Disney California Adventure Review: Hollywood Superstar or Superstar Limo?
The Bad
Most commentators are really high on Disney California Adventure right now, myself included. The park truly is on the precipice of greatness, and although it is stealing the spotlight from the park across the Esplanade for the moment, at some point Disney California Adventure will come back to reality if Disney doesn’t continue to show it attention. Disney California Adventure’s expansion was initially intended to be a two phase project, and although we haven’t heard a whisper about Phase 2 for a while (meaning that it is probably contingent upon the success of Phase I, has been canned completely, or has been displaced in favor of other expansion at Disneyland), further growth and changes at Disney California Adventure are necessary for it to truly be a great theme park even close to comparable to its cousin that also opened in 2001, the highly-praised Tokyo DisneySea.
Given the time I’m going to spend fixating on the areas of Disney California Adventure that have room for improvement, it might be seen as me throwing a wet blanket on the fire around which everyone else is partying. My points should not be viewed as such at all–Disney California Adventure is now an excellent theme park, and the improvements Disney has made to Disneyland Resort’s second gate cannot be overstated. That said, these issues do add up and knock down the quality of the park as a whole just a bit. Here are my qualms with Disney California Adventure, and areas that could benefit from immediate fixes or another long-term “expansion.”
Starting with the newest area of the park, while largely excellent, Buena Vista Street feels just a bit flat in some places. Nighttime lighting is very subdued, interior props aren’t quite as rich and varied as you’d find on Main Street USA, some signage is underwhelming and bland, and the land overall feels almost like a 2012 reproduction of 1920s Los Angeles, rather than an authentic 1920s-era Los Angeles street. Although this list is long, the complaints on it are very insignificant and something most guests won’t notice. In most parts of Buena Vista Street these criticisms aren’t even valid–there are just some spots where things don’t feel quite as rich as they should (and perhaps Disney isn’t done plussing Buena Vista Street). Most people who ever set foot in Sunshine Plaza won’t notice this, they will simply be blown away by how much better Buena Vista Street looks than its predecessor!
Condor Flats is another land that has minor rather than glaring flaws. Changes made during the course of Project Sparkle worked to remove the “layer of 90s” that was added on top of Condor Flats’ run-down buildings from the golden age of aviation. There still is plenty to be done in this regard, and Condor Flats would be its strongest if it simply represented that timeless, golden age of aviation in California. A land devoted to the golden age of aviation in a park about California makes a lot of sense, and is probably one of the strongest lands in Disney California Adventure. Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot of space for Condor Flats to grow, so improving the aesthetics is about the best that can be done here.
Grizzly Peak is another area that is largely good, save for some remnants of the 90s extreme sports theming. Similar to Condor Flats, I think the best course of action here is to continue giving Grizzly Peak a timeless appearance in line with a 1950s National Park. Most of the scenery in this land is already beautiful, so it’s just a matter of fleshing out the attraction lineup. While I think the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is an incredibly well-done play area, it has a rather large footprint that probably could be better used on a new attraction. What, exactly, I’m unsure, but I’d love to see a well-done family dark ride allowing guests to board a 1955 Pontiac Station Wagon and drive through vignettes of places inspired by California’s National Parks (while offering enough of a ‘hook’ to differentiate the attraction from what Californians could experience by visiting the real things).
Although Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak, and Pacific Wharf are the only three sub-lands (now lands) that remain of the original Golden State area in Disney California Adventure, there are several orphaned remnants of the original sub-lands that are ostensibly in other lands, but are actually in no man’s land. The Golden Vine Winery (including Blue Sky Cellar) and San Francisco Street are the biggest offenders, and as currently themed, don’t fit in any of the existing lands. There really is no logical way to retheme and shoehorn these areas into an existing land (unless Pacific Wharf is rethought and expanded, the most logical fit would seem to be Grizzly Peak, but that would make for a jarring transition between lands). Larger problems exist elsewhere, so giving these orphaned areas a temporary pass might be the best course of action.
