Disney California Adventure

Disney California Adventure Park


Mickey's Fun Wheel, the park's current icon
Location Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, United States
Coordinates 33°48′20″N 117°55′19″W / 33.805468°N 117.921946°W / 33.805468; -117.921946Coordinates: 33°48′20″N 117°55′19″W / 33.805468°N 117.921946°W / 33.805468; -117.921946
Theme Show business and California
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Opened February 8, 2001 (February 8, 2001)
Previous names Disney's California Adventure Park
Operating season Year-round
Website Disney California Adventure Park Homepage

Disney California Adventure Park, commonly referred to as Disney California Adventure, California Adventure, or DCA, is a theme park located in Anaheim, California. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division. The 72-acre (29 ha) park is themed after the history and culture of California. The park opened in 2001 as Disney's California Adventure Park, and it is the second of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort complex, after Disneyland Park.

The concept of a theme park dedicated to California arose from a meeting of Disney executives in 1995, following the cancellation of the WestCOT project. Construction of the park began in 1998, and was completed by early 2001. Disney initially projected high attendance rates at the new park, however a series of preview openings held in January 2001 led to negative reviews, and after the park officially opened to the public on February 8, 2001, the company's attendance projections were never met. Disney spent the next several years incrementally adding new rides, shows, and attractions, and implementing other promotions aimed at boosting attendance. In 2007, Disney announced a major expansion of the park as well as a major overhaul of a significant portion of the park. Construction lasted for five years and was completed in stages, culminating with the opening of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land in June 2012.

According to the Themed Entertainment Association, the park hosted approximately 9.4 million guests in 2015, making it the 11th-most visited theme park in the world that year.[1]

Dedications

Original dedication

In front of the Sun Icon of the former Sunshine Plaza,

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.
— Michael D. Eisner, February 8, 2001[2]

Re-dedication

On the plaque of the flagpole in Buena Vista Plaza on Buena Vista Street,

To all who come to this place of dreams, welcome. Disney California Adventure celebrates the spirit of optimism and the promise of endless opportunities, ignited by the imagination of daring dreamers such as Walt Disney and those like him who forever changed- and were forever changed by- The Golden State. This unique place embraces the richness and diversity of California... Its land, its people, its stories and, above all, the dreamers it continues to inspire.
— Robert A. Iger, June 15, 2012

History

Concept and creation

OpenStreetMap image of Disney California Adventure

The present-day site of Disney California Adventure was acquired by Walt Disney in the 1950s, and functioned as the parking lot of Disneyland for over 40 years. After succeeding with the multi-park business model at Walt Disney World in Florida, the Disney company decided to turn Walt Disney's original theme park into a multi-park resort complex as well. In 1991, Disney announced plans to build WestCOT, a west coast version of what was then known as EPCOT Center, on the site of Disneyland's parking lot. The high price tag of the proposed park as well as the company's financial and public relations problems with the newly opened Euro Disneyland (now Disneyland Paris) led Disney to cancel WestCOT in 1995.[3] ||11 |}

See also

References

  1. ↑ "TeaConnect" (PDF).
  2. ↑ Sandler, Corey (2003-12-01). Econoguide Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood 2004: And Other Major Southern California Attractions Including Disney's California Adventure. Globe Pequot Press. ISBN 9780762727520. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. ↑ {{cite web|url=http://members.tripod.com/~savehorizons/westcot1.htm |title=Tony Baxter... on WestCOT |accessdate=August 21, 2006 | In the summer of 1995, Michael Eisner, Disney's CEO at the time, gathered company executives in Aspen, Colorado to think of another idea for a second theme park in California. From those meetings, Disney decided it would instead build a park themed to the history and culture of the state of California. They wanted to make California into a theme park, hoping to create "precise reproductions of California landmarks, charming streets, and gorgeous landscaping that simulates the state's forests and farmlands" and celebrate the California dream.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ryan|first=Joan|title=Disney's Latest Theme Park: California Adventure|journal=Via Magazine|date=January–February 2001|url=http://www.viamagazine.com/destinations/disneys-latest-theme-park-california-adventure|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref> It was intended to appeal to adults while Disneyland was intended to appeal to children. Construction of the park began in 1998; the park's construction was accompanied by Downtown Disney and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, in addition to renovations of the Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland Pacific Hotel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2000/12/31/294.aspx |title=California Misadventure: Part 3 |accessdate=August 21, 2006 |author=Jim Hill Media}}</ref>

