I was at DCA the first week it opened. I was about 7 years old. I actually really enjoyed the theme park, but this was also thru the lens of a child. One attraction I got to ride that I'm very happy they got rid of was SUPERSTAR LIMO. That was a horrendous attraction. If you are upset you never got to experience the original DCA, know that all the best attractions that opened on day 1 are still there in some shape or form. The new DCA is a much better, and more cohesive experience. Only thing I'm really upset about is what they did to Tower of Terror! RIP :'(
But they're calling the new Star Wars land in Disneyland "Star Wars: Galaxy Edge" instead of "Star Wards Land". Not to mention there are plenty of other lands that don't have "land" in the name, like Grizzly Peak or Paradise Pier (now Pixar Pier and Paradise Park)
I don't really get the disdain for Disney's California Adventure. Disneyland went through growing pains as well, but most people don't focus on those. But by 2004, DCA was such a cool homage to California. Maybe I'm nostalgic for it because I was born and raised in Northern California, and was proud that there was a Disney park version of my home...
I loved it...visited over and over the first seven years...loved Soap Opera Cafe, and was even okay with Superstar Limo...was there on opening day, even
I don't know how long it had been open, but we went as a family during its first summer. I'm a California girl, and I really loved that the park was meant to be a celebration of what made the state special. Honestly, I think with all the IPs constantly being added it feels more like Disney'S California Adventure than 1.0 did. Yeah, there were tacky parts... But at least the park knew its identity and was proud of it!
Omg so much nostalgia in this video !!! My dad started working for Disney in 2001 ...i.remember going to both parks all the time ...i personally miss the sun ferris wheel, tower of terror, soaring over california, the big huge california letters, the torilla store (they passed out free homemade, warm flour tortillas...yum !!), golden dreams, the big orange, and the mickey ears on california screaming !!! But i agree, there was defintely a loss of the "disney" vibe with this park. When i was younger, i was more attracted to disneyland because it was more kid-friendly. But as at 23-year old, i definitely miss these memories.
I visited DCA as a kid with my family not too long after it first opened. I remember going on the Superstar Limo Ride, being wierded out by the CAT tractors, being terrified on Muholland Madness and CA Screamin', and feeling enchanted by Soarin' Over California. Since I was an adolescent (around 12 or 13), I liked the land, but knew it could not compete with Disneyland. By 2005 and 2007, the park was a virtual ghost town and not worth a visit. Great video!
I grew up going to DCA during it's earliest stage, and for some reason I ADORED the bizarre theme. Albeit, I was a baby when it opened, so my opinions at the time might not be the most accurate. I have very VERY vague memories of Superstar Limo, as it *was* one of the only rides I was able to ride at the time. The Mickey Loop on California Screamin' was always iconic, and it was confusing when they removed it, and instead put a sun behind it. It's Tough To Be A Bug! was the absolute WORST. During the attraction, a wasp would come behind you and stab your back and it HURT. I'm so happy it's gone, it was agonizing. While the Tortilla Factory and Boudin's walk-throughs were odd to have in the park, they were absolutely a must do because you always got fresh corn tortillas and sourdough afterwards. It's really weird to see all the changes, though!
20:28 I do remember going there during all the expansion. There were walls everywhere, space was limited, and a few rides were closing and refurbishing. Thankfully the renovation didn't happen all at once. The changes slowly took place over a few years so many rides were still open but not all of them were
I remember the best part about riding Superstar Limo was seeing all of the confused/bored/disappointed expressions on people’s faces on the picture wall screens at the ride’s exit area. We had such a great laugh over our picture that we stuck around a little longer to watch more reactions. They were all nearly identical. If you want to get an idea about how truly terrible that attraction was, look up on-ride photos and note the faces. It’ll tell you everything right there.
I went the first year. My family actually really enjoyed it the first time. We love food. So we were happy w all the restaurants. Less crowds. They sold alcohol. So we would come over on a park hopper pass, when we wanted lunch and a bit of relaxation. We could grab a cold California brew beer. Unlike in Disneyland. But it’s gotten way way more fun over the years. We also just went, right before closing for covid. Loved it just as much as we ever have. Probably more. Can’t wait to return
I grew up with the original Dca so it's always holds a special place in my heart . I do like the new charges like cars land the mickeys fun wheel and the little mermaid ride. But I do miss the old elements
I never understood why they made a park themed around California in California. I feel like it would have made more sense elsewhere, like Orlando, where they don't have access to the real thing driving distance away. Also, RIP Tower of Terror and Muppetvision 3D
I went in like 2003 or 4004 when I was 6 or 7. I don't remember much but i do remember the huge CALIFORNIA letters outside the entrance. I vividly remember Soarin California and how it was my fav ride. I remember the Bug's Life film scaring me and leaving in the middle before it was even over.
I remember a lot of the old California attractions and themes. There was never a line for the Maliboomer. I really liked Mulholland Madness, so I was happy when it was re-branded as Goofy's Sky School. I like the California theme - but I like the vintage California theming rather than what it was. I remember walking by the Orange swings and people thought it was a giant peach. I always liked going to DCA because it was less busy than Disneyland.
I loved the giant peach. It always seemed so cool to me and thought it was really fun. I always liked California Adventure. But its really fun now, Cars land is really good. The park is way better now but i wish i could go back in time and go to the old California Adventure again
Your history and journalism is excellent. You asked about folks opinion at the end. I was early thirties when I started going there when the park opened in 2001. I had annual pass. I grew up going to Disneyland since early 70's. My honest opinion, I loved DCA in the early days. Felt like my own park. I understand why the negative reviews, but I appreciated the early days. The evenings were serene. I grew up with Santa Cruz and beach culture. it felt natural. I like the changes though, but miss nostalgia. Corn Dogs are still there!!
This was super fun to watch! Thanks, Emily, for putting in all the time and effort! It was like a nostalgic trip down memory lane! I was there for the announcement of DCA, the building of it, and the opening. As terrible of a park as it was, I truly miss those first few years when the park was completely empty, and you could hop on over there for a few hours and ride Soaring Over California and California Screaming! I'm probably one of the very few who actually liked Superstar Limo. True, the animatronic figures were bizarre and kinda scary looking, but I loved the whole concept being a new celebrity going to your first big Hollywood premiere and then seeing your picture on the big screen at the end of the ride. I also love what DCA has evolved into, but I don't enjoy the crowds that have evolved with it. I definitely miss the old days when the park was completely empty, and you could walk right onto pretty much everything! Great job with this video!
I definitely remember version 1.0, especially the California letters in the front. For some reason I really liked them, and the front entrance was unique in my opinion. That being said, I did not like the front entrance once you entered the park. I very well remember the sun statue reflecting light everywhere and blinding you as you walked down the street. I also remember a rocket/airplane looking thing in front of soaring that released mist on to guests walking under it. Other than those things and the orange peel swings, I don't remember much.
Oh and I also very well remember the train that housed the restaurants but I always thought that was in San Juan Capistrano? Maybe that what its based on lol
I went to DCA only about a week after it opened. One of the weirdest/cheesiest aspects to me was the music... when you walked into the park they played classic songs with a California theme on a loop. The one I seemed to hear the most was "Do you know the way to San Jose... la la la..." It made me and my friend laugh every time we passed through the front area of the park.
DCA now is so different. The old theme was cool (I may be biased towards it since it’s what I grew up with). The only really Disney thing there at the time was the Electrical Parade which ran from summer ‘01 to summer ‘10 when the massive overhaul took place. It was fun seeing all the old California Adventure pictures!
I went to the original park in 2001, and it was exactly as reviewed. It was like paying money to visit cheap attractions in and around Los Angeles and Hollywood, and rides you always see at summertime fairs. What really impacted this park was 911 and how that day changed the world. The park was always empty. Zero wait times, and it took very little time to finish visiting the entire park in less than one day. The only ride I actually enjoyed was the bee stinger swing ride. It really was like getting into a bee and flying around, with the orange smell and bee sounds, and bee chair, it was actually fun, especially at night. Not sure why all the hate from everyone at the time? I also liked how the monorail crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge, both visually and when riding on it. Super Star Limo was so bizarre to ride, I will always remember that ride. Music actor Icon, Cher, she was near the end of the ride. They also had Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in the Hollywood Land. Even today, 2018, this Disney park is still full of confusion with the addition of Marvel, yet the park name still being called California Adventure... it feels like the park has no direction, just a dumping ground for Pixar, Disney, Marvel and left-overs. I was never a fan of World of Color (originally this was a very small water fountain show the Disneyland Hotel), and every time I look out into the Pier water area, and see all that metal and equipment sitting exposed in the water, I am like why? How is this visually Disney? Takes you away from feeling like you are supposed to be on a pier looking over unobstructed water. Anyways, you really caught all of the lands and features that I remember very well. If you get a chance, go visit Disneyland Paris, that park is amazing and very well themed. Keep posting videos! Cheers.
