It began in a ballroom at the Disneyland Hotel on July 17, 1996, with a group of Westcot 2000 members being introduced to the newest concept The Walt Disney Company had hatched for its second gate in Anaheim. Westcot 2000 had already heard plenty about Disney's original concept for a West Coast version of EPCOT and was ready to support those changes.

The unofficial lobby group was in full support of building the new theme park, when Disney decided to scrap its plans for Westcot and explore other options. It was on this 41st anniversary of Disneyland's opening that Paul Pressler, then President of Disneyland, unveiled the concepts for Disney's California Adventure, the theme park that would celebrate the fun and diversity of the Golden State.


With the new plans Disneyland would not only have a neighbor, but also it would welcome a new hotel and entertainment and shopping district. The small park in the heart of suburban Orange County was destined to become a travel Mecca, a Disneyland Resort.

The transformation seemed to start slowly, as portions of the old Disneyland parking lot were slowly closed and new lots introduced. After all the needed space in the parking lot was closed, dirt began to move from one pile to the next. And this process continued and continued. Those of us taking pictures and watching the changes wondered when we'd finally have something more interesting than dirt and sewer pipes to take pictures of. We had seen a large mound of dirt at the location of Grizzly Peak come and go. What many had thought would be the first attraction to appear, was just a construction method used to compress the dirt for the ride that would come later.


As time passed work began to pick up pace. Some of the foundation started to be laid and some vertical construction began to take place. Before long the Preview Center opened giving guests a sneak peak at the new park through conceptual art and models. Disneyland Guest Relations Cast Members were on hand to answer questions that people had. A preview tower was also installed that allowed Guests to peak over the construction walls and see exactly what was taking place in Disneyland's old parking lot for the first time.

Before long buildings began to dot the landscape and forms of the foretold attractions began to take shape. As the opening seemed to be drawing too close for comfort, many details started showing. From vantage points in the Paradise Pier Hotel (formerly Disney's Pacific Hotel) and various locations around the new park, work seemed to be happening at a hurried pace. On a daily basis new signs and attraction facades appeared. The excitement was building for many, and others still harped on the fact that this was no Disney quality park. One thing was sure, the opening was drawing near and the Disneyland Resort would soon make its official debut.

To have watched California Adventure take shape over the many months and years provided for a unique experience when stepping through the gates for the first time. Seeing the many changes that have taken place and realizing that no matter where you stand in the park, you are on a portion of the old Disneyland parking lot has provided me with a new appreciation for what has been accomplished.

Upon making that first walk through the main entrance, the attention to detail and the quality of the workmanship is readily apparent. While many have taken a love it or hate it response to the mosaic tile entry, there is a certain flair and craftsmanship that is mirrored throughout the rest of the park. The entire entry with the giant letters spelling out California, and the Golden Gate Bridge framed by the tiled mosaic gives the park its character and creates the uniqueness that is California Adventure.


Given one word to describe the new park, it would be beautiful. Eye candy fills the entire fifty-five acres, from the glittering Hollywood Pictures Backlot streets to the beachfront showers converted to drinking fountains in Paradise Pier. It is these little details that Disney has become known for in its theme park design.

As with any new theme park, Disney's California Adventure does have its share of problems. Of course on opening day a lady's high heels did not get stuck in the freshly poured concrete, and the plumbers hadn't gone on strike forcing the company to hurriedly install more toilets instead of drinking fountains. Even though the park is opening with more to do then when Disneyland originally opened, the popularity of the newest Disney Park may cause some headaches for travelers on busier days.

Since there are still few attractions in the park, combined with the slowing effect of Fastpass on standby lines, Guests on a few of the preview days saw lines for some of the more popular attractions such as Soarin' Over California, soar to over five hours. Fastpass tickets were also all given out by midday for almost every attraction in the park, which helped to increase the length of many of the lines.

The limited number of attractions also means that on the less crowded days Guests should be able to see all the attractions and shows they are interested in by midday. There are quite a few restaurants and shops, which for Annual Passholders and Guests with Park Hopper passes will provide an alternative to Disneyland. These Guests can think of California Adventure simply as an extended theme park, where they can head for more choices on food and shopping.

Overall Disney's newest theme park is an extremely nice looking park. Guests with limited time in Anaheim though may wish to spend the majority of their time in Disneyland, since it is "where the magic began." Those who are visiting with Park Hopper passports or have the option to spend a day in California Adventure should definitely take the time to see all the fun in the sun.

Part II: Gateway Plaza and Hollywood