Disney's California Adventure Park

Disneyparkinfo


bgcolor=#056599
fgcolor=white
name=Disney's California Adventure Park
location=Anaheim, California, USA
opening=February 8, 2001
resort=Disneyland Resort
theme=California
website= [http://www.disneyland.com Disneyland Resort Homepage]
operator=The Walt Disney Company

Disney's California Adventure Park (commonly referred to by its initials, "DCA") is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001. The park is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company.

This 55-acre theme park was constructed as part of a major expansion that transformed the Disneyland area and its hotels into the Disneyland Resort and consists of five areas: Sunshine Plaza, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, The Golden State, A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier. Most of them are meant to resemble various aspects of California, its culture, landmarks and history.

Dedication

Concept and construction

In 1991, Disney announced the plan to build a second gate in Anaheim, WestCOT, a west coast iteration of Epcot, in place of the existing Disneyland main parking lot, [cite web|url=http://members.tripod.com/~savehorizons/westcot1.htm |title=Tony Baxter... on WestCOT |accessdate= |accessmonthday=August 21 |accessyear=2006 |author=Tony Baxter] but due to various reasons the project was canceled in 1995, which led to the idea of Disney's California Adventure, a park to celebrate and pay tribute to California, providing a similar experience to stepping inside a California postcard. DCA was part of the plan to expand the one park property and convert it into a greater, multi-day vacation resort destination which would be able to appeal to a greater audience - similar to Walt Disney World resort.

The construction of DCA began in 1998, as part of the Disneyland Resort expansion project which included the new theme park, the Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Downtown Disney, and the renovation of the Disneyland Hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel, and was completed in 2001. DCA occupies the site of the former parking lot for 5,000 vehicles, and parking is now provided in the multi-level "Mickey and Friends" parking structure, giving space for more than 10,000 vehicles. [cite web|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2000/12/31/294.aspx |title=California Misadventure: Part 3 |accessdate= |accessmonthday=August 21 |accessyear=2006 |author=Jim Hill Media]

The new park was designed to appeal to an older audience when compared to Disneyland and the overall intention was to create an alternative to Disneyland.Fact|date=May 2008 It features various thrill ride attractions for older guests as well as rides for the whole family, and at the beginning lacked kiddie rides when compared to Disneyland.

Park layout

unshine Plaza

The entrance is designed to give the feel that guests are stepping inside a California postcard. After guests pass the giant postcard letters spelling out California, they come across a replica of Golden Gate Bridge, which serves as a track for the monorail. On both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge are two mountain murals depicting California. Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge is Sunshine Plaza, the entrance to the park. At the end of the path, there is a fountain that includes a giant sun icon in the center, which reflects the light of the sun. Sunshine Plaza is also home to a replica of the California Zephyr, which houses the plaza's two counter service restaurants: Baker's Field Bakery and Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream. The plaza is also home to two of the park's biggest souvenir shops, Greetings from California and Engine Ears Toys.

Paradise Pier

Paradise Pier is themed after a California boardwalk, based on popular coastal boardwalks such as the Santa Monica Pier and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Paradise Pier's attractions consist of the classic amusement park rides found in many boardwalks such as the Sun Wheel, California Screamin’, the Maliboomer, and the Orange Stinger. Toy Story Midway Mania!, an interactive attraction inspired by classic midway games and Disney's California Adventure Park's newest attraction, featuring Pixar characters, opened on June 17, 2008.

A section of Paradise Pier is themed after the Historic U.S. Route 66, 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 attraction dinosaur.

Golden State

This land allows guests to experience California's natural settings. It is further divided into five sub-lands:

Condor Flats

This sub-land is themed after the aviation industry. The featured attraction here is Soarin’ over California, a ride that simulates a hang glider tour of California. Also in this area is the Taste Pilot's Grill counter service restaurant.

Grizzly Peak Recreational Area

This sub-land is themed after California's wilderness, such as Yosemite and Redwood national parks. Attractions include Grizzly River Run, a fast-paced river rapids ride around Grizzly Peak, the park's icon. Nearby is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail; an interactive playground area which also includes a show housed in an amphitheater featuring characters from Disney's Brother Bear, The Magic of Brother Bear. A special entrance to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is also located in this area.

The Bay Area

This sub-land is themed after the California Bay Area. It used to feature "Golden Dreams", a film about the history of California, starring Whoopi Goldberg housed in a theatre. Its last showing was on September 7th, 2008. Outside of the theatre is a mural and a replica of the Palace of Fine Arts. The Bay Area also includes an avenue of houses similar to the Victorian architecture of many townhouses found in San Francisco. The main area is scheduled to be converted to a Little Mermaid Ride, with construction expected to start in 2009.

