# What's So Bad About Disney's California Adventure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722 "2003-11-12T00:45:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/1 "2003-11-12T00:45:41Z")
People keep “dissing” it in the Simpsons thread. I’ve never been there. Why is it so awful? ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/2 "2003-11-12T01:43:39Z")
I’ve been to California Adventure’s and loved it. The atmosphere is wonderful and the attention to detail is outstanding (as per Disney protocol). I really don’t understand why some people hold such animosity towards it. Soarin’ Over California is an amazing experience. Speaking of which, Tower of Terror is opening in a few months, that most certainly should turn a few heads as its an amazing ride. Note: As a footnote, I’ve visited copious theme parks, so myknowledge base is fairly wide. They include Disney World, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure, Disneyland, California Adventures (obviously) and numerous 6 Flags. ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/3 "2003-11-12T01:47:47Z")
The coaster there is very good though IANACE (I am not a coaster expert) ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/4 "2003-11-12T01:50:35Z")
They make fun of it because it wasn’t nearly the attraction Disney thought it would be. A big part of the problem is that it’s right across the walkway from Disneyland, but you needed a seperate admission to get in and the admission was fairly steep for a park that wasn’t that big. That was a few years ago I don’t know if things have changed now. But that roller coaster is really good. ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/5 "2003-11-12T02:26:48Z")
To elaborate on my previous post, the coaster is very cool. It looks like a classic wooden coaster but rides like only a steel one could (which it is); very interesting mix. I also enjoy the tower that shoots you up several stories (forget the proper title) and Bugs Life 3D still blows me away (despite seeing it 5 times). And of course Muppet Vision 3D is a classic. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/6 "2003-11-12T02:41:53Z")
Disney’s California Adventure suffers from the problem that it is very odd to have an amusement park based on the state of California, \* when you’re already in California! \* It’s much smaller than Disneyland and has less to offer for little kids. Actually the best ride there is Soarin’ Over California, which is one of the best rides that Disney has ever put together, although it’s really just a glorified IMAX film, but damn it’s fun! ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/7 "2003-11-12T02:49:08Z")
Personally, I thought “Brush fire marshmallow roast” was in questionable taste. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/8 "2003-11-12T08:20:43Z")
I don’t care either way myself, but I hear from Disney purists that one of the big gripes with California Adventure is that it relies less on original rides and more on off-the-shelf theme park stuff – “Mulholland Madness” is a dressed-up mini-mouser coaster, that sort of thing. Also, some of the CA attractions were just poorly thought out. When I pay $50 to go to a theme park, one thing I _don’t_ care to spend time at is a tortilla factory… ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/9 "2003-11-12T08:25:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*When I pay $50 to go to a theme park, one thing I _don’t_ care to spend time at is a tortilla factory… \*\* But they have a winery! A WINERY! ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/10 "2003-11-12T09:10:30Z")
DCA is a nice park. Very beautuful, well themed & and has some great rides. When it opened, it was a bit light on rides (and still is), especially when compared to its next-door neighbor (but it’s getting better, **Tower of Terror** opens soon). Plus there’s a lot nuts in the hardcore Disney community and when something doesn’t go the way the think it should, they scream endlessly about it. Unfortunately, the media likes to go to some of them for quotes. It’s a fun way to spend the day. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/11 "2003-11-12T15:04:09Z")
It’s themed like an old-timey amusement park, but costs twice as much. ---
**Author:** ![insomnia4AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@insomnia4AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insomnia4AM)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/12 "2003-11-12T15:44:48Z")
I had a much better time at California Adventure than I did at Disneyland, but that was because of the rides. California Screamin’ is fun, and even though Mullholland Madness is a short little ride, it’s fun to ride on with a first-timer. Flik’s Fun Fair is awesome to walk through, and the whole Paradise Pier area was good too. To each their own, but I had a great time there. ( **Duderdude2** , that ride is called Maliboomer) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/13 "2003-11-12T16:08:32Z")
I have never been to DCA, but my thoughts were exactly in line with BobT - I’m in California already, why would I need a replica of the Hollywood sign when it is literally less then an hour away? ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/14 "2003-11-12T18:49:44Z")
I think the park holds potential. When Disneyland opened in 1955, it was very sparse in regards to rides. It wasn’t until 1959 that Tomorrowland interesting. The idea was to get the park open, start generating some revenue, and expand. I think the same is true of California adventure. As more time passes, it will get bigger and better rides and come into it’s own. It is an expensive place to visit on it’s own. Management, as a result, is now offering what is called the “park hopper” passes which allow you to buy a ticket for one park and enjoy both of them. DCA, isn’t really big enough yet to keep someone occupied for a whole day IMO, so it is nice that you can go over there for a coupe of hours, ride the better rides, and then head over to the magic kingdom afterwards. Besides the two roller coasters and “Soarin over California”, I also enjoy the Grizzly Rapids, which contains one of the largest drops to be found on a rapids ride, great theming, and cars that spin as they are dropping. You do need to be prepared to get wet though. Also, the two 3D shows, “Muppet Adventure” and “It’s a Bug’s Life” are pretty well done and entertaining. “Tower of Terror” looks like it will be a neat ride as well, when it opens in the spring. Lastly, if you have any interest in animation, there is a pretty cool exhibit of Disney animation there as well. ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/15 "2003-11-12T18:51:17Z")
duh. That should have read… "It wasn’t until 1959 that Tomorrowland was expanded and became interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/16 "2003-11-12T20:32:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmackFu \* > \*\*It’s themed like an old-timey amusement park, but costs twice as much. \*\* The old-timey stuff is only one section of the park. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by musicguy \* > \*\*I think the park holds potential. When Disneyland opened in 1955, it was very sparse in regards to rides. It wasn’t until 1959 that Tomorrowland interesting. The idea was to get the park open, start generating some revenue, and expand. I think the same is true of California adventure. As more time passes, it will get bigger and better rides and come into it’s own. > > It is an expensive place to visit on it’s own. Management, as a result, is now offering what is called the “park hopper” passes which allow you to buy a ticket for one park and enjoy both of them. DCA, isn’t really big enough yet to keep someone occupied for a whole day IMO, so it is nice that you can go over there for a coupe of hours, ride the better rides, and then head over to the magic kingdom afterwards. Besides the two roller coasters and “Soarin over California”, I also enjoy the Grizzly Rapids, which contains one of the largest drops to be found on a rapids ride, great theming, and cars that spin as they are dropping. You do need to be prepared to get wet though. Also, the two 3D shows, “Muppet Adventure” and “It’s a Bug’s Life” are pretty well done and entertaining. “Tower of Terror” looks like it will be a neat ride as well, when it opens in the spring. Lastly, if you have any interest in animation, there is a pretty cool exhibit of Disney animation there as well. \*\* The animation exhibit is quite well done. Cool stuff for kids (of all ages) to do there too. “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” is fun too (even if you don’t like the show). The theater there has a pretty good Alladin show (but it’s not as good as Blast! was). It does have Disneyland beat in one crucial area: they serve alcohol there. ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-disneys-california-adventure/212722/17 "2003-11-12T21:20:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yookeroo \* > \*\* > > It does have Disneyland beat in one crucial area: they serve alcohol there. \*\* Like I said, it’s all about the winery.