Last updated on March 1st, 2024 at 04:33 pm
Looking for a quick guide to Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort?
How could a website called âCalifornia Family Travelâ possibly not cover a family theme park celebrating the state of California? It just wouldn’t be right. And while many people have asked is California Adventure work visiting, I will always advocate for this gem of a park!
My family has visited many times â I mean, we’re probably talking triple digits. So I am excited to share with you this guide to Disney California Adventure to give you a solid overview to help plan your visit.
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 Overview
Entire books have been written about how to plan a trip to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, but that can be overwhelming!
Sometimes all you need is an overview to get your bearings and decide what you definitely donât want to miss. That is exactly what this quick guide to California Adventure is intended to provide!
When Disney California Adventure had its official park opening in 2001, the theme park was all about the California experience. Disney California Adventure Park was designed to give visitors a taste of Californiaâs rich history and high points. You can ride a 1920s Red Car Trolley through Hollywood Land, visit a seaside amusement park, or ride the rapids through a gold mining wilderness.
At the time, there was barely a trace of the Pixar or Disney characters we all know and love.
Over the past 20 years, DCA has added new lands, rethemed old ones, and added more Disney magic overall. Today, California Adventure still celebrates the beauty, style and flavors of California, but there is a healthy dose of Disney, Pixar and now Marvel characters and fun.
Disney California Adventure Rides List
Ready to get into the nitty-gritty of this Disney California Adventure guide? Letâs start by getting a lay of the lands and the rides and attractions in each area.
DCA is comprised of eight distinct areas. If you enter the park and hang a left to circle the theme park clockwise, the lands are:
- Buena Vista Street
- Hollywood Land
- Avengers Campus
- Cars Land
- San Fransokyo Square
- Pixar Pier
- Paradise Gardens Park
- Grizzly Peak
Let’s take a trip around the park to see what there is to do in each land! Hereâs a complete California Adventure rides list.
Buena Vista Street
The heart of Disney California Adventure!
Red Car Trolleys
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Trolley Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Hop aboard a charming vintage trolley for a scenic ride through Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land. The Red Car Trolleys are modeled after the Pacific Electric Railway trolleys that crisscrossed the Los Angeles area from 1887 until 1961, with more than 1,000 miles of active track.
The Red Car Trolleys run continuously and stop at four locations in DCA. You can hop on and off anywhere along the line.
Hollywood Land
Take a stroll through the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Slow Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: No
Like The Little Mermaid, Monsters, Inc. is a kid-friendly, slow-moving ride retelling the story of the movie for which it is named.
Mickeyâs PhilharMagic
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Screen Show
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Mickeyâs PhilharMagic, a 12-minute 3D show featuring classic Disney music.
Hyperion Theater
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Live Show
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
The Hyperion Theater can seat up to 1,984 people and features live stage shows (most recently “Rogers: The Musical”) throughout the year.
Animation Theatre
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Interactive Activities
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
The Animation Theatre building in Hollywood Land houses three unique and interactive attractions: Animation Academy, Sorcererâs Workshop and Turtle Talk with Crush.
Disney Junior Dance Party
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Interactive Show
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Sing, dance, catch bubbles and have fun at this lively show featuring popular characters from the Disney Channelâs line-up.
Avengers Campus
The newest addition to DCA, Avengers Campus opened on June 4, 2021. It is a fully immersive land thatâs fun for all ages, with rides that let you sling webs with Spider-Man and dining, attractions and character spottings that will have you living among Super Heroes.
WEB SLINGERS: A Spiderman Adventure
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Interactive Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: Yes
Hop aboard a WEB Slinger vehicle and wrangle rogue Spider-Bots during this mayhem-filled mission at Avengers Campus!
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
- Minimum Height: 40â
- Attraction Type: Thrill Ride with Drops
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: No
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.
Cars Land
Inspired by the 2006 Pixar Animations Studios film Cars, Cars Land at Disney California Adventure brings the town of Radiator Springs to life. It is home to three fun rides, and it is my favorite area of the park!
Radiator Springs Racers
- Minimum Height: 40â
- Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider 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.
Luigiâs Rollickinâ Roadsters
- Minimum Height: 32â
- Attraction Type: Spinning Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Guests ride in the cars, which whirl and spin to songs such as Mambo Italiano. Luigiâs Rollickinâ Roadsters uses a trackless vehicle system, meaning that the cars are independent of each other as they traverse the dance floor.
Materâs Junkyard Jamboree
- Minimum Height: 32â
- Attraction Type: Spinning Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider 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.