Alex Swish. Swish. Fish. I forgot about the orange smell but I do remember riding the orange swings and hearing the buzzing as u swing around in the air
During the early years at DCA, there was a giant outdoors attraction. It was like a massive Redwood McDonald's play place, made of rope and ladders. I think it was about 3, or more, stories tall. I think now it is a Boy Scout themed 'Up' area
I had a pass when I was about 6 and I still have one today! I absolutely loved the old school California Adventure Park. I was all about Hollywood and being a child actor at the time lol so I absolutely loved it and superstar limo. I miss it but I’m so excited for Pixar pier. I feel like it’s slowly turning into Pixar land.
What a great video!!! I didn’t know any of this! I kind of low key wish it would’ve stayed California themed. I DEFINITELY would’ve loved the Soap Opera Bistro!
Wow. Old DCA sounds terrible! Didn't visit for the first time until 2016 and was oblivious to all this. Had some mixed feelings about the recent changes (Pixar Pier, the Guardians retheme of the Tower of Terror), but knowing how much has changed since they first opened has really put things into perspective.
I went to DCA in August 2001. I remember riding the launch tower ride on Paradise Pier, the orange peel ride. I never made it on SuperStar Limo, thankfully. The best part of original DCA was California Screemin' and the part of the original Soarin' over California video where you fly over Orange groves and you could actually smell the oranges. I was 9 years old.
I didn't get a chance to experience the original DCA, but I became a passholder in 2010. I was there for a lot of the construction that was going on. It was pretty crazy to have so much of the park closed off, but I remember being excited for some of the things to come. I liked the Golden Gate bridge, the Zephyr train (especially Burrrbank Ice Cream), and the California letters, but I'm happy with the way the park is now. I'm also looking forward to Pixar Pier opening. I think it will be better to have a cohesive theme there. We will see soon enough. Great video BTW!
I think I'm the only one who used to like the original DCA. True it was not popular, and there were not many attractions as there is now. However, there was this peaceful feel about it, and it was a nice break from Disneyland. I miss the sun wheel, the orange, and the tortilla shop.
This is a very comprehensive video. Sometimes I miss certain aspects of DCA 1.0. I was a Cast Member in 2002. We’d get free fresh but oddly-shaped tortillas in our break area. Nom! BTW, its pronounced “root 66.”
Great video Emily! A couple things are missing: California Zephyr and the Soap Opera Bistro transforming into the Animation Building. Also you're missing Aladdin and Frozen which played at the Hyperion Theater
Frozen wasn't until after the overhaul. I was really sad when Aladdin left, it was one of the few remaining remnants of the original park that wasn't kitschy.
I worked at dca for a few years when it first opened in 2001, and i can tell you that the park has changed only superficially since then. The addition of cars land is by far the biggest change in the park. All the rest is just new signs, new names and color changes. I work at the resort again currently, and it still feels like the same place.
I was in 1st grade when I went to DCA for the first time in 2001. All I could remember was asking my parents to go to McDonalds for lunch and being scared/not wanting to go on pretty much all the rides besides Jumpin Jellyfish with my aunt while my sister rode CA Screamin with my dad. I'm also pretty sure I went Superstar Limo but I don't remember any of it. The ride was probably a traumatic experience as a kid.
My whole family were season pass holders from 2000-2012. We would go to the resort about 2 times a month. If went to the resort on a Saturday, we would go to Disneyland to be there from 8am to midnight for a complete park experience everytime. If we went on a Sunday it was almost always DCA from 10am (the park opening time) to about 5pm because you could literally do everything in that park in that amount of time. The park was great for my family because you could get a full park experience in a short time, which we needed on Sundays so my parents could get home early to sleep in for work on Monday. The park after a couple of years had some great child areas. The Playhouse Disney show was great growing up. Bugs land was a lot of fun. And I really loved the huge play area that was meant to be like the redwoods across the way from grizzly river run. I never felt like the park had disjointed themeing until the remodel began, but I've loved most of what they have added. It's a park I've always cherished but I'm glad they are making it more accessible to all types of guests. There are some attractions/shows you didn't mention I'd like to add. 1. The Golden Zephyers, my fav attraction growing up. 2 Hyperion theater, which has had two fantastic shows in it. Aladdin and Frozen. 3. King Tritons Carousel. Just like the one in fantasyland but with fish...lame. 4. The Muppet 3D show. Which I cried about when I learned they removed to become a theater to show "extended looks" of new Disney movies. 5. You didn't talk much about bugs land but it had one of the funniest attractions ever in Heimlichs train ride. 6. Jellyfish Jumpers... eh. 7. The Minnie Mouse Plane show, which my sister made us watch every time. 8. As I mentioned earlier the play area across grizzly river run which has a lot of fun little activities to do. It even use to have major Brother Bear themeing and a show. The brother bear stuff has mostly been removed in favor of a scouting theme based on Russel from Up. He now has a show there. 9. Pixar Play Parade, which is still horrible Great Video, really brought me back. Thanks!
Great video! I went during opening week of the park. As a born and raised Californian, i absolutely loved the California theming as a child. It made me proud to love where i live. Myself along with an uproar of other Californians have been devastated to see change in the park we used to love. The hardest pill to swallow was the change of tower of terror and the re-theming of paradise pier. Change is good, but it sucks that we can never revisit our childhood :(
Great video. Me and my wife & kids and others went to DCA opening year in the summer. Right away the atmosphere felt strange. It did not feel like a Disney theme park, but you knew you were in one. Superstar Limo was creepy, Soarin over California was amazing, the Sunwheel was terrifying (still is), Golden Dreams, well...it was nicely air conditioned. Interesting park it was, and it's funny that the night before we visited old friends who have been there and told us it was more for adults. Still I wanted to experience it myself. So glad that it's been completely revamped and now gives the true feel of a Disney park. And I'm glad and thankful to have experienced it in it's beginning.
i went to dca for the first time in 2012. i was around 6 years old so i dont really remember anything. i do remember cars land and how much fun that was. i do remember being confused bc there was a Ariel themed attraction but right down the way i could see lightning mc queen. now since i was so little i only went on baby rides. Then i went for a second time just last September for a school field trip w my friends. Since i was way older, i went on guardians of the galaxy, (yes ik i never got to experience tower of terror :( the cars ride, goofies sky school, incredicoaster. I had a fun time. now imo, i think the whole pixar theming saved dca from it cheesy 90’s theme. But it also makes me think, “ its not even california adventure anymore” now its just where disney puts all the pixar rides they cant fit in disney land. heck might as well call it pixarland at this point. Dca currently is just so random, “california adventure” does NOT describe that park. (ps im not against dca it was rlly fun)
I visited California adventure when it first opened. I was either 9 or 10. I remember the giant California letters in the front of the park, but don’t remember much about how it used to look
DCA has improved substantially! I always hated the ride selection and the cheap looking entrance with the murals that looked like they were painted on plywood. But with the addition of Radiator Springs Racers, The Tower Ride (RIP Twilight Zone), the future Marvel expansion, and the MUCH NICER entrance plaza, DCA is coming of age.
Your video came up as suggested after watching one of Defunctland's videos and I just realized you're the brains and talent behind ConfectionEARs! I know I'm 2 years late to this video, but if I remember correctly, my family and I went to DCA 1.0 within the first year...maybe within the first few months. I was only 8 when it opened, but I remember feeling pretty unimpressed at that age! While the park is more cohesively themed today, it still feels kind of chaotic.
Loved this as much as your pin videos! Brava! It's hard to imagine with all the people working at disney not one person was able to stop this park theme from happening, haha!