The largest problems linger in Paradise Pier. Thanks to a number of changes, no longer can critics point to Paradise Pier with disdain as the land that exemplifies how Disney aimed low for Disney California Adventure. That said, Paradise Pier still features an off-the-shelf wild mouse ride in Goofy’s Sky School; thanks to its sky blue color it’s no longer as much of an eyesore as it once was, but it still doesn’t make sense thematically (a chicken farm on a pier?) and is a glaring example of how Disney originally built the park on the cheap in 2001. Continuing around that side of Paradise Pier, the new dining area is much nicer than its predecessors, but once you get past the elegant look of the buildings and the lush seating area, one wonders what distinguishes it from a nice food court at any local mall? It doesn’t have any character (not to be confused with Disney characters) or thematic richness. It’s just simply a nice place to eat with enjoyable live entertainment and pretty popcorn lights at night. It’s hardly a glaring problem, but overall, it’s bland.
Whereas the Maliboomer was an eyesore from anywhere in the park, at least the former sight of the Maliboomer (now a “park”) is only an eyesore in its immediate area. Disney didn’t even bother removing the original queue and base of the Maliboomer, but opted to simply throw some shrubs and benches in the area, and call it a day. This has led fans to speculate that Disney didn’t want to do much here, because there will be future expansion in this area. Regardless of what might or might not happen here in the long term, more should have been done in the short term, as it is clear to even the casual guest that something was abandoned in this location. A new attraction here would be ideal, and would help draw crowds deeper into the park.
Other portions of Paradise Pier, including all of the shops in this area, which (wisely) had their signs replaced with signs that are (unwisely) overly-bland, and the unthemed queue of California Screamin’ are also begging for attention. Paradise Pier has exponentially improved from 2001 when it was a land of giant flying cheeseburgers and sunglasses-wearing dinosaurs, but it still lacks that inarticulable quality that makes the lands found in Disneyland special.
Hollywood Land is the other big offender, and its another land that sure has improved substantially since the days of Superstar Limo. Adjacent Buena Vista Street makes Hollywood Land look better as the latter transitions into the former, but the period-perfect theming of Buena Vista Street also accentuates the facades and signs in Hollywood Land that don’t fit. The issues here are as simple as the signage for Disney Jr. (why not switch it to classical black text theatre marquee, like Carthay Circle Theatre’s?) and Schmoozies, which somewhere escaped the knife when Disney set out to eradicate pun-based restaurants from Disney California Adventure. They’re also greater, including the empty soundstages and “temporary” infrastructure for the dance parties that after three iterations are now undoubtedly permanent. These hugely popular dance parties have a place in the park, but that place should not be on, over, and around existing theming. I can’t even remember when the last time the Sorcerer Mickey fountain was visible. Mid-2010?
The glorified and isolated food court that is Pacific Wharf and the quick-fix ‘a bug’s land’ also present areas for improvement, but their usefulness as a well-themed dining area and a large number of kiddie attractions (albeit it cheap ones) in two relatively small footprints, respectively, earns both areas a pass given that theme park budgets are finite and since there are bigger fish to fry in order to continue making Disney California Adventure a world class theme park.
Conclusion
Overall, Disney California Adventure, as it presently stands, is what Disneyland Resort guests have been waiting on since 2001. The park in its current incarnation is a dramatic improvement upon what opened in 2001, with an impressive slate of attractions, some great theming, and one of the most immersive lands that Disney has ever built. All of these improvements add up to a second gate at Disneyland Resort that should make vacationers planning a Disney vacation give serious thought to not just Walt Disney World, but also Disneyland. The Disneyland Resort is firing on all cylinders right now, and just might be a better overall experience than Walt Disney World. There are some areas that could use improvement, and if Disney chooses to address even some of these issues, Disney California Adventure will cement Disneyland Resort as one of the top theme park destinations in the world.
What do you think of Disney California Adventure 2.0? If you haven’t yet experienced the “new” park, are you planning on visiting soon? Would you now take a trip to Disneyland Resort instead of Walt Disney World? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This has been a horrific experience. The rides were broken, which made the línes at the rides functioning horrible. The incredible’s coaster broke down 3 times, no fast lane for those in line 3 times. The same story for the other rides, where fast passes were going 2 and 3 times, while those on stand by waited 3 hours to go just once. Not a nice place. Never coming back to a Disney property again. Six Flags, Universal, or Bush Gardens have better rides, better service, better experience.