    Opening and initial criticism

    Grizzly Peak, Disney California Adventure's original icon
    The park was expected to draw large crowds when it opened on February 8, 2001. On January 14, a Los Angeles Times article titled "The most Jam-Packed Theme Park on Earth?" stated, "Senior Disney officials acknowledge that there will be days when California Adventure will have to turn patrons away, particularly in the first weeks after the park opens, during spring break and again in the summer." However, the actual attendance that year was substantially less than expected.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jan/14/business/fi-12144|title=The Most Jam-Packed Theme Park on Earth?|publisher=LA Times|first=E. Scott|last=Reckard|date=January 14, 2001}}</ref> This is suggested to have happened as a result of negative reviews from early visitors,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.mouseplanet.com/archive/update43.htm|title= Archived D-I-G Update: 6/25}}</ref> including the lack of focus in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, the lack of attractions for children, a large number of off-the-shelf attractions, a high number of stores and restaurants relative to the number of attractions, and having a redundant theme, given that the park is located in California. The park also lacks a perimeter berm to separate it from surrounding neighborhoods. The berm in Disneyland Park uses trees and earthen mounds to establish a physical barrier around the park so that structures external to the park cannot be seen, thereby fully immersing guests in the park setting. At Disney California Adventure Park, nearby hotels, power lines, radio towers, and the Anaheim Convention Center are all visible, which reduces the sense of immersion. Furthermore, Disney had originally planned the park to be aimed at adults, rather than children, which became the basis of significant criticism.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.viamagazine.com/destinations/disneys-latest-theme-park-california-adventure|title=Disney's Latest Theme Park: California Adventure|publisher=Via Magazine|first=Joan|last=Ryan|date=February 2001}}</ref> The park opened to only 5 million visitors in 2001 while its sister park Disneyland saw 12.3 million visitors during the same time frame.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/2002/stories/012102_02.shtml|title=Amusement Park Attendance Down Overall Last Year|publisher=Ultimate Roller Coaster|first=|last=|date=January 21, 2002}}</ref> Low attendance caused Disney to lower ticket prices for California Adventure, slashing as much as $10 off of the park's ticket prices. In its first year, the park only averaged 5,000 to 9,000 visitors on weekdays and 10,000 to 15,000 on the weekends, despite having a capacity of 33,000. Visitor surveys reported that only 20% of visitors to the park in its first year were satisfied with their experience.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-lowers-prices-for-theme-park|title=Disney lowers prices for theme park|publisher=[[MarketWatch]]|first=Russ|last=Britt|date=June 21, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/no-gold-rush-for-california-adventure|title=No gold rush for California Adventure?|publisher=[[MarketWatch]]|first=Russ|last=Britt|date=April 20, 2001}}</ref> By October 2001, both Wolfgang Puck and Robert Mondavi had closed their high-profile restaurants in the park, citing low crowds, though Mondavi remained as a sponsor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2001-10-03/article/7230?headline=Two-restaurants-closing-operations-at-Disney-s-California-Adventure-theme-park--Staff|title=Two restaurants closing operations at Disney's California Adventure theme park|publisher=[[Berkeley Daily Planet]]|first=|last=|date=October 3, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Mondavi-Cuts-Role-in-New-Disney-Parks-Wine-Attraction_21031|title=Mondavi Cuts Role in New Disney Park's Wine Attraction|publisher=Wine Spectator|first=|last=|date=October 2, 2001}}</ref>

    Early changes and expansions

    Two of the park's major criticisms in its first year were the lack of attractions appealing to children and the lack of a nighttime show or parade to keep visitors from leaving at nightfall. Within the first year of operation, Disney's Electrical Parade and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! were brought to the park, and several of its original rides and attractions were closed, including Superstar Limo and Disney's Steps in Time. During the 2001 holiday season Disney's LuminAria was presented on Paradise Bay. In October 2002 the Flik's Fun Fair area opened, which added attractions for children, and in May 2004 The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened as another E ticket.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Feb/08/bz/bz10a.html|title=Disney park changes theme to attract kids|publisher=Honolulu Advertiser|first=Gary|last=Gentile|date=February 8, 2002}}</ref> The park regularly featured seasonal promotions such as concert series, food festivals, and promotions for other Walt Disney Company franchises including the X Games and ABC soap operas. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! opened in the former Superstar Limo building in January 2006.

