A week ago, the all new Disney California Adventure opened its gates to the public!
Waiting for the Gates to Open!
We decided to make our way down to the park around 1am to get in line for the opening. Along with many others, we slept all night in between Disneyland and DCA. What fun is that! A Disneyland sleep over! There was a huge screen which displayed promos for the upcoming Buena Vista Street and Cars Land.
Sleeping Over
Our Big Screen Nightlight
Around 8am, they finally let us in! Upon entering its gates on an overcast morning, we were treated to an incredible sight. The all new Buena Vista Street!
It’s Open!
Buena Vista Street is a beautiful addition to Disney California Adventure with details around every corner. Whether it’s the Five & Dime store, Elias & Company, or the Chamber of Commerce building, you will be in awe.
Five & Dime
Mortimer’s Market
Oswald’s Gas
Of course, motion is in effect in the new DCA. The Red Car Trolley made its way down the street complete with newsies singing their song. It was so fun to finally see the trolleys in action.
All Aboard the Red Car!
Clank, clank, clank with the Trolley!
Near the end of Buena Vista Street, the new Storytellers statue featuring a young Walt and Mickey was finally unveiled. It’s an incredible work of art. Make sure you look all the way around the statue for the subtile details, especially on the suitcase!
Storytellers
Partners Forever!
Buena Vista Street ends with the new Carthay Circle Theatre which is a restaurant and lounge. Inside, I was shocked to see the amount of elegance and history. It was as if I had gone back in time to the 1930s and I was in high society, dining with the Hollywood elite. Entering Carthay Circle Theatre is one of the best examples of time travel Disney has ever given.
Carthay Circle Theatre at Night!
Food and Drinks in the Lounge!
After walking down Buena Vista Street, we headed for Cars Land. Wow. I can’t believe the amount of detail the imagineers put into this place. It’s incredible. The best part about the new land is the mountain range. It’s shocking to believe you are in the middle of Anaheim, California with this beautiful huge mountain range. I was so surprised by the shear size and beauty of the range. I must admit that I was a bit worried that it was looking a bit flat from the areas that you could see while under construction. But boy was I wrong. I really can’t wait to go back and just look at everything.
We are in Radiator Springs!
Beautiful Landscaping
Some of the Best Rock Work I Have Ever Seen
The Waterfall is a Great Highlight!
Walking down the main street in Radiator Springs brings back memories from Disney/Pixar’s Cars. Every detail is here. Ramone’s is here. Luigi’s is here. Flo’s Cafe is here. It looks exactly like the movie and not one detail is missing.
Ramone’s!
Luigi’s!
Flo’s!
At the end of the land is the grand new attraction, Radiator Springs Racers. This ride has the same vehicle as the cars in Epcot’s Test Track, but that’s the only similarity. You begin your journey by taking a cruise through the incredible mountain range and coming right up along side a beautiful waterfall. Soon you are in doors and parts of your favorite “Cars” moments are brought to life through the wonders of audio-animatronics. These are some of the best animatronics to date. The way they move is so fluent and natural. I couldn’t believe it. I never would have thought that bringing an animated film to life could be accomplished this well. Near the end of the interior section, you line up with another car and get ready to race. After a countdown, you are off! You are zooming through that great mountain range, making your way to the finish line. It’s awfully fun to see who is going to win. You never know who it will be. Finally, you enter Taillight Caverns and you exit your vehicle.
Radiator Springs Racers
The Race is On!
Radiator Springs Racers is a great E Ticket attraction. It combines thrill with detail only Disney knows how to do. The only thing that didn’t meet my expectations was Taillight Caverns. I had hoped that there would be lots of detailed caves with waterfalls that we would see on our journey. Unfortunately, the caves are only at the ride’s exit. Still, it’s a wonderful ride.
Part of the Excellent Interior
At night, a new sort of magic is in the air in Cars Land. Just like in the movie, 1950s music plays and each building’s lights come on, one at a time. It’s a special moment and the neon is remarkable. They do this every night, so be sure to be in Cars Land at dusk, right before they turn the lights on!
Cozy Cone at Night
Ramone’s at Night
Flo’s at Night
This is just the beginning of what’s new at Disney California Adventure. In part two, we will discuss the other new Cars Land Attractions, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Flying Tires, we will discuss a sit down dining experience at Carthay Circle Theatre, and we will also talk about the interiors of all the Buena Vista Street buildings, among other things.