This was a fun walk down memory lane! I went to DCA in 2003 and 2006, during my late high school/early college years. I remember my whole family being kinda bored with DCA. I always thought that the theming of the park was off in those days. I remember telling my mom that it lacked the 'magic' feel that Disneyland has always possessed. It feels like it was originally designed for an older demographic that doesn't like to go on rides. I've only been there once since the major overhaul but the changes are a vast improvement. I think the retheming of Tower of Terror was a mistake, but otherwise, it's a much better park now than it was when it opened.
Much, much better now. No kid rides in the beginning. I enjoy the park now. Love the dining options. Love Radiator Springs. Hollywoodland needs serious help. They should knock it down and rebuild. Of course, I like the Monsters dark ride. Good video.
Great video! I had forgotten how different DCA was when it opened. I took my 2 kids there from September 27 -- October 2 2001. It was a couple of weeks after the tragedy of 911 and my kids ( 9 & 10 at the time) didn't want to fly to CA; but the travel agency wouldn't refund my money. We thought the parks were empty because of the terror alert, massive amounts of security and overall state of the country as a whole. The rides at DCA were get off go back around and get on again, NO WAIT. There wasn't a lot to do and my kids preferred WDW and they don't have many memories from the trip. My daughter loved the McDonald's there though. It has come a long way and we like the new changes there and the updates to come.
Thank you so much for this! I was in fourth grade, my class won the environmentality challenge and got to travel to Disneyland for the weekend for awards and such. I remember we stayed at the Disneyland Pacific Hotel, now Paradise Pier Hotel. We got to oversee the building of the park. I very distinctly remember seeing the Orange Stinger from our room. Just two years later, my brother’s class won the environmentality challenge as well and we got to visit original DCA shortly after they opened and having the award ceremony in Sunshine Plaza. I loved original DCA, but I wasn’t a picky child, and loved all of the tours and informational stuff. I was also a Disneyland cast member for opening day of World of Color. In short, I’ve always had a soft spot for this odd little park!
DCA whether now, or back when it opened has always been good for one reason, you can do it all easily in less than one day. I am really bored or most theme parks these days due to all of the IP branding and cross-marketing of everything. But getting back on subject, what I really miss is that gigantic ceramic mural which first welcomed you into the park. I believe it was impossible to save so it was demolished.
You forgot about the Wolfgang puck restaurant Avalon cove which became Ariel’s grotto. I remember one day in the frist few months that the park opened it rained and there were only 12 people in the park at noon!
Your blog made me realize because I live so close and go frequently, I have been taking the parks for granted. Can't wait to go simian and feel the magic!
I kind of like DCA 1.0 better. Part of that reason may be that my family and I were annual pass holders and we went to the park a lot back then. I've only been to 2.0 once. A lot of memories. It had an old California charm about it. I actually liked it without the Disney theming. Years later when I found out about the changes, Adding Disney theming to California, it didn't really make much sense. California and Disney don't go together. The one time I went to DCA 2.0, I did like it, but I kind of miss the old.
I frequented the park during its refurbishment. The construction made navigating the park a huge hassle. I remember there was a time when they would direct guests who entered the park behind the Soarin' building while Buena Vista Street was under construction.
DCA 1.0 was one of the reasons I went through a "Disney Divorce" in the 2000's. Other reasons included the end of the Disney Renaissance, Tomorrowland 98, and just the overall turbulent times the Walt Disney Company was going through at the time. As a 90's kid, it felt like Disney had lost its touch in the 2000's. It wasn't until I saw Frozen and feeling the Disney Magic again that I decided to return to Disneyland and DCA in 2014 after many years of absence. While visiting Disneyland brought back nostalgic and great childhood memories, its was my visit to the new DCA that really cemented my belief that Disney is back. Nowadays I hit up DCA as much as Disneyland, and I look forward to the changes and expansions that DCA has in store for the upcoming years.
I experienced DCA when it was in it's first few years. My gosh... I loved a few things about that park that made it amazing. The Animation building, which taught people, kids to adults how animated movies were made. From the drawings to voice acting as characters. It was the coolest to me. Another one was the tortilla and sour dough bread places. The sour Dough bread factory took you through a tour of how to make bread...not only that you got a free slice to eat while on the tour. Rossie o' Donnell was one of the hosts showing on a video over the actual process. (yes they had real workers making bread.) The tortilla factory was great as well. It had a funny educational video telling about how tortilla's originated through the years. After the tour you got a free Tortilla to eat (free food is the best food!). They also had the best coasters...California Screamin' Which the music for it was basically a surfer style of the older space mountain music (It's true...have both soundtracks and it's there). Also for California Screamin' they originally had no countdown till launch across the water. It gave a bit of a surprise to it when you got launched. I loved It's Tough to be a bug. Sure it wasn't all about Disney in this park, but it had alot of charm to it as a different type of park. That and Soarin' over California was the best!I am sorry for the long post. I had to get my feelings out about the original park and all and felt this was the best place to put it.
even though they improved I loved the sun wheel and all the sun themed things, I remember being about 3 or 4 and walking around dca and it just makes me so nostalgic to see those pictures of version 1.0
DCA opened right before my 2nd birthday and my family and i went to the soft opening. This video makes me so relieved because now I know I didn't just dream up some of this stuff
It was not tacky at all i loved the california puns !! Paradise pier was the best land , and the twilight zone tower of terror fitted nicely aswell as buena vista street !!
We went during the first year the park opened. I was only about 12 at the time so I thought it was pretty neat. Mickey used to walk around in his "tourist" outfit which I have a picture of laying around somewhere and I remember meeting Kuzco and Cruella from 102 Dalmatians lol. Overall the park was a mess and definitely lacked the crowds. If there's one thing I remembered, it was that I felt the park lacked the Disney charm. Great video, it was quite a throw back for me
Those work walls were BRUTAL during refurb, but I really my breath literally being taken from me when I saw Buena Vista street & Cars Land for the first time 😳 it made that 1.5 year wait totally worth it
Whats sad is how amazing westcot would have been had it been made. How much they spent revamping California adventure it would have been better to just go ahead with westcot. Oh i cry everytime I see westcot renderings.
I grew up near Disneyland and went here a lot back when we had an annual pass. My mum and I loved the park because it was less crowded than the main park, and the atmosphere is just more relaxing. I understand why not many people loved it, but I'm nostalgic just thinking about it.
OMG I feel so old! I went to DCA just before the tacky Limo Ride closed. The whole DCA was just so un-Disney and bad. Actually, I am old... I was at Disneyland first month it opened, Indian Village and House of the Future... loved that stuff.
My family and I took a Disney trip in 2001. So of course, all the tourism videos focused on Disney California Adventures. The only thing I remembered about the commercial was lots of trees and a bear. Of course, being the impressionable 10 year old that I was, I whined about wanting to go during the entire planning process, but my parents, intelligent adults, saw the writing (boredom) on the wall and skillfully avoided it all trip. Your video has made me especially grateful that they did.
I grew up going to Disney's California Adventure. I remember quite a bit of the zanny-ness and watched the changes first hand. The construction for Buena Vista street was insane as we had to navigate around it, but seeing the more Disney-ized it became was amazing! I still miss the Dinosuar tho.
Ive been to DCA 1.0, maybe even on opening day i don't remember, I had the annual pass so i went alot. I still remember superstar limo and the tortilla factor
I was there in May of 2001, and yes, it was just as zany and weird as you describe. There wasn't really much to do, as you mentioned. Not a lot of rides, just a bunch of attractions and eateries. It was unfortunate that they were trying to compete with Knott's and Magic Mountain and Universal Studios by trying to incorporate all those sorts of unthemed rides and attractions. Maybe they thought parents would just drop their kids at Disneyland and come spend the day next door, but it certainly wasn't a family-friendly park at that time. Cars Land was the first major improvement a long time coming. Can't wait to see Pixar Pier this summer!
After June 23th, 2018, the Pixar Pier opening, I believe the California Adventure will be a great park which can have the same status as the Disneyland. And I wish they put more than three E-ticket IP attractions in it.
