Golden State
The largest area of the park is dedicated to California's natural and artificial beauty and to the people who follow their dreams to the Golden State.
The Boudin Bakery Tour
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
* |
Ages 11–15: |
* |
Ages 16–adult: |
** |
A San Francisco fixture, Boudin's Bakery makes a unique style of sourdough bread. On the bakery tour, you'll learn how their signature product is made and get a look at a few of the cute shapes that the bakers like to form from the dough. The lines are typically short, and adults in particular will find it interesting. If all the watching makes you hungry, you can get the bread in the adjacent Pacific Wharf Café, which serves Boudin's traditional soup in a sourdough bread bowl or scrambled eggs in a bread bowl for breakfast.
JUST FOR PARENTS
The ride listings in this book include suggested age groups for whom the rides are most suitable. The abbreviation N.S. means not suitable. However, these are only general guidelines. Before you put your children on any ride, consider their maturity, likes and dislikes, and their ability to stay seated and follow directions. As long as they are tall enough to meet the rides' height requirements, the ultimate decision about whether your child can go on the ride is yours.
Bountiful Valley Farm
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
* |
Ages 11–15: |
* |
Ages 16–adult: |
* |
This outdoor exhibit showcases many plants, trees, and shrubs native to California, along with California crops. You'll find yourself in a park-like environment that you can walk through at your own pace.
Golden Dreams
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
* |
Ages 11–15: |
* |
Ages 16–adult: |
*** |
A twenty-minute documentary movie, Golden Dreams will appeal mainly to adults. It offers a brief history of California using stunning movie footage and still photography. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the film takes you on a whirlwind tour through time. Golden Dreams is shown throughout the day and evening in an air-conditioned, indoor theater.
During October, Golden Dreams becomes Golden Screams, a place where all the nastiest Disney villains congregate to create the biggest screams they can.
Golden Vine Winery
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
N.S. |
Ages 11–15: |
N.S. |
Ages 16–adult: |
** |
Designed for adults, this attraction includes a small recreation of a Napa Valley vineyard. The focus here is on California's wine industry, and a seven-minute movie details its history and growth. You'll see how wine is made and learn about the famous Napa Valley wine country. At the end, you'll be invited to sample some of California's best-known wines during a wine tasting (for adults only).
Adults who enjoy sampling wine will find Golden Vine Winery to be informative and mildly entertaining. That is, if you're not put off by the infomercial-like quality of the overall presentation.
TRAVEL TIP
If you purchase wine at the Golden Vine shop, you must take advantage of the Package Express service and have it delivered either to the front of the park (to pick up on your way out) or directly to your room (if you're staying at a Disney hotel).
The lines for the film are always short. The movie theater holds fifty people at a time, and the film airs continuously throughout the day and evening. You'll also find two restaurants here, along with a wine shop that sells a large selection of California wines.
Grizzly River Run
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
** |
Ages 11–15: |
*** |
Ages 16–adult: |
*** |
Grizzly River Run is similar to the whitewater rafting rides found at many theme parks. Six riders sit in an oversize, circular “raft” that floats down a manmade river. The main difference between Grizzly River Run and similar rides is that it takes you higher to begin with, so you can have more fun on the way down.
It's almost impossible to keep from getting wet as you weave around the sometimes uneven river because the rafts turn constantly. If you're carrying cameras or any other electronics, make sure they're protected. It's best to ride in midday (but not just before going into an air-conditioned restaurant) and wear clothing that will dry out quickly, or have a change of dry clothing.
Grizzly River Run is suitable for people of all ages who are in good enough condition to stand the turns and sudden drops. It's a lot of fun and not too scary, except when you experience the river's two drops (one of which falls 21 feet). Because the river has many twists and turns, it's often hard to see what thrills are coming next, which adds to the excitement.
Riders must be at least 42 inches tall and able to stand some drops and turns. Grizzly River Run is very popular, especially on hot summer days, making it a fastpass attraction. A Single Rider line is also available.
Mission Tortilla Factory
Ages 2–4: |
* |
Ages 5–10: |
* |
Ages 11–15: |
** |
Ages 16–adult: |
** |
This short, walk-through attraction, located just across from the Boudin Bakery, demonstrates how flour and corn tortillas are made. At the end of the tour, you'll get a free sample. Mission Tortilla Factory is a self-paced, indoor attraction that you can get through in three to five minutes, and the lines are typically short. Kids and teens might find the working machinery interesting, but smaller children may be bored.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Ages 2–4: |
*** |
Ages 5–10: |
*** |
Ages 11–15: |
* |
Ages 16–adult: |
* |
A good place for the kids to work off any excess energy, Redwood Creek is an interactive (outdoor) play area that looks like a California redwood forest. Youngsters will find all kinds of places to climb net ladders, walk over suspension bridges, slide down, and explore the playground/obstacle course. Parents are encouraged to watch from a nearby area. Most people spend about twenty minutes here. Some of the activities have a 42-inch height limit.
The Magic of Brother Bear Totem Ceremony, featuring the characters Koda and Kenai from the animated film Brother Bear, is held here several times a day.
Soarin' Over California
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
** |
Ages 11–15: |
*** |
Ages 16–adult: |
*** |
To many people, Soarin' Over California is the best experience at California Adventure, if not the entire Disneyland Resort. It combines motion-simulator and Omnimax movie technologies to make you feel as if you're soaring over California in a hang glider, taking an airborne tour of historic landmarks and national parks.
Riders walk through a mildly themed entry area lined with photographs of California's aviation pioneers before dividing into groups to enter one of the two simulator theaters. Each theater has three “gliders,” each holding thirty-six people in three rows of twelve. The gliders move 45 feet into the air and into the middle of an almosthemispherical Omnimax screen. The film is all you'll see around you, and the glider's movements synchronize with the movie to enhance the feeling of flying. To add an extra dimension of reality, you'll also smell orange blossoms, pine trees, and salty air.
TRAVEL TIP
The best seats available for Soarin' are in the first row, where you get an unobstructed view without anyone's feet dangling in front of you. If you're directed to a second or third row seat, politely tell the cast member you want to sit in the first row. It will be worth the short extra wait.
Soarin' has a 40-inch minimum height restriction, but it's a smooth, easy ride that most anyone will enjoy. However, the experience is so realistic that a few brief scenes may bother those prone to motion sickness.
Soarin' is a fastpass ride that often develops long lines, but it's well worth the wait to experience the four-minute “flight” across California and you may find yourself running back to the fastpass machine as soon as you get out so you can see it again. It also offers a Single Rider option.
As you enter or exit Soarin' Over California, you're in the park's Condor Flats section. The California Adventure design team visited legendary Edwards Air Force Base in the California desert to duplicate the look of their runway tarmac in every detail, down to the cracks and repairs.
You'll also find street entertainment in Golden State, with the Mariachi Divas performing at Pacific Wharf and the Miner 49ers hanging out on Highway 49, serenading guests with Disney songs.
