We had the priviledge to an AP preview to California Advenutre on Saturday. We arrived at 7:15 AM and were surprised to be let in with no crowds whatsoever. Here are my opinions of the DCA if you have younger children. Mine are 4 and 10.
My thoughts:
If it is hot, bring frozen water bottles or be prepared to pay dearly for drinks to cool down. There is a water play area at Pardise Pier (the SS Rustworthy) and they limit the number of children who can play at any one time (a good thing), but be prepared for a wait. The Redwood Creek Challenge is very nicely themed with a tire swing, rock climbing, rope bridges, story telling circle and slides ... but watch for dehydration, as there is little shade.
If you have toddlers or younger (under 40" tall), there are VERY few attractions they can really enjoy (or appreciate) at DCA. Personally, I would defer until they are taller, go to Disneyland or get a sitter if you really have to visit DCA, because most little ones won't enjoy it (at least that is what appeared to be the case during our Saturday visit).
During the peak lunch hour, be prepared for very long waits at most counter service food areas. Nice secret option: go to the "Wine Country Market" deli located in the Mondavi Winery building. They have a great selection of sandwiches and salads (even P&J) for nearly the same amount of money (but without the wait) you would wind up spending at the busier counter service food stalls.
Rather than eating in the DCA park, a great dinner option would be to make advance reservations for the Rainforest Cafe (one of the more reasonably priced restaurants in DT Disney) or at one of the Disney hotels. This way you minimize your wait times and get a better quality of food for the money.
Here are my opinions of the attractions we went on:
Soarin' Over California - Saw it twice (early AM walk-in and then followed by a Fastpass), but the magic is the very first time. Appropriate for children and not scary, but there is a 40" min height.
Grizzly River Run - Did this immediately after Soarin' and is better than Kali at WDW. Not that scary for our children, but again there is a 42" min height. Youngest was scared of the growls coming from the caves. Get a Fastpass and bring a poncho.
Muppet Vision 3D - fun 3D movie and exactly the same as at WDW. No problem for children. Fastpass is available and there was minimal wait time on standby.
Superstar Limo - most critics hate this ride, I think children might enjoy it, especially because you see yourself in a blown up snapshot towards the end of the ride. The inside is made of cheaper material, the same loud artwork done for the Buzz Lightyear ride at WDW. But with limited attractions for young children to ride, you might as well line up (in the sun).
Animation - go to this building, you and your children will enjoy most of it, if for no other reason than to stay cool. They limit the number of guests who can enter at any one time (a good thing), so there might have to be a wait (in the sun).
Its Tough to Be A Bug - good 3D movie and exactly the same as at WDW, but it does get dark, loud and scary at times. My youngest was scared and would not go back on. Went in the evening, with no line at all. Fastpass available.
Golden Dreams - Must see new movie about California history, with Whoopie as your guide. I loved it but it did not really hold the attention of our children. Nice cool theater to take a break in (hubby napped through the whole thing), but try to hit it a few minutes before the next showing otherwise you wait outdoors.
Orange Stinger - Youngest was too short to ride (46" min?) and was VERY disappointed since the concept looked so attractive for the little ones. I got dizzy after riding it twice (go in the evening when the crowds might die down).
Golden Zephyr - OK ride in rocket jets that just go around and around. Not worth a wait, but be forewarned that if winds are greater than 10 mph, CAL OSHA requires that the ride shut down for at least 15 minutes (this is what happened to us). There is a min height restriction on this. Skip it if you are an adult. Ride it if there is no wait.
Jumping Jellyfish - Nice ride for children, but very slow loading/unloading makes for a long wait. Very colorful attraction and there is a min height restriction on this also. Skip it if you're an adult.
King Triton's Carousel - VERY pretty carousel. Little ones will enjoy it. Bring your camera.
Mulholland Madness - Jerky coaster that has a 42" min height. Very tight turns such that it felt kind of unsafe in my opinion (lap bar only) so keep a tight grip on your children and if possible, try to have an adult ride with each child in your group.
Sun Wheel - You have 2 options: wait in a LONG line for one of the cars that slip-n-slide as the ferris wheel turns (I saw a terrified grade school girl crying into her mother's lap as they went up and around) or the shorter line for the outside cab (it doesn't slide). If you opt for the immovable cab, do NOT get into the LONG line but head for the Exit where you will find the queue for the immovable cabs. While I would have tried the moving inner cabs, it is best to use parental discretion as to what your children will tolerate.
California Screamin' - I loved it, oldest child disliked it because it made her dizzy. Youngest was too short (48" min) to ride, so we did a switch pass.
