California Adventure

California Adventure opened its doors on February 8, 2001. It is a totally separate theme park from Disneyland, but adjacent to it.

The park consists of five areas: Sunshine Plaza; Hollywood Pictures Backlot; The Golden State; A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier. Each area resembles various aspects of California, its culture, landmarks and history.

It is home to Disney’s only real rollercoaster, a must see hang-glider ride and other thrilling adventures.

This park is full of rides, shows and parades to enjoy - so plan your visit ahead of time. Your plan should take in consideration the ages of your kids, the length of your stay and your endurance power.

The park is usually open from 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and from 10 AM to 9 PM on weekends and holidays. So how long are you planning to stay at the park?

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Disney’s California Adventure website has a wealth of information about rides and entertainment. But before you go there, stick around and learn about the park from a local.

Tip: If you are an out-of-towner, plan on making it a full day – opening to closing, with a break in the middle of the day for lunch and relaxation. Skip back to your hotel or surrounding area to find a reasonably priced meal and maybe a little nap.

Important Note: California Adventure is undergoing a huge expansion with many new attractions and re-themed old ones. Some ride will be totally replaced.

The big question is: What is the best way to enjoy the park? What are the best rides? It really depends on your preferences, but here is how my family and I enjoy it:

Tip: Most rides offer a single rider line. Even if you don't see a sign indicating "Single Riders", ask the attendant. They will give a special ticket and direct you to the "secret" line. You can take advantage of this feature even if you are with a group. If you don't mind being separated during the ride, just go for it.

Soarin' Over California: At opening time, rush through the main gate, pass under the Golden Gate Bridge, and then turn right into Condor Flats. Go right into this amazing simulator ride, or make an appointment to come back later using FastPass. This is a must see attraction. If you are like me you will end up going on it multiple times. It simulates riding a hang-glider through California flying over San Francisco, Redwood Creek, Napa Valley, Monterey, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Palm Springs area, Camarillo, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego, Malibu and Los Angeles. The ride ends with a flight over Disneyland at Christmas, with a Christmas parade traveling down Main Street, U.S.A., decorations on Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the fireworks grand finale. The views passing under your feet are so realistic and the smells (yes! You heard it right: Smells) are so invigorating that you can very easily forgot you are in a simulator. <FastPass Available>

Tip: Some rides offer FastPass. It is a way to avoid long lines at some rides. For example if you go to Soarin' Over California and find out that the wait time is too long, get a FastPass. It will specify an appointment time for you to come back. When you come back you go through a different line which is usually very short. Be aware that you can only have one FastPass at a time (per rider). In other words, don’t expect to get Fast passes for several rides at the same time. Look for the <FastPass Available> symbol next to rides offering FastPass.

Grizzly River Run: As you are exiting Soarin' Over California turn right and walk towards Grizzly River Run. This is whitewater rafting. The attraction's name comes from Grizzly Peak, the bear shaped mountain that the rapids flow around. You are guaranteed to get wet on this ride so go during warm weather, or you can buy one of the plastic smocks and avoid the worst of the drenching. <FastPass Available>

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Right opposite to Grizzly River Run you will find this forest themed play area for kids with guest appearances of the characters of Brother Bear. This place can be great fun for both kids and adults. It has many bird's eye views of the area with a lot of stairs and buildings leading up several stories. Expect to see a lot of running water and vegetation. If you prefer to relax and let the kids run amuck, benches are available.

Tip: Another way to beat the lines and Disney parks is the single ride line. If you are traveling alone (or willing to pretend you are alone) you can go the single ride line which goes faster than the regular line.

Mulholland Madness: After the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area, turn right into Paradise Pier area. The first ride on your right side is a crazy rollercoaster ride called Mulholland Madness. The ride has a lot of turns and ups and downs, but it is not very fast. The sides of the tracks are wide open - so you can get a feeling of falling off on sharp turns – which ads more excitement to the ride. The ride includes several sharp turns and sudden drops that small children may find unsettling. <FastPass Available>

Books about the Disney Resort:

Disneyland Anaheim Vacationland
Everything Family Guide to the Disneyland Resort
Birnbaum's Disneyland Resort 2009

Maliboomer or Jumpin' Jellyfish: Two separate rides for different ages. Both will take the rider to some height and drop them. Maliboomer is for older kids and adults. The height and speed of the ride is much more exciting. At the Jumpin’ Jellyfish, the younger kids can enjoy similar sensations but more appropriate to their age and size. Tip: If you have loose shoes or slippers on, take them off before the ride or you will lose them.

