Originally posted: 12/19/2002

Last updated: 5/5/2004

By Chris Cowan
themeparks@insightbb.com
 

2001:

Disney’s California Adventure, a 55-acre theme park in Anaheim, built next to Disneyland at a reported cost of $1.4 billion, officially opens on Thursday, February 8, 2001.  The three theme areas are:

• Paradise Pier, designed as a boardwalk amusement park.  It features:
  o  California Screamin’ steel launched roller coaster,
  o  Maliboomer (180-foot Space Shot tower),
  o  Sun Wheel (Ferris Wheel),
  o  King Triton’s Carousel,
  o  Golden Zephyr,
  o  S.S. Rustworthy (children’s water playground),
  o  Jumpin’ Jellyfish (children's parachute ride),
  o  Mulholland Madness (steel wild mouse roller coaster),
  o  Orange Stinger (swing ride),
  o  various Boardwalk games,
  o  food court,
  o  Avalon Cove restaurant and
  o  Treasures in Paradise gift shop.
   

• Hollywood Pictures Backlot, including:
  o  Disney Animation building with Off the Page gift shop,
  o  The 2,000-seat Hyperion Theater with "Steps in Time" show,
  o  Gone Hollywood gift shop,
  o  ABC Soap Opera Bistro,
  o  Muppet Vision 3-D movie theater,
  o  Rizzo’s Prop and Pawn Shop (Muppet toys),
  o  Hollywood & Dine food court and
  o  Superstar Limo dark ride.
   

• Golden State, encompassing five different areas:
  o  San Francisco with the Golden Dreams Theater,
  o  Bountiful Valley Farm which has the “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” 3-D movie, a farm, water playground, garden shop, winery, and the Vineyard Room restaurant,
  o  Redwood Creek with Grizzly River Run (white water raft ride), Rushin’ River Outfitters shop and the Challenge Trail play area,
  o  Condor Flats, themed as an airfield and featuring the Soarin’ Over California motion-simulator ride, a Fly n’ Buy gift shop and the Taste Pilots Grill, and
  o  Pacific Wharf with the Mission Tortilla Factory, Boudin Bakery and a food court)

In March, the Mulholland Madness coaster is closed temporarily for adjustments to slow the speed and smooth out some of the jerkiness of the ride.

In May, Disney announces that the Electrical Parade, retired from Disneyland’s Main Street in 1996, will be resurrected for California Adventure.

In June, the park announces that guests will be able to experience the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” on a replica of the TV-show’s set beginning in August.

Admission is initially $43, but is reduced to $33 by mid-summer in an attempt to boost attendance.

In October, two restaurants inside the park, Avalon Cove (a seafood restaurant owned by Wolfgang Puck Food Co.) and Golden Vine Winery, announce they are closing due to low crowds.  The LA Times reports that park attendance, projected to be an average of 19,000 guests per day, is in reality only averaging around 4,500 per day.

In November, “Blast!” replaces the “Steps in Time” show at the Hyperion Theater.

2002:

A new theme area, “A Bug’s Land” replaces the Bountiful Valley Farm section and opens on October 7^th.  It features Flik’s Fun Fair, including:

            o  Flik’s Flyers (a hot-air-balloon ride fashioned to look like empty food containers and leaves),
            o  Francis’ Ladybug Boogie (spinning ladybug cars on two rotating platforms),
            o  Tuck & Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies (bumper cars),
            o  Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train (a railroad-type ride themed like a caterpillar), and
            o  Princess Dot Puddle Park (a children’s wet play area).

The Santa Rosa Feed and Supply Store is remodeled and renamed P.T. Flea Market.

2003 – “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Adventure”, a Broadway-style show, replaces "Blast!" and officially opens on January 17 in the Hyperion Theater (the show actually began “previewing” in December 2002).

2004 – Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, a drop ride similar to the one in Orlando, is added, and opens on May 5.