California Adventure

Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California felt different from our usual Disney park day. It was still Disney, still crowded in places, and still full of things to do, but it did not have that same feeling of sprinting from ride to ride all day. It was easier to slow down, grab something to eat, sit for a while, and actually notice what was happening around us.

Avengers Campus

The thing we were most excited about was Avengers Campus. Since it is not in Florida, this was our chance to see something different from the Disney World trips we are used to. Owen was especially excited to meet Captain America, and that ended up being one of the highlights of the day.

I also got Matt and Owen to go on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout, which replaced the old Tower of Terror ride. It still has that drop ride feeling (that Matt Serwedes dislikes), but with a completely different focus on fun and laughter instead of fear. (Think: bouncing instead of dropping…) It is louder, funnier, and more chaotic in a way that fits the Guardians theme. I am not sure everyone in our group would have volunteered for it without me pushing us, but it was worth doing.

We also got lucky and saw Rogers: The Musical while it was running as a very limited event. It was one of those things that made the park feel different from a normal theme park day. Instead of just moving to the next ride, we actually sat down and watched a full stage show built around Captain America. That is not something we would get in Florida.

Some of our favorite rides were Soarin‘, the Spider Man WEB Slingers ride, and the Toy Story ride. Alison had extra appreciation for the Spider Man ride because of Tom Holland, which was not exactly a surprise. Matt also got to ride the roller coaster and said it was smooth, fun, and not rough. The launch at the beginning is a nice touch compared to slow chain-lifts to the top.

Pixar Pier

One ride we would avoid is the Ferris wheel. Not the whole wheel necessarily, but definitely avoid the swinging cars that slide inside the track. We saw multiple people get sick from them, which was enough information for us. There was a cleanup guy drumming on buckets and seeming unusually excited to clean up puke. We opted for the non-swinging cars. The long line for that wasn’t worth it. We had to share the car with someone else, so it was a bit awkward too.

We were disappointed that the Cars ride was closed for scheduled maintenance. That was one of the rides we had really wanted to try. Still, it gives us a reason to come back, which is probably exactly how Disney wants these things to work!

Food and Fun

The churros became their own side mission. Matt tried to sample as many of the special versions as possible. His favorites: a s’mores churro and a pina colada flavored churro! California Adventure also seemed to have better snack and drink options than the usual theme park food routine. This made it easier to take breaks without feeling like we were wasting time.

That was probably the best part of the park. California Adventure felt like a place where you could stop and watch for a while. Avengers Campus especially had random superhero moments and meet-and-greets happening throughout the day right there on the street. Characters came out and acted out small scenes. Spider Man had an impressive animatronic stunt where he launched high into the air and flipped above the buildings. So, feel free to grab a huge pretzel and just watch what happens around you.

California Adventure was a nice change of pace. It still had big rides and long lines, but it also gave us more chances to sit and enjoy the park. It was a different kind of Disney day, and that made it one of the better ones.