History Of California Adventure - Information On California Adventure Anaheim, California

Disney California Adventure Park, commonly referred to as California Adventure, is a theme park located in Anaheim, California, owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division. The 72-acre (29 ha) park is themed after the history and culture of the state of California. The park opened in 2001, and it is the second of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort complex, after Disneyland Park.

The concept of a theme park dedicated to California arose from a meeting of Disney executives in 1995, following the cancellation of the WestCOT project. Construction of the park began in 1998, and was completed by early 2001. Disney initially projected high attendance rates at the new park, but a series of preview openings held in January 2001 led to negative reviews, and after the park officially opened to the public on February 8, 2001, the company's attendance projections were never met. Disney spent the next several years incrementally adding new rides, shows, and attractions, and implementing other promotions aimed at boosting attendance. In 2007, Disney announced a major expansion of the park as well as a major overhaul of a significant portion of the park. Construction lasted for five years and was completed in stages, culminating with the opening of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land in June 2012.

According to the Themed Entertainment Association, the park hosted approximately 8.5 million guests in 2013, making it the 10th-most visited theme park in the world that year.

Concept And Creation
The present-day site of Disney California Adventure Park was acquired by Walt Disney in the 1950s, and functioned as the parking lot of Disneyland for over 40 years. After succeeding with the multi-park business model at Walt Disney World in Florida, the Disney company decided to turn Walt Disney's original theme park into a multi-park resort complex as well. In 1991, Disney announced plans to build WestCOT, a west coast version of what was then known as EPCOT Center, on the site of Disneyland's parking lot. The high price tag of the proposed park as well as the company's financial and public relations problems with the newly opened Euro Disneyland (now Disneyland Paris) led Disney to cancel WestCOT in 1995.

In the summer of 1995, Michael Eisner, Disney's CEO at the time, gathered company executives in Aspen, Colorado to think of another idea for a second theme park in California. From those meetings, Disney decided it would instead build a park themed to the history and culture of the state of California. They wanted to make California into a theme park, hoping to create "precise reproductions of California landmarks, charming streets and gorgeous landscaping that stimulates the state's forests and farmlands" and celebrate the California dream. It was intended to appeal to adults while Disneyland was intended to appeal to children.Construction of the park began in 1998; the park's construction was accompanied by Downtown Disney and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, and renovations of the Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland Pacific Hotel.

Opening And Initial Criticism
The park was expected to draw large crowds when it opened on February 8, 2001. On January 14, a Los Angeles Times article titled "The most Jam-Packed Theme Park on Earth?" stated, "Senior Disney officials acknowledge that there will be days when California Adventure will have to turn patrons away, particularly in the first weeks after the park opens, during spring break and again in the summer." However, the actual attendance that year was substantially less than expected. This is suggested to have happened due to poor reviews from early visitors, the lack of focus in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, lack of attractions for children, large amount of off-the-shelf attractions (with Soarin' Around the World being the sole exception), a high number of stores and restaurants relative to the number of attractions, and having a redundant theme, given the park is located in California. The park also lacks a park berm to separate it from surrounding neighborhoods. The berm in Disneyland Park uses trees and earthen mounds to build a physical barrier around the park so that structures external to the park cannot be seen, thus encompassing guests in the setting. At Disney California Adventure Park, nearby hotels, power lines, radio towers, and the Anaheim Convention Center are visible, reducing the immersion in the park. Disney had originally planned the park to be aimed at adults rather than children which turned out to be a major criticism.

The park opened to only 5 million visitors in 2001 while its sister park Disneyland saw 12.3 million visitors during the same time frame. Low attendance caused Disney to lower ticket prices for California Adventure, slashing as much as $10 off of the park's ticket prices. In its first year, the park only averaged 5,000 to 9,000 visitors on weekdays and 10,000 to 15,000 on the weekends despite having a capacity of 33,000. Visitor surveys reported that only 20% of visitors to the park in its first year were satisfied with their experience. By October 2001 both Wolfgang Puck and Robert Mondavi closed their high-profile restaurants in the park, citing low crowds, though Mondavi remained as a sponsor.

Early Changes And Expansions
Two of the park's major criticisms in its first year were the lack of attractions appealing to children and the lack of a nighttime show or parade to keep visitors from leaving at nightfall. Within the first year of operation, Disney's Electrical Parade and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! were brought to the park, and several of its original rides and attractions were closed, including Superstar Limo and Disney's Steps in Time. During the 2001 holiday season Disney's LuminAria was presented on Paradise Bay. In October 2002 the Flik's Fun Fair area opened, which added attractions for children, and in May 2004 Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opened as another E ticket. The park regularly featured seasonal promotions such as concert series, food festivals, and promotions for other Walt Disney Company franchises including the X Games and ABC soap operas. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! opened in the former Superstar Limo building in January 2006.

