Traveling: California 2016

Saturday, 18 June 2016

California 2016 - Part 11

Disneyland

Wednesday - June 1st 2016

Today was the big day. We finally visited the original Disneyland for the very first time. Disneyland in Anaheim was the only park Walt Disney himself ever set foot inside and so there was truly a special atmosphere. However, thanks to long lines at the front gate, we decided to visit the Disney California Adventure park first. So after we got a coffee at Starbucks on our way to the resort, we headed into the other Disney park. A few years ago the California Adventure park received a huge makeover and turned into a beautiful second park. Part of that expansion was Carsland and since it was very popular among guests, we walked straight to Radiator Springs Racers, the headliner attraction. Similar to EPCOT's Test Track, it proved to be a fantastic ride. The theming was astonishing and the ride itself was great too. No wonder why the lines were that long.

Disney California Adventure

Carsland

Carsland - Radiator Springs Racers

Next was Paradise Pier, designed after the seaside amusement parks in the United States. Our first ride there was California Screamin', a great roller coaster, and then we gave Mickey's Fun Wheel a try. From the outside it looked rather boring, but the swinging gondolas were actually a lot of fun. What a great idea to add swinging gondolas to a ferris wheel. Since The Little Mermaid was walk on, we embarked on a journey to the world of Ariel, and then we got a fastpass for one of Disney's best attractions, Soarin' Over California. While waiting for our fastpass time slot, we had an early lunch with veggie burgers and fries at Smokejumpers Grill. Afterwards it was time for our last flight with Soarin', because the ride was about to close soon, since it will get changed to Soarin' Over the World. It was wonderful to do it one last time.

Paradise Pier

Paradise Pier - California Screamin'

Paradise Pier

Paradise Pier - Mickey's Fun Wheel

Paradise Pier

California Adventure

Grizzly Peak

Smokejumpers Grill

Veggie Burger with Fries and Water

Soarin' Over California

Now the sky cleared and the sun came out, which meant that it got really warm. So we decided to get a drink at the Cove Bar. Luckily we got seated immediately, during the rest of our stay, the lines were pretty long, and enjoyed a couple of Dos Equis beers. Afterwards we wanted to head over to Disneyland, but we came across the beautiful Sonoma Terrace and there they offered Californian craft beers. Needless to say, we had to try one. But then we finally made it to the Disneyland park.

Buena Vista Street

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse

Buena Vista Street - Carthay Circle

Paradise Pier

Cove Bar

View from Cove Bar

Cove Bar

Pacific Wharf

Sonoma Terrace

Buena Vista Street

At Disneyland our first stop was at Matterhorn Bobsleds in Fantasyland, because the line was surprisingly short. However the ride was so unpleasant that I didn't have the desire to ride it again. The crowds were crazy in Fantasyland and so we decided to get a Dole Whip. Later it was time for the Indiana Jones Adventure. Now I can easily say that this is the best themepark ride I've ever done. Although it is already twenty years old, the theming was outstanding and the ride itself was very entertaining too. There was only one problem. It broke down several times during our trip.

Disneyland

Main Street USA

Sleeping Beauty Castle

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Adventureland

Dole Whip

Frontierland

Fromtierland

Adventureland

Indiana Jones Adventure

Adventureland

Since it was already early evening, we got hungry and so we had dinner at Royal Street Veranda in Adventureland. There Claudia and I both ordered the vegetarian gumbo in a bread bowl, it was also vegan, and I think it was the best themepark fast food I ever had. It was so delicious and of course we ate there more than once. Unfortunately Disneyland was so packed, that we weren't able to enjoy that park and so we got a coffee at Starbucks and went back to the Disney California Adventure park. There we got to ride Monsters Inc - Mike and Sully to the Rescue and just walked around the park to soak up the atmosphere. Carsland looked even more amazing in the beautiful evening light. Later we returned to our hotel.