Daily Photo Tour - Christmas at California Adventure
Christmas in California is probably one of the most unique ways to spend the Holidays. The newly decorated California Adventure Entrance, and Buena Vista street really have a great Christmas vibe going on. California Adventure is really starting to grow on me. You've got the Christmas Caroler's on Buena Vista Street, hot coffee from Starbucks, and an array of Christmas decorations that deck the street in a classic holiday fashion.
Photo by Kevin Crone
Daily Photo Tour - Telling a New Story
Disney California Adventure has come a long way since its remodel and improvements began. With a few weeks under its belt, DCA 2.0 is only getting better and I can't seem to get enough of it. The thing that stands out to me most is the obvious and strong connection to Walt Disney that the park was practically void of. You can barely even get into DCA before you notice it. The park feels free and happy with an air of opportunity and possibility. California Adventure is telling an audacious new story, one that's fitting of the Disney name.
Photo by Matthew Hansen
Daily Photo Tour - How Far We've Come
It's amazing to think that this is what the entrance to Disney California Adventure looked like just two years ago. If you look closely towards the center just above the bridge, you can see what used to be the understated focal point of Sunshine Plaza. And ironically enough, just behind that is a crane. One of which was the first on scene for the construction of Cars Land. Since then, California Adventure has changed immensely.
Every night, World of Color blasts its jets into the sky in an array of color chromatic wonder. The Paradise Pier boardwalk has fitted itself with two new eateries which harbor a cuisine that matches the atmosphere and mood of a night at the beach. Paradise Pier is alive, and quite honestly for the first time, it feels like Disney.
Cars Land opened today, and funny enough, I am watching Cars as we speak. For me, this is the first land in its entirety that I will have seen in a movie before I've visited it at the park, and that is huge. I've never had that connection to the movie and then being able to see it in real life. I saw Cars in the theater for the first time and loved it. The message within the film, and my connection with Route 66 were probably the two major things that initiated my love for the film. Tomorrow I'll be able to step into Radiator Springs for the first time. I cannot wait.
And then, there is Buena Vista Street. It encompasses the time that is reminiscent of the golden era of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. You'll be able to walk the streets that Walt Disney did some eighty plus years ago. And with a little Disney magic you'll be able to wave hello to Walt, at street level, and even take a picture with him. The crown jewel of Buena Vista Street, and arguably Disney California Adventure is the Storytellers Statue. A life size artistic portrayal of Walt Disney as he arrived in California in the 1920's.
To say that I am not excited would be lying. California Adventure has become an entirely different park. A culmination of so many different people over the course of five years has led to one of the Disneyland Resort's largest expansion. It's finally time to see dreams come to life!
Photo by Kevin Crone
Daily Photo Tour - A New Entrance for Disney California Adventure
Being fairly attached to the original, I was skeptical about the new entrance to Disney California Adventure. After seeing the concept art, which featured an elegant, classic design, my concerns were lifted. Seeing the California letters come down and the construction walls go up was still a little difficult but we watched the progress, week after week. It wasn't long before the structure was there, standing at the edge of welcoming its first guests. There is still work to be done on the overall concept for DCA's remodeled entrance, but these turnstiles have won me over.
Photo by Matthew Hansen
New Pictures of the Three Amigos
We've updated the
Three Amigos page with some new pictures. We've also put the links to our pages at the top of the sidebar to make them a little easier to find. Go check them out!
Daily Photo Tour - Welcome to Disneyland
This sign brings back so many fond memories for me. Although a bit different from the original Disneyland sign, it carries a similar charm. As a child, I remember being filled with such excitement as we came upon the sign for Disneyland because it meant we had finally arrived at the happiest place on earth. Some of my earliest memories are of me and my family bundled up in our Mickey ponchos watching the rain fall on Main Street, dancing with my sisters at the Plaza Gardens, and falling asleep on my father's shoulder as the Main Street Electrical Parade made it's debut. All these memories encompassed by a simple sign, a place where joyous and unforgettable moments are created everyday and everything in life seems that much sweeter. Welcome to Disneyland.
Photo by Michaela Hansen
Daily Photo Tour - California Color
Disney California Adventure is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this year. You'd never know, because this whole entrance is completely removed. If you haven't heard, California Adventure is currently in the process of a minor overhaul! I am so excited for the new highly anticipated Cars Land, Carthay Circle Plaza, and several new additions on the Paradise Pier Boardwalk. There will definitely be many new photo opportunities in the coming future. I snagged this shot on a very late night during the summer. Matt, Michaela and I had just left a long day of shooting World of Color, and Disneyland. It must have been somewhere around 1:00am in the morning. If I remember correctly, the only reason we ended up leaving this location was because the men with the high pressure water hoses eventually started spraying down the Esplanade. We eventually began our long hike to the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure. It's nights like these that I remember the most because we have so much fun when we are tired and being silly.
Photo by Kevin Crone
Daily Photo Tour - California Entrance
I have always been fond of the California sign at the entrance to California Adventure. When visiting with family, we made a point to take pictures in all the letters, like so many others. Every time you go, you can be sure to find groups of people gathering around, waiting their turn to take pictures. It's fun to watch all the different and creative ways people pose with, or in the letters. I love how grand and unique it is. Being that I stem from the Bay Area, I especially love the way the Golden Gate Bridge peeks up from behind it. It calls back memories of home and makes me smile, every time I see it.
Photo by Michaela Hansen
Daily Photo Tour - California Adventure Entrance
California Adventure has its own unique style that is far different from Disneyland. Despite the statistics, and bad press, I think it is finally catching on. Who knew it would take over ten years of operation for native Californians to appreciate their own state. Although because of dropping attendance, and low interest, some may say California Adventure has become somewhat of a flop for The Disneyland Resort, I disagree. Every time I'm at Disneyland I find myself wanting to get over to California Adventure. And at some rate, I end up getting there one way or another. Why is this? I don't do this when I am at California Adventure? There isn't that strong pull to get to Disneyland really quick. I think it is because we all know Disneyland isn't going to change. They aren't going to up and remove The Matterhorn, or turn Splash Mountain into a giant slip n' slide. Disneyland is timeless, and untouchable.
Photo by Kevin Crone