San Fransokyo Square
San Fransokyo Square officially opened on August 31, 2023 â featuring sights, shops, and cuisine from the industrious city in Walt Disney Animation Studiosâ âBig Hero 6.â
This reimagined area of Disney California Adventure Park is a fictional mash-up of two iconic cities â San Francisco and Tokyo. The most iconic landmark of the area is the 54-foot-tall San Fransokyo Gate Bridge
The Bakery Tour
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Walk-Through Tour
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Hosted by San Francisco’s Boudin Bakery, this attraction is a walk-through tour that demonstrates step-by-step how sourdough bread is made! You’ll even get a tasty sample.
Pixar Pier
This section of the park is awesome for people who love classic Disney Pixar movies!
Remember when I said Disney California Adventure opened with very little âDisneyâ and then added some later? A big part of that happened when the original Paradise Pier was renamed Pixar Pier. All of the existing rides, shops and restaurants got a Pixar makeover, and some new ones were added, too! Although Pixar Pier did not officially open until 2018, the transformation began with Toy Story Mania in 2008.
Toy Story Midway Mania!
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Slow Interactive Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: No
Toy Story 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!
Jessieâs Critter Carousel
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Carousel
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Jessieâs Critter Carousel is a standard carousel for kids. The design is a reimagineering of the original King Tritonâs Carousel of the Sea.
The Incredicoaster
- Minimum Height: 48â
- Attraction Type: Thrill Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: Yes
Originally âCalifornia Screamin,â this reimagined roller coaster reopened in 2018 with a new story line based on the Disney Pixar film, The Incredibles. It is the only coaster that goes upside down at the Disneyland Resort, and one of the best Thrill Rides at Disney California Adventure.
Pixar Pal-A-Round
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Ferris Wheel
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
âPixar Pal-A-Roundâ 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.
Emotional Whirlwind
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Swing Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Emotional Whirlwind is the newest ride at Disney California Adventure, opened in 2019. If you ever rode Flikâs Flyers when A Bugâs 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.
Paradise Gardens Park
Paradise Gardens Park did not even exist until Pixar Pier was born, when the original Paradise Pier area was split into two lands.
The Little Mermaid
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Slow Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Much like the Haunted Mansionâs “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.
Golden Zephyr
- Minimum Height: None
- Attraction Type: Swing Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider 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.
Goofyâs Sky School
- Minimum Height: 42â
- Attraction Type: Mid-Thrill Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: Yes
Goofyâs Sky School is a small coaster, but it packs a lot of punch!
Jumpinâ Jellyfish
- Minimum Height: 40â
- Attraction Type: Mid-Thrill Ride with Slow Drops
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
Jumpinâ Jellyfish is a cute drop ride perfect for kids.
Silly Symphony Swings
- Minimum Height: 40â
- Attraction Type: Swing Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider 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 youâre swinging around in circles.
Grizzly Peak
Grizzly Peak celebrates Californiaâs wild side, conjuring up the spirit of Yosemite and Muir Woods. If you are lucky enough to be staying at Disneyâs Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, you will enter the park directly into Grizzly Peak.
Grizzly River Run
- Minimum Height: 42â
- Attraction Type: River Rapids Thrill Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: Yes
Grizzly River Run is a roaring rapids raft ride. You WILL get wet!
Soarinâ
- Minimum Height: 40â
- Attraction Type: Motion Simulator Thrill Ride
- Lightening Lane Available: Yes
- Single Rider Available: Yes
Soarinâ takes you on a simulated hang-gliding adventure featuring real scenes from around the world. This ride was previously Soarin’ Over California, before it was 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
- Lightening Lane Available: No
- Single Rider Available: No
The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is a fun area where kids can run around, climb and explore. This is a great spot to let kids expel some extra energy!
California Adventure Food
Food, glorious food!
Disney California Adventure is known for its wonderful food. In fact, the park hosts two major food-themed events â the California Adventure Food and Wine Festival in the spring and the Festive Foods Marketplace during the holiday season. But before we get into those special events, letâs talk about the day-to-day food offerings and Disney California restaurants.
Youâll find a number of options in every section of the park â from fancy restaurants with an adult vibe to fun, kid-friendly quick service spots.
Our favorite restaurant at all of California Adventure is Floâs V8 CafĂ©. Reminiscent of the classic roadside diners that dotted the original Route 66, Floâs is a quick-service dining location open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Floâs 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 cafeâs 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
- Clarabelleâs Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
- Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe
- Mortimers Market
Hollywood Land
- Award Wieners
- Schmoozies
- Fairfax Market
- Studio Catering Co.