I have been to Disneyland 20 times. The last time for me was 2/25/19-2/27/18. We go in different weeks during the week in the off season once a year. My last experience is my last. I have looked so forward to going and the last 3 years have been an expensive disappointment (Now $179 for adult one day hopper pass). Rides are constantly breaking down, plus rides closed for refurbishment and lands being constructed make it a nightmare to be here. But Disney sees fit to keep raising prices to make us pay for there new attractions and parking garages prior to opening. Because the rides are down the rides still working lines during the winter week are over an hour minimal for about everything (reminder this is considered a slow time). The 2 days were in the parks ride breakdowns included: Indiana Jones 5 times, Thunder Canyon 3 times, Small World shut down for the remainder of the day, Roger Rabbit 2 times, Incredibles Coaster 4 times, Goofy Sky School 3 times and others as well. Closed for refurbishment is Bugs Land, Space Mountain, Critter Country, Bear Rapids, Astro Orbiter and many shops and restaurants just not open. When you are lucky enough for a ride not to break down when you are on it, it constantly stops for long intervals.
Lets get talking about the now $25 to park your car general parking a day. I did the math and the greedy Disney Company with this raise and average parking visitors have made us pay for the new parking structures for Star Wars Land. Prepaid for already by us. Greed at it’s finest.
The food at the parks has gone from questionable to disgusting. We ate at Cafe Orleans. Our food came out in less than a minute. Under warming lights for too long. When you are paying $21 dollars for a sandwich and $8 for a side of fries in a full service restaurant, you shouldn’t have to battle the food poisoning later. Disgusting. Even the iced tea tasted old.
Later, before the nausea set in, we had soup in a bread bowl. Vegetarian Gumbo now tastes like a more nasty version of Campbell’s Vegetable Soup. Had it for years, wasn’t that nasty.
I could not make it through the last day on our passes. I only made it for an hour. The nausea and diarrhea was too much to bare and we headed back to Northern Nevada a day early.
I believe if Walt Disney was alive he would be ashamed of what his dream has turned into. Greed has replaced the Magic of Disney. I am donating all my Disney collectibles and clothing to my local charities. I am that done with anything Disney. Movies, stores and most of all the theme parks. They have made their last money from me, and I do hope others follow suit.
Done! Done! With Disney!
Don’t eat at the Rainforest Cafe there! It’s dirty and we all got e coli disease from the food! And space mountain shut down at the very top again.
I agree with Buena vista Street being a tad too dark at night. I know this would go against the theme & time period of the the area. But I think lining the rooftops with popcorn lights, adding twinkle lights in the trees would add that extra “glow” that is needed.
Tom, I usually am in agreement with you but I can’t belive you gave “a bug’s land” such a free pass! For me, this is one of the things that the park needs to take care of quickly if it ever want to legitimately claim to be about California!
Still like you, I agree there is a lot to be done. Good point about the Mickey fountain in Hollywood Land, there must be a way to throw those nighttime parties without fully compromising the theme of that area during the day… Tomorrowland Terrace has it partially figured out, I would think that “appearing stage/party” concept could be made to work in DCA as well.
Finally, I’m curious as to what you might think about the idea that has ben floated around about merging Condor Flats and Grizzly Peak into one land themed to National Parks? Could this be the fix these two small/single attraction lands need? Soarin’, with its hang-gliding premise, certainly could be made to fit with that theme I think…
If budgets weren’t finite, I’d say that it needs to be addressed. However, the park needs attractions for kids, and taking out ‘a bug’s land’ would require adding 3-4 dark rides elsewhere (or there) so that there’s enough for kids to do. I just don’t see that being a realistic solution right now. I’d rather Disney allocate resources to tackling more manageable problems.
I have heard the idea about merging Condor Flats and Grizzly Peak, but I’m not on board. To me, those are the two lands with the strongest themes in the entire park, so I want to see them both exist as distinct themes.
” It has a terrible hourly capacity (lines regularly exceed 2 hours)…We tested Luigi’s Flying Tires 7 times, riding in separate tires each time… so here’s hoping Disney addresses its issues with capacity.”
Denying 2 able bodied young adults asking for their own tire would be a good first step. As annual pass holders I’m kinda disappointed that you disrespect the rest of the kids trying to ride these rides so much. Respectful but sincere boo.
Each and every one of those 7 rides we took was on the June 13th and June 14th media preview days, and each time, the attraction was a walk-on, so I can’t say I ‘disrespected’ any kids waiting to ride.
That said, numerous people with whom I spoke seemed to have better success piloting the tires by themselves rather than with others. If I were to wait in a 2 hour line for this attraction, I certainly would want to go alone to experience it at its best, rather than do the “polite” thing and go with another person, thereby waiting 2 hours for a mediocre experience. The capacity of the attraction and the maneuverability with one v. two people…those are both Disney’s problems, not guests’ problems. If guests are riding as singles because they get more ‘bang for their buck’ out of the experience by doing that (and I have no idea if others are, just theorizing), Disney needs to fix the ride system so that there’s no incentive to ride alone.
