Everything You Need to Know About California Adventure at Disneyland

From the nostalgic walk up Buena Vista Street to the thrilling rides on Pixar Pier, Disney California Adventure has something for everyone! Here are all the details on rides, food, entertainment and tips to get the most out of your day at this Disneyland theme park.

Disney California Adventure

When Disney California Adventure opened in 2001, adjacent to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, the theme park was all about the California experience with barely a trace of the Disney characters we all know and love. Over the years, the park has slowly added more Disney magic to satisfy park-goers. Today, while California Adventure still celebrates the beauty, style and flavors of California, there is a healthy dose of all your favorite Disney and Pixar characters and fun.

 

The theme park is devised of several distinct areas. If you enter the park and hang a right to circle the theme park counter-clockwise, the lands are:

• Buena Vista Street
• Grizzly Peak
• Paradise Gardens Park
• Pixar Pier
• Pacific Wharf
• Cars Land
• Avenger’s Campus (Coming soon!)
• Hollywood Land

California Adventure Rides

From racing cars to dropping elevators to talking turtles, Disney California Adventure has no shortage of  rides and attractions, including many thrill rides! Take a trip around the park to see what each land has to offer.

Grizzly Peak

Grizzly Peak celebrates California’s wild side, conjuring up the spirit of Yosemite and Muir Woods. If you are lucky enough to be staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, your family will enter the park from the hotel directly into Grizzly Peak.

Here are the rides and attractions in this section of the park:

Grizzly River Run

• Minimum Height: 42”
• Attraction Type: River Rapids Thrill Ride
• Best For: Older Kids, Teens and Adults
• FASTPASS Available: Yes

Grizzly River Run is a roaring rapids raft ride. You WILL get wet!

SheBuysTravel Tip: Since the lines will get super long in the afternoons on hot days, secure your FASTPASS early in the day so you can ride in the afternoon without having to wait in line!

Soarin’ Around the World

• Minimum Height: 40”
• Attraction Type: Motion Simulator Thrill Ride
• Best For: Older Kids, Teens and Adults
• FASTPASS Available: Yes

Soarin’ takes you on a simulated hang gliding adventure featuring real scenes from around the world. Soarin’ Around the World was previously Soarin’ Over California, but has been updated to match its counterpart at Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park in Florida. 

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Play Area with Slides, Rope Course and Zip Lines
• Best For: Young Kids
• FASTPASS Available: No

The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is a fun area where kids can run around, climb and explore. This is a great area where younger kids can run around and get some energy out of their systems!

Paradise Gardens Park

Paradise Gardens Park did not even really exist until Pixar Pier was born. At that time, the original Paradise Pier area was split into two lands, creating Paradise Gardens Park. Here are the rides and attractions in this land:

 Jumpin’ Jellyfish

• Minimum Height: 40”
• Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
• Best For: Young Kids
• FASTPASS Available: No

Jumpin’ Jellyfish is a cute drop ride perfect for kids. It is not going to thrill older kids or adults, but young ones who meet the height requirement will love it!

Golden Zephyr

• Minimum Height:  None
• Attraction Type: Swing Ride
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

Riders board suspended rocket ships and swing in circles. A fun thrill ride for little kids, as there is no height restriction on this one.

Silly Symphony Swings

• Minimum Height: 40”
• Attraction Type: Swing  Ride
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

Silly Symphony Swings is a traditional swing ride. The best part is the classical music and great views of the lake and park you can take in as you’re swinging around in circles.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you have a young child, grab a tandem swing so you can sit and ride together!

Goofy’s Sky School

• Minimum Height: 42”
• Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
• Best For: Older Kids, Teens and Adults
• FASTPASS Available: Yes

Goofy’s Sky School is a small coaster, but it packs a lot of punch! The line can get very long for what is essentially a quick ride, so I wouldn’t recommend waiting if it is more than 25 minutes.

The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type:  Dark Ride
• Best For: Young Kids and Adults
• FASTPASS Available: No

Much like the Haunted Mansion’s “doom” buggies, riders hop in clam shell vehicles for this ride. The ride tells the story of The Little Mermaid, basically recapping the movie in a few relaxing, air-conditioned minutes.

If my son is any example, teens (especially boys) won’t be banging down doors to get one this one! But it is a nice 10-minute ride for younger kids and adults who want to get off their feet for a pinch.

Pixar Pier

Remember when I said Disney California adventure opened with very little “Disney” and then added some later? A big part of that happened when the original Paradise Pier was reimagined and renamed Pixar Pier. All of the existing ride, shops and restaurants got a Pixar makeover, with a few new ones added to boot! Although Pixar Pier did not officially open until 2018, the transformation began with the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania in 2008.

