Detailed review by 1krispy1
1krispy1
Broomfield, USA95%
The second day of our adventure in California was to be spending in California Adventure. This is an expansion theme park of the Disney experience. In our first day in Disneyland my girlfriend and I spent around 11 hours in the park and there was still more we could have enjoyed. We were however on a time schedule and had dedicated the second day to California Adventure so off we set.
I am not a big fan of amusement park type rides. Roller coasters, Ferris wheels that type of thing are not generally what I enjoy. A big section of the park is dedicated to these types of adventures along with a midway type of area. Neither my girlfriend nor I really enjoy those so we set about the other things to do in the park.
One of our favorites took place in an airplane hanger. It is called California Soarin'. It was a fantastic adventure on the premise of paragliding. We secured our fast pass tickets took a walk until it was time to go on our adventure. When it was time to go we joined the line via the fast pass lane. This took us into the depths of what on the outside looks like an old fashioned airplane hanger, back before there were the monsters of Boeing and Airbus filling the skies. As it leads down into the ground there are all manner of flying history hanging on the wall. Many portraits of historically significant individuals that I could identify and talked about with my girlfriend, which we enjoyed and which helped to pass the short wait in line. When we got to the head of the line a short video comes on giving instruction about how to sit in the device and how to store our "carry on" luggage. There are two sets of three rows with sets for something on the order of 10 to 14 people per row. We got to our seats and noticed the huge screen in front of us. Now this ride does move but it does not go anywhere. Once it is time to go the lights go down and our row lifts up into the air and moves right to the front of the screen. As one goes soaring over stream, ocean and field it lifts slightly or banks to one side or the other. Between that and the movement of the images on the screen one gets the feeling of flight. On top of that there is air moving across the room and scents are moved into the flight area. All of this sensory information really adds to the feeling one is flying over a pine forest or over an orange orchard. It was a very impressive ride and we enjoyed a couple of times flying over California.
We did not limit ourselves to soaring over California however. We explored other venues as well. I think I enjoyed walking through the back lot. We also went into a little side area called Pacific Warf. Here there were a variety of different eateries. As we both felt the need to eat different things my girlfriend went off to get a salad, which as it turns out was served in a sourdough bread bowl. So after she ate the salad we shared the bowl. It was very interesting. I was after Mexican Food and that was just next door so I set off for that. We met up again after we had gotten our food and enjoyed our lunch together
. One of the other things I had wanted to do while in California was to get photographs of some birds that we do not have in Colorado. I was able to do that when we finished eating and heading back to other areas of the park. We had to cross a bridge and below us in the water were several species of gulls that I was able to photograph. It was something of a bonus.
There was one ride that was not much fun for me or my girlfriend. However judging from the crowds trying to make their way into the ride it is popular with many. It sits in the guise of a partially damaged hotel. An entrance way to the twilight zone is the premise, I found it more a way to dislodge vital internal organs. After a bit of an introduction from the staff we make our way through a series of twist in turns to the actual ride. It passes as a large service elevator. The guest are strapped in and the mayhem begins. One and their elevator mates are shot up like a cannon shot some thirty or more feet in total darkness. Suddenly you are dropped faster than a New Year's resolution about half that, then back up just as fast as the first time and then a door to the outside flies open and they take your photograph as you are caught screaming your lungs out. The door slams shut one is bounced about again a couple more times and finally the torture is done and they let you go. I did not enjoy that one at all.
The last little bit a really did enjoy was the light parade. It is a grand finally for the park for the day. We found good seats near the park entrance and enjoyed the music and floats that came by. This was just before the park closed. Right after we were able to go back across the plaza to Disneyland to catch the fireworks display in that park. It was the perfect ending to two days of fun in the Disney California theme parks.
Disney's California Adventure10
Ratings
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Accessibility
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"Must See"-Factor
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Budget Friendliness
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The California Adventure is an easy park to get to and many accomodations are made for those with mobility issues. Many of the costs for food or gifts are a bit ont he pricey side however.
