Disney California Adventure

{{short description|Theme park in California}}

{{pp-move}}

{{more citations needed|date=May 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox amusement park

| name = Disney California Adventure

| logo = Disney california adventure logo.svg

| logo_size = 200px

| image = Pixarpiersunset2019 (cropped) (cropped).jpg

| caption = The Pixar Pal-A-Round, the icon of Disney California Adventure Park, pictured in 2019

| location = Disneyland Resort

| location2 = Anaheim, California

| location3 = United States

| coordinates = {{Coord|33.805468|-117.921946|format=dms}}

| mapframe = yes

| theme = Disney’s interpretation of California

| homepage = {{Official website}}

| owner = Disney Experiences
(The Walt Disney Company)

| operator = Disneyland Resort

| opening_date = {{Start date and age|2001|02|8}}

| closing_date =

| season = Year-round

| slogan =

| status = Open

}}

{{Disneyland Resort sidebar}}

Disney California Adventure is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.{{Cite web |title=The 10 Best Attractions at Disney California Adventure |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/travel/disney/the-10-best-attractions-at-disneys-california-adventure |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}} It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. The {{convert|72|acre|adj=on}} park is themed after Disney's interpretation of California, by the use of Disney, Pixar and Marvel properties. The park opened on February 8, 2001, and is the second of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort complex, after Disneyland.{{Cite web |title=Disney California Adventure Park | Disneyland Resort |url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disney-california-adventure/ |access-date=October 3, 2024 |website=disneyland.disney.go.com}}

The concept of a theme park dedicated to California arose from a meeting of Disney executives in 1995, following the cancellation of WestCOT,{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Kevin |date=May 9, 1991 |title=Plan Unveiled for Huge Disneyland Expansion : Parks: WESTCOT Center would adjoin existing site. But company says Long Beach is still in the running. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-09-mn-1954-story.html |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} a planned West Coast version of Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center. Construction of the park began in June 1998 and was completed by early 2001. Disney initially projected high attendance rates at the new park;{{Cite news |last=Reckard |first=E. Scott |date=January 14, 2001 |title=The Most Jam-Packed Theme Park on Earth? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-14-fi-12144-story.html |access-date=April 29, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}} a series of preview openings held in January 2001 led to negative reviews, however, and after the park officially opened to the public, the company's attendance projections were never met. Disney spent the next several years incrementally adding new rides, shows, and attractions, and implementing other promotions aimed at boosting attendance. In 2007, Disney announced a major overhaul of the park consisting of new expansion as well as re-construction of existing areas of the park.{{Cite web |last1=Tully |first1=Sarah |last2=Townsend |first2=Adam |last3=Irving |first3=Doug |date=October 17, 2007 |title=Disney theme park to expand |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2007/10/17/disney-theme-park-to-expand/ |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}} Construction lasted for five years and was completed in stages, culminating with the opening of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land along with the re-dedication of the park in June 2012.{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Brad |date=June 15, 2012 |title=Can Cars Land revive California Adventure? |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-cars-land/index.html |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Disney rededicates its California Adventure theme park |url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201206/3092/ |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=Theme Park Insider}} The most recent addition to the park was San Fransokyo Square, which opened in August 2023.{{Cite web |last=Painter |first=Alysia Gray |date=August 31, 2023 |title=Baymax buffs, San Fransokyo Square is now open at Disney California Adventure |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/the-scene/baymax-buffs-san-fransokyo-square-is-now-open-at-disney-california-adventure/3216610/ |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}

In 2023 the park hosted approximately 10 million guests, making it the 11th-most visited theme park in the world that year.{{Cite web |url = https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:13691780-8574-4346-89a1-7841afe1c597?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover|title = TEA/AECOM 2023 Global Attractions Attendance Report |date = 2024 |access-date = August 16, 2024 }}

History

{{See also|Disneyland Resort#History|List of Disney attractions that were never built}}

=Concept and creation=

The present-day site of Disney California Adventure was acquired by Walt Disney in the 1950s and functioned as the parking lot of Disneyland for over 40 years. After succeeding with the multi-park business model at Walt Disney World resort in Florida, the Disney company decided to turn Walt Disney's original theme park into a multi-park resort complex as well. Disneyland was boxed-in, however, because of the growth of Anaheim around the park; while the Walt Disney World property was 30,000 acres at the time, the Disneyland site was about 400. This consisted of the park itself, the 100-acre parking lot, and the newly acquired Disneyland Hotel and vacation property from the Wrather Corporation. In 1991, Disney announced plans to build WestCOT, a west coast version of what was then known as EPCOT Center, on the site of Disneyland's parking lot. The price tag of the proposed park was high and the company was facing financial and public relation problems with the newly opened Euro Disneyland (now Disneyland Paris).{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/Disneyland-almost-got-an-Epcot-It-got-California-15964301.php|title=How a Disney disaster in Europe robbed California of Westcot, a Disneyland version of Epcot|newspaper=Sfgate |last1=Tremaine |first1=Julie }} Additionally, Disney president Frank Wells died in a helicopter crash in 1994.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/05/obituaries/frank-wells-disney-s-president-is-killed-in-a-copter-crash-at-62.html|title=Frank Wells, Disney's President, Is Killed in a Copter Crash at 62|work=The New York Times |date=April 5, 1994 }} These issues led Disney to cancel WestCOT in 1995.{{cite news|last1=O'Keefe |first1=Matt |title=Disney's Abandoned Plans for a Second EPCOT Will Make You Weep |url=https://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20150810/30473/westcot?page=2 |access-date=November 22, 2017 |work=Theme Park Tourist |date=August 17, 2015 |pages=1, 3 }}

