Disneyland for Beginners – Inside California Adventure

California Adventure is a fun park all on its own, with plenty to explore!  It’s interesting because your experience will be so very different depending on the ages of your kiddos (or if you have kiddos with you at all).  There are big roller coasters, and a whole area that you can skip if don’t have littles.  And you can buy beer and wine in the Park, which is lovely when you just need a break for a few minutes!

My advice is the same on FastPasses as it is in Disney.  Work your FastPass rides first and fit everything else around them.

FastPass:

• Soarin’ Around the World – Sit in the front row even if you have to wait one more time.  It’s worth it not to see feet in front of you, and you’ve already waited this long, right?
• Grizzly River Run – You will get wet!  If you want to hold off on this one until you are hot, that makes sense to me
• Toy Story Midway Mania – So much fun!  I like to take a pic of our scores as we finish up – they will be on the wall
• California Screamin’ – this is the best roller coaster in the parks
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• World of Color – absolutely worth checking out!  Maybe get a dining experience at Wine Country Trattoria to take in the sights

 

Where to Start:

We like to work counter clockwise, ending our day with exploring and shows.

• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – this is a general play area.  If you have energy and want to explore there are rope bridges and some fun obstacles.  It’s not a ride though, and I’ve only gone through once wanting to spend more time on rides.
• The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
• Golden Zephyr
• Jumpin’ Jellyfish
• Goofy’s Sky School (being refurbished as I write this)
• Silly Symphony Swings
• Mickey’s Fun Wheel – it’s a long wait some days, but definitely worth a ride.  Get in a car that spins to add to the fun!
• Games of the Boardwalk – You have to pay to play these games, so we always skip.  Disney is exciting enough, and expensive enough, we don’t pay extra for these.
• King Triton’s Carousel – this one is more for the littles in your party.  It’s a good ride for when the big kids are on the roller coasters
• The Bakery Tour – totally worth the time to walk through.  It usually comes with a free taste.

Cars Land (full disclosure – I haven’t been to this, yet):

• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
• Cozy Cone Motel
• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters

Bugs Land (you can skip unless you have littles):

• Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies
• Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train
• Princess Dot Puddle Park – This is a very wet play area, I recommend taking shoe and socks off at least
• Flik’s Flyers
• Francis’ Ladybug Boogie

From here you can either head over to Guardians of the Galaxy and then to Monsters Inc. OR catch the 4D show “It’s Tough to be a Bug!”  The show is a great way to go if you are hot or in need of a break.  The age of the kids in your party will likely determine which way you head.  I’ll assume you hit the show for the rest of the guide.

Hollywood Land:

• Disney Junior Dance Party – if you have littles they will likely know these characters, but older kids will happily skip
• On the right as you go up the street, you definitely want to stop into the Animation Academy and take a drawing lesson – you’ll surprise yourself!  It’s air conditioned and there are several other shows in here:
  • Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome (meet Ana and Elsa at certain times)
  • Turtle Talk with Crush – GO!  I promise you won’t regret stopping in to have a chat with Crush.  I still don’t know how they do it, but it is really fun!
  • Sorcerer’s Workshop
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Monsters, Inc.  (closed for refurbishment as I write this, but one of my favorite story rides)

Somewhere in here, I recommend stopping and seeing “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” (That’s the theater down by Guardians of the Galaxy).  Disney puts on a full theatrical performance 3 times a day.  This is a great activity for that magical 3rd day if you can’t work it in on your day in the park.

Where to Eat:

• Everything is about the same in this park as in Disneyland, though Pacific Wharf has the most variety – a little like a food court.
• Next time we go I plan to get a World of Color Dining Package at Wine Country Trattoria – yummy food, good wine, and a Disney light show – sounds magical to me!