August 2023 – present BACKGROUND Since California Adventure’s debut in 2001, the restaurant hub of the park has had many names. Paradise Pier, Pacific Wharf, and now, San Fransokyo. In the first two versions, this space resembled Monterey, specifically Cannery Row. It was the only land primarily focused on dining options vs. headliner attractions within […] Read more…
BACKGROUND The first hint of a Marvel-themed area arriving at the Disneyland Resort came in 2017, when the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror transformed into Mission: BREAKOUT!. At the time, this building sat in Hollywood Land, and soon, superheroes began making meet and greet appearances in the area. But given the massive success and overwhelming […] Read more…
June 2018 – present BACKGROUND In both Disneyland and California Adventure, Pixar never really had its “home”. Sure, the Toy Story gang wandered Paradise Pier, the Cars cast owned Cars Land, and Nemo and friends swam in the Tomorrowland lagoon, among others. But compared to Disney animation features, Pixar was significantly underrepresented at the Disneyland […] Read more…
January 2018 – present BACKGROUND California Adventure proudly debuted its largest land, Paradise Pier, on opening day in 2001. Over time, the land went through an extensive refurbishment, becoming a Victorian beachside playground. In 2017, Disney announced plans to split Paradise Pier into two new lands. The first, Pixar Pier, would encompass the southern section […] Read more…
June 2012 – present BACKGROUND When California Adventure first opened in 2001, Grizzly Peak was the heart of a larger land, called “Golden State”. But in 2012, the park underwent a major expansion and overhaul, and this land split into several smaller lands, including Grizzly Peak. Today, the peak is still the centermost land in […] Read more…
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, […] Read more…
June 2012 – present BACKGROUND When California Adventure was first built, Imagineers left space for future expansions and new lands. Over time, parts of Hollywood Land and A Bug’s Land grew into this area, but the majority of it was used as a parking lot for the resort. But in 2006, after the release of […] Read more…
February 2001 – present BACKGROUND Hollywood Land was originally dubbed “Hollywood Pictures Backlot” and was much more focused on filmmaking and iconic Disney movies. The entrance originally featured a prominent studio gate, and there were no major attractions or headline rides in the land. When California Adventure began its expansion and renovation, the Hollywood area […] Read more…