In the summer of 1995, Michael Eisner, Disney's CEO at the time, gathered company executives in Aspen, Colorado, to think of another idea for a second theme park in California. They broke down the Disneyland problem as follows: The majority of the people visiting Disneyland consisted primarily of California residents, locals, or those traveling from nearby states. Those who were visiting from another state or another country, probably had Disneyland as one of the several attractions to do in California. Based on this, Disney decided it would instead build a park themed to California's history and culture to keep guests at the resort instead of going off-site. This would require less expensive hotels, a single parking garage, and very little additional property acquisition, with most of the park residing on the Disneyland parking lot. Then-Disneyland president Paul Pressler relied on merchandising and retail staff instead of Imagineers to design the park. As an adult-oriented park-like Epcot, dining, and shopping were the design focus. Construction of the park began on January 22, 1998. On Main Street, USA in Disneyland, a Disney's California Adventure Preview Center opened in October 1998.{{cite news|last1=Krosnick|first1=Brian|title=How Disney Turned One of its Biggest Failures into a Massive Success in Just Five Years|url=https://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20151212/31106/california-mis-adventure-how-disneylands-second-gate-crashed-burned-and-was?page=1|access-date=November 22, 2017|work=Theme Park Tourist|date=December 15, 2015|page=2}} The park's construction was accompanied by Downtown Disney and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, in addition to renovation of the Disneyland Hotel and the re-theming of the Disneyland Pacific Hotel into Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel (known today as Pixar Place Hotel).{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=Is Disneyland's new Pixar Place Hotel worth $500 a night? |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2024/02/15/is-disneylands-new-pixar-place-hotel-worth-500-a-night/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}

=Opening and initial criticism=

File:California-Adventure-Szmurlo.jpg

File:California Adventure July 4.jpg

The park was expected to draw large crowds when it opened on February 8, 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-14-fi-12144-story.html|title=The Most Jam-Packed Theme Park on Earth?|newspaper=LA Times|first=E. Scott|last=Reckard|date=January 14, 2001}} There were four districts with 22 shows and attractions and 15 restaurants.

On January 14, a Los Angeles Times article stated, "Senior Disney officials acknowledge that there will be days when California Adventure will have to turn patrons away, particularly in the first weeks after the park opens, during spring break and again in the summer." The attendance that year was substantially less than expected, however. This is suggested to have happened as a result of negative reviews from early visitors.{{cite web|url=http://www.mouseplanet.com/archive/update43.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907071755/http://www.mouseplanet.com/archive/update43.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |title=Archived D-I-G Update: 6/25 }} For example, Disney had originally planned the park to be aimed at adults, rather than children and families, which became the basis of significant criticism.{{cite journal|last=Ryan|first=Joan|title=Disney's Latest Theme Park: California Adventure|journal=Via Magazine|date=January–February 2001|url=http://www.viamagazine.com/destinations/disneys-latest-theme-park-california-adventure|access-date=May 24, 2014}}

The park opened to 5 million visitors in 2001 while its sister park Disneyland saw 12.3 million visitors during the same time frame.{{cite news|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/2002/stories/012102_02.shtml|title=Amusement Park Attendance Down Overall Last Year|publisher=Ultimate Roller Coaster|date=January 21, 2002}} Low attendance caused Disney to lower ticket prices for California Adventure, slashing as much as $10 off the park's ticket prices.{{cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-lowers-prices-for-theme-park|title=Disney lowers prices for theme park|publisher=MarketWatch|first=Russ|last=Britt|date=June 21, 2001}} In its first year, the park averaged 5,000 to 9,000 visitors on weekdays and 10,000 to 15,000 on the weekends, despite having a capacity of 33,000. Visitor surveys reported that 20% of visitors to the park in its first year were satisfied with their experience.{{cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/no-gold-rush-for-california-adventure|title=No gold rush for California Adventure?|publisher=MarketWatch|first=Russ|last=Britt|date=April 20, 2001}} By October 2001, both Wolfgang Puck and Robert Mondavi had closed their high-profile restaurants in the park,{{cite news|url=http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2001-10-03/article/7230?headline=Two-restaurants-closing-operations-at-Disney-s-California-Adventure-theme-park--Staff|title=Two restaurants closing operations at Disney's California Adventure theme park|publisher=Berkeley Daily Planet|date=October 3, 2001}} citing low crowds, though Mondavi remained as a sponsor.{{cite news|url=http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Mondavi-Cuts-Role-in-New-Disney-Parks-Wine-Attraction_21031|title=Mondavi Cuts Role in New Disney Park's Wine Attraction|publisher=Wine Spectator|date=October 2, 2001}}

In the 2019 documentary series The Imagineering Story, then-Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive Kevin Rafferty described how he and other Imagineers felt about the original entrance design of California Adventure:

{{blockquote|Much to our chagrin, it didn't adhere to our fundamental design principles of theme park design. There were all these visual cues that were kind of contradictory. There were great big California letters. There was a stylized Golden Gate Bridge that was kind of foreshortened and was kind of fake and suggested that this wasn't a real place, and the supergraphics on the toy store. And the first statement that you saw when you walked into the gate with the sharp sun. And you know, frankly, you could have seen that at a shopping mall in Newport Beach. It's like 'why is it here?'The Imagineering Story, Disney+ (2019). Episode 4: "Hit Or Miss"}}

Reflecting on the park's initial reception in The Imagineering Story, Barry Braverman, executive producer of California Adventure (1995–2001) stated;

{{blockquote|What we really had was locals who love Disneyland for good reason, basically faced with a choice. Are you going to go to Disneyland or to California Adventure? Equally priced. One with one-third as many attractions, and fewer characters, and things that were intentional on our part to differentiate it. And that's a competition that California Adventure couldn't win.The Imagineering Story, Disney+ (2019). Episode 4: "Hit Or Miss"}}

=Early changes and expansions=

Two major criticisms of the park in its first year were the lack of attractions appealing to children and the lack of a nighttime show or parade to keep visitors from leaving at nightfall. Within the first year of operation, Disney's Electrical Parade was brought to the park (where it ran until 2010{{cite news|last=Santino|first=Catherine|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/main-street-electrical-parade-returning-184721396.html|title=The Main Street Electrical Parade Is Returning to Disneyland for a Limited Time|website=yahoo.com|date=July 8, 2019|accessdate=May 12, 2023|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512235659/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/main-street-electrical-parade-returning-184721396.html|url-status=dead}}) as well as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It!, and several of the park's original rides and attractions were closed, such as the stage show Disney's Steps in Time and the Superstar Limo ride, which were closed in 2001 and 2002, respectively. During the 2001 holiday season, Disney's LuminAria was presented on Paradise Bay. In October 2002, Flik's Fun Fair opened as part of the new A Bug's Land area, which added attractions for children, and in May 2004, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened,{{cite news|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Feb/08/bz/bz10a.html|title=Disney park changes theme to attract kids|work=Honolulu Advertiser|first=Gary|last=Gentile|date=February 8, 2002}} with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! closing in August 2004.{{cite news|last=Geryak|first=Cole|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/blogs/disney-extinct-attractions/2018/10/04/disney-extinct-attractions-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-play-it/|title=Disney Extinct Attractions: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It!|website=laughingplace.com|date=October 4, 2018|accessdate=May 7, 2023}} The park also regularly featured seasonal promotions such as concert series, food festivals, and promotions for other Walt Disney Company franchises including the X Games and ABC soap operas. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! opened in the former Superstar Limo building in January 2006.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

