Golden Gate
Originally uploaded by beancounter
California Adventure is a more recent addition to Disney. It's dedicated to two things: the California of misty legend, and the more recent Disney movies and TV show tie-ins.
We visited CA Adventure on our 3rd day, so we were beginning to show signs of ride-fatigue. Otherwise some of us would have checked out the roller coaster and the Ferris wheel. As it is, we were content to walk/ride around and experience a meta-view of the state. We traveled through a movie set, saluted the military/industrial complex, then hit a redwood forest, took a left at the San Francisco Victorians, and ate lunch in a cantina, serenaded by a high school mariachi band.
Between the two parks is a huge expanse of concrete acreage that looks like a no-man's land. To keep people's attention - or maybe to keep them from congregating there for very long - Disney blasts heroic theme music at something like 120 db. So as you're leaving CA Adventure and walking (briskly! briskly!) toward the Disneyland entrance, you feel like Indiana Jones making a daring escape.
It wouldn't surprise me if, ultimately, CA Adventure is formally folded into Disneyland proper, instead of being billed as a separate park. It's great-looking, but not enough of an attraction to stand on its own.
I almost (there's the giveaway) hate to ask, BUT: is there a minature "Disneyland" tucked away inside the CA Adventure, complete with its own very, very tiny "CA Adventure" parked inside the inside? We all know where this is going, so everyone dress accordingly for the Infinite Digression Ride (hint: it's an "E" ticket!).
Posted by: Anthony | July 17, 2008 at 10:12 AM
I would concur: CA is not nearly as interesting (and kind of weirdly themed, at that). "Condor Flats" is one dull-ass "theme area," for example, compared to anything in Disneyland. There's the occasional interesting thing, but mostly I am just "eh."
Last time I went to Disneyland, it was with friends with season passes. We only went into CA around the end of the day (a) for the electrical parade, (b) to uh, not have wasted the "park hopper" pass.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 17, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I've never been to CA Adventure as a stand alone gig; you're right, there isn't enough to do.
The ferris wheel, however, is the scariest ride I have ever, ever been. I burst a blood vessel in my eye after screaming through the 2.5 minutes of the ride (maybe it's longer or shorter, who can tell when you're screaming at the top of your lungs!) It's true!
Posted by: Sue | July 17, 2008 at 03:57 PM
You're kidding! Boy, now I'm sort of glad we skipped it. I love Ferris wheels as a rule. This one had the added element of free-motion cars swiveling on huge oval tracks. I was intrigued, but between the three of us there wasn't enough interest to actually try it out.
Posted by: pam | July 17, 2008 at 04:08 PM