    2007–2012 redesign and expansion

    Victorian style architecture in Paradise Pier
    By 2007, Disney had realized that the park was not working and that something major needed to be done. Bob Iger said of the park, "Any time you do something mediocre with your brand, that's a withdrawal. California Adventure was a brand withdrawal." Iger briefly considered combining California Adventure and Disneyland Park into one large park, but the price would have cost as much as completely remodeling California Adventure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704580304575600134000523928?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_management&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704580304575600134000523928.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_hps_sections_management|title=Disney CEO Turns Slump Into a Springboard | author=Ethan Smith|date=December 8, 2010 |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> On October 17, 2007, The Walt Disney Company announced a multi-year, $1.1 billion redesign and expansion plan for Disney's California Adventure Park (against its initial $600 million price to build).<ref name="latimes-oct17">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/17/business/fi-disney17|title=Disney to fix a major misstep | author=Richard Verrier and Dave Mckibben|date=October 17, 2007 |publisher=LA Times}}</ref><ref name="latimes-oct18">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-disney18oct18,0,1723646,full.story |title=Disney looks home for renewal | author=Los Angeles Times Staff Writers |date=October 18, 2007 |publisher=LA Times |quote=The company moves to transform Anaheim's resort district in the image of the popular Walt Disney World. But critics remain skeptical.}}</ref> Each district was reimagined to transform the park from a spoof of modern California culture to a romanticized, idealized version of the state, exploring specific time periods and historic settings. The project began in December 2007 and was completed in stages. Toy Story Midway Mania! opened on Paradise Pier in June 2008, in space formerly occupied by a store and restaurants. World of Color, a nighttime water and lights show on Paradise Bay, opened in June 2010. The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure opened on the site formerly occupied by the Golden Dreams theater in June 2011. The most drastic changes to the park included a complete overhaul of the main entrance, Sunshine Plaza, and Paradise Pier, as well as an expansion into the last of the parking area originally designated as future growth space for the park. The main entrance and Sunshine Plaza were turned from a "giant postcard" spoof of California into Buena Vista Street, a representation of Los Angeles as it appeared when Walt Disney moved there in the 1920s. The "CALIFORNIA" sign in front was removed and donated to Cal Expo in Sacramento. Paradise Pier was turned from a contemporary representation of California boardwalks into a representation of Victorian seaside amusement parks of the 1920s, and some of the area's off-the-shelf rides were either removed outright (Maliboomer) or re-themed to have more of a focus on Disney characters (Mickey's Fun Wheel, Goofy's Sky School, Silly Symphony Swings). Cars Land, an area that simulates Radiator Springs from Disney·Pixar's Cars film franchise, was added to the southeast portion of the park, and features three rides, including the E ticket Radiator Springs Racers. Construction was completed in 2012 and the park was then re-dedicated on June 14, 2012.<ref name="ocresort.ocregister.com">http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/12/20/big-changes-coming-to-disney-california-adventure/64914/</ref> The park received a modified name, Disney California Adventure, and a new logo, first put into use on June 11, 2010 and promoted in a commercial promoting World of Color a few days prior.<ref name="Heather Hurst Rivera">{{cite news|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/first-look-new-%E2%80%98world-of-color%E2%80%99-tv-spot/ |title=First Look: New 'World of Color' TV Spot| author=Heather Hurst Rivera |date=May 28, 2010 |publisher=Disney Parks Blog}}</ref> The redesign and expansion of the park saw attendance rates increase dramatically. In 2012, Disney California Adventure reached a record high for the park of over 7 million visitors (a 23% increase from the year before), a number Disney had hoped the park would do in its first year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/adventure-511301-california-disney.html |title=Going to California Adventure? More visitors are| author=Sarah Tully |date=June 4, 2013 |publisher=OC Register}}</ref> The day of the park's re-dedication saw the park draw a record number of 43,000 visitors in one day. The night before the re-dedication, over 500 people camped outside of the park in order to be the first admitted in. Two days later, the park hit a new record of 45,000 visitors.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/19/business/la-fi-cars-land-20120619 |title=Disney California Adventure attendance breaks record, report says| author=Hugo Martin |date=June 19, 2012 |publisher=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Speaking on the attendance increase at Disney California Adventure, Jay Rasulo, Disney's chief financial officer, said "We had a very uneven distribution where most people spent most of their time at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure was empty. Now, half of the folks go to one, half of the folks go to the other. It's almost a dream come true."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-06-04/disney-s-upgraded-california-theme-park-draws-23-percent-more-visitors |title=Disney's Upgraded California Park Draws 23% More Visitors (2)| author=Christopher Palmeri |date=June 4, 2013 |publisher=Bloomberg Business Week}}</ref>