Toy Story Midway Mania!

• Minimum Height:  None
• Attraction Type: Ride
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: Yes

Toy Story Midway Mania! is an interactive game where you ride through five Toy Story-themed carnival games, using your cannon to shoot and score points. This ride can get competitive, but it sure is fun!

 Jessie’s Critter Carousel

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Carousel Ride
• Best For: Young Kids
• FASTPASS Available: No

Jessie’s Critter Carousel is a standard carousel for kids. The design is a reimagineering of the original King Triton’s Carousel of the Sea.

 The Incredicoaster

• Minimum Height: 48”
• Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
• Best For: Teens and Adults
• FASTPASS Available: Yes

Originally “California Screamin,” this reimagined roller coaster reopened with a new story line based on The Incredibles movie in 2018. It is the only coaster that goes upside down at the Disneyland Resort.

Happily, even though this is one of the more thrilling rides at the Disneyland Resort, the line rarely gets longer than a 45-minute wait. Typically it is even shorter.

Emotional Whirlwind

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Swinging
• Best For: Young Kids
• FASTPASS Available: No

Emotional Whirlwind is the newest ride at Disney California Adventure, opened in 2019. If you ever rode Flik’s Flyers when A Bug’s Land was still around, then you know what to expect on the Emotional Whirlwind. Based on the Pixar movie Inside Out, it is a swing ride for all ages.

Pixar Pal-A-Round

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Ferris Wheel
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

Pixar Pal-A-Round is the iconic Ferris wheel at Disney California Adventure. There are two versions to choose from: a traditional non-swinging car, or a swinging car for a little extra thrill.

Cars Land

Inspired by the 2006 Pixar Animations Studios film Cars, Cars Land brings the town of Radiator Springs to life. It is home to three fun rides.

Flo’s V8 Café soars against the scenic landscape of Cars Land. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist.

Radiator Springs Racers

• Minimum Height: 40”
• Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
• Best For: Older Kids, Teens and Adults
• FASTPASS Available: Yes

Join the characters from Cars and zoom through Radiator Springs in a convertible. Radiator Springs Racers is easily one of the best rides at the Disneyland Resort, combining a gorgeous outdoor setting, entertaining indoor dark ride, and thrilling fast finish.

Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters

• Minimum Height: 32”
• Attraction Type: Ride
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

Guests ride in the cars, which whirl and spin to songs such as Mambo Italiano. Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters uses a trackless vehicle system, meaning that the cars are independent of each other as they traverse the dance floor.

Personally, I enjoy watching this one more than I enjoy riding it! With the music and dancing vehicles, it is a visually scrumptious experience.

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

• Minimum Height: 32”
• Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

This ride is a swinging, spinning, tractor-pulling hoedown hosted by Mater. Baby tractors travel in overlapping figure eight patterns along interlocking turntables. Riders sit in trailers attached to the baby tractors.

Read More:  Complete Guide to Cars Land  at Disneyland

Hollywood Land

Hollywood Land is in flux. It’s neighboring A Bug’s Land closed in 2018 to make way for a new Marvel themed land, Avenger’s Campus, which is currently under construction. When it opens, Guardians of the Galaxy will slip nicely into the new land. But for now, it officially resides in Hollywood Land with some other great rides and attractions.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

• Minimum Height: 40”
• Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
• Best For: Teens and Adults
• FASTPASS Available: Yes

Formerly the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is a thrilling drop ride with a high-energy Guardians of the Galaxy story line.

This ride is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Slow Ride
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

Like Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Monsters, Inc. is a kid-friendly, slow-moving ride retelling the story of the movie for which it is named. There are some cute and clever scenes, and fans of the movie will appreciate the retelling.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Screen Show
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a 12-minute 3D show featuring classic Disney music.

Animation Theatre

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Interactive Activities
• Best For: Everyone
• FASTPASS Available: No

The Animation Theatre building in Hollywood Land houses three unique and interactive attractions: Animation Academy, Sorcerer’s Workshop and Turtle Talk with Crush.

Disney Junior Dance Party

• Minimum Height: None
• Attraction Type: Interactive Show
• Best For: Young Kids
• FASTPASS Available: No

Sing, dance, catch bubbles and have fun at this lively show featuring popular characters from the Disney Channel’s line-up.

California Adventure Food

Disney California Adventure is known for its good eats. You’d need more than a few days at the park to even come close to trying everything – and I’m not even talking about their mind-blowing seasonal treats (hello Peppermint Crunch Shakes) or the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival that comes around every spring.

