California Trip Part V: Disney's California Adventure Park

On New Year's Day, we went to Disney's California Adventure Park. This was probably our best day. It was relatively warmish, and the park wasn't ridiculously busy. We were able to make extensive use of fast passes and go on lots of rides. We also enjoyed the Pixar parade and the World of Colour show in the evening. Once again we arrived for Park opening. We went to Soaring Over California right away and that was a great 3-D motion simulator where it feels like you are in a cockpit flying over California. Even the wind and the smells match the visual and motion experience. We also went to Toy Story Mania, the Symphony Swings, the carousel, and the big roller coaster, California Screamin'. We also discovered Preston's favorite ride of the trip--Goofy's flight school which is a cute little roller coaster which is themed like you are learning to fly a "flyin' contraption"

After we met up with Kennedy and Mark, the girls went on Hollywood Tower of Terror, then went again with me. Meanwhile, Rob took the boys on all the kiddie rides in A Bugs Land. A Bugs Land is really cute. Everything in this section of the park is designed to make you feel like you are small like a bug. We also enjoyed the It's Tough to be a Bug 3-D show. 

We enjoyed an awesome lunch in Carsland at Flo's Diner. We got to go on a few repeat and other rides. Around 4pm, I went back to the hotel (via the shuttle bus) with the boys. The day before they got totally exhausted and I knew they would need a break.  While at the hotel, I worked like crazy, doing all of our laundry and "smart packing" our suitcases so that we could bring out one suitcase per night on our way home. Around 7or 7:30, Kennedy came back to the hotel to stay with Mark and I took Austin and Preston back to the park. In the evening we went to the World of Color Show and finally got to go to the premiere ride--Radiator Springs Racers--which was amazing.

The Pixar Parade. I liked it and in happy contrast to the Disneyland parade all we had to do was step behind a line and the parade started immediately.

The World of Colour show was incredible. At least 30 minutes of lights and fountains and music and even fire. It was all themed to favorite Disney movies.

This is outside Toy Story Mania. We loved this ride, but it had long lines so we only got to ride it once.

We happened to meet Minnie at a photo op and didn't have to wait more than a minute to get the picture. In contrast, we waited an hour the next day to meet Mickey Mouse! Crazy!

With Flik in "A bug's land"

I took Mark out of his chair to go on Heimlich's Chew Chew Train. I don't know if he liked it much.

Preston and Rob at Tuck and Roll's Drive Em Buggies.

King Triton's Carousel. Wild Ride! Preston wanted to ride on the "gopher" which was in fact an otter, (as all the carousel "horses" were sea creatures.) We thought that was pretty funny.

Goofy's Flight School. We went on this ride at least 4 times! Preston liked it so much, he was willing to go on as a single rider to bypass the lines a little.

Swings. They play symphony music while you go around and around.

California Screamin'. We managed to go on this a few times without much wait thanks to fast passes. It is a great roller coaster.

Waiting in line. I could have taken lots of these pictures. We waited in a lot of lines!

Flo's diner in Carsland. Carsland is great. They have completely recreated Radiator Springs. It is awesome.

In the summer, Grizzly River Run is probably a big hit, but in January weather, it is just a little too wet.

Mater in Carsland.

This is incredible. They have built a massive red rock mountain scene. It feels just like you are in arches.

This is us during the Radiator Springs Racer ride. After travelling through radiator springs, going tractor tipping, etc, you race against one other vehicle in a roller coaster style race out in the orange coloured mountain scene. It is one of the best rides anywhere.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree at 10 pm!