=Major redesign and expansion=

{{Quote box|width=23em|bgcolor=white|title=Re-dedication|title_bg=yellow|title_fnt=black|align=right|qalign=center|To all who come to this place of dreams, welcome. Disney California Adventure celebrates the spirit of optimism and the promise of endless opportunities, ignited by the imagination of daring dreamers such as Walt Disney and those like him who forever changed—and was forever changed by—The Golden State. This unique place embraces the richness and diversity of California... Its land, its people, its stories, and, above all, the dreamers it continues to inspire.|Robert A. Iger, June 15, 2012, On the plaque of the flagpole in Buena Vista Plaza on Buena Vista Street}}

By 2007, Disney began making plans for major updates to the park. CEO Bob Iger said, "Any time you do something mediocre with your brand, that's withdrawal. California Adventure was a brand withdrawal." Iger briefly considered combining California Adventure and Disneyland Park into one large park, but the price would have cost as much as completely remodeling California Adventure.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704580304575600134000523928?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_management&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704580304575600134000523928.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_hps_sections_management|title=Disney CEO Turns Slump Into a Springboard | author=Ethan Smith|date=December 8, 2010 |publisher=Wall Street Journal}} On October 17, 2007, the Walt Disney Company announced a multi-year, $1.1 billion redesign and expansion plan for Disney's California Adventure Park (against its initial $600 million cost to build).{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-17-fi-disney17-story.html|title=Disney to fix a major misstep | author=Richard Verrier and Dave Mckibben|date=October 17, 2007 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-disney18oct18,0,1723646,full.story |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090228211212/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-disney18oct18,0,1723646,full.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |title=Disney looks home for renewal | author=Los Angeles Times Staff Writers |date=October 18, 2007 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |quote=The company moves to transform Anaheim's resort district in the image of the popular Walt Disney World. But critics remain skeptical.}} Each district was reimagined to transform the park from a spoof of modern California culture to a romanticized, idealized version of the state, exploring specific time periods and historic settings inspired by Disney and Pixar stories. The project began in December 2007 and was completed in stages. Toy Story Midway Mania! opened in Paradise Pier in June 2008, in space formerly occupied by a store and restaurants. World of Color, nighttime water and lights show on Paradise Bay, opened in June 2010. That same year, the park also received a modified name; Disney California Adventure.{{cite news|last=Geryak|first=Cole|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/blogs/alex-movie-blog/2021/02/08/20-years-of-disney-california-adventure-an-odyssey/|title=20 Years of Disney California Adventure: An Odyssey|website=laughingplace.com|date=February 8, 2021|accessdate=May 12, 2023|quote=Whereas 2009 was a slow year, 2010 was anything but. One of the most interesting changes was the official name of the park going from Disney's California Adventure to Disney California Adventure.}} The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure opened on the site formerly occupied by the Golden Dreams theater in June 2011.{{cite news|last=Stiglic|first=Lisa|url=https://www.mouseplanet.com/12843/Happy_20th_Anniversary_Disney_California_Adventure_Park|title=Happy 20th Anniversary Disney California Adventure Park|website=mouseplanet.com|date=January 28, 2021|accessdate=July 15, 2023}}

File:ToyStoryMania.JPG in Paradise Pier in 2010|left]]

The most drastic changes to the park included a complete overhaul of the main entrance, Sunshine Plaza, and Paradise Pier and an expansion into the last of the parking area originally designated as future growth space for the park. The main entrance and Sunshine Plaza were changed from a giant postcard design into Buena Vista Street, a representation of Los Angeles as it appeared when Walt Disney moved there in the 1920s. The giant "California" letters in front of the turnstiles were removed and donated to Cal Expo in Sacramento. Paradise Pier was turned from a contemporary representation of California boardwalks into a representation of Victorian seaside amusement parks of the 1920s, and some of the area's off-the-shelf rides were either removed outright, (such as Maliboomer), or re-themed to have more of a focus on Disney characters (such as Mickey's Fun Wheel, Goofy's Sky School, and Silly Symphony Swings). Cars Land, an area that recreates Radiator Springs from Pixar's Cars franchise, was added to the southeast portion of the park and features three rides, including the E ticket Radiator Springs Racers. Construction was completed in 2012 and the park was then re-dedicated on June 15, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/12/20/big-changes-coming-to-disney-california-adventure/64914/ |title=Big changes set for Disney California Adventure - Around Disney : The Orange County Register |access-date=December 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223172407/http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/12/20/big-changes-coming-to-disney-california-adventure/64914/ |archive-date=December 23, 2010 }}

File:DCA from Paradise Pier Hotel 2012.jpg

The redesign and expansion of the park saw attendance rates increase dramatically. In 2012, Disney California Adventure reached a record high for the park of over 7 million visitors (a 23% increase from the year before), a number Disney had hoped the park would attain in its first year.{{cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/adventure-511301-california-disney.html |title=Going to California Adventure? More visitors are| author=Sarah Tully |date=June 4, 2013 |work=OC Register}} The day of the park's rededication saw the park draw a record number of 43,000 visitors in one day. The night before the rededication, over 500 people camped outside of the park in order to be the first admitted in. Two days later, the park hit a new record of 45,000 visitors.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jun-19-la-fi-cars-land-20120619-story.html |title=Disney California Adventure attendance breaks record, report says| author=Hugo Martin |date=June 19, 2012 |work=Los Angeles Times}} In 2013, speaking on the attendance increase at Disney California Adventure, Jay Rasulo, then-Disney's chief financial officer, said: "We had a very uneven distribution where most people spent most of their time at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure was empty. Now, half of the folks go to one, half of the folks go to the other. It's almost a dream come true."{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-06-04/disney-s-upgraded-california-theme-park-draws-23-percent-more-visitors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614025547/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-06-04/disney-s-upgraded-california-theme-park-draws-23-percent-more-visitors |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |title=Disney's Upgraded California Park Draws 23% More Visitors (2)| author=Christopher Palmeri |date=June 4, 2013 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek}}