2007–2012 Redesign And Expansion
By 2007, Disney had realized that the park was not working and that something major needed to be done. Bob Iger said of the park, "Any time you do something mediocre with your brand, that's a withdrawal. California Adventure was a brand withdrawal." Iger briefly considered combining Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park into one large park, but the price would have cost as much as completely remodeling California Adventure. On October 17, 2007, The Walt Disney Company announced a multi-year, $1.1 billion redesign and expansion plan for Disney's California Adventure Park (against its initial $600 million price to build). Each district was reimagined to transform the park from a veritable spoof of modern California culture to a romanticized, idealized version of the state, exploring specific time periods and historic settings. The project began in December 2007 and was completed in stages. Toy Story Midway Mania! opened on Pixar Pier in June 2008, in space formerly occupied by a store and restaurants. World of Color, a nighttime water and lights show on Paradise Bay, opened in June 2010. The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure opened on the site formerly occupied by the Golden Dreams theater in June 2011.

The most drastic changes to the park included a complete overhaul of the main entrance, Sunshine Plaza, and Paradise Pier, as well as an expansion into the last of the parking area originally designated as future growth space for the park. The main entrance and Sunshine Plaza were turned from a "giant postcard" spoof of California into Buena Vista Street, a representation of Los Angeles as it appeared when Walt Disney moved there in the 1920s. The "CALIFORNIA" sign in front was removed and donated to Cal Expo in Sacramento. Paradise Pier was turned from a comical representation of California boardwalks into a representation of Victorian seaside amusement parks of the 1920s, and some of the area's off-the-shelf rides were either removed outright (Maliboomer) or re-themed to have more of a focus on Disney characters (Mickey's Fun Wheel, Goofy's Sky School, Silly Symphony Swings). Cars Land, an area that simulates Radiator Springs from Disney·Pixar's Cars film franchise, was added to the southeast portion of the park, and includes three new rides including the E ticket Radiator Springs Racers. Construction was completed in 2012 and the park was "re-dedicated" on June 14, 2012. The park received a modified name, Disney California Adventure, and a new logo, first put into use on June 11, 2010 and promoted in a commercial promoting World of Color a few days prior.

The redesign and expansion of the park saw attendance rates increase dramatically. In 2012, Disney California Adventure reached a record high for the park of over 7 million visitors (a 23% increase from the year before), a number Disney had hoped the park would do in its first year. The day of the park's re-dedication saw the park draw a record number of 43,000 visitors in one day. The night before the re-dedication, over 500 people camped outside of the park in order to be the first admitted in. Two days later, the park hit a new record of 45,000 visitors. Speaking on the attendance increase at Disney California Adventure, Jay Rasulo, Disney's chief financial officer, said "We had a very uneven distribution where most people spent most of their time at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure was empty. Now, half of the folks go to one, half of the folks go to the other. It's almost a dream come true."

Buena Vista Street
Buena Vista Street is the first "themed district" inside the main entrance of California Adventure Park, taking its name from the Burbank street on which the Walt Disney Studios are located. Guests enter through the main entrance gate, which resembles the landmark Pan-Pacific Auditorium. Buena Vista Street includes an immersive recreation of early 1920s Los Angeles when Walt Disney first arrived with Mission and Art Deco facades housing shops and restaurants. A recreation of Carthay Circle Theater, which showcased the world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 sits at the end of the street, serving as the visual anchor for the district. The 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Red Car Trolley - Buena Vista Street travels from the entry, up Buena Vista Street to Carthay Circle, then down Hollywood Boulevard towards Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!. Buena Vista Street was opened to the public on June 15, 2012.

Paradise Pier
Pixar Pier spans 15 acres (61,000 m2) and is the largest themed "land" in the Disneyland Resort. Paradise Pier is themed as an idealized version of popular coastal boardwalks, such as the Santa Monica Pier and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop and the Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta are two restaurants in the district that are connected by an outdoor, shaded seating area built around a gazebo in which bands play daily. The district's attractions, such as Incredicoaster (a launched steel roller coaster built to appear as a classic wooden coaster) resemble the timeless amusement park rides found at many boardwalks. Toy Story Midway Mania! is an interactive 3D attraction inspired by classic midway games. Pixar Pal-A-Round is a 160-foot (49 m)-tall Ferris wheel overlooking Paradise Bay, a large body of water that dominates the Paradise Pier area. A hydrotechnic show, World of Color - Celebrate! is performed nightly on the waters of Paradise Bay (using fountains, projection, and flame effects) and showcases a series of vignettes from numerous Disney and Pixar films. It also features Goofy's Sky School, a typical Wild Mouse roller coaster based on the 1940 animated Disney Short Goofy's Glider. The area also includes The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure, a dark ride based on the animated film and Jessie's Critter Carousell, a merry-go-round surrounded by fan fountains that features sea creatures (sea lions, sea horses, dolphins, and whales) in place of traditional horses.

