This is Disney's newest theme park. It was built on the grounds of the old Disneyland parking lot, and was opened in the summer of 2000. From all my friends, I've heard that, it sucks horribly. I think it was true desperation that had the company resurrect the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, but instead put it in California Adventure without the "Main Street" in its title. The park tries to cram everything about California from Hollywood to the Golden Gate Bridge but it doesn't work. I frankly, find it a stupid concept. If you're going to put a theme park about California, you don't do it in the same state! They should have put it in Walt Disney World or maybe New York. Of course, this thing will last for a certain amount of time, the company spent way too much money to just drop it like that.

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing

Is there such thing as sacred land? I don't know. Disneyland is as man-made, as artificial as they get. But it's Disneyland. And I'm not talking about Euro Disney or Walt Disney World or any of your other parodies, I'm talking about Walt Disney's magical dream world in Southern California.

Now we've got Disney's California Adventure, a test tube baby brother to the real Disneyland. It's located about 30 feet away from the real thing. It's about the same size as Disneyland. Entrance came free with our Disneyland tickets, I'm pretty sure this was because we were Californians, and they're charging the out-of-staters and foreigners an even more ridiculous price. California Adventure only has mediocre rides, but it is clearly more advanced both technologically and stylistically than Disneyland itself.

I had considered bringing up the White House as an example here, saying that this is like building an identical grey version of the White House across the street. And then, of course, I remembered how often the White House has been changed in its existence. Everything changes. Disneyland changes. The newer Disneyland attractions are almost all better and we know it and hate to admit it.

The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse had to be converted into Tarzan's Treehouse because kids these days don't give a shit about The Swiss Family Robinson. They watch Tarzan, and no, not the ancient books and movies, the Disney ones. The new generation of children will not know or miss The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. And the new generation will never know a Disneyland without its annoying pesky brother, the farce called Disney's California Adventure. So can they really miss the old Disneyland?

California Adventure was an awful, awful idea. It was a huge and expensive project and it isn't leaving any time soon. I don't know how we're supposed to take it.

On the bright side, perhaps Disney will keep expanding Disneyland, keep making new and newer parks right next to it, and eventually engulf Los Angeles. And that wouldn't be a bad thing

Disney's California Adventure

Disney's California Adventure Park allows its guests to "explore the Golden State in more than thirty exciting screaming, blasting, plummeting, soaring, giggling attractions found in four fun-filled lands that celebrate the magic, wonder, thrill and whimsy of the nation's 31st state. There's a world of California dreaming for children of all ages."

The park itself was built over a period of time from 1998 to 2001, with a Grand Opening on February 8, 2001 (though there were many preview parties and events for Company Executives, Cast Members, Annual Passholders, and as I recall even a few charity events, all going back to early-January of '01). It is located in the Disneyland Resort just 50 feet from Disneyland Park. The park was originally divided into three themed lands (similar in idea to it's older brother, Disneyland and other theme parks around the world), entitled Golden State, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and Paradise Pier. Recently however, the park was expanded to provide more attractions for smaller guests, forming a new (fourth) land named "A Bug's Land" (which includes the Bountiful Valley Farm {previously of the Golden State} and Flick's Fun Fair).

Golden State

This "land" allows for guests to experience the Golden State of California as it is in real-life. It is further divided into five sub-lands (Condor Flats, Redwood Creek, the San Francisco Bay Area, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Bountiful Valley Farm).

• The Boudin Bakery
• Golden Dreams
• Grizzly River Run
• Mission Tortilla Factory
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
• Seasons of the Vine
• Soarin' Over California

Hollywood Pictures Backlot

This area of the park represents -exactly as its name implies- a typical Hollywood studio back lot. At first look, the area appears to be over-the-top with elegant buildings, but upon closer examination, said buildings turn out to be nothing more than facades.

• Disney Animation
• Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D
• Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage!
• Who Wants to be a Millionaire- Play It!

Paradise Pier

This area of the park allowed for the company to plant a bunch of typical carnival-style rides with a minimum of show design put into them. Typical roller coaster, swing ride, Ferris wheel, carousel, and boardwalk games.

• California Screamin'
• Games of the Boardwalk
• Golden Zephyr
• Jumpin' Jellyfish
• King Triton's Carousel
• Maliboomer
• Mullholland Madness
• Orange Stinger
• S.S. rustworthy
• Sun Wheel

"A Bug's Land"

This newest are of the park was opened due to criticism that there were not enough attractions for younger guests to experience at the park. A good amount of show design was put into the attractions to make guests feel like they are the size of insects enjoying the rides with characters from the Disney/ Pixar hit "A Bug's Life".

• Bountiful Valley Farm
• Flick's Flyers
• Francis Ladybug Boogie
• Heimlich's Chew Chew Train
• It's Tough to be a Bug!
• Princess Dot Puddle Park
• Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Boogies

Sources:
Disneyland.com