first thing we saw was unique Golden Gate Bridge flanked by two tiled murals representing the state's riches. Stop! Get a picture! California Adventure has over fifty acres, skimming off the best and brightest parts of California to celebrate our state, and Disney has Cast Members to take your every picture while you are there. Don’t move, picture time! The newer Disney theme park takes its cues from the states neatest attractions; Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Paradise Pier, the Golden State Show, farming and a few rides that tell a story to create some new and fun experiences, a few of which are unique among the Disney theme parks. Did Lara tell you that we made sourdough and ate tortillas that we made? Ok I am getting there!

See It Now: Scroll down to our pictures on previous posts

Get Oriented: California Adventure Map. Did you say map?

Lara and I rate California Adventure 4.99 out of 5, because it contains some really unique rides we thoroughly enjoyed: Soarin' Over California, Tower of Terror and California Screamin'. Well, Lara enjoyed most of the rides. The Hollywood Hotel also known as the Tower of Terror, caused some stress in our relationship. I may have to watch both the old and the new versions of Pride and Prejudice in a marathon, but I got Lara to ride. I can’t find the camera either, as it went above Lara’s head, into the Twilight Zone, and wasn’t seen again until we exited the crazy elevator. After you've been there, come back and tell us what you think. We had a great time, and January is a great time to visit. I suspect in summer, the place will be a zoo. San Diego Zoo may be a better choice to escape the animals.

Given just one day, though if it's a busy one, you may miss out on some of the most popular rides. Here was our itinerary for the day:

Paradise Pier

Paradise Pier is the part of the park that looks most impressive from a distance, thanks to its large and colorful rides, and the large sea and coastal area. Divided out into two sections, the first a California boardwalk themed based on coastal boardwalks like the Santa Monica Pier or the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. There is a very large Ferris wheel (the Sun Wheel), which Lara didn’t like at all. Eeeek it moves back and forth, Sean! Another favorite (of mine) was the large roller coaster (California Screamin’), a big shot style attraction (like the Maliboomer or maybe the Corkscrew at Knott’s), and the Orange Stinger (a classic swing spinner attraction within a themed shell that resembles an orange, which we didn’t go on). But wait, Sean, we have to read about it first!

The second themed area of Paradise Pier is the Route 66 area, a desert road area that starts with Paradise Pier's crashed fireboat the S.S. Rustworthy. Notable attractions are the Jumpin' Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, and Mulholland Madness as well as the Sunglass Shack in the shape of a giant roadside dinosaur. Pictures of us can be seen in front of the Zephyr and the really cool waterfall. Here comes the Disney Photographers again, be careful!

Golden State

This "land" allows for guests to experience California's more natural settings. It is further divided into sub-lands (Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak Recreational Area, and the Pacific Wharf). It features Golden Dreams, a film about the history of California.

Condor Flats and Grizzly Peak Recreational Area

The aviation-themed area, Condor Flats, features Soarin’ Over California, the simulated hang-glider ride. It is a popular favorite for visitors of all ages, though the “Fear of Heights” signs freaked Lara out a bit. The wilderness/forested area, Grizzly Peak Recreational Area, features Grizzly River Run, a fast-paced river rapids ride around Grizzly Peak, similar to other river rapids rides found in other local parks such as Knott's and Six Flags Magic Mountain. The Travel Channel claims Grizzly is currently the fastest, largest, and tallest rapids ride in the world. However, River Quest in Phantasialand, Germany has since out-done it. Nearby is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail; an interactive playground area and amphitheater featuring characters from Disney's Brother Bear as well as a special entrance to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. We had fun in Grizzly Flats, where I can be seen coming out of a tunnel and Lara can be seen on the top of falling rocks. Did someone say fire-lookout? Let’s go! Be careful down those rope ladders. Falling rocks?

Pacific Wharf

The Pacific Wharf looks like it is based on Monterey's Cannery Row area. I thought I was being depicted in a John Steinbeck's novel. It did look similar to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf as well. Pacific Wharf contains a couple of restaurants, along with a beer truck and Margarita stand, plus a Mission tortilla factory, which features peep-shows on how tortillas were once made, working corn and flour tortilla machines, and a Boudin sourdough bakery, which has nearly the entire bakery visible behind glass. Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie were the tour guides. The sourdough and tortillas were yummy! Can we go again?

Entrance to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot

The Backlot is an area styled to appear as Hollywood streets and movie studios, with Hollywood-themed attractions. Yes, our picture was taken there too. A version of the Tower of Terror attraction opened in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot in 2004. Recently, a new attraction, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue!, based on the characters from Monsters, Inc. opened in the attraction building, which used to house Superstar Limo. It was a fun, dark ride. There is a child in here! The 2000-seat Hyperion Theatre currently plays host to Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular. OOOps we missed that one. Our pals said it is a good production though. Next time?

The Tower of Terror

The entrance to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, featuring two ceramic elephants sculptures atop columns, pays homage to a huge set constructed for the epic 1916 Hollywood film Intolerance directed by D.W. Griffith. This homage is echoed at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex in Los Angeles which currently houses the Academy Awards ceremonies at the Kodak Theatre, which also has elephant sculptures atop columns. Did I tell you how much Lara enjoyed the Tower? I think she might even be speaking to me now. Be right back, I need to check.

A Bug's Land

This small ride features Flik's Fun Fair, It's Tough to be a Bug! and the Bountiful Valley Farm, based on the Disney-Pixar film A Bug's Life, and offers kid-friendly rides, which Lara thoroughly enjoyed after the Tower. Can we go back to Screamin’ again? I’ll buy the entire Jane Austen collection? Watch out, a fork in the road!!!

Fun Fact: The palm trees in The Sunshine Plaza cost $13,000 each to purchase. Sean ordered thirteen for the backyard.

Other tidbits included of our visit to California Adventure were: Soarin’, eating yummies at the Warf, feeding the gulls and causing bird controversy, sitting for the Muppets Show, getting lost in California Grand Hotel before opening, and wandering across California. Do we have to visit the Central Valley again? Can we visit Mammoth Mountain, Lassen, Death Valley, San Diego, and Sacramento again to name a few? We can’t wait to explore another hot spot in California soon. I am not sure I can get Lara to Magic Mountain, but I am sure Big Trees State Park or Sequoia/Kings Canyon may be easier to convince her of. Write us if you think we need to visit someplace as fun. All in all, we had a great time. California Adventures is like the real thing and does compare to many places we have visited. See you soon adventure lovers and thrill seekers!