California Adventure - Disapointment??

[korg]

My wife and I are heading to California for vacation at the end of September. (Can't wait) I went to Disneyland in 2001 just before the California Adventure opened and loved it but have never been to the California Adventure. I live on the east coast so WDW is my home Disney park and it's where my heart is BUT I KNOW Disneyland is beautiful and magical and can't wait to visit it again. That said I've read mixed reviews about the California adventure park. Some seem to think it's not up to Disney standards and simply doesn't have the magic compared to other Disney parks around the world.

I'm use to WDW's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, The Animal Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios. I know DL is amazing and many here would argue it's better on it's own than WDW's Magic kingdom is on it's own but what about the California Adventure? Should I be ready for an experience that's somewhat LESS than the experience at other Disney parks? Will i be disapointed? Were you?

 

[skiingfast]

Do you know that Disney California Adventure has gone through a large expansion and remodel?

Read a recent review.

 

[korg]

Do you know that Disney California Adventure has gone through a large expansion and remodel?

Read a recent review.

I just did as you suggeasted and generally the reviews i read were far better than reviews I read some months ago. Tripadvisor rated everything generally good, YELP was mixed, some people loved it some were disapointed and Theme Park Insider gave it a great review.

The reviews of the original park painted it as almost a failure, I'm glad to see Disney apparently brought it up to DISNEY standards. I'm getting excited to see it!

 

[kylie71]

I cannot wait to get back to DCA! I've always enjoyed the park, and spent a lot of time there last November...now it will be even better!
I say go, and give it a chance with an open mind!!

Lori

 

[KCmike]

Here is a ranking of my favorite parks:

1. Disneyland
2. Epcot
3. California Adventure
4. Magic Kingdom - WDW
5. Hollywood Studios
6. Animal Kingdom

DCA is fabulous. You won't regret it. With the refurbishment of the entry and Carsland you will be hard pressed not having such a good time. I think I kept Epcot so high on the list because of the nostalgia factor for my family and I. I tell you if Epcot was built in California I would never go back to WDW. California weather and the proximity of how close everything is such a winner. Plus I love the Pacific Ocean vs. the Atlantic (murky) and I love visiting the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego any chance I get.

 

[shellie may]

I'm a WDW vet and have been to DCA twice this year once with all the walls\construction up and then once with everything open (cars land and buena vista street). I will say that I loved DCA even with the construction walls up heck even with the walls I rank it above DHS and AK. Now that everything is open and there is no construction I rank it above MK and maybe even have it tied with EPCOT.

I think my Mom who I always travel with was surprised how much she like DCA she may have even enjoyed it more than....gasp....Disneyland. she will never admit that though but she does say she feels more relaxed at DCA. I loved DCA because there is so much to do there and I never felt bored. I can get the boredom feeling at DHS not so much AK just because animals are entertaining and all the details are great, but DHS can be a yawn fest if you don't plan it right.

I say go to DCA and go with an open mind and you will be pleasantly surprised

 

[disneyismyheart247]

I highly doubt you'll be disappointed with DCA. The park has changed significantly since 2001 and I think you'll be amazed. Have a great time!

 

[korg]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. The wife and I will definitely do DCA along with DL. We're going to get either 2 or 3 day hopper passes so the days we visit the parks we don't have to decide which one to do, we can do both! ;-) We're going at the end of September ... just about 3 months from now, I'll make MY report on the park(s) in October when we return. We're probably also going to do the San Diego zoo and maybe Universal Studios. It depends on how much walking we can stand ... we're not kids anymore! ;-) Although Disney ALWAYS makes me feel like a kid at heart.

 

[DisneytheKid]

Be ready for a great experience. The park has transformed quite a bit over the last decade.

 

[pixiewings71]

I LOVE CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

that's all

 

[shannonkay]

I haven't been to the Florida parks, so I can't compare there, but the new stuff at DCA is great as far as I've seen. I'm a local, and I've only been a couple of times to check out the new things for short periods of time. There are still a lot of things I have yet to experience there that are new!

I'll probably be waiting till fall to get on most of the new Carsland rides!

 

[DisneytheKid]

I LOVE CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

that's all

Well said

 

[korg]

Well said

It's nice to hear all this support for DCA. I was really looking forward to my trip at the end of Sept./start of OCT. (In about 72 days) to see DL, now I'm just as excited about seeing DCA. A whole new Disney experience ... nice!

 

[pixiewings71]

Well said

Thanks Simple but true!!

It's nice to hear all this support for DCA. I was really looking forward to my trip at the end of Sept./start of OCT. (In about 72 days) to see DL, now I'm just as excited about seeing DCA. A whole new Disney experience ... nice!

I hope you like it as much as I do. I've always liked DCA but with CL added it's so much more!!

 

[krispin41]

My DH and I just got back, and we spent more time in DCA this trip around then our last. (Oct 2011) I had visited in 2005 as well, and only spent a few hours there.

The remodel, and all the changes are amazing. I could stare at little details all day long. Buena Vista street is awesome, and CarsLand. WOW. All I can say. Even if you don't go on any of the rides there, the atmosphere is amazing.

Can't say more than that.

And we liked the Mad T Party, although we did like ElecTRONica a bit more because of the theme.

And last but not least. World of Color. Wow. Just WOW.

Two words to sum up this post: WOW. AMAZING.

 

[cmwade77]

Here is a ranking of my favorite parks:

1. Disneyland
2. Epcot
3. California Adventure
4. Magic Kingdom - WDW
5. Hollywood Studios
6. Animal Kingdom

DCA is fabulous. You won't regret it.