The Golden Vine Winery

This sub-land is themed after Northern California's Napa Valley and the wine making industry. Included in this area is Wine Country Trattoria, a casual table service dining restaurant which features wines and Italian foods. The former main attraction in this area, Seasons of the Vine, a film showcasing Napa Valley and the changes throughout the seasons, housed in a wine cellar-like theatre, closed on March 30th, 2008 to be converted into a Disney's California Adventure Preview Center scheduled to open in late October, 2008, that will feature the upcoming changes to the park. Guests also have the opportunity to taste several wines for an additional price.

Pacific Wharf

This sub-land is based on Monterey's Cannery Row area, especially as depicted in John Steinbeck's novels, and also resembles San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. This area includes the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, Pacific Wharf Cafe, along with a Karl Strauss beer truck and Margarita stand. This sub-land also features attractions such as the Mission Tortilla Factory, which features a tour on how tortillas were once made, and showcases working corn and flour tortilla machines. Another attraction is the Boudin Bakery Tour, which is a tour of the sourdough bread making process with Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie as video tour guides.

Hollywood Pictures Backlot

Hollywood Pictures Backlot is an area styled to appear as Hollywood boulevards and movie backlots, with Hollywood, Television, and movie-themed attractions. A version of the "Tower of Terror" attraction from Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot in 2004. Recently, a new attraction, "Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!" based on the characters from "Monsters, Inc." opened in the attraction building which used to house Superstar Limo. The 2000-seat Hyperion Theatre currently plays host to "".

Also featured since the park's opening is Muppet Vision 3-D, a show that also originated at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The entrance to the area with the sign "Hollywood Pictures Backlot" featuring two ceramic elephants sculptures atop columns is a 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 Kodak Theatre (which opened the same year, 2001) which also has elephant sculptures atop columns.

As you enter, there are bathrooms on the right. They are in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis house located in the base of the Santa Monica Mountains. The stamped concrete structure is typical of Wright's pioneering design.

"A Bug's Land"

"A Bug's Land" is seen from the point of view of a bug, and the character of "Flik" from A Bug's Life. Oversized human items and foodstuffs are scattered around the land. This land 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". The land opened in 2003 and offers various kid-friendly rides and other attractions. Such rides including Fliks Flyers, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Tuck & Rolls Drive em' Buggies, Heimlichs Chew Chew Train, and Dots Puddle Park.

Performance Corridor

The Performance Corridor is the primary parade route through the park, currently from the Sunshine Plaza area to the Route 66 area near the Orange Stinger. This route is subject to change due to the scheduled changes in the parks offerings.

The Disney's Electrical Parade is offered on busy time periods, basically the Summer period, along with the Easter/Spring Break period.

There is also normally a High School Musical performance on weekends, but the former "High School Musical 2" ended on September 7th, 2008 but will be replaced with the new "High School Musical 3: Right Here!, Right Now!" (Senior Year) in late October of 2008.

The Current performance is:
* "Pixar Play Parade"

Initial lack of success

Disney’s California Adventure was expected to draw early crowds that were several times larger than what they initially welcomed. This was due to the parks initial lack of children's rides and substantial cut backs.

* Bad word-of-mouth from early visitors discouraged future visitors, stating the park was lacking in Disney-quality attractions. [ [http://www.mouseplanet.com/archive/update43.htm Archived D-I-G Update: 6/25] ]

* Hollywood Pictures Backlot had lack of focus on the restaurants, shops and attractions.

* Lack of children's rides

* Fans criticized the Paradise Pier area of the park because many of the attractions in this area were generic rides that guests do not expect to find at a Disney park. This was ironic because Walt Disney originally created the neighboring Disneyland to provide a theme park experience unlike boardwalk piers and amusement parks of the era, and instead wanted to create a park where the entire family could enjoy themselves.

* With an estimated price tag of $600 million, the park was criticized for being built "on the cheap," with a small amount of attractions and minimal theming. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/business/media/10ride.html New York Times - "Will Disney Keep Us Amused" - 2/10/2008] ]

* Many guests complained that a single day admission ticket to Disney's California Adventure cost the same as a single day admission ticket to Disneyland Park, yet contained fewer attractions, shows & entertainment. [ [http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mt010803dk "Dark" Days Ahead?] ]

Disney's chief executive officer, Robert Iger went on record during the company's annual stockholder meeting on March 10, 2006, when someone asked about a potential third park being built in Anaheim. "We're still working to assure the second gate is successful", Iger said, referring to California Adventure. "In the spirit of candor, we have been challenged." [ [http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B549461DC%2DC5C2%2D4700%2D885B%2D0C954E4AC657%7D&siteid=google Shareholders content at Disney meeting - MarketWatch ] ]

Expansion plan

On October 17, 2007, The Walt Disney Company announced a multi-year, $1.1 billion expansion plan for Disney's California Adventure Park.cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-disney18oct18,0,1723646,full.story |title=Disney looks home for renewal | author=Los Angeles Times Staff Writers |date=2007-10-18 |publisher=LA Times |quote=The company moves to transform Anaheim's resort district in the image of the popular Walt Disney World. But critics remain skeptical.]