So I was young when I saw DCA originally, and as a young kid, I liked the theming - it was bright and different but still tried to teach you stuff. As I grew up before the renovations, DCA was just the "less busy" park from a kid POV. The entrance was weird but there was cool parts of it such as the ice cream train! Paradise Pier felt tacky but still clean and Disney. Its hard to really remember what it looked like before Toy Story Mania but going around the Screamin Mickey head felt cool as a kid. The Orange was obnoxious but it felt cool because if you grew up in California you saw orange groves and like you got to be a bee which was immersive as a kid. The Road 66 was weird and honestly tacky but the food places werent bad. The pizza place had the best garlic bread ever. The dinosaur was iconic and you always wanted a picture with it. DCA was always pretty empty and had short lines from when 2005 to 2009. Construction was horrible. We had to go through different gateways - entering through Grizzly Peak. It was cool seeing the construction walls - especially since the new Disney video game with all the old characters were coming out - it felt like it was going to be super cool and it is. Construction made the park get popular - like usual, if something is going away, everyone wants to go see it one last time. 2009 - the new opening of DCA was a wild time. DCA was super tacky and bad but it did have a theme - CA. Now its a mess that they are slowly making into another Disney park, but its still in its baby steps towards that goal.
I loved DCA 1.0. I loved Golden Dreams, the Maliboomer, Grizzly, Soarin (original), and loved California Adventure. But then again I was a teenager when I first experienced it. I enjoyed how they had soap opera days and concerts with The Beach Boys and the monkees
I got to experience DCA 1.0 and one unique thing i remember that wasnt covered in this video were the giant mickey mouse statues that lines the entrance that were designed by california celebrities. I still have a picture of me and my brother with the Tony Hawk skateboarder mickey!
I’ve been there the first year it opened and it was basically a glorified disney state fair minus the carnival rides. I’m so glad is much better now. I think there is still so much more potential in dca lands that it will keep evolving this next decade or two
Version 1.0 seemed very dull and outdated within the first 3 years. I remember it seemed very 90s, and more like a museum than a theme park. It was very boring during the renovation but very glad after the reopening . I visited DCA from 2002 to present
Great video. I am a native Californian and was able to visit the 1.0 version of this park. Unfortunately at the time I had zero interest in it once I visited. As pointed out there were a lot of California puns at the time and not a lot that caused me as a Californian to want to spend money and time there. I loved and still do the Rapids, Grizzle Peak, and Soarin' but that was all at the time. I do miss the Golden Gate, but do not miss any of the rest of the enterance. Saddly, due to first impressions, I basically avoided DCA in favor of more time in Disneyland from 2001 through about 2017. Currently I love the inclusion of Frozen Live, Turtle Talk with Crush, Carsland, and the updates to the Rapids (more geysers) and Soarin'. Bugsland I will be sad to see go for nostalgic reasons but I will be happy to see a better setting for Thor, Spiderman, and the Avengers. The Paradise Pier area never bothered me, though it did lack the excitement to make me want to stay and explore it. I am excited to see how Pixar Pier will look and what will be to come with that change. Buena Vista Street is a great counter to Main Street. It gives me the same feel of slow down, take your time to look around in shops, while at the same time reminding me of certain areas of historic California. Since you asked for feed back I hope that helps. If you get the chance it would be great to see you post a video about Pixar Pier when it opens.
We went to DCA in April 2001 just after it opened. We liked it. Soarin’ Rusdian River, and Screamin’ were and still are first rate attractions. The only thing we thought was weird was the parade. And it was quickly replaced with the Electrical Parade. Things like Bountiful Farms I don’t think were ever intended as permanent attractions but were merely place holders for future attractions, to be developed over time and to suit guest reactions. DCA was fun when it started and we always spent considerable time there. Over the years it has only gotten better. But Soarin’ over California (which they reprise occasionally) is still better than Soarin’ Around the World.
I’m only 21 but I remember riding the Maliboomer over and over and over again as I gained my “sea legs” and began to develop my taste for thrill rides. xD I also had a distant memory of the orange swings and the wild mouse coaster, but could never place where I’d ridden them before. It was the symphony swings and the sky coaster! No wonder those rides seem so familiar! 😂
There needs to be a full episode about California Adventure, a synthetic California experience designed to keep visitors on the property built just before authentic experiences became an important priority for tourists.
It wasn’t as zany as some say. I remember how it was more about California culture and production of goods almost. Very interesting concept but you could literally go to two or three museums around California for the same experience minus the rides.
I experienced DCA 1.0 when I was young and it was fine but not wonderful. My mom and I made bread and took lots of pictures at the pier. I also went just after a bug's world opened and let me tell you how much I miss it! I'm going to Disney for the first time in 11 years in a couple weeks and can't wait to see the changes.
Omg I actually REMEMBER going to the original DCA as a kid, and is what I had in my memory of what DCA was for the longest time until I returned just last year. Unfortunately, I don’t remember Superstar Limo at all (which might have scared me as a kid tbh), but I totally remember the sun on the Ferris wheel, Mulholland Madness, and the Tortilla Factory as clear as day. I guess I didn’t mind much as a kid how “Disney” it was because it was just a theme park and everything was fascinating to me, but the overhaul was DEFINITELY well needed. I think it’s still in the progress of becoming a comparable theme park to Disneyland and others in California, but it’s in a great place right now compared to where t was before. Plus, it’s where all the Pixar attractions are, which is what I mostly care about at this point in my life 😅
This was such an interesting video! I grew up going to Disneyland in the late 70’s and 80’s and moved away before DCA was completed. I went for the first time in October and thought it was pretty cool. I definitely think it’s improving with time
I remember visiting the original park in 2001 and being shocked at how disappointing it was. And thats saying so much for an 8 year old to be disappointed. The updates have made it one of the most fun parks.
I was able to visit DCA in its opening year, about a month or so after it opened. I’d previously visited the other 5 U.S. parks, so I remember how strange it felt in DCA. Because of the lack of Disney branding, it didn’t really feel like I was at a Disney Park. Now, Epcot is one of my favorite Disney parks, but the original DCA sort of felt like an “Epcot’ed” version of Knott’s. Jumping forward to present day, I feel that DCA still kind of an identity crisis, but it definitely feels like a Disney park. My wife and I visited it this past January, which was her first trip to the west coast, and she said it definitely felt ‘Disney’ to her.
I remember going to Disney land in the year 2000, I was 5 and CGA was a year from opening so I didn’t get to experience the park in it’s 1.0 stage. But I did get to experience the park again in 2011 and I had a blast! Rode California screamin 8 times in one day.
I went back in 2002 for grad night. I didn’t get in every ride, but looking back it was very strange how disjointed and incomplete the park was. I didn’t go back till the referb was almost done, but there was a weird particle board lined walkway that led people to soarin’ as buena vista street was not yet done.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I have so many nostalgic memories about DCA 1.0 ... like how they always played The Beach Boys throughout the park!
Natalie Corrine All the music was California themed! It was awesome! From the Beach Boys to Bing Crosby. It just worked!
YES! I loved that so much!
I was at DCA the first week it opened. I was about 7 years old. I actually really enjoyed the theme park, but this was also thru the lens of a child. One attraction I got to ride that I'm very happy they got rid of was SUPERSTAR LIMO. That was a horrendous attraction. If you are upset you never got to experience the original DCA, know that all the best attractions that opened on day 1 are still there in some shape or form. The new DCA is a much better, and more cohesive experience. Only thing I'm really upset about is what they did to Tower of Terror! RIP :'(
And California screamin IMO.
@@HaydenMSanders agreed!
The fact that Cars Land is called Cars Land really bothers me. Why not just straight up call it Radiator Springs?
I get that. It's just a really bland name. Like 'Welcome to Cars Land' is something you should see as you exit to the parking lot.
I get that, it's just so uninspired.
Jagfan 28 Well the movie is called Cars.
But they're calling the new Star Wars land in Disneyland "Star Wars: Galaxy Edge" instead of "Star Wards Land". Not to mention there are plenty of other lands that don't have "land" in the name, like Grizzly Peak or Paradise Pier (now Pixar Pier and Paradise Park)
I agree. They should've just called it Radiator Springs.
