January 1993 – March 2022 LOCATION Mickey’s Toontown – After crossing under the bridge and into Toontown, guests would follow the main path to the left. You’d find Gadget’s Go Coaster at the end of the main walkway, just after Donald’s Boat. BACKGROUND When Mickey’s Toontown debuted in 1993, Gadget’s Go Coaster was the land’s only operating […] Read more…
ANTICIPATING THE BIG DAY Source: Name Tag Museum Walt Disney began envisioning Disneyland when he visited amusement parks with his daughters in the 1930’s and 40’s. He noticed that those parks catered primarily to children, and imagined a park that would be as entertaining for adults as it would be for their kids. When he […] Read more…
THE RESORT WELCOMES A SECOND PARK In the beginning, Disney used the area now occupied by California Adventure as massive parking space for Disneyland. But as Disney World in Florida grew into multiple parks and became increasingly popular, Disney wanted to repeat this set up in California. So in 1991, Disney announced plans to launch […] Read more…
NEED FOR CHANGE Though California Adventure was a massively anticipated addition to the Disneyland Resort, its initial design and premise did not resonate with guests. The absence of Disney charm and characters combined with the lack of rides for children left guests unimpressed and disinterested in leaving the Disneyland section of the resort. After a […] Read more…
Source July 1967 – August 1995 LOCATION Tomorrowland – When entering from Main Street USA, guests would find the PeopleMover in the center, just beyond the Astro Orbitor. BACKGROUND When Tomorrowland was reintroduced as “New Tomorrowland” in 1967, the PeopleMover arrived as one of the brand new headliner rides. The ride, which transported guests around […] Read more…
October 2002 – September 2018 BACKGROUND When California Adventure opened in 2001, the area in the park now occupied by A Bug’s Land was part of the “Golden State” region of the park. The theater, which showed It’s Tough To Be A Bug! was the only A Bug’s Life themed attraction in the park, and […] Read more…
October 2002 – present LOCATION A Bug’s Land – When entering from Hollywood Land, you would find the puddle park in the rear, toward the Route 66 entrance to Cars Land. If you arrived through the main entrance to A Bug’s Land, you’d see the Puddle Park straight ahead, across from Flik’s Flyers. BACKGROUND In […] Read more…
Source: Disney By Mark August 1961 – August 1966 LOCATION Tomorrowland – When entering from Main Street USA, guests following the main path would find the Flying Saucers on the right, just beyond the giant rocket. BACKGROUND For the first few years, Tomorrowland didn’t have a major headline attraction. But in 1961, the Flying Saucers […] Read more…
Source: Theme Park Insider February 2001 – September 2010 LOCATION Paradise Pier – If you followed the main path to the rear of Paradise Pier, on the far side of the bay, you would find the Maliboomer on the right, just beyond the entrance to California Screamin’. BACKGROUND The Maliboomer was inspired by “test your […] Read more…
Source: Theme Park Review February 2001 – March 2009 LOCATION Paradise Pier – Follow the main path with the water on your left, and you’d see the Orange Stinger straight in front of you, just before the entrance to Mickey’s Fun Wheel. BACKGROUND The Orange Stinger was one of the first rides installed and opened […] Read more…
June 1986 – February 1996, April 2009 – January 2016 LOCATION Frontierland – When entering from New Orleans Square, guests would follow the path along the Rivers of America, toward Fantasyland. They would find Big Thunder Ranch just after Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. BACKGROUND Big Thunder Ranch was the best post 70’s representation of Frontierland’s original […] Read more…
February 2001 – June 2016 LOCATION Grizzly Peak – When entering from Buena Vista Street, you would see Soarin’ Over California on the right, just past the restaurant patio. The current version of this attraction is Soarin’ Over the World, located in the same spot. BACKGROUND Soarin’ has been on Imagineering’s radar since 1996. The original […] Read more…
May 2004 – January 2017 LOCATION Hollywood Land – When entering from Buena Vista Street, guests followed the main path past the Hyperion Theater. They saw the Tower of Terror at the end of the street, looming over the rest of California Adventure. BACKGROUND Based on the television series The Twilight Zone, the Tower of Terror […] Read more…
June 2012 – March 2015 BACKGROUND Before California Adventure’s major expansion and refurbishment, the park had a huge land known as “Golden State”. But when the park’s transformation was complete, Golden State broke off into three separate lands: Grizzly Peak, Pacific Wharf, and Condor Flats. Based on the mid 20th century Mojave Desert, Condor Flats […] Read more…