California Adventure Theme Park

What Happened To The Parking Lot?

Visitors familiar with Disneyland but who haven’t been there since the new park opened may notice that they are very cramped for space. Located off of a busy Southern California freeway, the Disneyland Resort is surrounded by hotels, shops, and traffic. So when rumors began to fly that a new park was being built, many Disneyland fans asked themselves one logical question - "where?"

Disney’s California Adventure was built on the land which was once Disneyland's parking lot. All cars were now routed into a towering parking structure, and the former lot was now a sparkling conglomeration of rides and attractions all symbolizing different aspects of California.

The "Lands" in Disney's California Adventure Theme Park

Much like Disneyland with its divided districts called "lands," California Adventure enjoys the same sort of organization. Instead of being based upon various childhood visions and ambitions, this park is divided by the different regions of California, including the Bay Area, Paradise Pier, Hollywood, and more.

Bug's Land

A Bug's Land

If you have little ones, you will definitely want to head to A Bug's Land in California Adventure. This charming land modeled after the world in the movie A Bug's Life includes a "Chew-Chew" Caterpillar Train, bumper cars and several other tyke-sized thrills. Watch for shows with your favorite bugs, or if you are feeling brave head to the 3-D bug movie. On hot days, enjoy splashing in the water fountains.

Bay Area

With Victorian San Francisco houses, a restaurant featuring clam chowder in a bread bowl, and even a scaled down Golden Gate Bridge for the monorail, the Bay Area section of California Adventure holds the charm of its authentic Northern California town counterpart.

Paradise Pier

Designed to replicate a traditional beachfront boardwalk such as that found in Santa Cruz, this area of the park boasts the most rides and some great thrills. California Screamin', a roller coaster that launches you to 60 miles per hour in three seconds is a favorite of many. Complete with giant Mickey Mouse ears, this roller coaster is considered by some to be one of the most thrilling rides of the Disneyland Resort.

Golden State

Nature lovers will enjoy this area of the park that focuses on the great outdoors. Everything from white water rafting to wine tasting is available here, making it a particular favorite with young adults. This land is also home to the Grand Californian Hotel, the most impressive of the hotels at Disneyland.

Hollywood Pictures Backlot

Discover some of Disney's movie making magic here and even draw your own character with the guidance of a real animator. This area is also where you will find Tower of Terror, by far the Disneyland Resort's most heart-pounding ride. If you always wanted to run with the stars, now is your chance, as there is plenty of glamour and excitement in California Adventure's scaled down version of Hollywood.

Early Issues

The California Adventure theme park did not open to positive reviews. Having been advertised as an "adult" Disneyland, the rides were too thrilling and fast paced for those coming to Disneyland with their children. Others thought the theme to be unimaginative and not appealing to native Californians, which make up a large portion of the resort's visitors.

The opening ticket price was also steep (identical to Disneyland's) for a park that had few rides at its opening and was lacking that Disney "magic" that kept people coming to Disneyland in droves.

However, people complained and Disney listened. Disneyland's little sister across the way is now thriving, with additions of the aforementioned thrill rides and more kid friendly attractions. Mickey comes over to visit too, hitting that right combination of childhood magic and entertainment that keeps young and old smiling for more.