=Subsequent updates=

In 2015, the Condor Flats area of the park was re-themed into Grizzly Peak Airfield and was incorporated into the Grizzly Peak area.{{cite news|last=Selga|first=Guy|url=https://touringplans.com/blog/disney-california-adventures-condor-flats-re-themed-part-grizzly-peak/|title=Disney California Adventure's Condor Flats Is Being Re-themed to be a Part of Grizzly Peak|website=touringplans.com|date=January 8, 2015|accessdate=May 7, 2023}} The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror closed in January 2017 and was replaced with Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, which opened in summer of the same year.{{cite news|url=https://abc7chicago.com/tower-of-terror-closes-guardians-the-galaxy-ride-at-disney-twilight-zone/1508281/|title=Tower of Terror to close for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' ride|website=abc7chicago.com|date=September 12, 2016|accessdate=May 7, 2023}} Pixar Pier, a re-theme of Paradise Pier, debuted in June 2018, with the area that includes Silly Symphony Swings, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Goofy's Sky School, Golden Zephyr and The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure becoming Paradise Gardens Park.{{cite news|last=Sciretta|first=Peter|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/554297/pixar-pier-details/|title=Pixar Pier Details Revealed: Incredicoaster, Inside Out Land, RIP Cove Bar, Opening Date|website=slashfilm.com|date=November 2, 2017|accessdate=May 7, 2023}} In September 2018, A Bug's Land was removed to make room for Avengers Campus. In addition, Jessie's Critter Carousel (a re-theme of King Triton's Carousel of the Sea) officially opened in Pixar Pier in April 2019, and A Bug's Land spinner ride Flik's Flyers was re-themed into Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and relocated to Pixar Pier later that year at the former site of Maliboomer. Avengers Campus opened in 2021,{{cite news|last=Niles|first=Robert|url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201904/6703/|title=Jessie's Critter Carousel opens at Disney California Adventure|website=themeparkinsider.com|date=April 5, 2019|accessdate=July 11, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Niles|first=Robert|url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201906/6865/|title=Disneyland takes Inside Out fans on an Emotional Whirlwind|website=themeparkinsider.com|date=June 28, 2019|accessdate=May 9, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Hayner|first=Chris|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-15-best-marvel-easter-eggs-in-disneys-avengers-campus/1100-6492418/|title=The 15 Best Marvel Easter Eggs In Disney's Avengers Campus|website=gamespot.com|date=June 4, 2021|accessdate=May 7, 2023}} with Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! then becoming part of it.{{cite news|last=Mack|first=Mike|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2021/05/05/countdown-to-avengers-campus-the-kirby-krackle/|title=Countdown to Avengers Campus: The Kirby Krackle|website=laughingplace.com|date=May 5, 2021|accessdate=July 15, 2023}} San Fransokyo Square, a re-theme of the Pacific Wharf area, debuted in late August 2023.{{cite news|last=Michaelsen|first=Shannen|url=https://wdwnt.com/2023/08/photos-torii-gate-opens-paper-lanterns-another-fish-wind-turbine-and-more-added-to-san-fransokyo-square/|title=PHOTOS: Torii Gate Bridge Opens, Paper Lanterns, Another Fish Wind Turbine, and More Added to San Fransokyo Square|website=wdwnt.com|date=August 30, 2023|accessdate=August 31, 2023}}

=COVID-19 pandemic closure in 2020, partial and full reopening in 2021=

File:Disney's_California_Adventure_2021.jpg (January 2021)|left]]

Disney California Adventure, along with the rest of the Disneyland Resort, was closed indefinitely starting on March 14, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/business/disneyland-coronavirus.html|title=Disney Parks and Cruise Line Will Close in Response to Coronavirus|date=March 12, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 14, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} The park was scheduled to reopen alongside Disneyland Park on July 17,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneyland-aims-july-17-full-theme-park-reopening-1297914|title=Disneyland Aims for July 17 Full Theme Park Reopening|first=Ryan|last=Parker|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2020}} but due to rising cases in California, both parks remained closed.{{Cite web|last1=Figueroa·June 24|first1=Jessica|last2=read|first2=2020·3 Comments·2 min|date=June 24, 2020|title=BREAKING: Disneyland Resort Cancels July 17th Reopening, Delays Theme Parks Returning|url=https://wdwnt.com/2020/06/breaking-disneyland-resort-officially-postpones-july-17-reopening/|access-date=June 26, 2020|website=WDW News Today|language=en-US}} In October 2020, it was announced that Buena Vista Street would open as an expansion of the Downtown Disney District. This expansion would allow for additional shops and dining options for visitors to the Disneyland Resort, while the parks remained closed under State guidelines.{{cite news|url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/downtown-disney-to-extend-into-california-adventure-theme-park-in-november/ |title=Some California Adventure theme park shops, eateries to open as part of Downtown Disney expansion| author=Tracy Bloom |date=October 23, 2020 |publisher=KTLA}} In February 2021, Disney California Adventure announced there would be a limited-capacity ticketed event called "A Touch of Disney", which would allow Disney fans to shop and eat around the park from March 18 through April 19, 2021.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/disneyland-mini-reopening-march-1234700179/|title=Disneyland Officials Release Details About Mini Reopening In March Called A Touch Of Disney|date=February 24, 2021|access-date=March 17, 2021|last=Tapp|first=Tom|publisher=Deadline Hollywood}}{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/disneyland-universal-studios-theme-parks-reopening-pandemic-1234925735/|title=Disneyland and Other Theme Parks Prepare to Reopen — and Bring Back Thousands of Workers Amid Pandemic|date=March 10, 2021|access-date=March 17, 2021|author=Elaine Low|quote=Duarte says about 400 to 500 of Local 50s members are headed back to work for a Touch of Disney, which currently runs from March 18 through April 19 but will release more tickets on a rolling basis.|publisher=Variety}} On March 5, 2021, it was announced by the California Department of Public Health that Disney California Adventure was allowed to reopen with capacity restrictions beginning April 1, 2021.{{cite news|url=https://abc7.com/travel/california-to-allow-theme-parks-like-disneyland-live-shows-to-resume-at-reduced-capacity-on-april-1/10391723/|title=California to allow theme parks like Disneyland, live shows to resume at reduced capacity on April 1|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021|publisher=ABC7}}{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/california-reopen-theme-parks-disneyland-stadiums-1234708201/|title=California To Allow Reopening Of Disneyland, Other Theme Parks, Outdoor Sports Stadiums|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021|last=Tapp|first=Tom|publisher=Deadline Hollywood}} Then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek then announced the following week that the company planned on officially reopening the park in late April 2021.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/disneyland-to-open-late-april-ceo-bob-chapek-1234710095/|title=Disneyland To Open In Late April, Disney CEO Bob Chapek Says|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|publisher=Deadline Hollywood}} On March 17, 2021, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products announced that both Disney California Adventure and Disneyland would officially reopen on April 30, 2021, with limited capacity and social distancing and mask guidelines in effect.{{cite news|url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/magic-is-back-at-disneyland-resort-theme-parks-plan-to-reopen-on-april-30/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317153703/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/magic-is-back-at-disneyland-resort-theme-parks-plan-to-reopen-on-april-30/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2021|title=Magic is Back at Disneyland Resort! Theme Parks Plan to Reopen on April 30|date=March 17, 2021|access-date=March 17, 2021|last=Ramirez|first=Michael|publisher=Disney Parks Blog}}{{cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|title=Disneyland To Reopen On April 30 At Limited Capacity|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/disneyland-to-reopen-on-april-30-at-limited-capacity-1234716480/|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=March 17, 2021|date=March 17, 2021}} Mask policies were relaxed at the Disneyland Resort in the summer of 2021, but ultimately were reinstated for indoor shops and attractions in July in response to the Delta variant.{{cite web |last1=Neuman |first1=Scott |title=Disney Will Begin Requiring Masks Again Indoors At Its Theme Parks In The U.S. |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/07/29/1022127139/disney-world-disneyland-mask-mandate-coronavirus-delta-variant |website=National Public Radio |access-date=October 21, 2021 |date=July 29, 2021}} In February 2022, face masks were made optional for guests who are fully vaccinated.{{cite news|title=Face Coverings Optional for Fully Vaccinated Guests Beginning February 17th at the Disneyland Resort|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2022/02/15/disneyland-face-covering-update-feb-2022/|website=laughingplace.com|access-date=June 2, 2022|date=February 15, 2022}}

