This 72-acre park is themed after the history and culture of California. It is located right across the promenade from the Disneyland park. It opened on February 8, 2001 as a second thene park at the DIsneyland Resorts complex. The inital attendance did not meet expectations, so Disney started a major overhaul of the park in 2007. It took five years to complete, culminating with the opening of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land along with the re-dedication of the park in June 2012. Here’s a few more fun facts:
🗺 It’s divided into 8 areas: Buena Vista Street, Grizly Peak, Paradise Gardens Park, Pixar Pier, Pacific Wharf, Cars Land, Avengers Campus, and Hollywood Land
👨👩👧👦 It is the 12th most visited park in the world.
🎡 It’s main icon is the giant ferris wheel featuring Mickey’s face, located in Pixar Pier, the Pixar Pal-A-Round
🎠 Some of it’s attractions can also be found in Disney World such as Toy Story Midway Mania, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, and Soarin’ Around the World. But most attractions are unique to this park alone.
Avengers Campus
The newest area of the park, Avengers Campus, just opened in 2021. It immerses you into the Marvel Universe. There are TONS of character interactions and so much to see and do!
Mission Breakout is so much fun, if you are up for the elevator drops that come with it! And Webslingers is the newest ride added to the Disneyland parks. Shoot your own webs to fight off the hundreds of spider bots!
The shows were also something of wonder. The Spiderman show is amazing! Dr. Strange is a fun one as well, but really you can’t go wrong with any of them!
Cars Land
Another immersive area, find yourself right in the Cars world. Radiator Springs Racers is the center of attention here, but don’t count out the other rides like Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. I laughed histarically this whole ride!
There are even meet and greets with characters like Mater and Lightning McQueen.
The food options are great as well. From Flo’s Cafe to the Cozy Cone, there’s a meal or snack for everyone!
Pixar Pier
Pixar Pier celebrates the characters and movies from Pixar. This is where you’ll find the Pixar Pal-A-Round ferris wheel and the Incredicoaster, and so much more!
You can also get the famous Jack Jack Cookie Num Nums near the incredicoaster. So yummy!
The other areas in DCA are not to be skipped, they each have their own fun. There is a play area for kids in Grizzly Peak. Monsters Inc can be found in Hollywood Land. Paradise Gardens Park holds several smaller rides, as well as meet and greets with characters like Mirabel fron Encanto and the Three Caballeros. Pacific Warf holds lots of fun entertainment and delicious food stops. And be sure to stop and get all your souveniers on Buena Vista Street on the way out!
Special Events
California Adventure has so many special events that I could talk about. Oogie Boogie Bash is one of them. This is a special ticketed event at DCA just for Halloween. Don your favorite costume for a frightfully fun night of characters, tricks and treats for guests of all ages. It runs on select nights in September and October. Disney has announced that this party will return in 2022. Here’s some of what was included in 2021’s Bash:
🍬 Immersive trick or treat trails
🎃 Transformed Redwood Creek Challenge trail – one of the most popular attractions!
🎭 Mickey & Minnies Trick & Treat live show
🧛♂️ Character meet and greets dressed in their halloween best!
🏫 Carthay Circle bell tower is transformed
🐴 Frightfully fun parade with the Headless Horseman
This is a separately ticketed event, and prices have not yet been announced for 2022.
California Adventure is also where you’ll find all of the special festivals that occur throughout the year. This includes Festival of the Holidays, Lunar New Year Festival, and Food & Wine Festival.
Festivals include special food and drinks, shows, parades, and character interactions. I attended the Festival of the Holidays and let me tell you….the snacks were AMAZING! Below you can see just a few of the snacks and drinks we tried.
California Adventure also has a really great nighttime show called World of Color. It was on hiatus when I was there due to covid, but it is has since returned!
(📸: Disney)
Read all about my day at California Adventure here!
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