Walt Disney Plaza

The "Sunshine Plaza" will undergo major retheming and be renamed Walt Disney Plaza. The concept is a street representing Los Angeles in the 1920s, when Walt Disney first arrived in Los Angeles.

The Golden Gate Bridge replica will be removed while the sun sculpture will be replaced with a model of the Carthay Circle Theater, which showed the world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. The building will become the new visual icon of Disney's California Adventure.

The entrance gates will be moved forward to where the postcard letters presently stand. Red Car trolleys will travel through the plaza. Construction of Walt Disney Plaza will begin in 2009 and will be opened 2011.

Hollywoodland

"Hollywood Pictures Backlot" will be renamed to Hollywoodland and will represent the old Hollywood glitz and glamour that was in the 1930s. The land will house several ticketed events in the future. Disney film directors, writers and animators will occasionally be in the area to inform guests about their careers. The popular family stage show "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage" will be updated and the Red Car trolleys from Walt Disney Plaza will go though this land. Construction will begin in 2010.

Cars Land

The new Cars Land will contain three attractions and will span 12 acres. The first, Radiator Springs Racers, will be an E-Ticket attraction using the technology of Epcot's Test Track. It will be among the most expensive rides ever built at an estimated 200 million dollars. [ [http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=962 Disney Cars ride: thrills, sticker shock.] Retrieved November 21, 2007,] and will be a detailed dark ride that ends with an outdoor side by side dueling racing finale. The ride will begin with a race briefing from Lightning McQueen and end at the Wheel Well Motel from the movie. Some elements said to be featured in the attraction are switchbacks, tunnels, bridges, waterfalls and banked turns.

The other two attractions are going to be smaller family attractions featuring Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi's Roamin' Tires, a revival of the 1960s Tomorrowland "Flying Saucers" ride. Cars Land will also feature a life size model of Radiator Springs and several dining and shopping venues.

It will take the place of the existing Timon parking lot behind the Tower of Terror and is supposed to open in 2012, after the park celebrates its 10th anniversary. Construction is set to begin in June 2009.

Paradise Pier

"Paradise Pier" will be re-themed as a romantic Victorian boardwalk. The changes began with the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania! on June 17, 2008. [cite web
url=http://www.valueinnovation.net/2008/02/strategic-groups-drawing-line-at-lines.html
title=Drawing the line at lines: Disney Creating New Ride'?]

The Sun Wheel will be renamed "Mickey's Fun Wheel" and the sun face is to be replaced with a large Mickey Mouse face. The Orange Stinger will be rethemed into "Silly Symphony Swing", base on a Walt Disney's short film, "The Band Concert" and Conductor Mickey Mouse will be on top on the tower moving a around with the music. The Mulholland Madness will be rethemed into "Goofy’s Sky School", also base on Walt Disney's short film "Goofy's Glider". The huge Mickey symbol installed on California Screamin will be replaced by a huge sun symbol and the name of the land "Paradise Pier" would be added on the very structure of the roller coaster. The bay will become home to a new nighttime spectacular called "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color." To accompany seating for this show, a new 9,000 person standing-room only viewing area will be added.

Also included in this re-theming will be re-imagined midway games, a new beer garden-themed eatery (to replace Pizza Oom Mow Mow and Burger Invasion). Golden Dreams has been closed and will be replaced with an attraction based on "The Little Mermaid", The attraction will be call "The Little Mermaid Ariel's Adventure." The Paradise Pier should be done in 2011, around Disney's California Adventure Park 10th anniversary.

Golden State

The "Golden State" will see the addition of several new restaurants based on California's farmland and heritage. California-themed Food and Wine Festivals will take place in this area of the park. The "Seasons of the Vine" attraction will be replaced (closed in March of 2008) by a preview center, scheduled to open in late October, 2008, that will showcase future additions to the park.

See also

*List of current Disney's California Adventure attractions
*List of past Disney's California Adventure attractions
*Music from Disney's California Adventure

References

External links

* [http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/landing?name=DisneysCaliforniaAdventureLandingPage Disney's California Adventure web page]