Welcome to Disney's California Adventure
Discover the Lands of California Adventures
Sunshine Plaza
The entrance is designed to give the feel that guests are stepping inside a California postcard. After guests pass the giant postcard letters spelling out California, they come across a replica of Golden Gate Bridge, which serves as a track for the monorail. On both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge are two mountain murals depicting California. Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge is Sunshine Plaza, the entrance to the park. At the end of the path, there is a fountain that includes a giant sun icon in the center, which reflects the light of the sun. Sunshine Plaza is also home to a replica of the California Zephyr, which houses the plaza's two counter service restaurants: Baker's Field Bakery and Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream. The plaza is also home to two of the park's biggest souvenir shops, Greetings from California and Engine Ears Toys. Paradise Pier
Paradise Pier is themed after a California boardwalk, based on popular coastal boardwalks such as the Santa Monica Pier and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Paradise Pier's attractions consist of the classic amusement park rides found in many boardwalks such as the Sun Wheel, California Screamin’, the Maliboomer, and the Orange Stinger. Toy Story Mania!, an interactive attraction inspired by classic midway games and featuring Pixar characters, is under construction and will open in 2008.
A section of Paradise Pier is themed after the Historic Route 66, a desert road area that starts with Paradise Pier's crashed fireboat the S.S. rustworthy. Notable attractions are the Jumpin' Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, and Mulholland Madness as well as the Sunglass Shack in the shape of a giant roadside attraction dinosaur.
Golden State
Golden State (Disney's California Adventure)
This land allows guests to experience California's natural settings. It is further divided into five sub-lands:
Condor Flats
This sub-land is themed after the aviation industry. The featured attraction here is Soarin’ over California, a popular ride that simulates a hang glider tour of California. Also in this area is the Taste Pilot's Grill counter service restaurant.
Grizzly Peak Recreational Area
This sub-land is themed after California's wilderness, such as Yosemite and Redwood national parks. Attractions include Grizzly River Run, a fast-paced river rapids ride around Grizzly Peak, the park's icon. Nearby is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail; an interactive playground area which also includes a show housed in an amphitheater featuring characters from Disney's Brother Bear, The Magic of Brother Bear. A special entrance to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is also located in this area.
The Bay Area
This sub-land is themed after the Bay Area. It features Golden Dreams, a film about the history of California, starring Whoopi Goldberg housed in a theatre. Outside of the theatre is a mural and a replica of the Palace of Fine Arts. The Bay Area also includes an avenue of houses similar to the Victorian architecture of many townhouses found in San Francisco.
The Golden Vine Winery
This sub-land is themed after Northern California's Napa Valley and the wine making industry. Included in this area are two restaurants, The Vineyard Room, a fine dining dinner-only table service restaurant which features a great selection of wines, and Wine Country Trattoria, a more casual table service dining restaurant which features wines and many Italian foods. Attractions in this area include Seasons of the Vine, a film showcasing Napa Valley and the changes throughout the seasons, housed in a wine cellar-like theatre. Guests also have the opportunity to taste several wines for an additional price.
Pacific Wharf
This sub-land is based on Monterey's Cannery Row area, especially as depicted in John Steinbeck's novels, and also resembles San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. This area includes many restaurants, cafes, along with a Karl Strauss beer truck and Margarita stand. This sub-land also features attractions such as the Mission Tortilla Factory, which features a tour on how tortillas were once made, and showcases working corn and flour tortilla machines. Another attraction is the Boudin Bakery Tour, which is a tour of the sourdough bread making process with Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie as video tour guides.
Hollywood Pictures Backlot
Hollywood Pictures Backlot is an area styled to appear as Hollywood boulevards and movie backlots, with Hollywood, Television, and movie-themed attractions. A version of the Tower of Terror attraction from Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot in 2004. Recently, a new attraction, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! based on the characters from Monsters, Inc. opened in the attraction building which used to house Superstar Limo. The 2000-seat Hyperion Theatre currently plays host to Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.
Also featured since the park's opening is Muppet Vision 3-D, a show that originated at Disney-MGM in Florida.
The entrance to the area with the sign Hollywood Pictures Backlot featuring two ceramic elephants sculptures atop columns is a homage to a huge set constructed for the epic 1916 Hollywood film Intolerance directed by D.W. Griffith. This homage is echoed at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex in Los Angeles which currently houses the Academy Awards ceremonies at Kodak Theatre (which opened the same year, 2001) which also has elephant sculptures atop columns.
"a bug's land"
Featuring Flik's Fun Fair, It's Tough to be a Bug! and the Bountiful Valley Farm, based on the Disney-Pixar film "A Bug's Life", opened in 2003 and offers various kid-friendly rides. Such rides including Fliks Flyers, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Tuck & Rolls Drive em' Buggies, Heimlichs Chew Chew Train, and Dots Puddle Park.
For Disney Dining Reservations call (714) 781-3463