California Adventure!!!

[Eeyore76]

Okay, so seeing the "Photo of the Day" that was just posted totally got me soooooooooo excited for our upcoming trip!!

This will be our first time going to California Adventure! (*sigh* It's sad that we haven't been to DL in so long...)

Anywhoo, what is absolutely MUST DO at the park? We're gonna be there a full 5 days, so we have plenty o' time!

Thanks,
Eeyore76

 

[Sleepless Knight]

With 5 days you have nothing to worry about. To do everything in DCA, even including the stuff not really worth doing is about a day. As for must dos, my list depends on whether or not you've been to WDW recently. Most of the very best rides in DCA are also in WDW.

Unique DCA attractions "worth doing":

1. Monsters, Inc.
2. Animation Building(the Toy Story zoetrope is fascinating)
3. California Screamin'
4. Grizzly River Rapids(longer and more detailed than AK's Kali)
5. Heimlich's Chew Chew Train in A Bug's Land is cute once

Great DCA attractions that I've done also found in WDW:

1. Tower of Terror(though the WDW one is slightly better)
2. Muppet Vision 3-D
3. Soarin' over California(DCA has the better queue though)
4. Toy Story Midway Mania(assuming it's open)
5. Turtle Talk with Crush

Note that there are many other attractions in DCA, but I've either never done them or I don't think they're all that special at least in Disney terms.

 

[nancy drew]

i assume you dont have kids, but mine loved the redwood creek challenge, monsters inc ride (dd's favorite), turtle talk with crush, the bugs land, the boudin bread and mission tortilla factory tours (my kids thought the video was hilarious), the parade!!!!!!! that is an awesome parade!!!!!!!!!!!! and we loved watching california screamin on the pier. the kids had some "catch a wave" ice cream and i had a beer, and we sat at the end of the ariel's pier and watched the roller coaster launch. my kids loved it!!!!!! it was a perfect weather day, no crowd, just an all around amazing experience.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Soarin over California
Grizzly River Rapids
California Screamin
Tower of Terror
Monsters Inc
Muppet Theater
Tough To be a Bug show
Electric Parade
Pixar Parade (looks good, haven't seen it yet personally)
Aladin show (another one we haven't seen, but plan to this time. Everyone raves)
Turtle Talk with Crush (really neat)

That's pretty much our list of musts that we hit! Toy Story Mania will be another, once it opens of course (I believe it does June 17th).

 

[HoneyBee06]

Am I the only one that likes Mulholland Madness?

 

[disney-inspired]

Am I the only one that likes Mulholland Madness?

I love Mullholland Madness! It's a must ride every time I go!

 

[DoomBugger]

Am I the only one that likes Mulholland Madness?

Mulholland Madness is good, especially at night when it feels like you are going to go off the edge.

I am pretty sure based on past threads that I am the only one around who actually likes the orange peel.

Maliboomer is fun too and it's days are numbered so all the more reason to enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[PigletGurl]

Oh yeah, a big thumps up for Monsters, Inc. As you can see in my siggy, its my fave ride!!
I love also Soarin, Jumpin Jellyfish, Tower of Terror (i can go three times in a row in summer days without more than 10 mins of wait)

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I am pretty sure based on past threads that I am the only one around who actually likes the orange peel.

I like it too! Don't worry, you're not alone.

For me, DCA's must do's are TOT, Screamin', Mailboomer, Soarin', and GRR.

This last trip, we did the Redwood Creek Challenge and we had a blast. We always over looked it.

Also, check out It's Tough to Be a Bug if it's open when you go. Although I don't recommend taking your kids, it's kind of scary for little ones. But the movie is cute and the special effects will have you cracking up. Worth a try once..

Hope you have a blast!!

 

[shoppingmom]

Turtle Talk with Crush should totally be on your list of must do's!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Oh Mulholland Madness! That's one of my ds favorites! Almost forgot about that one!

 

[wendylady36]

Anywhoo, what is absolutely MUST DO at the park? We're gonna be there a full 5 days, so we have plenty o' time!

Do everything! You will have time, believe me You can do the whole park in one day, so might as well experience it all before they start redoing everything!
Here's a bonus picture for you :

Am I the only one that likes Mulholland Madness?

I have a love-hate relationship with Mullholland Madness and the Matterhorn. I think both rides are great, but they absolutely kill my back!

I am pretty sure based on past threads that I am the only one around who actually likes the orange peel.

Maliboomer is fun too and it's days are numbered so all the more reason to enjoy it while it lasts.

I like the Orange Peel too! No one ever wants to go on it with me though

I'm a big fan of the Maliboomer and will be sad when that goes.

 

[spaddy]

I would definitely say Aladdin. Make sure to sit in the Mezzanine.

I also really like Muholland Madness and Monsters, Inc.

Grizzly River Rapids is a very cool ride. You can get wet.


If you have young kids the Playhouse Disney is awesome. I just saw the new one and my 3 year old really liked it.

 

[Disneylover 2]

I'd go to Tower of Terror like 10^ times in a row, if it wouldn't have been for my parents....they get TIRED of WAITING!

 

[pixiewings71]

My girls love the Orange Stinger and Mulholland Madness. I don't do big swings for no Orange Stinger for me but I do MM occasionally, it's fun but the cars are itty bitty so it hurts. LOL I'm not a large person either, 5'4" about 130 lbs.....

Do Aladdin, Soarin' and the Animation Building..yes, the whole building. Trust me. Tower of Terror, Grizzly River Rapids, the Redwoods area is fun, the kids love it there. Bugs Land is fun, I like Heimlich's Chew Chew Train. lol Yes, I'm 37 and love that ride. LOL

I HATED the Bug's Life movie, I don't really like bugs anyway but the kids and DBF really wanted to see it. I sat on the edge of my chair the whole time, there was one part I liked, when the bugs "run" under your seat, everything else I pretty much hated. The butterfly curtain was pretty though. My family can do that one, I'll skip it from here on out.

 

[DoomBugger]

I love the que line for the Bugs Life show. You go underground into an animal burrough type cave and all around there are clever movie posters spoofing classic American films with The Bug's Life characters. If you like film history and know your staples it is alot of fun.

 

[ironpig70]

I'm a big fan of the Maliboomer and will be sad when that goes.

i love mailboomer when/why is it leaving. that makes me sad. this year i'm taking my dd10 she doesn't know it yet

 

[Eeyore76]

Aww!!! You guys freakin' rock!!!!

Sounds like I'll have time to do everything, so I'll have a MEGA trip report to give when we get back!!

Even though we don't have kids, we're big kids at heart, so kid-fun rides are right up our alley!!!!

Thanks everybody!!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

i love mailboomer when/why is it leaving. that makes me sad. this year i'm taking my dd10 she doesn't know it yet

It's rumored to be leaving sometime as part of the refurbishment going on there. It may be replaced by a parachute ride, but we don't know if and when.

 

[rockstargeisha]

Tortilla factory! It's in the Pacific Wharf area and makes for a perfect, free snack. Also, check out the Boudin Bread Bakery next door.