Disney California Adventure is the second theme park at the Disneyland Resort that opened on February 8, 2001. This park was opened across from the original Disneyland Park. Most of the park's themed lands are inspired by different aspects of California with a heavy focus on intellectual properties, including Marvel and Pixar.
Disney California Adventure has eight different themed areas: Buena Vista Street, Cars Land, Pixar Pier, Paradise Gardens Park, San Fransokyo Square, Avengers Campus, Grizzly Peak, and Hollywood Land. Disney California Adventure currently has 20+ attractions, and there are more new rides and experiences in the works for this park. You can read the latest Disneyland news here.
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Disney California Adventure Overview
Disney California Adventure is filled with fun Marvel and Pixar character encounters, thrilling rides, seasonal festivals, and more.
Before you visit Disney California Adventure, make sure to familiarize yourself with the essential Disneyland tools you need to make the most of your park day.
Here are more details on the best strategies and itineraries for touring Disney California Adventure, with and without Disneyland's line-skipping service, Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
- 3-day trip:
- 1-day trip
- Morning rope drop: Mickey Visit Disney California Adventure Morning Touring Strategy & Rope Drop Tips
Disney California Adventure hours vary throughout the year depending on the season, and the park may close early on select dates due to special after-hours events. See an overview of the Disney California Adventure hours you can expect:
For Disney California Adventure parking, there are three main parking structures for Disneyland and one for Downtown Disney. See more details on the locations and pricing of parking:
There are several Disney California Adventure restaurants to choose from, including table-service and quick-service restaurants. See more details about these restaurants:
Before your visit, it's helpful to check out the Disney California Adventure map so you are familiar with the layout of the park and its lands.
A popular entertainment offering at Disney California Adventure is World of Color, the nighttime spectacular over Paradise Bay. You can see details on World of Color at Disney California Adventure here:
Disney California Adventure parades will be offered seasonally with special celebrations or other events. See details on the Disney California Adventure parades here:
There are several Disney California Adventure rides across the park's different lands. See the best ones ranked below:
Disney California Adventure hosts a few different seasonal festivals throughout the year that include special entertainment and food marketplaces throughout the park. The festivals below are held annually:
- Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
- Disneyland Lunar New Year Festival
- Disney Festival of Holidays
Disney California Adventure is within walking distance of the shopping and dining district at the resort, Downtown Disney.
Disney California Adventure Lands
Buena Vista Street: Buena Vista Street is the first land you'll encounter in Disney California Adventure, themed to 1920s-30s Los Angeles. A few highlights of this area are the confectionery store Trolley Treats and the upscale Carthay Circle Restaurant.
Cars Land: Cars Land, a recreation of the town Radiator Springs from Pixar's Cars film, is located to the south of the park. This immersive land is home to the popular Radiator Springs Racers thrill ride and themed dining locations like Cozy Cone Motel.
Pixar Pier: Pixar Pier, located to the southwest of the park, is themed to various Pixar characters and stories, including The Incredibles, Inside Out, and Toy Story. This area is home to the intense roller coaster The Incredicoaster and the popular interactive shooting ride Toy Story Midway Mania! as well as one of our favorite restaurants, the waterfront Lamplight Lounge. You'll find various Pixar characters meeting throughout the land.
Paradise Gardens Park: Paradise Gardens Park is themed to a seaside amusement park, located to the west of the park. This area of the park is home to rides like the swing ride Silly Symphony Swings and the dark ride The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure, as well as the viewing area for the nighttime spectacular World of Color.
San Fransokyo Square: San Fransokyo Square is a dining area near the center of the park inspired by the film Big Hero 6. This area is home to several restaurants, including Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Aunt Cass Cafe, and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop. You'll also find a character meet-and-greet with Baymax and Hiro here.
Avengers Campus: Avengers Campus is a land themed to the Marvel superheroes located to the east of the park. Here, you'll find several Marvel characters out greeting guests, as well as the popular drop ride Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! and the fun Ant-Man themed quick-service restaurant Pym Test Kitchen.
Grizzly Peak: Grizzly Peak is themed to California's national parks, located to the west of the park with a direct entrance from the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. This land is home to the hang gliding simulation ride Soarin' Around the World and the whitewater raft ride Grizzly River Run.
Hollywood Land: Hollywood Land, themed to the 1930s Golden Age of Hollywood, is located to the northeast of the park. This area is where you'll find the Disney Animation Building (home to attractions like Animation Academy and Turtle Talk with Crush), the family-friendly dark ride Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, and the Hyperion Theater.
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