    Timeline

    The Carthay Circle Theater
    • 1991: The Walt Disney Company announces plans to build WestCOT.
    • 1995: WestCOT plans are scrapped and Disney instead announces plans for a California-themed park.
    • 1998: Construction begins on Disney's California Adventure.
    • February 8, 2001: Disney's California Adventure opens to the public.
    • October 2002: A Bug's Land opens as the first new themed area since the park's inception, with new attractions including; Flik's Flyers and Heimlich's Chew Chew Train.
    • May 2004: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opens as the second version of the attraction.
    • July 15, 2005: Turtle Talk with Crush opens as the second version of the attraction two days before Disneyland's 50th Anniversary.
    • July 17, 2005: Block Party Bash has its first performance, to be partnered with Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams in Disneyland Park
    • January 2006: Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! opens in Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
    • October 17, 2007: The Walt Disney Company announces a multi-year, $1.1 billion expansion plan for Disney's California Adventure Park. The plan includes modifications to Paradise Pier, Golden State and Hollywood Pictures Backlot and new areas; Buena Vista Street and Cars Land.
    • March 14, 2008: Pixar Play Parade has its first performance replacing Block Party Bash which moved to Disney's Hollywood Studios
    • June 2008: Toy Story Midway Mania! opens in Paradise Pier.
    • October 14, 2008: The Sun Wheel eccentric wheel is re-themed and renamed Mickey's Fun Wheel.
    • October 20, 2008: Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar opens, replacing Seasons of the Vine Theater.
    • 2010: Construction on Buena Vista Street and Cars Land begins.
    • May 28, 2010: Disney's California Adventure Park is renamed Disney California Adventure.
    • June 11, 2010:
    • September 7, 2010: Maliboomer closes and is subsequently removed.
    • October 12, 2010: Mulholland Madness is closed for re-theming of Goofy's Sky School.
    • November 5, 2010: California Screamin's original recorded safety spiels were updated with the voice of actor Neil Patrick Harris.
    • January 2011: The entrance area is closed to remodel.
    • June 2011: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure debuts at Paradise Pier.
    • July 1, 2011: Goofy's Sky School opens, replacing the former Mulholland Madness, but its track layout is unchanged.
    • July 15, 2011: Pan-Pacific Auditorium gate entrance opens as a near-duplicate of the entrance at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
    • July 20, 2011: De-construction on the Golden Gate monorail bridge begins as part of the transformation into the Glendale–Hyperion Bridge.
    • August 2011: California Zephyr is removed from Sunshine Plaza and donated to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum.<ref>{{cite web|first=Betsy |last=Sanchez |url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/disneyland-resort-donates-california-zephyr-to-western-pacific-railroad-museum/ |title=Disneyland Resort Donates California Zephyr to Western Pacific Railroad Museum |publisher=Disney Parks Blog |date=August 9, 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref>
    • August 29, 2011: Sunshine Plaza closes to make way for Buena Vista Street.<ref name="disneyparks.disney.go.com">{{cite web|first=Ern |last=Glover |url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/buena-vista-street-ready-to-take-shape-at-disney-california-adventure-park/ |title=Buena Vista Street Ready to Take Shape at Disney California Adventure Park |publisher=Disney Parks Blog |date=August 26, 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref>
    • February 8, 2012: Disney announces that the park will be divided into eight themed "lands" to include Buena Vista Street, Cars Land, Paradise Pier, Condor Flats, "a bug's land", Pacific Wharf, Hollywood Land, and Grizzly Peak.
    • June 14, 2012: The park has a one-day closure to prepare for re-dedication the next day.
    • June 15, 2012: The park is "reopened" after a one-day closure with a newly dedicated Buena Vista Street,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/13/news/la-trb-disney-buena-vista-street-review-06201213 | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Brady | last=MacDonald | title=Review: Buena Vista Street lets visitors walk in Walt Disney's shoes | date=June 13, 2012}}</ref> Cars Land,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-carsland-open-20120616,0,3669975.story | title=Disney's Cars Land opens with a gridlock of fans |date=June 16, 2012 |last1=Faughnder |first1=Ryan |last2=Hautala |first2=Laura |last3=D'Urso |first3=William |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616111314/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-carsland-open-20120616,0,3669975.story |archivedate=June 16, 2012 |accessdate=2014-12-16}}</ref> and Hollywood Land. Pixar Play Parade makes its return after a brief hiatus as the expansion was being finished.
    • November 15, 2013: World of Color opens completely reimagined as a holiday show with the title World of Color: Winter Dreams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/11/world-of-color-winter-dreams-opening-today-at-disney-california-adventure-park/ |title='World of Color – Winter Dreams' Opening Today at Disney California Adventure Park |publisher=Disney Parks Blog |date=November 15, 2011 |accessdate=2012-11-15}}</ref>
    • January 7, 2015: "Frozen Fun" premieres for a limited time in Hollywood Land, with "Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party" as a temporary replacement for Mad T Party.<ref name="frozenfun">{{cite web|url=http://disneylandnews.com/2015/01/06/disneyland-resort-offers-southern-california-residents-limited-time-special-tickets-as-frozen-fun-debuts-in-disney-california-adventure-park/ |title=Disneyland Resort Offers Southern California Residents Limited-Time Special Tickets As 'Frozen Fun' Debuts in Disney California Adventure Park |publisher=Disneyland Resort News |date=January 7, 2015 |accessdate=2015-01-11}}</ref>
    • January 7, 2015: Condor Flats closes to be rethemed as Grizzly Peak Airfield.
    • February 17, 2015: Luigi's Flying Tires closes.
    • May 15, 2015: Grizzly Peak Airfield opens.
    • May 22, 2015: World of Color Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney, originally announced on January 28, 2015, debuts as part of Disneyland Resort 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration.
    • March 7, 2016: Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters officially opens.
    • June 17, 2016: Soarin' Over California film retires and is replaced with Soarin' Around the World film as a part of Shanghai Disneyland Grand Opening.
    • July 23, 2016: Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! announced to replace The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
    • September 5, 2016: The Diamond anniversary celebration comes to an end along with World of Color Celebrate.
    • September 6, 2016: World of Color returns to the original format.
    • November 2016: New Holiday show, World of Color - Season of Light debuts. Replacing the World of Color Winter Dreams.
    • January 3, 2017: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is scheduled to close.
    • Summer 2017: Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! is scheduled to open.