I miss the maliboomer, and no, supreme scream at knotts is *not* the same thing 🙁
I must say i really enjoy reading all your stories BUT most of all i LOVE looking at all the pictures you post!! While back you gave suggestions on taking pictures in the park, suggestions i might add that i have used not just for Disney trips to great feedback. Going forward could you tell us which lens/flash/film any information on how you capture your moments? Below the picture, on the side, anywhere I just want to know because they are Beautiful!!
When can we buy the CarsLand or Buena Vista St. or even better the DCA photo ebook, Tom? Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of it!
Could not disagree with your more about the Paradise Garden area. I love hanging out in the shade over there and really enjoy both of the restaurants and the beer stand over there (with very yummy pretzels). I think the kinetic energy of the Swings and Zephyr add some to this area too (and are no more off the shelf than Dumbo or any number of other “Disney Classics”).
I don’t really disagree with Sky School, though my kids find it fun. Certainly the theming now is a step up from before and far above what you’d find at a typical seaside amusement park or fair.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is so much fun for kids. My kids could spend HOURS in there – even more than they do on Tom Sawyer Island – because of all the tops and ziplines and slides. That needs to stick around, too.
I heard the same thing from someone else on Twitter regarding Paradise Garden, so perhaps I’m being too hard on it. I have nothing against the area (it’s a serious step up over what was there before), but it just doesn’t strike me as a “rich” Disney environment. It’s nice and a great place to relax, it just seems a little plain to me. I recognize that most people disagree with me on that. In any case, it’s hardly my biggest criticism of the park.
As for Zephyr and Silly Symphony Swings, I have nothing against either.
Goofy’s Sky School is definitely an improvement on what was there before, but I still find it lacking. To me it’s different than Zephyr and the Swings if only because it purports to be more (or *could* be more) than a simple pier ride.
Redwood Creek is tough. It takes up a lot of space and Grizzly Peak is lacking on attractions, but it’s great for kids and incredibly well done. I’d like to see something there that everyone can enjoy, but I won’t complain if it sticks around. It’s a nice area, just not one I’d preserve in DLR, where there’s a shortage of space.
First, let me say, I have always enjoyed DCA, right from the beginning. The new CarsLand looks swell, from all the videos I’ve seen of it. The one thing that everybody seems to miss when discussing the lack of attendance in DCA is this: it’s not comfortable. It’s HOT in Anaheim, and there is almost NO shade in DCA. No trees, no little bodies of water at every turn the way there is in Disneyland. People happily spend a 12 hour day in disneyland because they can. There are LOTS of forms of transportation- the train, the monorail, the different types of vehicles that go down main street – to ride on when you get tired. NONE of that exists in DCA- The Red Car Trolley? It goes from the front gate down the closest street. NOTHING goes to where the Maliboomer used to be. After a couple hours at DCA, you look down that wide flat walkway and it’s hot hot hot and so you head back to the front gate to go back to the shade of New Orlean’s Square, or the refreshing freezing air conditioning of Great moments with Mr. Lincoln. I don’t understand, that with ALL the money they spent on DCA why they didn’t line that lake in the middle with trees and benches. Even the que for the Winnie the Pooh ride is more lovelty than ANYTHING in DCA. There is just no reason to hang around there. It’s not a park like Disneyland, it’s just a bunch of rides.
You know why the lake isn’t lined with trees… because then it would ruin the sight-lines for World of Color (just like the lack of trees on the edges of Rivers of America).
Per my other post, I think they’ve done a lot with the Paradise Grill area to add shade, and there are lovely shady places in Grizzly Peak area (including the Challenge Trail), as well as Bugs Land.
I agree, though, that it’s hard to beat the charm of the shady areas of Critter Country. Not so much shade in other areas of DL, such as ToonTown, Tomorrowland, or even Fantasyland. Just sayin…
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how not “just a bunch of rides” BV St. and CarsLand are.
I’m curious as to when the last time you visited DCA was, as I can’t say I agree with much of anything here. I think DCA is plenty lush, has a good amount of water, and has a fair amount of kinetic energy now.
Even before 6/15, I could spend a lot of time at DCA.
