June 2012 – present
BACKGROUND
The original entrance to California Adventure was not Buena Vista Street, but a central walkway called Sunshine Plaza. But the plaza was largely empty, had no unified theme, and was often overlooked by park guests, so when California Adventure went through its major refurbishment, this area was completely redone. Today, guests enter California Adventure through Buena Vista Street, the park’s equivalent to Disneyland’s Main Street USA.
Buena Vista Street is a snapshot of 1920’s Los Angeles, where Walt Disney began the Walt Disney Corporation. Observant visitors will notice tons of references to old Hollywood Landmarks, including the Hyperion Bridge and Carthay Circle. Guests of all ages enjoy the restaurants, entertainment, and characters they find in Buena Vista Street, making this area one of California Adventure’s liveliest lands.
THE EXPERIENCE
Guests arriving on Buena Vista Street experience an overwhelming variety of sights, smells, and sounds. Tons of vendors align the sides of the street, offering all kinds of snacks and drinks, and the different trolleys and cars usually provide live entertainment. Buena Vista Street has a number of restaurants, lounges, shops, and cool window displays that give guests a taste of the past. Whether you’re breezing through on your way to another land or just exploring at a leisurely pace, something on this bustling street will undoubtedly catch your eye.
CHARACTERS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER
- Jazz Band/performers
- Red Car Trolley Newsies
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Donald
- Daisy
- Goofy
- Pluto
- Chip
- Dale
ATTRACTIONS
DINING
- Carthay Circle Lounge & Restaurant
- Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream
- Fiddler, Fifer, & Practical Cafe
SHOPS
- Atwater Ink & Paint
- Big Top Toys
- Elias & Co.
- Julius Katz & Sons
- Kingswell Camera Shop
- Oswald’s Tires
- Trolley Treats
TRIVIA
The Carthay Circle Restaurant is modeled after the Carthay Circle Theater, where Snow White and the Seven Dwarves premiered in 1937.
Sunshine Plaza, Buena Vista Street’s predecessor, was supposed to make guests feel like they were inside a postcard. This concept didn’t really resonate with guests, so Imagineers designed Buena Vista Street to be a more cohesive land with a specific theme.
TOURING TIPS
Like Main Street USA, Buena Vista Street is most crowded during park open, park close, and when the Pixar Play Parade passes through. Since there aren’t many attractions within Buena Vista Street, your best bet is to check out the shops and restaurants during breaks. If you have some time between fast passes, or if you need to relax between coasters, this land is a great place to unwind.
Pro tip: make sure to stop and check out Buena Vista Street as you leave the park; it’s very pretty at night!