Avengers Campus
- Pym Test Kitchen
- Pym Tasting Lab
- Shawarma Palace
- Terran Treats
Cars Land
- Cozy Cone Motel
- Fillmoreâs Taste-In
- Floâs V-8 Cafe
San Fransokyo Square
Like its predecessor Pacific Wharf, at its heart San Fransokyo Square is a place to grab a meal! Here are the eateries you’ll find here:
- Aunt Cass Café
- Port of San Fransokyo CervecerĂa
- Lucky Fortune Cookery
- Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
- Ritaâs Turbine Blenders
- Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
- Cappuccino Cart
Pixar Pier
- Lamplight Lounge
- Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats
- Angry Dogs
- Bing Bongâs Sweet Stuff Confectionery
- Jack Jack Cookie Num Nums
- Poultry Palace
- Senor Buzz Churro
Paradise Gardens Park
- Bayside Brews
- Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta
- Paradise Garden Grill
- Corn Dog Castle
- Wine Country Trattoria
Grizzly Peak
- Smokejumpers Grill
- Refreshment Point
California Adventure Alcohol
Can you buy alcoholic drinks at Disneyland California Adventure? Yes, you can!
Disney California Adventure offers many options for enjoying an adult beverage. In fact, DCA has some of the best alcoholic drinks at Disneyland Resort. Here is an overview of our favorite places to order alcohol at California Adventure.
âș Click here to read our complete guide to the best spots for adult beverages at the Disneyland Resort.
Buena Vista Street
Located on Buena Vista Street near the entrance to the park, Carthay Circle Lounge is a sophisticated spot to enjoy signature cocktails, craft beers and wine. Pair your Disney drink with one of the many delicious and unique bar snacks on the menu.
Avengerâs Campus
For beer and cocktails with a Super Heroâs twist, visit Pym Tasting Lab. This lively outdoor bar features innovative cocktails with names such as Molecular Meltdown and X-Periment. They also offer soft drinks, wine, snacks, and a Pint-Sized Mini Beer Flight perfect for sharing.
San Fransokyo Square
With numerous places to choose from in this Big Hero 6-themed dining area, youâre covered. Here’s where you can find a cold one!
- Port of San Fransokyo CervecerĂa â This new location draws inspiration from its tri-cultural influences with signage in English, Japanese and Spanish. An inviting beer garden makes a relaxing setting for guests to enjoy snacks and those 21 and older to sip on a selection of alcoholic beverages.
- Lucky Fortune Cookery â Foodies of all ages can choose from a delicious menu of dishes and beverages with Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean influences.
- Ritaâs Turbine Blenders â Featuring margaritas and icy beverages, this refreshment stand is named after the repair technician who maintains the floating wind turbine, resembling a giant koi fish, that sits atop the structure.
Pixar Pier
Located near the Silly Symphony Swings, Bayside Brews is one of the best spots to buy beer at Disneyland! Choose from six craft beers on tap and fresh-baked soft pretzels to enjoy along the waterfront.
Lamplight Lounge at the foot of Pixar Pier offers an array of tasty food, draft beers and one-of-a-kind signature Disneyland cocktails with a Pixar twist.
California Adventure Entertainment
In addition to the rides, Disney California Adventure offers top notch entertainment! Hereâs a round-up of entertainment offerings at Disney California Adventure.
Street Entertainment
Disney California Adventure features awesome street performers and atmosphere entertainment throughout the park, including the Grammy award-winning Mariachi Divas, Citizens of Buena Vista Street, Five & Dime, Warriors of Wakanda, and Avengers Assemble!
Character Greetings
If you have little kids, meeting their favorite Disney and Pixar characters likely is at the top of your list. Luckily, Disney California Adventure has numerous spots where you can meet the characters. Check your Disneyland app (more on that later) or guide for times and exact locations to meet these characters:
- Buena Vista Street â Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck
- Grizzly Peak â Chip and Dale
- Pixar Pier â The Incredibles, Woody, Buzz and Jessie
- Cars Land â Mater, Lightening McQueen and Red
- Avengers Campus â Spiderman and all your favorite Super Heroes
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 (1,200 fountains to be exact!) and animation is projected on water screens. 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.
At the Oogie Boogie Bash during Halloween Time at Disneyland, and during the holiday season, special versions of the show are performed.
Parades at DCA
Disney California Adventure is home to many parades throughout the year. Many are temporary and only last a few weeks. Some family favorites include Mulanâs Lunar New Year Procession, scheduled to run from January 20 to February 15, 2023 and the Frightfully Fun Parade, which returns fall 2023 exclusively at Oogie Boogie Bash.