    Areas

    Disney California Adventure is divided into seven themed areas called "districts".

    Buena Vista Street

    Buena Vista Street
    Main article: Buena Vista Street
    Buena Vista Street is the first "themed district" inside the main entrance of California Adventure Park, taking its name from the Burbank street on which the Walt Disney Studios are located. Guests enter through the main entrance gate, which resembles the landmark Pan-Pacific Auditorium. Buena Vista Street includes an immersive recreation of early 1920s Los Angeles when Walt Disney first arrived with Mission and Art Deco facades housing shops and restaurants.<ref name="ocresort.ocregister.com"/> A recreation of Carthay Circle Theater, which showcased the world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 sits at the end of the street, serving as the visual anchor for the district. A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, titled Storytellers, is located near the Carthay Circle. The 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) narrow gauge Red Car Trolley travels from the entry, up Buena Vista Street toward the Carthay Circle, then down Hollywood Boulevard towards the Tower of Terror. Buena Vista Street was opened to the public on June 15, 2012.<ref name="Disney announces Cars Land opening time">{{cite web|first=Tom |last=Staggs |url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/03/taking-a-tour-of-cars-land-buena-vista-street-and-carthay-circle-theatre-opening-june-15-at-disney-california-adventure-park/ |title=Taking a Tour of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre – Opening June 15 at Disney California Adventure Park |publisher=Disney Parks Blog |date=March 7, 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref>