I don't really get the disdain for Disney's California Adventure. Disneyland went through growing pains as well, but most people don't focus on those. But by 2004, DCA was such a cool homage to California. Maybe I'm nostalgic for it because I was born and raised in Northern California, and was proud that there was a Disney park version of my home...
same!! I grew up as a kid with the old DCA and LOVED the California theming
I loved it...visited over and over the first seven years...loved Soap Opera Cafe, and was even okay with Superstar Limo...was there on opening day, even
I don't know how long it had been open, but we went as a family during its first summer. I'm a California girl, and I really loved that the park was meant to be a celebration of what made the state special. Honestly, I think with all the IPs constantly being added it feels more like Disney'S California Adventure than 1.0 did. Yeah, there were tacky parts... But at least the park knew its identity and was proud of it!
I've been to DCA 1.0 before, it felt like a half-day park because of the lack of Disney-style dark rides I've come to love.
Omg so much nostalgia in this video !!! My dad started working for Disney in 2001 ...i.remember going to both parks all the time ...i personally miss the sun ferris wheel, tower of terror, soaring over california, the big huge california letters, the torilla store (they passed out free homemade, warm flour tortillas...yum !!), golden dreams, the big orange, and the mickey ears on california screaming !!! But i agree, there was defintely a loss of the "disney" vibe with this park. When i was younger, i was more attracted to disneyland because it was more kid-friendly. But as at 23-year old, i definitely miss these memories.
darktanian13 I totally forgot about the tortilla store! Man I miss that
Tortilla the experience used to be my favorite ride
I remember all those things too. I went in August 2001 when I was 14.
I visited DCA as a kid with my family not too long after it first opened. I remember going on the Superstar Limo Ride, being wierded out by the CAT tractors, being terrified on Muholland Madness and CA Screamin', and feeling enchanted by Soarin' Over California. Since I was an adolescent (around 12 or 13), I liked the land, but knew it could not compete with Disneyland. By 2005 and 2007, the park was a virtual ghost town and not worth a visit. Great video!
I absolutely LOVED the old theming and the over-the-top puns! 🍊
I grew up going to DCA during it's earliest stage, and for some reason I ADORED the bizarre theme. Albeit, I was a baby when it opened, so my opinions at the time might not be the most accurate.
I have very VERY vague memories of Superstar Limo, as it *was* one of the only rides I was able to ride at the time. The Mickey Loop on California Screamin' was always iconic, and it was confusing when they removed it, and instead put a sun behind it. It's Tough To Be A Bug! was the absolute WORST. During the attraction, a wasp would come behind you and stab your back and it HURT. I'm so happy it's gone, it was agonizing. While the Tortilla Factory and Boudin's walk-throughs were odd to have in the park, they were absolutely a must do because you always got fresh corn tortillas and sourdough afterwards. It's really weird to see all the changes, though!
20:28 I do remember going there during all the expansion. There were walls everywhere, space was limited, and a few rides were closing and refurbishing. Thankfully the renovation didn't happen all at once. The changes slowly took place over a few years so many rides were still open but not all of them were
I really liked the way it used to be, the letters of California, at Christmas time they made it into candy canes!
I miss the letters more than anything else! Haha.
I miss the letters too! I thought they were a nice touch!
oh yes!! I remember that! Everyone used to take pictures with the letters
But we live in California why do you want to see stuff that we see every day?
I remember the best part about riding Superstar Limo was seeing all of the confused/bored/disappointed expressions on people’s faces on the picture wall screens at the ride’s exit area. We had such a great laugh over our picture that we stuck around a little longer to watch more reactions. They were all nearly identical. If you want to get an idea about how truly terrible that attraction was, look up on-ride photos and note the faces. It’ll tell you everything right there.
I went the first year. My family actually really enjoyed it the first time. We love food. So we were happy w all the restaurants. Less crowds. They sold alcohol. So we would come over on a park hopper pass, when we wanted lunch and a bit of relaxation. We could grab a cold California brew beer. Unlike in Disneyland. But it’s gotten way way more fun over the years. We also just went, right before closing for covid. Loved it just as much as we ever have. Probably more. Can’t wait to return
I grew up with the original Dca so it's always holds a special place in my heart . I do like the new charges like cars land the mickeys fun wheel and the little mermaid ride. But I do miss the old elements
I never understood why they made a park themed around California in California. I feel like it would have made more sense elsewhere, like Orlando, where they don't have access to the real thing driving distance away. Also, RIP Tower of Terror and Muppetvision 3D
I went in like 2003 or 4004 when I was 6 or 7. I don't remember much but i do remember the huge CALIFORNIA letters outside the entrance. I vividly remember Soarin California and how it was my fav ride. I remember the Bug's Life film scaring me and leaving in the middle before it was even over.
I remember a lot of the old California attractions and themes. There was never a line for the Maliboomer. I really liked Mulholland Madness, so I was happy when it was re-branded as Goofy's Sky School. I like the California theme - but I like the vintage California theming rather than what it was. I remember walking by the Orange swings and people thought it was a giant peach. I always liked going to DCA because it was less busy than Disneyland.
MaelowPi all of this 🙌🏼
Wow your forgetting MUPPET Vision 3-D 😎
Bridget Mistry
The little flying guy ruined that show
She Also Forgot About King Triton’s Carousel Of The Sea
I loved the giant peach. It always seemed so cool to me and thought it was really fun. I always liked California Adventure. But its really fun now, Cars land is really good. The park is way better now but i wish i could go back in time and go to the old California Adventure again
I kinda liked the old entrance of DCA. The giant colorful letters and the Golden Gate looked great.
Your history and journalism is excellent. You asked about folks opinion at the end. I was early thirties when I started going there when the park opened in 2001. I had annual pass. I grew up going to Disneyland since early 70's. My honest opinion, I loved DCA in the early days. Felt like my own park. I understand why the negative reviews, but I appreciated the early days. The evenings were serene. I grew up with Santa Cruz and beach culture. it felt natural. I like the changes though, but miss nostalgia. Corn Dogs are still there!!
This was super fun to watch! Thanks, Emily, for putting in all the time and effort! It was like a nostalgic trip down memory lane! I was there for the announcement of DCA, the building of it, and the opening. As terrible of a park as it was, I truly miss those first few years when the park was completely empty, and you could hop on over there for a few hours and ride Soaring Over California and California Screaming! I'm probably one of the very few who actually liked Superstar Limo. True, the animatronic figures were bizarre and kinda scary looking, but I loved the whole concept being a new celebrity going to your first big Hollywood premiere and then seeing your picture on the big screen at the end of the ride. I also love what DCA has evolved into, but I don't enjoy the crowds that have evolved with it. I definitely miss the old days when the park was completely empty, and you could walk right onto pretty much everything! Great job with this video!
I definitely remember version 1.0, especially the California letters in the front. For some reason I really liked them, and the front entrance was unique in my opinion. That being said, I did not like the front entrance once you entered the park. I very well remember the sun statue reflecting light everywhere and blinding you as you walked down the street. I also remember a rocket/airplane looking thing in front of soaring that released mist on to guests walking under it. Other than those things and the orange peel swings, I don't remember much.
Oh and I also very well remember the train that housed the restaurants but I always thought that was in San Juan Capistrano? Maybe that what its based on lol
I went to DCA only about a week after it opened. One of the weirdest/cheesiest aspects to me was the music... when you walked into the park they played classic songs with a California theme on a loop. The one I seemed to hear the most was "Do you know the way to San Jose... la la la..." It made me and my friend laugh every time we passed through the front area of the park.
DCA now is so different. The old theme was cool (I may be biased towards it since it’s what I grew up with). The only really Disney thing there at the time was the Electrical Parade which ran from summer ‘01 to summer ‘10 when the massive overhaul took place. It was fun seeing all the old California Adventure pictures!