Park layout and attractions

{{See also|List of Disney California Adventure attractions|List of former Disney California Adventure attractions}}

Disney California Adventure is divided into nine themed lands; Buena Vista Street, Hollywood Land, Avengers Campus, Cars Land, San Fransokyo Square, Performance Corridor, Pixar Pier, Paradise Gardens Park, and Grizzly Peak.

File:Carthay Circle Theatre (28099409870).jpg|Buena Vista Street (Carthay Circle Restaurant decorated for the 60th anniversary celebration of Disneyland Park)

File:Dca hollywood backlot.jpg|Hollywood Land (pictured in 2009)

File:Disney California Adventure (51242016469).jpg|Avengers Campus

File:Radiator Springs Route 66.jpg|Cars Land

File:San Fransokyo Square (May 2024).jpg|San Fransokyo Square

File:Disneyland 2019 - 48857010606.jpg|Pixar Pier

File:Disney California Adventure (51242353250).jpg|Paradise Gardens

File:GrizzlypeakLeft fxwb.jpg|Grizzly Peak

= Buena Vista Street =

{{unreferenced section|date=May 2019}}

{{Main|Buena Vista Street}}

Buena Vista Street is the first area seen upon entering the park. It represents Los Angeles in the 1920s, when Walt Disney first arrived there. Similar to Main Street, USA in Disneyland Park, it has shops, restaurants, and a transportation system. Its central hub has entrances to Hollywood Land and Grizzly Peak. In the hub's center, also known as Carthay Circle, is a replica of the Carthay Circle Theater, where Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs debuted in 1937. Restaurants include Mortimer's Market, Trolley Treats, Clarabelle's Hand Scooped Ice Cream, Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, and Carthay Circle Restaurant. Main stores along the street include Oswald's, Five & Dime, Big Top Toys, Kingswell Camera Shop, and Elias & Co.

= Hollywood Land =

{{Main|Hollywood Land}}

Hollywood Land is inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s.{{cite news|last=Tully|first=Sarah|title=Disney park begins new, edgy night-time party|url=http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2012/05/27/disney-park-begins-new-edgy-nighttime-party/113289/|access-date=June 13, 2012|newspaper=The Orange County Register|date=May 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601031208/http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2012/05/27/disney-park-begins-new-edgy-nighttime-party/113289/|archive-date=June 1, 2012|url-status=dead}} It includes attractions based on film, television, theater and a subsection called Hollywood Studios, which is designed to appear as an active studio backlot. Found within that subsection is the 3D film Mickey's PhilharMagic and the Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! attraction, a dark ride based on the characters from Pixar's 2001 film Monsters, Inc.. The land is also home to the 2000-seat Hyperion Theater.

Disney Junior – Live on Stage! opened on March 25, 2011, in the Disney Theater. Its final day of performance was April 9, 2017. It was replaced by Disney Junior Dance Party, which opened on May 26, 2017, until the final performance on March 23, 2025. It was announced that was replaced by a new show, Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, which will be open on May 16, 2025. Nearby Disney Theater is the Animation Building, which hosts Sorcerer's Workshop (a walk-through exhibit focused on basic animation), Animation Academy (a workshop that teaches Guests how to draw popular Disney characters), Turtle Talk with Crush, and an Elsa & Anna Meet and Greet. Outside of the Animation Building and Disney Theater are the land's two main stores: Off the Page and Gone Hollywood.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

The restroom facilities in the district are designed in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright's Storer House, located in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles. The stamped concrete structure is typical of Wright's pioneering design.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

= Avengers Campus =

{{Main|Avengers Campus}}

Avengers Campus is inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), featuring attractions based on characters originating from Marvel Comics appearing in MCU media. The area is anchored around an Avengers campus located on the former restricted grounds of a California Stark Industries and Strategic Scientific Reserve complex. Attractions and restaurants include Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, and Pym Test Kitchen.{{cite news|last1=MacDonald|first1=Brady|date=August 21, 2020|title=When will Disney open Avengers Campus?|work=The Orange County Register|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/08/21/when-will-disney-open-avengers-campus/|access-date=August 23, 2020}}{{cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=March 20, 2018|title=Marvel-Themed Lands Coming to Three Disney Parks|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/marvel-land-disneyland-california-paris-hong-kong-1202731764/|access-date=February 9, 2020|publisher=Variety}} The area's shops include WEB Suppliers, Avengers Vault, and The Collector's Warehouse.