Our favorite restaurant at all of California Adventure is Flo’s V8 Café. Reminiscent of the classic roadside diners that dotted the original Route 66, Flo’s is a quick-service dining location open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Flo’s kitschy atmosphere and patio tables overlooking scenic Monument Valley and Radiator Springs Racers make this a memorable location to grab a meal. Young kids will love the Cars theming, and adults will appreciate the cafe’s retro feel.

Here is a list of restaurants and places to grab snacks in every land at Disney California Adventure.

Buena Vista Street

• Carthay Circle Lounge
• Carthay Circle Restaurant
• Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
• Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe

Grizzly Peak

• Smokejumpers Grill

Paradise Gardens Park

• Bayside Brews
  
• Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta
• Corn Dog Castle
• Paradise Garden Grill

Pixar Pier

• Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats
• Angry Dogs
• Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff Confectionery
• Jack Jack Cookie Num Nums
  
• Lamplight Lounge
  
• Poultry Palace
• Senor Buzz Churros

Pacific Wharf

• Al Fresco Lounge
• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
• Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
• Pacific Wharf Cafe
• Rita’s Baja Blenders
• The Lucky Fortune Cookery
• Wine Country Trattoria at Golden Vine Winery

Cars Land

• Cozy Cone Motel
• Fillmore’s Taste-In
• Flo’s V-8 Café

Hollywood Land

• Award Wieners
• Schmoozies

California Adventure Entertainment

In addition to the rides, Disney California Adventure offers top notch entertainment! Here’s a round-up of entertainment offerings at Disney California Adventure.

Character Greetings

If you have little kids, chances are meeting their favorite Disney and Pixar characters is at the top of your list. Luckily, Disney California Adventure has numerous spots where you can meet the characters. Check your app or guide for times and exact locations.

• Buena Vista Street – Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck
• Grizzly Peak – Chip and Dale
• Pixar Pier – Woody, Buzz and Jessie
• Cars Land – Mater, Lightening McQueen and Red
• Hollywood Land – Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Spiderman, Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America

World of Color

World of Color is a 25-minute nighttime water and light show over Paradise Bay. Jets of water shoot into the air, lasers electrify the night and perfectly timed pyrotechnics explode in a blaze of brilliant color. Scenes and music from Disney and Pixar films are projected onto a grand fountain spraying 19,000-square-feet of water.

During Halloween Time and the Holiday Season special versions of the show are performed. It is a must-see show for all ages!

SheBuysTravel Tip: Grab a World of Color FASTPASS for access to a reserved viewing area for the show.

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion

This Broadway-caliber production of Frozen tells the story of royal sisters Anna and Elsa, including popular songs from the movie.  The show is performed at Disney California Adventure’s Hyperion Theatre and lasts about an hour. Although it will take up a chunk of your afternoon, it is definitely worth the time!

Paradise Garden Bandstand

Enjoy lunch or dinner and a show at the Paradise Garden Bandstand. A rotating lineup of musical acts perform daily, so check Disney’s Entertainment Schedule for upcoming performances.

Street Entertainment

Disney California Adventure features awesome street performers throughout the park, including the Grammy award-winning Mariachi Divas and Red Car Trolley News Boys. Again, check Disney’s Entertainment Schedule for exact times and locations.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Day at the Park

Although it is packed with things to do, California Adventure is smaller than Disneyland park and typically closes earlier, thus making having a solid game plan essential to getting the most out of your day! Here are some tips to help you maximize your time at the park.

Arrive Early to the Parks

Hands-down, the absolute best advice you can get to beat the rush at Disneyland is to arrive early. The crowds are lightest at opening time. Arrive 15-30 minutes before the parks open to take advantage of lighter crowds.

Download an App to Check Wait Times

Download the Disneyland app so you’ll be able to check wait times in real time. The app will give you an overview of posted and predicted wait times for all the rides at both Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure. Otherwise, you have to do it old school — checing the Tip Board on Main Street or just showing up only to find long wait times. With the Disneyland app, you can adjust your plans on the fly and have maximum fun regardless of crowd levels.

Use Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering

The Disneyland app recently added mobile food ordering and it’s a game changer. This new feature allows you to view a restaurant’s menu and pricing, place your order, pay, and pick up your meal at the restaurant all without ever having to wait in line.

Use FASTPASS or MaxPass

Having a good FASTPASS strategy is imperative to beating the crowds at Disneyland. The Disneyland FASTPASS system allows you to skip the lines for some of the most popular attractions in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks.

MaxPass is even better! However, there is an extra fee (currently $15 per person, per day). But with MaxPass you can manage your FASTPASS selections from the app on your phone, thus saving even more time and ensuring your day at Disney California Adventure will be great!