I went to the original park in 2001, and it was exactly as reviewed. It was like paying money to visit cheap attractions in and around Los Angeles and Hollywood, and rides you always see at summertime fairs. What really impacted this park was 911 and how that day changed the world. The park was always empty. Zero wait times, and it took very little time to finish visiting the entire park in less than one day. The only ride I actually enjoyed was the bee stinger swing ride. It really was like getting into a bee and flying around, with the orange smell and bee sounds, and bee chair, it was actually fun, especially at night. Not sure why all the hate from everyone at the time? I also liked how the monorail crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge, both visually and when riding on it. Super Star Limo was so bizarre to ride, I will always remember that ride. Music actor Icon, Cher, she was near the end of the ride. They also had Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in the Hollywood Land. Even today, 2018, this Disney park is still full of confusion with the addition of Marvel, yet the park name still being called California Adventure... it feels like the park has no direction, just a dumping ground for Pixar, Disney, Marvel and left-overs. I was never a fan of World of Color (originally this was a very small water fountain show the Disneyland Hotel), and every time I look out into the Pier water area, and see all that metal and equipment sitting exposed in the water, I am like why? How is this visually Disney? Takes you away from feeling like you are supposed to be on a pier looking over unobstructed water. Anyways, you really caught all of the lands and features that I remember very well. If you get a chance, go visit Disneyland Paris, that park is amazing and very well themed. Keep posting videos! Cheers.
Alex Swish. Swish. Fish. I forgot about the orange smell but I do remember riding the orange swings and hearing the buzzing as u swing around in the air
During the early years at DCA, there was a giant outdoors attraction. It was like a massive Redwood McDonald's play place, made of rope and ladders. I think it was about 3, or more, stories tall. I think now it is a Boy Scout themed 'Up' area
I had a pass when I was about 6 and I still have one today! I absolutely loved the old school California Adventure Park. I was all about Hollywood and being a child actor at the time lol so I absolutely loved it and superstar limo. I miss it but I’m so excited for Pixar pier. I feel like it’s slowly turning into Pixar land.
What a great video!!! I didn’t know any of this! I kind of low key wish it would’ve stayed California themed. I DEFINITELY would’ve loved the Soap Opera Bistro!
Laura TwoPointO trust me. You didn't miss a thing. The old DCA was atrocious!
Wow. Old DCA sounds terrible! Didn't visit for the first time until 2016 and was oblivious to all this. Had some mixed feelings about the recent changes (Pixar Pier, the Guardians retheme of the Tower of Terror), but knowing how much has changed since they first opened has really put things into perspective.
There was something special about the original DCA. I miss it a lot.
Never thought I would say this, but I do too
I went to DCA in August 2001. I remember riding the launch tower ride on Paradise Pier, the orange peel ride. I never made it on SuperStar Limo, thankfully. The best part of original DCA was California Screemin' and the part of the original Soarin' over California video where you fly over Orange groves and you could actually smell the oranges. I was 9 years old.
I didn't get a chance to experience the original DCA, but I became a passholder in 2010. I was there for a lot of the construction that was going on. It was pretty crazy to have so much of the park closed off, but I remember being excited for some of the things to come. I liked the Golden Gate bridge, the Zephyr train (especially Burrrbank Ice Cream), and the California letters, but I'm happy with the way the park is now. I'm also looking forward to Pixar Pier opening. I think it will be better to have a cohesive theme there. We will see soon enough. Great video BTW!
I think I'm the only one who used to like the original DCA. True it was not popular, and there were not many attractions as there is now. However, there was this peaceful feel about it, and it was a nice break from Disneyland. I miss the sun wheel, the orange, and the tortilla shop.
This is a very comprehensive video. Sometimes I miss certain aspects of DCA 1.0. I was a Cast Member in 2002. We’d get free fresh but oddly-shaped tortillas in our break area. Nom! BTW, its pronounced “root 66.”
Great video Emily! A couple things are missing: California Zephyr and the Soap Opera Bistro transforming into the Animation Building. Also you're missing Aladdin and Frozen which played at the Hyperion Theater
Frozen wasn't until after the overhaul. I was really sad when Aladdin left, it was one of the few remaining remnants of the original park that wasn't kitschy.
Amazing video, Emily! Very informational, I can tell you put a lot of time and thought into it. I learned a lot about DCA!
I worked at dca for a few years when it first opened in 2001, and i can tell you that the park has changed only superficially since then. The addition of cars land is by far the biggest change in the park. All the rest is just new signs, new names and color changes. I work at the resort again currently, and it still feels like the same place.
I was in 1st grade when I went to DCA for the first time in 2001. All I could remember was asking my parents to go to McDonalds for lunch and being scared/not wanting to go on pretty much all the rides besides Jumpin Jellyfish with my aunt while my sister rode CA Screamin with my dad.
I'm also pretty sure I went Superstar Limo but I don't remember any of it. The ride was probably a traumatic experience as a kid.
Yes the original was really that bizarre. I remember as a kid we only went in for about two hors and then left since there was not much to do there.
My whole family were season pass holders from 2000-2012. We would go to the resort about 2 times a month. If went to the resort on a Saturday, we would go to Disneyland to be there from 8am to midnight for a complete park experience everytime. If we went on a Sunday it was almost always DCA from 10am (the park opening time) to about 5pm because you could literally do everything in that park in that amount of time. The park was great for my family because you could get a full park experience in a short time, which we needed on Sundays so my parents could get home early to sleep in for work on Monday.
The park after a couple of years had some great child areas. The Playhouse Disney show was great growing up. Bugs land was a lot of fun. And I really loved the huge play area that was meant to be like the redwoods across the way from grizzly river run.
I never felt like the park had disjointed themeing until the remodel began, but I've loved most of what they have added. It's a park I've always cherished but I'm glad they are making it more accessible to all types of guests.
There are some attractions/shows you didn't mention I'd like to add.
1. The Golden Zephyers, my fav attraction growing up.
2 Hyperion theater, which has had two fantastic shows in it. Aladdin and Frozen.
3. King Tritons Carousel. Just like the one in fantasyland but with fish...lame.
4. The Muppet 3D show. Which I cried about when I learned they removed to become a theater to show "extended looks" of new Disney movies.
5. You didn't talk much about bugs land but it had one of the funniest attractions ever in Heimlichs train ride.
6. Jellyfish Jumpers... eh.
7. The Minnie Mouse Plane show, which my sister made us watch every time.
8. As I mentioned earlier the play area across grizzly river run which has a lot of fun little activities to do. It even use to have major Brother Bear themeing and a show. The brother bear stuff has mostly been removed in favor of a scouting theme based on Russel from Up. He now has a show there.
9. Pixar Play Parade, which is still horrible
Great Video, really brought me back. Thanks!
Great video! I went during opening week of the park. As a born and raised Californian, i absolutely loved the California theming as a child. It made me proud to love where i live. Myself along with an uproar of other Californians have been devastated to see change in the park we used to love. The hardest pill to swallow was the change of tower of terror and the re-theming of paradise pier. Change is good, but it sucks that we can never revisit our childhood :(
Great video. Me and my wife & kids and others went to DCA opening year in the summer. Right away the atmosphere felt strange. It did not feel like a Disney theme park, but you knew you were in one. Superstar Limo was creepy, Soarin over California was amazing, the Sunwheel was terrifying (still is), Golden Dreams, well...it was nicely air conditioned. Interesting park it was, and it's funny that the night before we visited old friends who have been there and told us it was more for adults. Still I wanted to experience it myself. So glad that it's been completely revamped and now gives the true feel of a Disney park. And I'm glad and thankful to have experienced it in it's beginning.
I remember going opening year and how random the park appeared. The one thing I do miss was the Mickey ear loop in California Screaming.
i went to dca for the first time in 2012. i was around 6 years old so i dont really remember anything. i do remember cars land and how much fun that was. i do remember being confused bc there was a Ariel themed attraction but right down the way i could see lightning mc queen. now since i was so little i only went on baby rides. Then i went for a second time just last September for a school field trip w my friends. Since i was way older, i went on guardians of the galaxy, (yes ik i never got to experience tower of terror :( the cars ride, goofies sky school, incredicoaster. I had a fun time. now imo, i think the whole pixar theming saved dca from it cheesy 90’s theme. But it also makes me think, “ its not even california adventure anymore” now its just where disney puts all the pixar rides they cant fit in disney land. heck might as well call it pixarland at this point. Dca currently is just so random, “california adventure” does NOT describe that park. (ps im not against dca it was rlly fun)
I visited California adventure when it first opened. I was either 9 or 10. I remember the giant California letters in the front of the park, but don’t remember much about how it used to look
DCA has improved substantially! I always hated the ride selection and the cheap looking entrance with the murals that looked like they were painted on plywood. But with the addition of Radiator Springs Racers, The Tower Ride (RIP Twilight Zone), the future Marvel expansion, and the MUCH NICER entrance plaza, DCA is coming of age.
the entrance was unique. and the ceramic art was really nice
Your video came up as suggested after watching one of Defunctland's videos and I just realized you're the brains and talent behind ConfectionEARs! I know I'm 2 years late to this video, but if I remember correctly, my family and I went to DCA 1.0 within the first year...maybe within the first few months. I was only 8 when it opened, but I remember feeling pretty unimpressed at that age! While the park is more cohesively themed today, it still feels kind of chaotic.
