February 2001 – September 2008
LOCATION
Paradise Pier – Golden Dreams played in a large theater on the waterfront of Paradise Pier. Today, this space has been transformed into an aquarium, which houses The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.
BACKGROUND
When Imagineers began designing a park celebrating California, they wanted to include an attraction that told a sensationalized version of California’s history. They found the perfect spot in Paradise Pier, along the waters of Paradise Bay. The theater’s exterior featured a massive mural, depicting characters from the film, most notably Queen Califia, played by Whoopi Goldberg. Golden Dreams debuted on Opening Day in 2001, and played for audiences daily until 2008.
EXPERIENCE
Golden Dreams began with a unique special effect: the art deco goddess statues “came to life”, projecting Whoopi Goldberg’s face. She introduced herself as Califia, the Queen of California, also known as the spirit that lives within the state.
The film covered California’s history, dating back to the Chumash tribe settlements. Califia appeared throughout the film (in disguise), offering guidance and encouragement to Californians in every era. Periods depicted in the film included:
- Chumash tribe settlements
- Spanish missionaries
- Railroad construction
- California Gold Rush
- Japanese immigration
- Great Depression
- World War II
- 50s expansion – interstates, amusement parks, suburbs
- 60s Counterculture
- 80s & 90s tech boom
After traveling through time, the film ended with a montage of notable Californians and historical events (much like the end of The American Adventure in Epcot). Califia ends the show, celebrating the imaginative spirit of California before disappearing back into the statue.
CLOSURE
Golden Dreams never captured the imaginations of audiences. Most visitors to the park did see the show at some point, but almost never more than a handful of times. In fact, showings typically played to a virtually empty theater, even during the busy season. So when the park’s major overhaul began in the late 2000s, the show unsurprisingly drew its final curtain. The large theater came down in 2009 and the space reopened as The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure just a few years later.
TRIVIA
Rumor has it the original show was supposed to feature animatronics, much like The American Adventure in Epcot. Sadly, budget constraints meant the show became a standard short film, but statues did come to life at the beginning of the show.
Recognize the entryway to the theater? It was modeled after the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco!
Golden Dreams featured an original song, “Just One Dream”, written by Agnieszka Holland. Heather Headley, the voice of Nala in the Broadway version of the Lion King, performed the song for the show.
I respectfully disagree to the show not being engaging. Golden Dreams is probably the only opening day attraction my mom and I miss, and we’d LOVE to have a copy of the film. That being said, I can see how the film meant more to us since our family has lived in California for five generations. Someone from Wisconsin might not find the film quite as moving, or something they want to watch at Disneyland.
The entryway is actually not modeled after the Palace of Fine Arts, but the rotunda in front of the “palace” which is the warehouse behind it. Keep in mind it was built for the Panama Pacific International Exposition, so all of the “palaces” were huge exhibition halls dedicated to things like transportation, education and social economy, agriculture all within a large, themed park with beautiful gardens and many rides and attractions. Remind you of anywhere? 😉
I’m so glad to hear that there are visitors out there who loved the film! I wish Disney would keep experimenting with these non-branded attractions mixed in with the characters we know and love; that’s what makes the park so unique. And I’m actually surprised they’ve never released films like this or some of the old Tomorrowland reels in any capacity before. I’m sure nostalgic fans would eat them up, and you can’t make the argument that you can just go see them in the parks!
I never thought about the connection between the Palace of Fine Arts’s original purpose and its parallel to Disneyland’s. Thanks for pointing that out – I find that so interesting!
I recall the only draw of this show being Whoopi. The show itself was really not engaging, but man who doesn’t love Whoopi.