Golden State

The Golden State area of California Adventure takes some of California’s best features and adventures and gives visitors a real taste of California.  The Golden State area lets visitors experience white-water rafting, hang gliding or the Monterrey-inspired Pacific Wharf area, and those are just a few of the highlights.

Condor Flats

Soarin’ Over California

Height Requirement: 40″ (102 cm) or taller

Disney’s FASTPASS® service attraction

This California Adventure attraction is absolutely amazing and is truly unique.  Located in Condor flats is a replica of an airplane hangar with huge space rocket engines emitting a cooling mist to simulate the fueling of a Apollo era rocket booster.  This attraction is a hang gliding simulation that simulates hang gliding over some of California’s most amazing scenery and landmarks.  The immersion and simulation is a feast for the senses.  If you haven’t experienced this attraction, I don’t want to give away too much since it would detract from your experience, but this is a must do attraction.  The attraction is setup in 3 groups and 3 rows within each group.  Once you enter the attraction, you take your seat in the simulated hang glider seat then buckle up.  The room goes dark and your section of rows are lifted in the air and moved up toward the screen, so the only things visible are the hang glider seats around you and the visuals of the California scenery.  The affect of lifting you up towards the concave screen and sound system really make the immersion complete.  This isn’t a scary attraction, but if you are a little scared of heights, you may want to be prepared for the lift of your hang glider section and the hang gliding simulation, since it does make you feel like you are gliding over some of California’s most breathtaking scenery.  This is one of my favorite attractions in California Adventure.

Grizzly Peak Recreation Area

Grizzly River Run

Height Requirement: 42″ (106 cm) or taller

Disney’s FASTPASS® service attraction

Thar’s gold in them hills…or least that is what the legend is at the Grizzly River Run.  This white water rafting adventure takes you  through an abandoned California gold mining operation that is now Grizzly Peak Rafting.  During your rafting adventure you are sure to get wet as you experience two drops, one of which lays claim as the tallest rafting drop in the world.  Once you take your final plunge, watch out for the geysers that erupt as your rafting journey concludes.

If you want to experience the rafting experience and not get soaked, you should bring a poncho or purchase one in the Rushin’ River Outfitters next door to the entrance of Grizzly River Run.

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

Height Requirement: 42″ (106 cm) or taller

This is a fun place for kids to explore a rustic fort-type attraction in Disney’s version of a California redwood forest.  Kids love the redwood forest setting as they discover zip line tire rides, hollow log slides, rock climbing adventures and a challenge crossing creeks and rope bridges and Kenai’s Spirit Cave.  This is a unique setting, and there are plenty of places for the whole family to explore or just sit, relax and watch the kids.  This area is comparable to Disneyland’s Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island due to the discovery options and adventure for kids.