Part Two will include a review of Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree!
And a Review for Luigi’s Flying Tires!
Disney California Adventure has always been a great park to me. It did have its problems, but now those problems have been fixed. It is an excellent park that Disney should be proud of. Just think of the great things you can do there now. Walk down Buena Vista Street and see what Los Angeles was like to a young Walt Disney. Enjoy a delicious meal at Carthay Circle Theatre. Take flight on Luigi’s Flying Tires. Zoom through the mountains of Radiator Springs. These are just some of the things you can do at the all new DCA. I can’t wait to go back and experience it for years to come.
Remember: Keep an eye open for Part Two of our DCA Grand Re-Opening Coverage!
After a lengthy refurbishment, the Matterhorn as returned to thrill guests of the Magic Kingdom!
The Mountain is Back!
The biggest change were the bobsleds themselves. No longer will passengers be able to sit in the lap of a loved one. Each seat is individual now. Unfortunately, the single seats are very small. I’m only 5’10” and I had a hard time being comfortable inside. With the old bobsleds, I could extend my legs all the way. But I assume the bobsleds are safer now which is always a good thing.
The All New Bobsleds
Once inside the Mighty Matterhorn, you will notice an updated audio system. The roar of the abominable snowman is booming now. It really makes you fear for what you know is coming. The abominable snowman for the first time really scared me. I loved it. Also, since the audio is so loud, we can once again hear the roar throughout Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. I have always loved hearing that while walking through the park. When we see the abominable snowman himself, you will notice some lighting changes to really amplify his presence. He looks great.
The Abominable Snowman
Now we all know that the Matterhorn was repainted during this refurbishment and it looks amazing. This is the best I have ever seen the Matterhorn look. There are wonderful contrasts and details of snow throughout the mountain.
Looks Great!
Now for a blast from the past! Once again, there are people scaling the mountain! It is a great sight to see these people swinging down the majestic peak. To go along with the Matterhorn climbers, there is also a yodeler! A man stands on the edge of the mountain and yodels while playing an accordion! At one point, I also saw him blow that giant horn that swiss people do. RICOLA!
Preparing for their Descent
Can You Find the Yodeler?
How about now?
So while the new bobsleds themselves are a bit of a let down, the attraction looks better than ever. It is a classic Disney attraction in every sense of the word and it really deserved this lengthy refurbishment. With the return of the climbers and yodelers, the Matterhorn is really back as the king of the Disneyland Mountain Range!
Snow White’s Scary Adventures made its last and final run at Walt Disney World yesterday. It is a very sad day as this was one of the original attractions at the Magic Kingdom when it opened in 1971.
WDW's Exterior
The space that belonged to Snow White’s Scary Adventures will now become a princess area. Are people upset about this much like the same way people were upset at Disneyland for changing the Carnation Plaza Gardens to make room for a princess themed area?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on a beautiful mural at the WDW version.
And looks who's also on that mural!
But all is not lost, for a new attraction will be opening at the Magic Kingdom based on Walt Disney’s first animated feature. The Seven Dwarf’s Mine Ride will open sometime next year and I am very excited about it. It looks like it will be loads of fun with amazing details.
Disney released concept art for the new attraction
And for us West Coast fans, Snow White will continue her scary adventures for years to come. But we will always remember the sister attraction that was at Walt Disney World. While they were similar in most ways, there were differences and in some ways WDW’s version was superior. Disneyland’s version’s climax has the Old Hag struck by lightning and then you see a wall mural that reads “And they lived happily ever after”. Kind of anti climactic right? Well, WDW’s version had a real ending that Disneyland didn’t have enough room for. In WDW’s version, after the Old Hag is struck by lightning, we see the body of Snow White being kissed by her Prince in order to wake her up. The very next scene shows the Dwarfs waving goodbye to the Prince and Snow White as they really do live happily ever after.
Awakening the original Sleeping Beauty
And they lived happily ever after!
And here is a great video which was posted on Mousechat of a ride thru of the WDW version with the lights on!
So we want to hear from you. How do you feel about Walt Disney World closing their version of “Snow White’s Scary Adventures”? Does it make sense because a new ride based on that film is opening? After all, Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland have 2 rides each at Disneyland. Leave your comments below.