I think I mostly agree with this, but here is my order:
1. Disneyland
2. Epcot
3. California Adventure
4. Hollywood Studios
5. Animal Kingdom
6. Magic Kingdom - WDW

I think the main reason I put Magic Kingdom at the bottom is because I live so close to Disneyland and Magic Kingdom is similar, but the differences aren't necessarily better.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, we fell madly in love with DCA the first time we experienced it, in 2007, so I've never once understood the idea of not liking it, or it not being "disney" standards. I'm not even sure what that means.

I routinely tell people to take their small children to bug's land FIRST, rather than Fantasyland, because apart from "tough to be a bug" it's SO much better for nervous Littles. Everything is outside, easily seen, nothing is scary...


Carsland is pretty cool, though! Wish they didn't have to take out the big water-play area that my son loved so much, for it, though.

And the entrance is really pretty. Reminds me a lot of Universal Florida's IOA Port of Entry. Since we love Universal as much as we love DLR, this worked for us. I laughed out loud, though, when I saw the locker/administration building to the right of the entrance, since it reminded me SO much of Port of Entry. At least they are copying from a really good place!

 

[korg]

Well, we fell madly in love with DCA the first time we experienced it, in 2007, so I've never once understood the idea of not liking it, or it not being "disney" standards. I'm not even sure what that means.

I routinely tell people to take their small children to bug's land FIRST, rather than Fantasyland, because apart from "tough to be a bug" it's SO much better for nervous Littles. Everything is outside, easily seen, nothing is scary...


Carsland is pretty cool, though! Wish they didn't have to take out the big water-play area that my son loved so much, for it, though.

And the entrance is really pretty. Reminds me a lot of Universal Florida's IOA Port of Entry. Since we love Universal as much as we love DLR, this worked for us. I laughed out loud, though, when I saw the locker/administration building to the right of the entrance, since it reminded me SO much of Port of Entry. At least they are copying from a really good place!

The whole "not up to Disney standards" was from a quote from review by a "professional travel reviewer" about DCA in it's original form. And they also referenced Disney actually publically admitting the park was a disapointment which is why Disney eventually spent an amazingly large amount of money to totally revamp the park to "bring it up to Disney standards." All the reviews I've read on this forum and on the web about DCA since they reworked it and added Cars Land have been great. All are saying the park is amazing now, has a lot of "Disney magic" and they all rave about Cars land. Sooooooo it looks like the park is finally getting the respect we've all come to expect a Disney park to get. I can't wait to visit it for the 1st time in a few months!

 

[rtfelt]

Quote:
Originally Posted by KCmike
Here is a ranking of my favorite parks:

1. Disneyland
2. Epcot
3. California Adventure
4. Magic Kingdom - WDW
5. Hollywood Studios
6. Animal Kingdom

DCA is fabulous. You won't regret it.
I think I mostly agree with this, but here is my order:
1. Disneyland
2. Epcot
3. California Adventure
4. Hollywood Studios
5. Animal Kingdom
6. Magic Kingdom - WDW

I think the main reason I put Magic Kingdom at the bottom is because I live so close to Disneyland and Magic Kingdom is similar, but the differences aren't necessarily better.

I agree with the top 3 on these lists all the way. I can agree with either's last 3 and sure understand CMWADE77's point about MK.

I love DCA. I loved it before--afterall my favorite ride--Soarin'-is there, but now with the revamp--amazing. I'll admit I never got that "feeling" I got when I walked into DL. When I walk into DL with main street and the train and everything, I've always gotten this happy feeling in my heart and it seems all my worries and cares wash away--it's my happy place I visit regularly. I never got that when I walked into DCA, but I still loved it but now... The first time I walked in through Buena Vista I didn't feel anything because I was so concentrated on seeing everything, but the next time I walked through those turnstiles, I felt it--the same thing I feel every time I walk into DL--that happy, lifting feeling. It made me so happy. The revamp has brought the magic of DL across the esplenade to DCA

Also CarsLand is amazing. The first time I walked through and saw the mountain range, I got chills all over.

I would be surprised if you didn't love it.

 

[Disney Dreams]

My wife and I are heading to California for vacation at the end of September. (Can't wait) I went to Disneyland in 2001 just before the California Adventure opened and loved it but have never been to the California Adventure. I live on the east coast so WDW is my home Disney park and it's where my heart is BUT I KNOW Disneyland is beautiful and magical and can't wait to visit it again. That said I've read mixed reviews about the California adventure park. Some seem to think it's not up to Disney standards and simply doesn't have the magic compared to other Disney parks around the world.

I'm use to WDW's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, The Animal Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios. I know DL is amazing and many here would argue it's better on it's own than WDW's Magic kingdom is on it's own but what about the California Adventure? Should I be ready for an experience that's somewhat LESS than the experience at other Disney parks? Will i be disapointed? Were you?

So here's the thing...

I think your question has a built-in assumption that is going to be difficult for you to overcome no matter what anyone replies here. You did not ask, "Tell me about Disney California Adventure." You said, "Will I be disappointed?" It sounds to me like you already have in your mind that there is a chance you are going to be disappointed and are looking for confirmation or (hopefully?) for someone to void what you have heard/read.

It's a Disney Park. It has a lot of rides, shows, a parade, shops, food, characters, so on. It has theming, "lands," and stories. It has hidden mickeys, historical references, and magic waiting to be discovered.

It is NOT Disneyland. But neither is Disney Animal Kingdom or Disney Hollywood Studios, or... or.... And so on.

Should you be prepared to be disappointed? Eeesh. That's a question that just sounds to me like, "Should I go out on the date and be prepared not to like the other person?" With that mindset, I would say, "Don't go on the date. You won't be happy no matter what happens."

I think DCA has a lot to offer in terms of excitement, creativity, great entertainment. Will you be disappointed? I guess it depends upon what you are expecting.

- Dreams