Pls Give Me Your Impressions Of California Adventure!

[vjc715]

Can you please tell me what all you die hards think about California Adventure? The last time I was there in 1999....I was literally heartbroken when they were tearing down the Monorail Cafe for DT Disney. It was already loosing it's "special" charm I had always loved.

Literally up until this point, I had not gone back because for at least 6-7 years I would vacation at Disneyland 4-5 weeks total spread apart each year. So...when they had made all these changes, it just changed the "vibe" there. I had seen all the stages of construction for CA...and my heart just sank. I had seen the preview of CA under a tent, and it was more than disappointing.

So....I'm interested to see what all of you think!
Thanks,
Vicki

 

[Firefly777]

Like I said in another thread, I think the changes made to the area around Disneyland park have been mostly good. I like the resort vibe that it has now.

DCA is okay, but probably my least favorite Disney park. It has some very charming areas, but also some areas that could use some work. Hopefully, when they expand it more, it will improve.

See it for yourself and form your own opinion, but definitely go with an open mind.

 

[iceskatejen]

I may a bit out of the norm, but I love DCA. I think I fell in love the second I walked through the gates--it was raining (softly) and Randy Newman's "I Love LA" was playing and the line "and the sun is shining all the time" played and the irony of that just tickled me--I think of that moment every time I hear that song. I've probably spent more time at DCA than DL since DCA opened. There are some great rides--Soarin' has to be one of the best attractions ever, I love CA Screamin' (I've ridden it around 100 times), the new TOT is great, Grizzly River is the best river rapids ride I've ever been on. I pretty much watched DCA being built--I saw all the changes taking place and a lot have been for the better. I do miss some of the stores that were near the monorail at the DLH, but most of that merchendise is still available elsewhere in the resort.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I also love it- Does it need alot more bang and Disney charm? Yup- Do I enjoy spending time there- Yup

I think comparing it to DL/MK/Epcot is not right as those have been around along time and have had time to grow and find their nitch DCA is still trying to find its nitch and its had some growing pains *think Eureka, Superstar Limo* but its had more winners than duds

Am I soo exited to ride Tower next week- You betcha!

-em

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by iceskatejen
I love CA Screamin' (I've ridden it around 100 times)

CA Screamin' is one of the best roller coasters I have ever ridden. I wouldn't call myself a coaster enthusiast, but I have been on quite a few. It's so fun and smooth. Definitely my favorite ride (along with TOT) at DCA.

 

[Friend_of_Piglet]

Hi ,
I Love the Resort the way it is now. I still miss certain things that are now gone, like the "HUGE" parking lot and trying to find your car while riding the Monorail. But then I love parking in the Structure and taking the tram. I LOVE DTD!!! I think it added so much to the area. I go there just to walk all the time. The Grand Californian is a beautiful Hotel. The pool at the Disneyland hotel is fabulous with the peter pan theme.
Now onto the biggest addition, DCA, I didn't go to it the first 3 months it was open. I too had heard all the bad press, even some of my friends who went to the preview days hated it. But I finally gave in to my curiosity and went in June 2001 and fell in love with the park. Okay it doesn't have the same vibe as Disneyland, but what does. The Magic Kingdom in WDW doesn't even have that (IMO). But it's a great little park. I LOVE Soarin' over California. I love that the park is hardly ever crowded. Aladdin is an Amazing show. I always get my Tortilla in the Mission Factory. Play in Flik's Fun Fair. Shed a tear watching the Walt Disney 100 years movie in the Animation building. Eating an ice cream cone from Burrr-bank Ice Cream and finding a spot to watch the Electric Parade. I too have been to DCA many more times than Disneyland in the last three years. This is all coming from someone you will never see ride California Screamin', Tower of Terror, Grizzly River run or any other thrill type ride.
Even if you don't like it, at least try the park. Give it a chance.

Sooz

 

[vjc715]

Thanks all......your comments and posts have really helped!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I'm glad the park is different than the Magic Kingdom - I like that I can get two different experiences within walking distance.

Be sure to explore Disney's Animation - great building and has interactive stuff to do. Also, see Golden Dreams - shows how California is built by different cultures, and the sacrifices they made when creating California. Soaring Over California is wonderful, and California Screamin' is also my favorite rollercoaster -- it's not the most thrilling, but it's long and just plain fun and so smooth.

I remember looking for my car from the monorail - gee that seems so long ago. And, I remember eating at the Monorail Cafe, and the Neon Cactus... but the resort is so much better now.

I think you're going to really like the changes.