Loved this as much as your pin videos! Brava! It's hard to imagine with all the people working at disney not one person was able to stop this park theme from happening, haha!
Wow! I never knew that DCA was ever anything other than what it is today and I've been several times! Good history - thanks for making.
This was a fun walk down memory lane! I went to DCA in 2003 and 2006, during my late high school/early college years. I remember my whole family being kinda bored with DCA. I always thought that the theming of the park was off in those days. I remember telling my mom that it lacked the 'magic' feel that Disneyland has always possessed. It feels like it was originally designed for an older demographic that doesn't like to go on rides. I've only been there once since the major overhaul but the changes are a vast improvement. I think the retheming of Tower of Terror was a mistake, but otherwise, it's a much better park now than it was when it opened.
Amanda, the first time I visited the park was in 2003. Still remember the times. I went there often. Sad to see it lose it's California theme.
Much, much better now. No kid rides in the beginning. I enjoy the park now. Love the dining options. Love Radiator Springs. Hollywoodland needs serious help. They should knock it down and rebuild. Of course, I like the Monsters dark ride. Good video.
19:28 I'm still pissed at them for this. fuck guardians of the galaxy
Great video! I had forgotten how different DCA was when it opened. I took my 2 kids there from September 27 -- October 2 2001. It was a couple of weeks after the tragedy of 911 and my kids ( 9 & 10 at the time) didn't want to fly to CA; but the travel agency wouldn't refund my money. We thought the parks were empty because of the terror alert, massive amounts of security and overall state of the country as a whole. The rides at DCA were get off go back around and get on again, NO WAIT. There wasn't a lot to do and my kids preferred WDW and they don't have many memories from the trip. My daughter loved the McDonald's there though. It has come a long way and we like the new changes there and the updates to come.
Thank you so much for this! I was in fourth grade, my class won the environmentality challenge and got to travel to Disneyland for the weekend for awards and such. I remember we stayed at the Disneyland Pacific Hotel, now Paradise Pier Hotel. We got to oversee the building of the park. I very distinctly remember seeing the Orange Stinger from our room. Just two years later, my brother’s class won the environmentality challenge as well and we got to visit original DCA shortly after they opened and having the award ceremony in Sunshine Plaza. I loved original DCA, but I wasn’t a picky child, and loved all of the tours and informational stuff. I was also a Disneyland cast member for opening day of World of Color. In short, I’ve always had a soft spot for this odd little park!
DCA whether now, or back when it opened has always been good for one reason, you can do it all easily in less than one day. I am really bored or most theme parks these days due to all of the IP branding and cross-marketing of everything. But getting back on subject, what I really miss is that gigantic ceramic mural which first welcomed you into the park. I believe it was impossible to save so it was demolished.
You forgot about the Wolfgang puck restaurant Avalon cove which became Ariel’s grotto.
I remember one day in the frist few months that the park opened it rained and there were only 12 people in the park at noon!
You got me with this one! SUBSCRIBED! Best detailed and only video on RUclips about DCA!
Your blog made me realize because I live so close and go frequently, I have been taking the parks for granted. Can't wait to go simian and feel the magic!
I kind of like DCA 1.0 better. Part of that reason may be that my family and I were annual pass holders and we went to the park a lot back then. I've only been to 2.0 once. A lot of memories. It had an old California charm about it. I actually liked it without the Disney theming. Years later when I found out about the changes, Adding Disney theming to California, it didn't really make much sense. California and Disney don't go together. The one time I went to DCA 2.0, I did like it, but I kind of miss the old.
I frequented the park during its refurbishment. The construction made navigating the park a huge hassle. I remember there was a time when they would direct guests who entered the park behind the Soarin' building while Buena Vista Street was under construction.
DCA 1.0 was one of the reasons I went through a "Disney Divorce" in the 2000's. Other reasons included the end of the Disney Renaissance, Tomorrowland 98, and just the overall turbulent times the Walt Disney Company was going through at the time. As a 90's kid, it felt like Disney had lost its touch in the 2000's. It wasn't until I saw Frozen and feeling the Disney Magic again that I decided to return to Disneyland and DCA in 2014 after many years of absence. While visiting Disneyland brought back nostalgic and great childhood memories, its was my visit to the new DCA that really cemented my belief that Disney is back. Nowadays I hit up DCA as much as Disneyland, and I look forward to the changes and expansions that DCA has in store for the upcoming years.
I experienced DCA when it was in it's first few years. My gosh... I loved a few things about that park that made it amazing. The Animation building, which taught people, kids to adults how animated movies were made. From the drawings to voice acting as characters. It was the coolest to me. Another one was the tortilla and sour dough bread places. The sour Dough bread factory took you through a tour of how to make bread...not only that you got a free slice to eat while on the tour. Rossie o' Donnell was one of the hosts showing on a video over the actual process. (yes they had real workers making bread.) The tortilla factory was great as well. It had a funny educational video telling about how tortilla's originated through the years. After the tour you got a free Tortilla to eat (free food is the best food!). They also had the best coasters...California Screamin' Which the music for it was basically a surfer style of the older space mountain music (It's true...have both soundtracks and it's there). Also for California Screamin' they originally had no countdown till launch across the water. It gave a bit of a surprise to it when you got launched. I loved It's Tough to be a bug. Sure it wasn't all about Disney in this park, but it had alot of charm to it as a different type of park. That and Soarin' over California was the best!I am sorry for the long post. I had to get my feelings out about the original park and all and felt this was the best place to put it.
Loved this video! I find DCA so interesting ! I’m obsessed with the original DCA ! I wish I could of experience version 1.0!
even though they improved I loved the sun wheel and all the sun themed things, I remember being about 3 or 4 and walking around dca and it just makes me so nostalgic to see those pictures of version 1.0
DCA opened right before my 2nd birthday and my family and i went to the soft opening. This video makes me so relieved because now I know I didn't just dream up some of this stuff
It was not tacky at all i loved the california puns !! Paradise pier was the best land , and the twilight zone tower of terror fitted nicely aswell as buena vista street !!
We went during the first year the park opened. I was only about 12 at the time so I thought it was pretty neat. Mickey used to walk around in his "tourist" outfit which I have a picture of laying around somewhere and I remember meeting Kuzco and Cruella from 102 Dalmatians lol. Overall the park was a mess and definitely lacked the crowds. If there's one thing I remembered, it was that I felt the park lacked the Disney charm. Great video, it was quite a throw back for me
I loved soaring over california, going over old irvine with all the orange groves
Those work walls were BRUTAL during refurb, but I really my breath literally being taken from me when I saw Buena Vista street & Cars Land for the first time 😳 it made that 1.5 year wait totally worth it
Whats sad is how amazing westcot would have been had it been made. How much they spent revamping California adventure it would have been better to just go ahead with westcot. Oh i cry everytime I see westcot renderings.
Would’ve been way better.
I grew up near Disneyland and went here a lot back when we had an annual pass. My mum and I loved the park because it was less crowded than the main park, and the atmosphere is just more relaxing. I understand why not many people loved it, but I'm nostalgic just thinking about it.
Great video! I remember visiting DCA when I was a kid, and yes, it was as crazy as everyone makes it out to be.
This video was super informative and interesting! I'm surprised you don't have more subscribers. Keep up the good work!
OMG I feel so old! I went to DCA just before the tacky Limo Ride closed. The whole DCA was just so un-Disney and bad. Actually, I am old... I was at Disneyland first month it opened, Indian Village and House of the Future... loved that stuff.
My family and I took a Disney trip in 2001. So of course, all the tourism videos focused on Disney California Adventures. The only thing I remembered about the commercial was lots of trees and a bear. Of course, being the impressionable 10 year old that I was, I whined about wanting to go during the entire planning process, but my parents, intelligent adults, saw the writing (boredom) on the wall and skillfully avoided it all trip. Your video has made me especially grateful that they did.
