OPD's First Trip to
Disney's California Adventure
A few day's ago I returned from my first trip to the all new Disneyland Resort. I spent little time on this quick trip at Downtown Disney and Disneyland but spent a entire day at Disney's California Adventure. This park has been a large part of my life for the past year or two. As I have worked on this page and talked with many people with very different views I have always hoped for the best at Disney's California Adventure but have been worried it would not live up to any standard I set in my mind. Even today I was reading over many email's from another Disney website talking about how poor the new park was built and how so many families are stopping there yearly trip because of how horrible it is. To those people I say this. You will be making a mistake if you do not visit this truly magical park. Now that is my belief and let me tell you why I feel that way....
As we unloaded from the Mickey and Friends tram the excitement was in the air. I couldn't help but run to the from gates. As the beautiful Postcard entrance "Hit" me I knew there was something special about this park. The Sunshine Plaza was wonderful and the music made it that much better. I headed off to Soarin to get my Fastpass. Slowly the music from Sunshine Plaza faded away and the ground below my feet was no longer smooth. A wonderful theme change. When I returned to Soarin I basically walked on. As the light's dimmed and we began to float up I new this ride was something special. I was worried after hearing some things about how the ride isn't that great, I dare to say it was my favorite ride. It is pure Disney Magic!
I began to head through the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area. To all those who have told me DCA is not a theme park I began to shake my head as I saw layers of detail all over this area. Grizzly River Run is another great ride. I thought this one might be my favorite. It's great but not my favorite. Very fun and very wet. The Redwood Creek Challenge was a lot of fun also. Yet another beautiful area.
Bountiful Valley Farms was a nice little treat, the only real ride there was "It's Tough to be a Bug". I loved the show, as for the rest of the area. It was fun to walk in and smell real lemon trees. A nice area but lacked the fun, excitement and adventure that I felt in all the other areas.
The next was Paradise Pier, the area that only a year earlier I had said "I hope they cut it.. Never even open it". But I quickly feel in love. California Screamin Wonderful!!! Maliboomer way fun, King Tritons Carasal beautiful, Sun Wheel and Orange Stinger very fun yet they don't let them run long enough, there was no lines and yet on both we had a very, very short ride. I overheard many guest who felt the same way. The thing that you need to remember as you go into Paradise Pier is that the theme is a beachfront amusement park. They have done a great job, and at night the entire place really comes to life, so many lights.
Finally I took a trip to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. This area was really neat. Muppet's Vision 3-D to me at least seemed very "Slow" and the story didn't go anywhere and due to the fact that compared to Bug's Life and Honey I Shrunk the Audience this show has no "Great" effects I didn't like it that much. Animation was very magical and I wish I could have spent more time there. Superstar Limo.. The first time I went on it I was shaking my head about how stupid it was.. But as I walked off I began to laugh about it so my friends and I decided to go back to see all the stars and then we rode it again. We wanted to go on it 4 times but some people in our group said they had enough. So what do I think of it? I was laughing my head off the entire time. The thing is there is no point to a lot of the stuff in that ride so it makes it that much more funny!
(I wish you could buy the picture they show at the end).
In closing were does this park really shine? I think this park has some true Eye Candy in it. Everything seems picture perfect. Also every shop we went into was wonderfully well done, same with the restaurants. And I love how much merchandise was park specific. The music in this park is WONDERFUL!!! I like how it is louder then Disneyland's music, it really sets the mood. Once again this park has so much Eye Candy!!!
What is weak? I found a full day of Fun at DCA but many of my friends felt it was a half day park. When you look at DCA and Disneyland side by side you see how much more Disneyland has. The Paradise Pier Hotel and Grand Californian are great backdrops but other area Hotels and buildings aren't. Also the slow ride times on several rides in Paradise Pier leave you wanting a lot more. The biggest thing is not enough rides.
I feel in a few years all of these things will be fixed (Or at least be better). I had a truly Magical Time at Disney's California Adventure and can't wait to go back. To all those who say "Im not going there because of what I've heard" just try it! But be careful you just might have a great time, forget all of life's troubles and have a true Adventure.