 

[lulubelle]

Like the other posters have said, DCA is a different type of park than DL. I think in all honesty we spend more time there than at DL. The crowds are rarely out of control and everything still seems "new". There are many great rides and the shows are worth admission alone (Aladdin, WWTBAM, Doug). It's Tough to be a Bug....Maliboomer....Orange Stinger....all favorites. And we loved Ariel's Grotto. Ate at dusk and enjoyed the view of the water as the sun was going down. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised with everything

 

[DaveH]

I am going to Disneyland for the first time in 2 weeks!!! My first exposure to what is at GCA was the offical guide and the Disneyland web site. I am not impressed in what I saw and read there. It is reassuring to hear you guys saying good things here. From reading here, I understand there are some good things there. The impression to me is GCA was anothe park like Six Flags or Paramont parks. The pictures of TOT I have seen makes it look tacky. I am going to GCA with an open mind, but not expecting much. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised. I do remember EPCOT when it opened and it was a little disappointing then, but had some good things. I will let you all know around the beginning of Aug what I think and experienced,

 

[GrumpyMom1]

We love DCA! Me and my 2 DD's (11 and 15) spend at least as much if not more time there than at DL. I initially like it because it was less crowded and more relaxing than DL but lately it has become more crowded. I agree that GRR is the best river raft ride around and CA Screamin' is my favorite coaster too.

 

[iceskatejen]

I think that for some reason, when DCA opened, people were expecting a second DL--the vibe is very different, just as there is a different vibe in each WDW park. Does it have the same magic as DL? No, but I don't know that it was meant to. Could they have done more with the theming? Probably, but I still like the way it looks. Were there a few attractions that just weren't good when it opened? Yep--Superstar Limo was about as bad as it gets. I actually kinda like the Eureka parade. It's definetely not another Six Flags or Paramount park (I've never been to a Paramount park, but i have been to SF Magic Mountain). It's still better themed than a SF Park, and those are still Disney CMs working there--they still smile all the time, are nice and helpful, and the place is sparkling clean as you'd expect a Disney park to be. It has gotten quite a bit more crowded with the 1-day hoppers. Used to be the only people over there were AP holders and those with multi-day hoppers. Those with 1-day tickets went to DL, now they're at both parks. Also--I think the counter service food places are generally better at DCA. The fries certainly are.

 

[overwhelmed]

It's an excellent complement to Disneyland. It's wide aisles alone make the park a breath of fresh air when the "adventureland bottleneck" has you pulling your hair out. I love to sneak out of DCA into the GCH and eat at Whitewater or Storytellers. That is a lovely hotel. I love love California Screamin' its my favorite coaster of all time.... The only people I have heard complain about DCA have not been there.

I like shopping at DtD for the most part, but I have not had a good experience at any of the 4 DtD restaurants that we have tried. (Stick with the Disney hotel restaurants)

As a "second gate" I cannot compare it to WDW's parks, but I will let you know in October!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KAMLEM]

We are in Anaheim this week for our first ever trip to California. I have to say that I just don't get that Disney feeling in DCA. DH and I were discussing it just this morning and we both feel like we are at an amusement park like Six Flags. That doesn't mean that we don't like the park because we love the rides. California Screamin is the best. Soarin Over California was our first ride in the park - we were with a group of 18 and everyone loved it. DL on the other hand has the Disney feel to us. Although I was shocked at the size of the castle! It's disappointing how many rides are down. Space Mountain now Thunder Mountain Railroad. Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones were both down when we were there yesterday, too. We'll be here for another week so hopefully we'll get a chance to do them all (except for Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad of course).

 

[Firefly777]

^Hopefully they will open (I'm sure they will), because Pirates and Indy are two of Disneyland's best.

 

[maci]

We were there a few weeks ago, and loved DCA! I couldnt imagine why people didnt like it!
It feels alot like MGM at WDW to me!! I was impressed but I had gone with low expectations b/c of what I had read. I think it is a great park!

But I am bummed now...I missed the animation building everyone is talking about!!! I love that kind of stuff too!!

 

[iceskatejen]

When I was at MGM, it felt a lot like DCA to me, though I prefer DCA because it's easier to navigate (helps that I know where everything is, but I got a bit lost at MGM) among other reasons.

 

[Firefly777]

Yeah, the layout at MGM does seem kind of confusing.

 

[Xendancer]

I love DCA. I think the Animation building is my favorite spot in the whole world. I could sit there forever watching the Disney clips! Perfect on a hot day.

 

[MateasMom]

We LOVE DCA. Personally, I don't understand why it gets such a bad rap. I think they could do a better job of advertising the attractions, it seems like people don't know WHAT to do at DCA, but I think the park itself is very well put together and loads of fun. My kids (3 and 5) like to go to DL for the princesses and small world and toon town....then they want to go over to DCA and have fun