Two years ago I wrote a review about The Disneyland Resort. I raved about the park, I loved it. Today I visited the park again, and have to say everything I said two years ago was a lie, it’s was all rubbish….do you know why? It’s because Disney is even better than that!

It’s hard to believe it could be, but The Disneyland Resort has got better. Home to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, this is a multi-park, multi-day magical Disney experience. 

The small Disneyland, well compared to its much larger brother Disney World, is quaint, it’s delightful, it’s home to magic beyond magic, it will reduce grown men to tears, it will let you escape this world for just one day and be transported across the globe to the Caribbean, The Wild West, Toontown or to Tomorrowland, all your dreams will come true in a day at this park, it’s just fantastic. The parks relatively small size however doesn’t mean it’s empty, it is jam-packed-full of rides, attractions, shows, shops and restaurants. Personal favourites include Pirates Of The Caribbean, one of the original themed rides which is all the more enjoyable since the arrival of the film. The Jungle Cruise is great fun, Indian Jones is amazing, fast, furious, and thrilling. Go back and read our 2001 review, and everything there is true, but it’s all got better. The same goes for Disney’s California Adventure.

I’m delighted to say that this park has yet to loose any of it’s charm. It sums up California to me, it’s fun, it’s perfect, and it’s gorgeous to look it. It really made me feel like this is how California should be, not ye olde California, but modern day CA. The addition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Play It! Adds another spark to DCA, it is a fun and prize winning opportunity just like it’s televised namesake. You as the audience have the chance to be in the hot seat, to play along in the audience and you could get 1 million points and win a trip on the Disney Cruise Line! It makes the Hollywood area of the park complete. I still adore Soaring Over California, it’s so unique, so original, and so California. I love this park, it’s a relaxing day out which will leave you with a smile all over your face.

The Disneyland Resort is home to magic, excitement and the best few days you can have.

Through Disney story-telling magic DISNEYS CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE the adventure, fun, spirit, culture, allure and beauty of Northern, Central and Southern California on 55 acres in four themed lands – Golden State (celebrating the state’s natural beauty and diverse heritage), Paradise Pier (a salute to California beach culture), Hollywood Pictures Backlot (a loving tribute to Hollywood and the movies) and a bug’s land (a new area where children can experience a fun-filled world from a bug’s point of view). The park features over 25 adventures and attractions plus distinctive entertainment and dining. 

Some fun facts to wet your whistle for our review! 

Dedication:

To all who believe in the power of dreams … Welcome! DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE opens its golden gates to you. Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past … the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. And we salute a new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow … from the silver screen to the computer screen … from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE celebrates the richness and the diversity of California … its land, its people its spirit and above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire.
Dedication read by Michael D. Eisner
February 8, 2002

Location:

DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE is located approximately 27 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Its hometown is Anaheim, California across from DISNEYLAND® park.

Size:

DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE occupies 55 acres.

• Guest parking accommodates 10,250 vehicles.

• Height of iconographic C A L I F O R N I A letters at entrance to park is 11 ½ feet.

• Height of Golden State Bridge towers is 58 feet.

• Height of reflective Sun sculpture is 50 feet.

• Length of wave fountain in Sunshine Plaza is 52 feet.

• Area of ceramic tile murals at entrance to park in the Golden Gateway is 10,600 square feet (among the largest in the world).

Lands:

DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE celebrates the adventure, spirit and culture of the State of California in four themed lands – Golden State, Paradise Pier, Hollywood Pictures Backlot and a bug’s land. Each is divided into themed areas. There are 25 attractions and highlights include the following:

GOLDEN STATE
Celebrates the adventurous heritage of California and the immigrants who came looking for the golden dream, Golden State features six themed areas including Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak Recreation Area, Bountiful Valley Farm, The Golden Vine Winery, Pacific Wharf and The Bay Area.

Condor Flats – a high desert test pilots’ landing field with weathered hangars left over from man’s first attempts to break the sound barrier.

Soarin’ Over California is a virtual hang gliding adventure over some of California’s most amazing landmarks. Height of bowl-shaped screen is 80 feet. There are two theaters that house 87 guests in each.

Grizzly Peak Recreation Area – A granite mountain-top shaped “by nature” like the head of a growling Grizzly bear rises 110 feet over a High Sierra landscape with pine and snow-covered slopes and the world’s highest, longest and fastest “rushin’ river” raft ride.

Grizzly River Run is a wild, wet river rafting adventure. Height of peak is 110 feet. Height of Grizzly River Run lift is 45 feet, length of ramp is 300 feet and longest drop is 22 feet.

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail features three ranger fire towers that give youthful exuberance a workout with smokejumper cable slides, net climbing and swaying bridges plus nature storytelling beneath the redwoods.

The Golden Vine Winery – In a vineyard of 350 growing grape vines and a Mission-style building, guests learn about the wine-making process, enjoy shopping and fine dining in this “first pressing” of Napa Valley culture.

