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Golden Gate Entrance to California Adventure
Disney’s California Adventure is the “other” theme park at Disneyland Resort and opened in 2001. Since it opened, California Adventure has received a little bad press and lower attendance rates when compared to Disneyland Park. Don’t let the negative talk diminish your expectations because this park does have lots to offer. I would agree that California Adventure lacks some of the warmth and maturity of Disneyland, but overall, it is a fun park to visit and offers some variety to your Disneyland Resort experience.
As I mentioned above, California Adventure has had some bad press, but I really enjoy visiting the park and the California-themed areas. The park is themed so you can experience some of the best of California from the Hollywood Pictures Backlot to Pacific Wharf, and while that probably makes it a little less “magical” in theme, it wasn’t supposed to be Disneyland. California Adventure is generally not as crowded as Disneyland. So if you need a break from the Disneyland crowds, you can generally escape to California Adventure, and it will probably be a little less congested.
California Adventure is arranged with four distinct areas: Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Golden State, Paradise Pier and “a bug’s land”.
California Screamin' Ready for Blast Off
As with all Disney parks, the park is never complete. If you are visiting Calfornia Adventure anytime soon, you will notice lots of transformation within the park. In an effort to increase the appeal of California Adventure, Disney is investing lots of money to put it on a more equal footing with Disneyland. Disney’s California Adventure is undergoing a $1 billion renovation project and exact details can be viewed at California Adventure’s Golden Vine Winery. Disney’s announced plans include remodeling California Adventure to inject the nostalgia of 1920′s California that Walt Disney knew. Sketches, working models and illustrations are on display to demonstrate the changes Disney is planning. Some of the announced features include a new attraction based on the “Cars” movie called Cars Land, a nighttime water affect show called “World of Color” and a new park icon. The new icon structure will be a theatre replicating the Carthay Circle Theatre where Disney’s early film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered. The makeover project is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
Again, California Adventure is a fun place to visit, and I am sure the changes will add to its appeal. One important thing I enjoy about Disneyland and California Adventure is the proximity of the two parks to each other. You can actually walk from one park gate to the other within 2-3 minutes via the esplanade. In contrast at Disney World, it can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes to go from one park to another. At Disneyland, it is very easy to hop back and forth between parks.
I hope as you explore our California Adventure informational pages you get a feel of what to expect and how to get the most fun out of your visit to California Adventure.