Paradise Garden Bandstand
Enjoy lunch or dinner and a show at the Paradise Garden Bandstand. A rotating lineup of musical acts perform daily. Check Disneylandâs Entertainment Schedule for upcoming performances.
Plaza de la Familia
Experience Plaza de la Familia in Paradise Gardens every fall. This immersive celebration honors the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, with entertainment, festive foods, crafts and interactive experiences.
Disney Festival of Holidays at DCA
Festival of Holidays is a seasonal celebration of diverse cultural festivities with music, food and fun. It takes place every holiday season from November through early January at Disney California Adventure Park.
Take in the sights and sounds of all the holidaysâincluding Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings’ Dayâthat make the season bright through diverse festivities and beloved seasonal traditions.
âș Click here to check out our detailed Guide to Disneyland Christmas.
This is also the time of year youâll find the Festive Foods Marketplace and Disney ÂĄViva Navidad! at Disney California Adventure.
Disney California Adventure Map
Here is a map of Disney California Adventure to help orient you to the different lands and what is available in each area of the park.
Stroller & Locker Rentals at DCA
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure share a stroller rental facility. It is located in the esplanade right outside the parks. This is great because you can use the same strolled all day, even if you are park hopping.
Strollers are available for $15 per day for one stroller or $25 per day for two strollers.
Lockers are located right inside the main entrance to Disney California Adventure on Buena Vista Street. You can choose from a variety of sizes from Small to Jumbo, and rentals include unlimited access throughout the day.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Day at California Adventure
Though it is packed with things to do, California Adventure is smaller than Disneyland Park and typically closes earlier. A solid game plan is 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 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 the Disneyland App
Download the Disneyland app so youâll 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 Disneyâs California Adventure. Otherwise, you have to do it old school â checking the Tip Board on Main Street or just showing up at a ride, only to find long wait times.
The app will also allow you to access your tickets and park reservations, use Genie Plus, mobile food ordering, and much more.
Take Advantage of Single Rider Lines
If your group doesnât mind being separated for the ride itself (and your kids are old enough to ride without you!) consider hopping into a Single Rider line. You still get to hang out together while you wait, youâll just be popped into seats next to strangers when it is your turn to ride. Disney does this to fill odd spots and ensure popular rides donât go with empty seats. This keeps the line moving for everyone as quickly as possible!
Weâve waited to ride Radiator Springs Racers less than 20 minutes when the regular stand-by line had a two and a half hour wait time! It is a huge timesaver and helps you squeeze as much fun as possible into your day.
Consider Using Genie+
After FastPass and MaxPass were retired, Disney replaced them with a new Genie+ system which allows you to make Lightening Lane selections on your phone and come back at the designated time to ride without waiting in line.
You can also purchase an individual Lightning Lane reservation to skip the line for one particular ride.
Iâll be honest, I am not a fan of Genie+ because like many people I resent the idea of paying extra for something that not only used to be free, but adds to the bottom line of an already expensive day! That said, Disney Genie+ is a great way to cut down on waiting times for many of the most popular rides and attractions.
Genie+ also includes digital downloads of PhotoPass photos. So, if photos are important, this may take the sting out of purchasing Genie plus.
Use Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering
Use the Disneyland app on your phone for mobile food ordering. Itâs a game changer! This feature allows you to view a restaurantâs menu and pricing, place your order, pay, and pick up your meal at the restaurant all without ever having to wait in line.
Take Advantage of Early Entry
If you are staying at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels, take advantage of Early Entry at DCA. Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can enter the park 30 minutes before regular park opening to enjoy select attractions, dining and shopping locations. This is a perk of staying on-property and an awesome opportunity to experience the parks crowd-free before rope drop in the morning.
Is California Adventure Worth It?
Let’s wrap this article up by answering a fairly common question. Is California Adventure worth it?
The answer is a resounding YES! It is definitely worth visiting Disney California Adventure. DCA is completely unique and offers many exciting areas you won’t find at any other Disney park in the world – Cars Land, Avengers Campus, Pixar Pier and more. It also has the most thrilling roller coaster at the Disneyland Resort.
While most people plan their Disneyland vacation most excited to visit the original Disneyland theme park, Disney California Adventure should not be overlooked. It may not hold the history and nostalgia (or sheer number of attractions) you will find at Disneyland, but there is more than enough there to fill a day and it is a integral part of the Disneyland experience.
From thrill rides featuring Super Heroes and Pixar pals to rides and shows even toddlers can enjoy, Disney California Adventure in Anaheim has something for everyone!
So if you are wondering Is California Adventure worth it when it comes to spending the time and money – especially if your time is limited – we would definitely recommend at least a day dedicated to DCA.
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