Seasons of the Vine presents the challenge of California winemaking and the beauty of the wine country in this dramatic and insightful film that follows grape growers from spring vine cutting to bountiful harvest.

The Bay Area – A 45-foot tall replica of the Rotunda of San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts within a beautifully landscaped garden is the focal point for this little city beside Paradise Bay. A 14 by 100-foot mural lining the colonnade introduces the themes, characters and stories of the Golden Dreams attraction.

Golden Dreams is a 22-minute motion picture filled with humor and emotion housed in a 350-seat theater that tells the story of California through the eyes of her immigrants. The film features acclaimed actress Whoopi Goldberg as the legendary Califia – Queen of California.

PARADISE PIER
Here are electrifying experiences from the glory days of California’s seaside amusement piers when they were magnets for sun-seeking and fun-loving kings, movie stars and crowds of thrill-seekers. Some of the areas attractions include:

King Triton’s Carousel takes children of all ages on an undersea swirl in this charming attraction. Diameter is 47 feet. Number of sea creatures that guests may ride is 56. Maximum number of guests at one time is 64. Speed of carousel is 4.3 rpm.

California Screamin’ is rollicking roller coaster that begins with a catapult start: taking guests from 0 to 55 miles-per-hour in 4 seconds. Number of trains is 6 and number of cars per train is 6. Maximum speed is 55 mph. Maximum drop is 108 feet. Length of track is 6,072 feet. Launch length is 215 feet. Number of sensors is 550. Miles traveled per year is 50,000. Weight of train loaded is 22,000 pounds. Number of speakers on board is 108. Six miles of electrical wire.

Sun Wheel is a huge giant spinning wheel in the shape of a grinning sun that holds 24 passenger gondolas. Six guests per gondola is the maximum capacity. The wheel diameter is 168 feet and the circumference is 500 feet. Weight of steel is 5.8 million pounds. Number of pieces of structural steel is 32,000. Number of parts (including nuts and bolts) is 1.8 million. Metal “rays” radiating from center is 32. The sunface diameter is 40 feet. Speed of wheel is 5 rpm.

HOLLYWOOD PICTURES BACKLOT
Hollywood as a state of mind, not a real place, but as a backlot movie set surrounded by huge soundstages housing attractions which give guests fun-filled ways to “pretend” they’re Hollywood celebrities. They can imagine themselves as movie starlets, character voices or Disney animators. A traditional landmark water tower at the rear of the lot bears the name Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Some of the areas attractions include:

Hyperion Theater currently presents the acclaimed, all-new Broadway-caliber show “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” that thrills and delights audiences with a live stage version of the classic Disney animated feature. Length of show is 40 minutes. The show consists of 18 scene changes and 250 costumes for a cast of 50 covering the show's 29 roles. Number of seats in theater is 2,000. Height of fly tower is 90 feet. Theater height is 76 feet. Stage is 55 feet deep and 60 feet wide. Wings are 30 feet per side.

Who Wants to Be A Millionaire – Play It! is an attraction based on the ABC television series, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” The set of the attraction looks exactly like the one on television – with a few changes. There are more than 600 seats in the attraction (versus 200 on the television show). In addition, theme park guests will play for prizes and can win pins, hats, polo shirts and a trip. Other facts include more than 400 lights deliver the dramatic lighting on the set. It takes the gameplay system 2.4 seconds to calculate the answers for more than 600 guests. The attraction lasts approximately 25 minutes.

Disney Animation – This attraction is actually five attractions in one. Housed in a stylized art deco inspired building, Disney Animation immerse guests in the great Disney animation legacy, from its history to hands on demonstrations and fun-filled exhibits including the impressive Courtyard Gallery, the film “Back to Never Land,” Drawn to Animation demonstration, the interactive Sorcerer’s Workshop and the Art of Animation Gallery.

a bug’s land
A new area designed specially for kids, features “Flik’s Fun Fair,” full of all-new attractions inspired by the Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios’ film A Bug’s Life where children can experience a fun-filled world from a bug’s point of view.

 Flik’s Flyers is a whimsical bug-size hot air balloon attraction fashioned from leaves and empty food containers.

Tuck & Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies, a crazy drive-it-yourself bug car adventure under “P.T. Flea’s” circus tent.

Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train is a miniature railroad with the ever-hungry caterpillar Heimlich as he meanders through a land filled with giant pieces of candy and food.

Francis’ Ladybug Boogie presents a lively ride on spinning, dancing ladybugs.

Princess Dot Puddle Park is a water playground with a giant-size garden hose, sprinkler nozzle and leaky spigot.

Bug’s Life Theater presents: It’s Tough to be a Bug is a 3-D visit with Flick and Hopper from Disney-Pixar’s computed animated movie, A Bug’s Life. Show time length is 8.5 minutes. Theater capacity is 425 seats and 8 wheelchairs. Screen size is 21x46 feet with two 70mm projectors.

See our review and opinions on the park shortly.

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