I grew up going to Disney's California Adventure. I remember quite a bit of the zanny-ness and watched the changes first hand. The construction for Buena Vista street was insane as we had to navigate around it, but seeing the more Disney-ized it became was amazing! I still miss the Dinosuar tho.
Ive been to DCA 1.0, maybe even on opening day i don't remember, I had the annual pass so i went alot. I still remember superstar limo and the tortilla factor
I was there in May of 2001, and yes, it was just as zany and weird as you describe. There wasn't really much to do, as you mentioned. Not a lot of rides, just a bunch of attractions and eateries. It was unfortunate that they were trying to compete with Knott's and Magic Mountain and Universal Studios by trying to incorporate all those sorts of unthemed rides and attractions. Maybe they thought parents would just drop their kids at Disneyland and come spend the day next door, but it certainly wasn't a family-friendly park at that time. Cars Land was the first major improvement a long time coming. Can't wait to see Pixar Pier this summer!
After June 23th, 2018, the Pixar Pier opening, I believe the California Adventure will be a great park which can have the same status as the Disneyland. And I wish they put more than three E-ticket IP attractions in it.
So I was young when I saw DCA originally, and as a young kid, I liked the theming - it was bright and different but still tried to teach you stuff. As I grew up before the renovations, DCA was just the "less busy" park from a kid POV. The entrance was weird but there was cool parts of it such as the ice cream train! Paradise Pier felt tacky but still clean and Disney. Its hard to really remember what it looked like before Toy Story Mania but going around the Screamin Mickey head felt cool as a kid. The Orange was obnoxious but it felt cool because if you grew up in California you saw orange groves and like you got to be a bee which was immersive as a kid. The Road 66 was weird and honestly tacky but the food places werent bad. The pizza place had the best garlic bread ever. The dinosaur was iconic and you always wanted a picture with it. DCA was always pretty empty and had short lines from when 2005 to 2009.
Construction was horrible. We had to go through different gateways - entering through Grizzly Peak. It was cool seeing the construction walls - especially since the new Disney video game with all the old characters were coming out - it felt like it was going to be super cool and it is. Construction made the park get popular - like usual, if something is going away, everyone wants to go see it one last time. 2009 - the new opening of DCA was a wild time.
DCA was super tacky and bad but it did have a theme - CA. Now its a mess that they are slowly making into another Disney park, but its still in its baby steps towards that goal.
The food at soap opera bistro was amazing though, it was one of my favorite places to eat.
I loved DCA 1.0. I loved Golden Dreams, the Maliboomer, Grizzly, Soarin (original), and loved California Adventure. But then again I was a teenager when I first experienced it. I enjoyed how they had soap opera days and concerts with The Beach Boys and the monkees
I got to experience DCA 1.0 and one unique thing i remember that wasnt covered in this video were the giant mickey mouse statues that lines the entrance that were designed by california celebrities. I still have a picture of me and my brother with the Tony Hawk skateboarder mickey!
I’ve been there the first year it opened and it was basically a glorified disney state fair minus the carnival rides. I’m so glad is much better now. I think there is still so much more potential in dca lands that it will keep evolving this next decade or two
I went to DCA in 2002 and yes it has changed dramatically since then. Fast forward to 2018 and the park couldn't be better.
Version 1.0 seemed very dull and outdated within the first 3 years. I remember it seemed very 90s, and more like a museum than a theme park. It was very boring during the renovation but very glad after the reopening . I visited DCA from 2002 to present
Great video. I am a native Californian and was able to visit the 1.0 version of this park. Unfortunately at the time I had zero interest in it once I visited. As pointed out there were a lot of California puns at the time and not a lot that caused me as a Californian to want to spend money and time there. I loved and still do the Rapids, Grizzle Peak, and Soarin' but that was all at the time. I do miss the Golden Gate, but do not miss any of the rest of the enterance.
Saddly, due to first impressions, I basically avoided DCA in favor of more time in Disneyland from 2001 through about 2017.
Currently I love the inclusion of Frozen Live, Turtle Talk with Crush, Carsland, and the updates to the Rapids (more geysers) and Soarin'. Bugsland I will be sad to see go for nostalgic reasons but I will be happy to see a better setting for Thor, Spiderman, and the Avengers.
The Paradise Pier area never bothered me, though it did lack the excitement to make me want to stay and explore it. I am excited to see how Pixar Pier will look and what will be to come with that change.
Buena Vista Street is a great counter to Main Street. It gives me the same feel of slow down, take your time to look around in shops, while at the same time reminding me of certain areas of historic California.
Since you asked for feed back I hope that helps. If you get the chance it would be great to see you post a video about Pixar Pier when it opens.
We went to DCA in April 2001 just after it opened. We liked it. Soarin’ Rusdian River, and Screamin’ were and still are first rate attractions. The only thing we thought was weird was the parade. And it was quickly replaced with the Electrical Parade. Things like Bountiful Farms I don’t think were ever intended as permanent attractions but were merely place holders for future attractions, to be developed over time and to suit guest reactions. DCA was fun when it started and we always spent considerable time there. Over the years it has only gotten better. But Soarin’ over California (which they reprise occasionally) is still better than Soarin’ Around the World.
I’m only 21 but I remember riding the Maliboomer over and over and over again as I gained my “sea legs” and began to develop my taste for thrill rides. xD I also had a distant memory of the orange swings and the wild mouse coaster, but could never place where I’d ridden them before. It was the symphony swings and the sky coaster! No wonder those rides seem so familiar! 😂
I’ve never seen a theme park undergo more changes in such a short time frame than DCA.
There needs to be a full episode about California Adventure, a synthetic California experience designed to keep visitors on the property built just before authentic experiences became an important priority for tourists.
It wasn’t as zany as some say. I remember how it was more about California culture and production of goods almost. Very interesting concept but you could literally go to two or three museums around California for the same experience minus the rides.
I experienced DCA 1.0 when I was young and it was fine but not wonderful. My mom and I made bread and took lots of pictures at the pier. I also went just after a bug's world opened and let me tell you how much I miss it! I'm going to Disney for the first time in 11 years in a couple weeks and can't wait to see the changes.
Omg I actually REMEMBER going to the original DCA as a kid, and is what I had in my memory of what DCA was for the longest time until I returned just last year. Unfortunately, I don’t remember Superstar Limo at all (which might have scared me as a kid tbh), but I totally remember the sun on the Ferris wheel, Mulholland Madness, and the Tortilla Factory as clear as day. I guess I didn’t mind much as a kid how “Disney” it was because it was just a theme park and everything was fascinating to me, but the overhaul was DEFINITELY well needed. I think it’s still in the progress of becoming a comparable theme park to Disneyland and others in California, but it’s in a great place right now compared to where t was before. Plus, it’s where all the Pixar attractions are, which is what I mostly care about at this point in my life 😅
This was such an interesting video! I grew up going to Disneyland in the late 70’s and 80’s and moved away before DCA was completed. I went for the first time in October and thought it was pretty cool. I definitely think it’s improving with time
I remember visiting the original park in 2001 and being shocked at how disappointing it was. And thats saying so much for an 8 year old to be disappointed. The updates have made it one of the most fun parks.
I was able to visit DCA in its opening year, about a month or so after it opened. I’d previously visited the other 5 U.S. parks, so I remember how strange it felt in DCA. Because of the lack of Disney branding, it didn’t really feel like I was at a Disney Park. Now, Epcot is one of my favorite Disney parks, but the original DCA sort of felt like an “Epcot’ed” version of Knott’s. Jumping forward to present day, I feel that DCA still kind of an identity crisis, but it definitely feels like a Disney park. My wife and I visited it this past January, which was her first trip to the west coast, and she said it definitely felt ‘Disney’ to her.
I remember going to Disney land in the year 2000, I was 5 and CGA was a year from opening so I didn’t get to experience the park in it’s 1.0 stage. But I did get to experience the park again in 2011 and I had a blast! Rode California screamin 8 times in one day.
I went back in 2002 for grad night. I didn’t get in every ride, but looking back it was very strange how disjointed and incomplete the park was. I didn’t go back till the referb was almost done, but there was a weird particle board lined walkway that led people to soarin’ as buena vista street was not yet done.