    Paradise Pier

    Paradise Pier
    Main article: Paradise Pier
    Paradise Pier spans 15 acres (61,000 m2) and is the largest themed "land" in the Disneyland Resort. Paradise Pier is themed as an idealized version of popular coastal boardwalks, such as the Santa Monica Pier and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Paradise Garden Grille and the Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta are two restaurants in the district that are connected by an outdoor, shaded seating area built around a gazebo in which bands play daily. The district's attractions, such as California Screamin' (a launched steel roller coaster built to appear as a classic wooden coaster) resemble the timeless amusement park rides found at many boardwalks. Toy Story Midway Mania! is an interactive 3D attraction inspired by classic midway games.<ref>{{Parkz|ride_name=Toy Story Midway Mania!|location=Disney's California Adventure|parkz_number=536|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref> Mickey's Fun Wheel is a 160-foot (49 m) tall Ferris wheel overlooking Paradise Bay, a large body of water that dominates the Paradise Pier area. A hydrotechnic show, World of Color is performed nightly on the waters of Paradise Bay (using fountains, projection, and flame effects) and showcases a series of vignettes from numerous Disney and Pixar films. It also features Goofy's Sky School, a typical Wild Mouse roller coaster based on the 1940 animated Disney Short Goofy's Glider. The area also includes The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure, a dark ride based on the animated film and King Triton's Carousel of the Sea, a merry-go-round surrounded by fan fountains that features sea creatures (sea lions, sea horses, dolphins, and whales) in place of traditional horses.

    Grizzly Peak

    Grizzly Peak
    Grizzly Peak is themed around California's wilderness and national parks with particular references to Yosemite and Redwood national parks. Its main attraction is Grizzly River Run, a Gold Rush-esque river rapids ride around the summit of Grizzly Peak. Nearby is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail; a playground area that includes elements from Disney's Brother Bear and Disney·Pixar's Up. A special entrance exclusive to guests of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is located in this area. Grizzly Peak Airfield is themed to an airfield in California's High Sierras in the late 1950s and early 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.disney.com/insider/2015/06/01/soarin-over-california-adventure-how-condor-flats-became-grizzly-peak-airfield|title=Soarin’ Over California Adventure: How Condor Flats Became Grizzly Peak Airfield|work=Disney Blogs}}</ref> The featured attraction is Soarin' Around the World, a ride that simulates a hang glider tour of locations, landscapes, and landmarks across six continents of the world. The district also contains the Smokejumpers Grill counter service restaurant, a shop, and a decorative fire lookout tower.<ref name=pimentel>{{cite news|last1=Pimentel|first1=Joseph|title=Upgrades close several Disney rides|work=[[The Orange County Register]]|date=January 25, 2015|page=Local 2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Glover|first=Erin|title=Grizzly Peak Airfield Now Open at Disney California Adventure Park|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/05/grizzly-peak-airfield-now-open-at-disney-california-adventure-park/|publisher=Disney Parks Blog|accessdate=May 15, 2015|date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>

    Pacific Wharf

    Pacific Wharf
    Pacific Wharf is based on Monterey's Cannery Row area, especially as depicted in John Steinbeck's novels, and also resembles San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. It includes the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, Pacific Wharf Cafe, The Lucky Fortune Cookery Chinese restaurant, Wine Country Trattoria restaurant, Mendocino Wine Bar, Sonoma Terrace, a Karl Strauss beer truck, and a margarita stand. The district also features the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, and the Boudin Bakery's Bakery Tour, touring the sourdough bread-making process, featuring a video of Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie explaining the history of the bread. The area is home to the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar, which opened in October 2008.