I think there are a lot of people out there who will never love DCA because, quite simply, “it’s not Disneyland.” Disney will NEVER have any success pleasing those people no matter what it does to improve DCA.
I’ve got to agree with you Maggie. Although they have done a tremendous amount to make DCA more inviting with Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, the park is still not as inviting as Disneyland.
I still find Paradise Pier to have a lack of Disney level theme and Hollywood and Bugs Land are downright depressing. They built Tower of Terror to address the issue of nothing to do in the park and then watered down the theme of the attraction and ride system to the point that it proved the original notion that the park was built on the cheap.
There’s a huge albatross around the neck of this park and it will likely take them at least 10 to 15 years to undo all the terrible mistakes of the past.
I absolutely think the park is worth another look and is a worthy 2nd gate to Disneyland. But it is still a park in need of major enhancements, likely equal to what they have just done with Buena Vista and Cars Land. Hopefully they are ready to plunk another 1.5 billion or so into the park over the next 5 years – it needs it.
OK, I do like Redwood Creek Challenge (it would be better if the parents could do the activity with their kids), but a dark-ride based on a 1955(nothing wrong with that year)Pontiac Station Wagon?How about starting with “Mickey’s Trailer”(1938), perhaps using the Dwarfs Coaster ride system under construction in WDW? Thanks for all the great shots. Mark
For whatever reason, the 1955 Pontiac Station Wagon resonates with me as being the classic family vacation vehicle. I can picture it rolling through a park, windows down, as some unwitting tourist uses candy to try to lure a bear over to it (probably shouldn’t depict THAT in an attraction, though).
That said, I think your idea presents the perfect ‘hook.’ Use Mickey’s Trailer and its characters in some show scenes as they explore the National Parks. That you wouldn’t be able to see in the real parks!
The only issue I see with this is space. Redwood Creek takes up a fair amount of space, but does it take up as much as a dark ride would?
I strongly disagree about getting rid of Redwood Challenge for a dark ride. I love rides, but kids can’t just sit in lines or on rides all day. They need to be active.
Thus, every park needs one substantial area that is queue-free and kid-powered. My little guy loves the Redwood Challenge area, and as a parent I know that he needs time to run around and be active before getting in line for another ride or show.
Thanks for the thoughtfully-written and well-rounded review. Your appreciation seems well-placed and your criticism just. In answer to some of your questions: yes, I would definitely like to visit the “new” park soon, though financial considerations will likely prohibit that; and, yes, I would definitely consider a visit to the Disneyland Resort instead of a visit to Walt Disney World. In the interest of full disclosure on this last statement, however, I have to sadly admit that I have been to WDW many times, including very soon after its opening, and have not ever been to Disneyland, an egregious sin for a man who is something of a historian of American popular culture.
Your observation that Buena Vista Street feels almost like a 2012 reproduction of 1920s Los Angeles is of much interest to me and is not surprising. It seems like an an appropriate and normal reaction. We sometimes forget that Main Street U.S.A. is not an accurate recreation of an American small town, circa 1900, but is, in the case of Disneyland, a 1950s reproduction of such a town and, in the case of WDW, a late sixties/early seventies reproduction of the same. Both lands tell us less about real Main Streets than they do about the way people in later decades nostalgically imagined those streets to be. In this sense, Main Street is an expression of two time periods: the one it is meant to represent and the one that is imagining that representation. It’s what makes the “historical” places in the parks so utterly fascinating and satisfying: they show us not the true past, but rather the way we prefer to think about the past at a particular point in later time. It also means that imagineering a historical place or time period becomes an especially complex endeavor (though surely a fun one).
You rightly pointed out that Radiator Springs Racers represents the best E-ticket attraction for at least 20 years. It might also be worth pointing out that the two new lands represent the first time that completely new lands with this level of theming and an E-ticket attraction have opened inside an existing park since New Orleans Square with Pirates of the Caribbean was added almost 46 years ago.
That’s enough academic blather for one comment. When all is said and done, both the new lands look really great.
That’s an interesting observation regarding Buena Vista Street and Main Street. I’m not speaking completely about what I’d describe as revisionist history (i.e. an idealized version of the era), but rather from the perspective of materials/quality and aging.
That said, your point still makes sense, and even explains my qualm. It’s probably not as noticeable for me on MSUSA since I didn’t visit Walt Disney World until the 1980s, and didn’t have an eye for detail until the late 1990s. By that time, the land actually had aged, so it didn’t appear “1970s new” when I saw it.