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…
February 2001 – January 2018 LOCATION Paradise Pier – Cross the bridge to the right of Pacific Wharf, and follow the main path along the bay – you’d see the entrance to California Screamin’ on your left, just before the King Triton Carousel. BACKGROUND When Imagineers were planning the boardwalk, a roller coaster was a […] Read more…
February 2001 – January 2018 BACKGROUND When California Adventure was first conceptualized, Imagineers envisioned a pier similar to those found all over the coast of California. Originally, Paradise Pier resembled a seaside amusement park, but from 2008-2009, Imagineers refurbished and expanded the land. The new theme was reminiscent of a 1920’s Victorian boardwalk, with new […] Read more…
June 2012 – August 2023 BACKGROUND When California Adventure first opened in 2001, Pacific Wharf was technically part of Paradise Pier, although it was very similar to how it appears now. As the park expanded and Paradise Pier was renovated, Pacific Wharf began to take on an identity of its own. By 2007, when California […] Read more…