    Hollywood Land

    Hollywood Land
    Main article: Hollywood Land
    Hollywood Land, is an area inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s.<ref name=ocr20120527>{{cite news|last=Tully|first=Sarah|title=Disney park begins new, edgy night-time party|url=http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2012/05/27/disney-park-begins-new-edgy-nighttime-party/113289/|accessdate=June 13, 2012|newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]]|date=May 27, 2012}}</ref> It includes attractions based on film, television, theater and a subsection called Hollywood Studios which is designed to appear as an active studio back-lot. A variation of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction from Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in 2004 and will be closing in 2017 to be replaced with Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! The Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! attraction is also featured in the district, based on the characters from Disney·Pixar's Monsters, Inc.. The 2000-seat Hyperion Theater located in the center of Hollywood Land currently presents Frozen – Live at the Hyperion. Disney Junior: Live on Stage opened on March 25, 2011, and currently features Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. The restroom facilities in the district are designed in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright's Storer House, located in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles. The stamped concrete structure is typical of Wright's pioneering design.

    A Bug's Land

    Flik's Flyers in A Bug's Land
    Main article: A Bug's Land
    A Bug's Land is seen from the point of view of Flik, the inventor ant from the Disney·Pixar film A Bug's Life, where oversized human items are scattered throughout. It features Flik's Fun Fair (a collection of themed, family and child-friendly attractions such as Flik's Flyers, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Tuck & Roll's Drive 'em Buggies, Heimlich's Chew Chew Train, and Dot's Puddle Park) and It's Tough to Be a Bug!, a 3D film based on A Bug's Life. It opened as the park's first expansion in 2002 to expand the park's family-friendly attractions.

    Cars Land

    Cars Land
    Main article: Cars Land
    Cars Land spans 12 acres (49,000 m2) and contains three attractions. The largest attraction, Radiator Springs Racers, is a dark ride that utilizes the technology of Epcot's Test Track. Based on Pixar's Cars films, the ride begins with a scenic drive through the mountains then enters the show building where the vehicle finds its way into the town of radiator springs and gets a race briefing from Lightning McQueen and ends with an outdoor side-by-side dueling race to the Comfy Caverns Motor Court. With a budget at an estimated US$200 million, it is the most expensive theme park ride ever built.<ref name="latimes962">{{cite news|url= http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=962|title= Disney Cars ride: thrills, sticker shock.|accessdate= November 21, 2007 | work=The Los Angeles Times|first=Christopher|last=Reynolds}}</ref> The other attractions at Cars Land are family attractions with smaller height requirements: Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, and Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters. Mater's Junkyard Jamboree opened with Cars Land in 2012. Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters opened on March 7, 2016 and replaced Luigi's Flying Tires.<ref>{{cite web|last=Glover|first=Erin|title=Luigi’s Flying Tires to Become All-New Experience at Disney California Adventure Park|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/02/luigis-flying-tires-to-become-all-new-experience-at-disney-california-adventure-park/|publisher=Disney Parks Blog|accessdate=February 16, 2015|date=February 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Glover|first=Erin|title=First Look: Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters Rolling into Disney California Adventure Park|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/07/first-look-luigis-rollickin-roadsters-rolling-into-disney-california-adventure-park/|publisher=Disney Parks Blog|accessdate=July 30, 2015|date=July 27, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Glover|first=Erin|title=Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters to Open March 7 at Disney California Adventure Park|url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/02/luigis-rollickin-roadsters-to-open-march-7-at-disney-california-adventure-park/|publisher=Disney Parks Blog|accessdate=February 25, 2016|date=February 25, 2016}}</ref> Cars Land is designed as a life-size model and near exact replica of Radiator Springs and several dining and shopping venues. The district serves as a connection between Pacific Wharf and Hollywood Land, eliminating the dead end at the foot of the Tower of Terror attraction. Construction began in July 2009 and opened to the public on June 15, 2012.<ref name="Disney announces Cars Land opening time" />