= Cars Land =

{{Main|Cars Land}}

Cars Land is a tribute to Route 66 and is a recreation of the town of Radiator Springs from Pixar's Cars franchise on the town's big race day. The land spans {{convert|12|acre|m2}} and contains three attractions. The largest attraction, Radiator Springs Racers, is a dark ride that utilizes the technology of Test Track at Epcot. With a budget of an estimated US$200 million, Radiator Springs Racers is the most expensive theme park ride ever built.{{cite news|url= http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=962|title= Disney Cars ride: thrills, sticker shock.|access-date= November 21, 2007 | work=The Los Angeles Times|first=Christopher|last=Reynolds}}

The other attractions at Cars Land are family attractions with smaller height requirements: Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters. Mater's Junkyard Jamboree opened with Cars Land in 2012. Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters opened on March 7, 2016, and replaced Luigi's Flying Tires.

The land includes several dining and shopping venues. The district serves as a connection between San Fransokyo Square, Hollywood Land, and Avengers Campus.

Starting in 2017, Cars Land receives Halloween decorations during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. Two attractions, Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, became Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-Ween and Mater's Graveyard JamBOOree. Cars Land also receives holiday overlays, where Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters becomes Luigi's Joy to the Whirl, and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree becomes Mater's Jingle Jamboree.

= San Fransokyo Square =

Located between Cars Land and Pixar Pier, San Fransokyo Square is a waterfront neighborhood inspired by California's fishing wharfs. San Fransokyo, as seen in Disney Animation's 2014 film Big Hero 6, is a combination of San Francisco and Tokyo. The story of San Fransokyo Square is set after the events of the film, with the waterfront neighborhood holding a celebration in honor of the Big Hero 6 superhero team. Most of the signage in the area includes Japanese translations. The area's restaurants include Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Aunt Cass Café (Boudin Bakery), Rita's Turbine Blenders, Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, and Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería (Karl Strauss Brewing Company). The area's shops include San Fransokyo Maker's Market. San Fransokyo Square is also home to The Bakery Tour.

= Performance Corridor =

The Performance Corridor area hosts the park's parades and cavalcades, with most starting in Paradise Gardens Park and traveling north through the Performance Corridor towards Buena Vista Street. The Performance Corridor area hosts many of the Resort's seasonal and cultural celebrations throughout the year. Some of these celebrations include the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival in the spring, the Dia de los Muertos celebration during the fall (with two shows, A Musical Celebration of Coco and Mariachi Divas), the Festival of the Holidays (with "Disney Viva Navidad Street Party" and "Mickey's Happy Holidays"), and the Lunar New Year Festival (with "Mulan's Lunar New Year Processional"). The area has no attractions, but several dining locations.

= Pixar Pier =

{{Main|Pixar Pier}}

Pixar Pier is inspired by Victorian boardwalks that were once found along the coast of California. The area is themed after films produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and is divided into four districts; Incredibles Park, Toy Story Boardwalk, Pixar Promenade, and Inside Out Headquarters. Its attractions include the Pixar Pal-A-Round, Incredicoaster, Jessie's Critter Carousel, Games of Pixar Pier, Toy Story Midway Mania, and the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind. Its main stores are Knick's Knacks, Midway Mercantile, and Bing Bong's Sweet Stuff, and offers table-service dining at the Lamplight Lounge. It is connected to Paradise Gardens Park at both ends; its main entrance is via a bridge under a large Pixar Pier gateway.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

= Paradise Gardens Park =

{{Main|Paradise Gardens Park}}

Paradise Gardens Park has direct entrances to Pixar Pier, San Fransokyo Square and Grizzly Peak. Paradise Gardens Park is the main viewing area for the World of Color water show. Paradise Garden's attractions include Goofy's Sky School, Silly Symphony Swings, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, and The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

= Grizzly Peak =

{{Main|Grizzly Peak Airfield|l1=Grizzly Peak}}

Grizzly Peak is themed around California's wilderness and national parks, with particular references to Yosemite and Redwood national parks. Its main attraction is Grizzly River Run, a Gold Rush-esque river rapids ride around the area's summit. Nearby is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, a playground area with elements from Disney's Brother Bear (2003) and Pixar's Up (2009). It has an entrance exclusively accessible to guests of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Grizzly Peak Airfield is a sub-land within Grizzly Peak, themed to an airfield in California's High Sierras in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The area's main attraction is Soarin', which simulates a hang-glider tour of locations, landscapes and landmarks across six of the world's continents. The area also includes the Smokejumpers Grill restaurant, the shop Humphrey's Service & Supplies, and a decorative fire lookout tower.{{cite news|last1=Pimentel|first1=Joseph|title=Upgrades close several Disney rides|work=The Orange County Register|date=January 25, 2015|page=Local 2}}

Upcoming attractions

The park will receive two attractions for Avengers Campus; Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab, with construction started in 2025,{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Bea|url=https://blooloop.com/theme-park/news/disneyland-avengers-campus-construction-starts/|title=Disneyland starts building Avengers Campus expansion|website=blooloop.com|date=January 13, 2025|accessdate=March 31, 2025}} as well as a ride based on Pixar's 2017 film Coco, which is scheduled to start construction in 2026. In addition, the park will receive an area inspired by 20th Century Studios' 2022 film Avatar: The Way of Water, its upcoming sequel Fire and Ash (2025), and future Avatar films.{{cite news|last=Schlepp|first=Travis|url=https://ktla.com/news/theme-parks/disneyland/disney-announces-ambitious-plans-for-disneyland-resort/|title=Disney announces 'Coco' ride' other major expansion plans for Disneyland Resort|website=ktla.com|date=August 12, 2024|accessdate=August 18, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Drew|url=https://www.thewrap.com/avatar-land-disney-california-adventure-first-details/|title='Avatar' Land Inspired by Sequels Coming to Disney's California Adventure|website=thewrap.com|date=August 10, 2024|accessdate=September 8, 2024}}

Former areas

{{more citations needed section|date=May 2019}}

=Sunshine Plaza=

Sunshine Plaza was the first land guests would find after entering Disney California Adventure. It featured two stores, Engine Ears Toys and Greetings from California. At the center of the plaza was the "Sun Icon".

The land closed in 2010{{cite web | last=Tully | first=Sarah | title=Disney set to demolish major features | website=Orange County Register | date=September 9, 2010 | url=https://www.ocregister.com/2010/09/09/disney-set-to-demolish-major-features/ | access-date=October 4, 2022}} and was replaced by Buena Vista Street in 2012.