Tip: In between rides take the little ones to visit the S.S. rustworthy (Right opposite from Orange Stinger) where they can expend some if their energy shooting water cannons, climbing ladders, turning wheels and pulling levers. The adults can relax on the benches close by.

Silly Symphony Swings (Previously Orange Stinger): The main attraction in both new and old rides is huge spinning swings rotating in a large spherical enclosure. Conductor Mickey Mouse conducts the orchestra, and he sits high atop, synchronized with the music in motion.

California Screamin: After you drop back to earth, head straight to this fast rollercoaster ride. This is a steal rollercoaster with many twists and turns, including a full loop. At the beginning of the ride the trains pass along the water front and riders get splashed by the (artificial) waves. <FastPass Available>

Lunch Time: There are several good places to eat at California Adventure. My favorite is the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill. You can take your great tasting Mexican food to the outdoors seating area, enjoy the food and the sunny California weather. Another choice is the Taste Pilots' Grill where they serve hamburgers, chicken and ribs. You can add your own toppings on your burger.

A Bugs Land: If have small children you may want to stop at the Bugs Land area. It several rides that is suitable for the young ones. Try a funny 3-D show, go flying on Flik's Flyers, drive bumper cars or ride the Heimlich's Chew Chew Train.

Anaheimer Tip: As you are making your way to Hollywood Picture Backlot through the Sunshine Plaza, try to catch the High school musical 3 show. Check your map for show times. It is a traveling musical based on the widely popular movie series.

Playhouse Disney: If you have preschoolers at home, you know what Playhouse Disney is - If you don’t then skip this ride. The target age is from age 2 – 6. When my kids were smaller we used to live this show. You sit on the ground and watch the various playhouse characters perform for you.

Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D: If you are like me, grow up watching the Muppet Show, you will definitely enjoy this 3-D show. You will get to watch the main characters doing their silly routine and you will be introduced to a new computer generated Muppet. Waiting in the line is part of the fun. You will pass through Muppet Laps viewing several displays and props. Don’t forget to grab your 3-D glasses in the way in. <FastPass Available>

Dinner Time: The gang must be hungry after all this excitement. If you feel like a nice sit down meal, head to Wine Country Trattoria, order a nice Italian meal and enjoy a good glass of wine to go with it. If the weather is nice, sit in the outdoor patio and enjoy the scenery. If you are in the mood for something more casual, go to Award Wieners where they serve delicious sausage and hotdogs – and leave room for desert. You can have desert at Award Wieners or close by at Schmoozies.

Disney's Electrical Parade: If you have to watch a parade, then this one must be it. In one word: It is spectacular. The parade has many floats filled with a million colored lights and singing and dancing Disney characters. This used to be Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade, but was moved to California Adventure in 2001.

Tip: The Disney's Electrical Parade is a very popular attraction. The parade route fills up with onlooker very early on. Stake a place along the route very early. Take turns waiting at that spot while the other members of your party enjoy some ride.

Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular: The name says it all. This is a theatrical show that lasts Approximately 45 minutes and is filled with wild imagination, dancing genies and flying carpets. Watch your favorite characters from the Disney movie Aladdin and a brand new song written specially for the show.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Do you like to be dropped from high places while experiencing the freefall sensation? Then you have to go on this ride.
First you go through the lobby the Hollywood Tower Hotel. After you check in, an attendant takes to your room on the service elevator. Then you unwittingly pass through the twilight zone and into a world where anything could happen - and it happens to you!
I don't want to spoil the ride for you too much, but expect to be airborne for a few seconds.
This ride is not for the faint of heart, but if you can handle it, then it is a thrill you don't want to miss.

Tip: If you can actually make to all of the above rides in one day, then you are a better person than I. California Adventure still has a lot more attractions to offer. Try to come back again.

Disney Deals:

• Southern California Pass: If you are staying in the area for a week or more, you can purchase Southern California Pass. It includes 3-Day Disneyland Tickets, tickets for one day each at Universal Studios, SeaWorld and your choice of a ticket to the San Diego Zoo OR San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park: Find City Pass.
• Multi-day park hopper: You get a better value for your dollar when buy multi-day park hopper passes. They come in 2, 3, 4, 5 day packages: Get Disney passes.
• Disney Vacation planning: Book a Disney Vacation Worldwide.