Grizzly Peak
Grizzly Peak is themed around California's wilderness and national parks with particular references to Yosemite and Redwood national parks. Its main attraction is Grizzly River Run, a Gold Rush-esque river rapids ride around the summit of Grizzly Peak. Nearby is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail; a playground area that includes elements from Disney's Brother Bear and Disney-Pixar's Up. A special entrance exclusive to guests of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is located in this area.

Condor Flats
Condor Flats is themed around an airfield in tribute to California's pilots and engineers from the 1940s to the mid-1960s and the era's aeronautical achievements. Its retaining walls are made up of old railroad ties, and World War II runways. The featured attraction is Soarin' Around the World, a ride that simulates a hang glider tour of California. The district also contains the Taste Pilots' Grill counter service restaurant, a shop, and a water play area. The number 47 is hidden in various places as a reference to 1947, the year the sound barrier was broken. The clock on the Fly 'N' Buy store is stopped at the exact time the sound barrier was broken on October 14, 1947 by Chuck Yeager.

Pacific Wharf
Pacific Wharf is based on Monterey's Cannery Row area, especially as depicted in John Steinbeck's novels, and also resembles San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. It includes the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, Pacific Wharf Cafe, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Wine Country Trattoria restaurant, Mendocino Terrace, Sonoma Terrace, Karl Strauss Handcrafted Beers, and Rita's Baja Blenders. The district also features the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, and the Boudin Bakery's Bakery Tour, touring the sourdough bread-making process with Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie as video tour guides. The area is home to the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar, which opened in October 2008. Blue Sky Cellar is an attraction that displays construction projects being worked on within the resort. It is currently closed indefinitely.

Hollywood Land
Hollywood Land is an area inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s. It includes attractions based on film, television, theater and a subsection called Hollywood Studios which is designed to appear as an active studio back-lot. A version of the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! attraction from Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in 2004. The Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! attraction is also featured in the district, based on the characters from Disney·Pixar's Monsters, Inc. The 2000-seat Hyperion Theater located in the center of Hollywood Land currently plays host to Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular. Disney Junior Dance Party! opened on March 25, 2011, and currently features Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

Featured since the park's opening is Muppet Vision 3D, a show that originated at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Both the Muppet*Vision 3D and Tower of Terror attractions benefited from the many advances and new technology made available to the Imagineers since their original incarnations opened in Florida, allowing the California versions to be technologically superior in certain aspects. The restroom facilities in the district are designed in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright's Storer House, located in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles. The stamped concrete structure is typical of Wright's pioneering design.

"Frozen Fun", inspired by Disney's animated film Frozen, premiered January 7, 2015 as a limited-time offering featuring several new additions to Hollywood Land such as "Anna & Elsa's Royal Welcome," a location inside the Disney Animation building for Anna and Elsa to meet and greet with guests. Another attraction is "For the First Time in Forever – A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration," which transforms the Muppet*Vision 3D Theatre into the Crown Jewel Theatre of Arendelle. Next door, in Stage 17, "Olaf's Snow Fest" creates a winter scene where guests may meet Olaf, and also features a large play area with real snow. After dark, the area outside transforms into "Freeze the Night! A Family Dance Party", an interactive party with music, games, photo opportunities with Marshmallow, drinks and snacks, and ice sculptures.

A Bug's Land
A Bug's Land is seen from the point of view of Flik, the inventor ant from the Disney·Pixar film A Bug's Life, where over-sized human items are scattered throughout. It features Flik's Fun Fair (a collection of themed, family and child-friendly attractions such as Flik's Flyers, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies, Heimlich's Chew Chew Train, and Princess Dot Puddle Park) and It's Tough to be a Bug!, a 3D film based on A Bug's Life. It opened as the park's first expansion in 2002 to expand the park's family-friendly attractions.

Cars Land
Cars Land spans 12 acres (49,000 m2) and contains three attractions. The largest attraction, Radiator Springs Racers, is a dark ride that utilizes the technology of Epcot's Test Track. Based on Pixar's Cars films, the ride begins with a scenic drive through the mountains then enters the show building where the vehicle finds its way into the town of radiator springs and gets a race briefing from Lightning McQueen and ends with an outdoor side-by-side dueling race to the Wheel Well Motel. With a budget at an estimated US $200 million, it is the most expensive theme park ride ever built.

The other two attractions at Cars Land are family attractions with smaller height requirements: Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, a tea-cup-like attraction; and Luigi's Flying Tires, which was similar to the 1960s Tomorrowland Flying Saucers attraction. On February 17, 2015 the Flying Tires attraction closed. It is scheduled to reopen in early 2016 as Luigi’s Festival Of The Dance - COMING SOON with a new ride system and new ride vehicles.

Cars Land is designed as a life-size model and near exact replica of Radiator Springs and several dining and shopping venues. The district serves as a connection between Pacific Wharf and Hollywood Land, eliminating the dead end at the foot of the Tower of Terror attraction. Construction began in July 2009 and opened to the public on June 15, 2012.

Source: Wikipedia