Maliboomer - no one in our party had the guts to ride it. I want to do it sometime in the future.
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My thoughts:
If it is hot, bring frozen water bottles or be prepared to pay dearly for drinks to cool down. There is a water play area at Pardise Pier (the SS Rustworthy) and they limit the number of children who can play at any one time (a good thing), but be prepared for a wait. The Redwood Creek Challenge is very nicely themed with a tire swing, rock climbing, rope bridges, story telling circle and slides ... but watch for dehydration, as there is little shade.
If you have toddlers or younger (under 40" tall), there are VERY few attractions they can really enjoy (or appreciate) at DCA. Personally, I would defer until they are taller, go to Disneyland or get a sitter if you really have to visit DCA, because most little ones won't enjoy it (at least that is what appeared to be the case during our Saturday visit).
During the peak lunch hour, be prepared for very long waits at most counter service food areas. Nice secret option: go to the "Wine Country Market" deli located in the Mondavi Winery building. They have a great selection of sandwiches and salads (even P&J) for nearly the same amount of money (but without the wait) you would wind up spending at the busier counter service food stalls.
Rather than eating in the DCA park, a great dinner option would be to make advance reservations for the Rainforest Cafe (one of the more reasonably priced restaurants in DT Disney) or at one of the Disney hotels. This way you minimize your wait times and get a better quality of food for the money.
Here are my opinions of the attractions we went on:
Soarin' Over California - Saw it twice (early AM walk-in and then followed by a Fastpass), but the magic is the very first time. Appropriate for children and not scary, but there is a 40" min height.
Grizzly River Run - Did this immediately after Soarin' and is better than Kali at WDW. Not that scary for our children, but again there is a 42" min height. Youngest was scared of the growls coming from the caves. Get a Fastpass and bring a poncho.
Muppet Vision 3D - fun 3D movie and exactly the same as at WDW. No problem for children. Fastpass is available and there was minimal wait time on standby.
Superstar Limo - most critics hate this ride, I think children might enjoy it, especially because you see yourself in a blown up snapshot towards the end of the ride. The inside is made of cheaper material, the same loud artwork done for the Buzz Lightyear ride at WDW. But with limited attractions for young children to ride, you might as well line up (in the sun).
Animation - go to this building, you and your children will enjoy most of it, if for no other reason than to stay cool. They limit the number of guests who can enter at any one time (a good thing), so there might have to be a wait (in the sun).
Its Tough to Be A Bug - good 3D movie and exactly the same as at WDW, but it does get dark, loud and scary at times. My youngest was scared and would not go back on. Went in the evening, with no line at all. Fastpass available.
Golden Dreams - Must see new movie about California history, with Whoopie as your guide. I loved it but it did not really hold the attention of our children. Nice cool theater to take a break in (hubby napped through the whole thing), but try to hit it a few minutes before the next showing otherwise you wait outdoors.
Orange Stinger - Youngest was too short to ride (46" min?) and was VERY disappointed since the concept looked so attractive for the little ones. I got dizzy after riding it twice (go in the evening when the crowds might die down).
Golden Zephyr - OK ride in rocket jets that just go around and around. Not worth a wait, but be forewarned that if winds are greater than 10 mph, CAL OSHA requires that the ride shut down for at least 15 minutes (this is what happened to us). There is a min height restriction on this. Skip it if you are an adult. Ride it if there is no wait.
Jumping Jellyfish - Nice ride for children, but very slow loading/unloading makes for a long wait. Very colorful attraction and there is a min height restriction on this also. Skip it if you're an adult.
King Triton's Carousel - VERY pretty carousel. Little ones will enjoy it. Bring your camera.
Mulholland Madness - Jerky coaster that has a 42" min height. Very tight turns such that it felt kind of unsafe in my opinion (lap bar only) so keep a tight grip on your children and if possible, try to have an adult ride with each child in your group.
Sun Wheel - You have 2 options: wait in a LONG line for one of the cars that slip-n-slide as the ferris wheel turns (I saw a terrified grade school girl crying into her mother's lap as they went up and around) or the shorter line for the outside cab (it doesn't slide). If you opt for the immovable cab, do NOT get into the LONG line but head for the Exit where you will find the queue for the immovable cabs. While I would have tried the moving inner cabs, it is best to use parental discretion as to what your children will tolerate.
California Screamin' - I loved it, oldest child disliked it because it made her dizzy. Youngest was too short (48" min) to ride, so we did a switch pass.
Maliboomer - no one in our party had the guts to ride it. I want to do it sometime in the future.
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