=Bountiful Valley Farm=

Bountiful Valley Farm was a themed area presented by Caterpillar. It featured farm equipment and different crops growing. When A Bug's Land opened in 2002, the district was absorbed into the land. Caterpillar ended their sponsorship in 2007 and the area closed in 2010. It was replaced by Cars Land.{{cite web | last=Tully | first=Sarah | title=Disney park ride slated for demolition | website=Orange County Register | date=August 10, 2010 | url=https://www.ocregister.com/2010/08/10/disney-park-ride-slated-for-demolition/ | access-date=October 4, 2022}}

=Paradise Pier=

Paradise Pier opened in 2001 with the park. It featured attractions such as California Screamin', Maliboomer, The Sun Wheel and King Triton's Carousel of the Sea. The land closed in 2018 and reopened as Pixar Pier.{{cite web | last=Fisher | first=Marla Jo | title=Say goodbye forever to these favorite Disney California Adventure rides | website=The Mercury News | date=January 8, 2018 | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/07/say-goodbye-forever-to-these-favorite-disney-california-adventure-rides/ | access-date=October 4, 2022}}

=A Bug's Land=

File:DCA05 (48).jpg

{{Main|A Bug's Land}}

A Bug's Land (stylized "a bug's land") was inspired by Pixar's 1998 film A Bug's Life, where oversized human items were scattered throughout. It featured Flik's Fun Fair (a collection of themed, family and child-friendly attractions such as Flik's Flyers, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Tuck & Roll's Drive 'em Buggies, Heimlich's Chew Chew Train, and Dot's Puddle Park). It opened as the park's first expansion in 2002 to expand the park's family-friendly attractions. The land was built around the existing attraction It's Tough to Be a Bug!, a 3D film based on A Bug's Life, which opened with the park in 2001.

It's Tough to Be a Bug! closed on March 19, 2018. The rest of A Bug's Land closed on September 4, 2018, to make way for Avengers Campus.{{Cite web|title=Official Closing Date for a bug's land at Disney California Adventure|date=July 19, 2018 |url=https://touringplans.com/blog/2018/07/19/closing-date-a-bugs-land/|access-date=April 15, 2021|language=en-US}} When A Bug's Land closed in 2018, Flik's Flyers was re-themed into Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, inspired by Pixar's 2015 film Inside Out, and relocated to Pixar Pier.

=Pacific Wharf=

Located between Cars Land and Pixar Pier, Pacific Wharf was themed to resemble the old waterfront of Monterey, California as a tribute to its fishing industry. Its attractions were The Bakery Tour and the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar.{{Cite web|title=Maps of Attractions|url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disney-california-adventure/map/|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=Disneyland Resort}}{{Cite web|title=Pacific Wharf|url=https://www.magicbreaks.co.uk/attraction-tickets/california/disneyland-resort-california/disney-california-adventure-park/pacific-wharf/|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=MagicBreaks}}{{Cite web|title=Pacific Wharf at Disney California Adventure|url=https://allears.net/disneyland/dlr-planning/pacific-wharf-disney-california-adventure/|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=AllEars.Net|language=en-US}} This area was primarily an outdoor food court.

In September 2022, it was announced that Pacific Wharf would be re-themed to San Fransokyo, a combination of San Francisco and Tokyo, as seen in Disney Animation's 2014 film Big Hero 6.{{cite news|last=Watson|first=Madalyn|title='Big Hero 6': San Fransokyo Coming to Disney California Adventure|url=https://collider.com/disney-california-adventure-big-hero-six-land-replacing-pacific-wharf/|work=Collider|access-date=September 17, 2022|date=September 11, 2022}} In February 2023, it was announced that the name of the re-themed area would be San Fransokyo Square.{{cite news|last=White|first=Tharin|url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/san-fransokyo-square-opens-this-summer-at-disney-california-adventure/|title=San Fransokyo Square opens this summer at Disney California Adventure|website=attractionsmagazine.com|date=February 20, 2023|accessdate=February 20, 2023}} The area debuted on August 31, 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/sneak-peek-disneyland-land-retheme-18203411.php |title=We got a sneak peek at Disneyland's San Francisco-inspired land retheme |website=SFGATE |first=Julie |last=Tremaine |date=July 16, 2023 |access-date=July 16, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://wdwnt.com/2023/06/disney-announces-details-about-san-fransokyo-dining-and-shopping-coming-mid-july-to-disney-california-adventure/ |title=Concept Art: Disney Announces Details About San Fransokyo Dining and Shopping Coming Mid-July to Disney California Adventure |website=WDWNT |first=Shannen |last=Michaelsen |date=June 22, 2023 |access-date=June 23, 2023}}

Alcohol policy

Unlike Disneyland Park (with the exception of Carnation Cafe in Main Street, U.S.A., River Belle Terrace in Frontierland, Club 33, Blue Bayou Restaurant and Café Orleans in New Orleans Square, and Oga's Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge), Disney California Adventure serves beer, wine, and cocktails throughout its restaurants, stands, and food kiosks.{{cite web|last=Wisel|first=Carlye|title=Everything you need to know before going to Disneyland|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-know-before-going-to-disneyland-2017-6/insider.rss/?IR=T/#disney-california-adventure-park-drink-options-8|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=May 30, 2018|date=June 19, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019121943/https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-know-before-going-to-disneyland-2017-6/insider.rss/?IR=T/#disney-california-adventure-park-drink-options-8|url-status=dead}} The park also hosts the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, an annual event featuring a number of themed kiosks, each featuring food and beverages from a particular aspect of California cuisine.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-07 |title=Wine and food take center stage at Disney California Adventure festival |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2016/04/07/wine-and-food-take-center-stage-at-disney-california-adventure-festival/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}

Live entertainment

Five and Dime is a traveling street show featuring Dime and her five band mates. They can be seen driving through Hollywood Land in their 1920s-style car and perform in Buena Vista Street on a stage in front of the Carthay Circle Restaurant,{{Cite web|title=Entertainment {{!}} Disneyland Resort|url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/disney-california-adventure/|access-date=April 5, 2018|website=disneyland.disney.go.com|language=en}} and World of Color is nighttime water and light show on Paradise Bay. During the holiday season, a holiday version of the show is offered. In addition, many Disney, Pixar, and Marvel Cinematic Universe characters can be found in the park, greeting visitors.