    Live entertainment

    Many Disney characters are found throughout the park, greeting visitors and posing for photos. Some have specific areas where they are scheduled to appear, but can be found wandering as well. World of Color is a nighttime show, designed by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment. It has more than 1200 fountains and includes lasers, lights, and fire with high-definition projections on mist screens similar to the ones used in Fantasmic! at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. Pixar Play Parade is a parade featuring floats and characters based on the Disney·Pixar films Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, Toy Story and Cars. The parade originally had an additional section featuring characters from Ratatouille but was removed. On warm days, the floats shoot out jets of water into the crowd of spectators. The music used in the parade is derived from Hong Kong Disneyland's Mickey's WaterWorks Parade, sharing the same tunes. Due to the massive construction in the park, the parade was on hiatus since January 2011 and returned in June 2012. The Red Car News Boys musical group is found at Carthay Circle. They appear via Red Car Trolley and inform guests about local news happenings in-song. A Hollywood newcomer, Mickey Mouse, arrives and is motivated by the newsgroup to pursue his dream of seeking a career in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|last=Glover|first=Erin|title=Mickey Mouse, the Red Car News Boys and 'A Suitcase and a Dream' at Disney California Adventure Park|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/06/mickey-mouse-the-red-car-news-boys-and-a-suitcase-and-a-dream-at-disney-california-adventure-park/|publisher=Disney Parks Blog|accessdate=June 29, 2012}}</ref> The performance is partly inspired by the 1992 film, Newsies. The Five & Dime swing band consists of five male musicians and one female singer. They perform in the cross-hairs of Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land.

    Former entertainment

    • Eureka! (Parade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yesterland.com/eureka.html |title=Eureka! at Yesterland |publisher=Yesterland |date= |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref>
    • Disney's Electrical Parade<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2010/02/11/electrical-parade-exits-dca.aspx |title=Electrical Parade" unplugged, sent back East as DCA preps for "Disney's World of Color" |publisher=Jim Hill Media |date=February 11, 2010 |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref>
    • ElecTRONica
    • Mad T Party

    Annual Events

    • The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, inaugurated in 2006, and revived in 2016 after a five year hiatus, is an annual festival celebrating the cuisine, wine, and beer of California, taking place during spring.
    • Disney Festival of Holidays is a festival inspired by cultural traditions, taking place in winter.<ref>{{cite news |last=Luna |first=Nancy |date=2016-11-22 |title=16 best food, drinks to try at Disney California Adventure's new Festival of Holidays |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/food-736246-find-stand.html |newspaper=Orange County Register |access-date=2016-11-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disney-california-adventure/festival-of-holidays/ |title=Disney Festival of Holidays |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=<!-- No date specified --> |website=Disneyland Resort official website |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |access-date=2016-11-23}}</ref>

    Attendance

    2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
    title=2001 Theme Park Attendance|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=304|publisher=Theme Park Insider|accessdate=February 6, 2014|year=2001}}</ref> title=2002 Theme Park Attendance|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=882|publisher=Theme Park Insider|accessdate=February 6, 2014|year=2002}}</ref> title=2003 Attendance Figures|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1427|publisher=Theme Park Insider|accessdate=February 6, 2014|year=2003}}</ref> title=2004 Theme Park Attendance Estimates Announced|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1921|publisher=Theme Park Insider|accessdate=February 6, 2014|year=2004}}</ref> title=Disney slams Universal in 2005 theme park attendance|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200512/2/|publisher=Theme Park Insider|accessdate=February 6, 2014|year=2005}}</ref> title=TEA/AECOM 2006 Global Attractions Report|url=http://waterparks.org/otherArticles/TEAERAattendance_report2006.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=February 6, 2014|year=2006}}</ref> title=TEA/AECOM 2007 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_29_601512_140617.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=February 6, 2014|year=2007}}</ref> title=TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.org.id.tue.nl/ifip-tc14/documents/TEAreportThemeparks-2008.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=November 20, 2012|year=2008}}</ref> title=TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=November 20, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602032710/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf|archivedate=June 2, 2010|year=2009}}</ref> title=TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=November 20, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719072840/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf|archivedate=July 19, 2011|year=2010}}</ref>
    2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Worldwide rank
    url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=November 20, 2012|year=2011|title=TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report}}</ref> title=TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/sites/default/files/misc/files/2012_theme_index_05052013.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=June 13, 2013|year=2013}}</ref> title=TEA/AECOM 2014 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.com/.../files/TEA_103_49736_150603.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=June 8, 2015|year=2015}}</ref> 8,769,000<ref name="2014 attendance"/> 9,383,000 <ref name="2015 attendance">"TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
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