Disney's 5 Year Expansion Report

By D.Z. Theme Park Specialist

Back in 2007, Disney announced a 5 year expansion covering Disney's California Adventure park. In this post, we will talk about each ride, show or attraction that was put in. The reason for this 1.1 billions dollar expansion, was because California Adventures was not lately been up to its standards. We can tell you now it will be up to standards. In this report, we will start from the beginning.

To kick of the 2008 summer,  Disney opened Toy Story Midway Mania. This 4D ride was promised to excite guests, as they try to win one big game.  Here is the story. The ride is where you are shrunken into toy size and go inside Andy's toy box. All the Toy Story toys set up games for you to play. The vehicle holds four play shooters. After you get in, you go next to one of the many 3D screens and shoot at all the targets. It is such a great ride. And this was the beginning.

Just a year later, Disney turned the Sun Wheel to Mickey's Fun Wheel. It was mostly the same. Just with a new look and theme.

California Screaming is always a fun one. They changed the giant Mickey ears on the middle of the ride to a sun. Just above that they added a red Paradise Pier logo.

Next in 2010, Disney lit up Paradise Bay, opening World of Color. This was one of the big projects. It took years of construction! It was well worth it. This 25 minute show is so much fun. A great way to end your day. This show features lasers, fire, water, color and much more. They are able to project clips from well known Disney movies onto water screens.

On the same day World of Color opened, another attraction did to. It is called Silly Symphony Swings. This attraction wings you around in circles as Mickey and his orchestra play great songs. Feels like you are flying during a band concert. So much fun.

As Disney puts in new rides, they sometimes have to take down others. Disney took down a ride that shot you up 180 feet high. This was called the Maliboomer. Sadly, in August of 2010 it stopped going up 180 feet. The replacement was trees. Disney is going to put something else in the future. I wouldn't mind if it was a Toy Story expansion or another World of Color fast pass area. The WOC fast pass system is at the Grizzly River Run currently.

One year later in summer of 2011, Disney called it a 'Soundsational Summer' They premiered the parade Mickey's Soundsational Parade and Star Tours The Adventures Continue at Disneyland. At California Adventures, they opened The Little Mermaid Ariel's Undersea Adventure. This ride took you under the sea, where you could see all the characters bringing the story to life. Some like me love it. Some don't. This ride was very mixed feelings.

Also, they opened Goofy's Sky School. It replaced the Mulholland Madness ride. All that changed was the theme and added on stuff Goofy would put. It actually turned out really nice.

For pretty much re creating a theme park, Disney had to change the front. They turned it into a 1920's look. Sadly, the old 10 letters that spelled CALIFORNIA were taken out.

Just behind the new entrance is Buena Vista Street. The idea of it was re creating Walt's arrival to California in the 1920's. This street features many great new restaurants. Great theme. On Buena Vista Street there are two main things. One is the Red Trolley Cars that takes you around the street and up to the Tower of Terror. The second thing is the Carthay Circle Theatre. This building features great new restaurants. This is a remake of the theatre where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered.

 This all opened on June 15, 2012.

Another area also opened on June 15. It is called Cars Land. This whole new land is Radiator Springs. You get to walk through the town and stop at all the wonderful shops. The Cozy Zone Motel offers great food like 'Cone on the Cob.' They have 3 rides in Cars Land. Luigi's Flying tires is where you get to float on air. Another ride is Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. That is where you are pulled around by tractors singing with DJ Mater. The final ride brings speed to the new land. It is called Radiator Springs Racers. This ride covers about 5 acres. The who Cars Land is about 12 acres. On this ride, you get to race side by side with friends. You get to go through wonderful show rooms. It is a inside and outside ride. Maybe the best part of this expansion.

As you can tell, this 5 year expansion features a lot.  This was not all of it. Just the main things. Disney has done a great job with it. This expansion is well worth it. I can tell you now California Adventures will be booming for a while. I am excited to see what Disney has planned for later.