Annual events

  • The Lunar New Year Celebration (originally begun as the Happy Lunar New Year Celebration at Disneyland) is a festival first held at Disney California Adventure in 2013.{{cite web |title=Disney California Adventure Lunar New Year Celebration | url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/lunar-new-year/ |website=Disneyland Resort official website |author= |date= |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |access-date=November 21, 2022}} The festival celebrates the Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cultures, taking place in January and February.
  • The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, inaugurated in 2006, is an annual festival celebrating the cuisine, wine, and beer of California, taking place during spring.{{cite web |title=Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival | url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disney-california-adventure/food-and-wine-festival/ |website=Disneyland Resort official website |author= |date= |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |access-date=November 21, 2022}}
  • Oogie Boogie Bash, a separately ticketed after hours Halloween event, began in 2019 and takes place on select nights in September and October.{{cite news |last=Vieregge |first=Sierra |date=September 19, 2019 |title=The ULTIMATE GUIDE To the NEW Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort |url=https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2019/09/21/the-ultimate-guide-to-oogie-boogie-bash-at-disney-california-adventure-in-disneyland-resort |website=www.disneyfoodblog.com |access-date=August 22, 2021 }} The event is named after the character Oogie Boogie from the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas.
  • Disney Festival of Holidays is a festival inspired by cultural traditions, started in 2016 and taking place in winter.{{cite news |last=Luna |first=Nancy |date=November 22, 2016 |title=16 best food, drinks to try at Disney California Adventure's new Festival of Holidays |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/food-736246-find-stand.html |newspaper=Orange County Register |access-date=November 23, 2016 }}{{cite web |url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disney-california-adventure/festival-of-holidays/ |title=Disney Festival of Holidays |author= |date= |website=Disneyland Resort official website |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |access-date=November 3, 2023}} The festival celebrates traditions from holidays including Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day.{{cite web |url=https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disney-california-adventure/festival-of-holidays/ |title=Disney Festival of Holidays |author= |date= |website=Disneyland Resort official website |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |access-date=November 3, 2023}}

Attendance

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Year || Attendance || Worldwide Rank
2001|5,000,000{{cite web|title=2001 Theme Park Attendance|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=304|publisher=Theme Park Insider|access-date=February 6, 2014|year=2001}}
20024,700,000{{cite web|title=2002 Theme Park Attendance|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=882|publisher=Theme Park Insider|access-date=February 6, 2014|year=2002}}
20035,310,000{{cite web|title=2003 Attendance Figures|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1427|publisher=Theme Park Insider|access-date=February 6, 2014|year=2003}}
20045,600,000{{cite web|title=2004 Theme Park Attendance Estimates Announced|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1921|publisher=Theme Park Insider|access-date=February 6, 2014|year=2004}}
20055,800,000{{cite web|title=Disney slams Universal in 2005 theme park attendance|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200512/2/|publisher=Theme Park Insider|access-date=February 6, 2014|year=2005}}
20065,950,000{{cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2006 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_158_724007_160525.pdf |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=February 6, 2014 |year=2007 |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207072248/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_158_724007_160525.pdf |url-status=dead }}13
20075,680,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2007 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_29_601512_140617.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=February 6, 2014|year=2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100452/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_29_601512_140617.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}13
20085,566,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report|url=https://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_23_503031_140617.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=November 20, 2012|year=2009|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007225444/https://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_23_503031_140617.pdf|url-status=dead}}8
20096,095,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report|url=https://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_24_693197_140617.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602032710/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf|archive-date=June 2, 2010|year=2010|url-status=live}}11
20106,287,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_25_134960_140617.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719072840/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf|archive-date=July 19, 2011|year=2011|url-status=live}}11
20116,341,000{{cite web|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_26_543179_140617.pdf |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=November 20, 2012 |year=2012 |title=TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018203544/http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2015 }}13
20127,775,000{{cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=June 13, 2013 |year=2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224020854/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf |url-status=dead }}11
20138,514,000{{cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_28_915227_140617.pdf |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=November 11, 2021 |year=2014 |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105071151/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_28_915227_140617.pdf |url-status=dead }}10
20148,769,000{{cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2014 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_104_611784_150604.pdf |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=June 8, 2015 |year=2015 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006084727/http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/TEAAECOM2013.pdf |url-status=dead }}10
20159,383,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_160_611852_160525.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=June 3, 2016|year=2016|archive-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618050155/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_160_611852_160525.pdf|url-status=dead}}11
20169,295,000{{cite web|title=Most Popular Theme Parks By Attendance - WorldAtlas.com|url=http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/most-popular-theme-parks-in-the-world.html|access-date=November 30, 2016}}11{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2016 Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=https://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_235_103719_170601.pdf|year=2017|access-date=November 11, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024050844/https://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_235_103719_170601.pdf|url-status=dead}}
20179,574,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2017 Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf|access-date=May 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602201150/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf|archive-date=June 2, 2017|url-status=live|year=2018}}13
20189,861,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2018 Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/328_572762_190522.pdf|access-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523131129/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/328_572762_190522.pdf|archive-date=May 23, 2019|url-status=live|year=2019}}12
20199,861,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2019 Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2019.pdf|year=2020|accessdate=October 7, 2020}}13
20201,919,000{{ref|2020attendance|†}}{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2020 Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2020.pdf|year=2021|accessdate=November 11, 2021}}{{N/a}}{{ref|COVIDranking|‡}}
20214,977,000{{cite web |title = TEA/AECOM 2021 Theme Index and Museum Index |url = https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2021.pdf |publisher = Themed Entertainment Association |access-date = December 15, 2022|year = 2022 }}{{N/a}}{{ref|COVIDranking|‡}}
20229,000,000{{cite web |title = TEA/AECOM 2022 Theme Index and Museum Index |url = https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2022.pdf |publisher = Themed Entertainment Association |access-date = June 23, 2023|year = 2023 }}{{N/a}}{{ref|COVIDranking|‡}}
202310,000,000{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2023 Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2023.pdf|year=2024|accessdate=August 15, 2024}}11

;Notes

:{{note|2020attendance|†}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park was only open in 2020 from the beginning of the year through March 14

:{{note|COVIDranking|‡}} Due to the worldwide impacts on park attendance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, no rankings were done for the year.

See also

=Similar Disney parks=

=California Adventure rides=

References

{{Reflist|30em}}