Part two of my how to visit Disneyland like a pro series!

This post focuses on California Adventure, the second park built on the Disneyland lot. Like the first post, this is based on how to get around the park in the most fun and efficient way possible, with in-depth descriptions on the rides, parks, and other fun options!

*updated as of March 2025

This park differs from the original Disneyland park in that was originally meant to be a park solely dedicated to the love of California, from the giant stone grizzly bear, to the food, to the Hollywood-inspired main street. However, in recent years it has become a meld of the classic California aesthetic with some of Disney’s other properties like Pixar and Marvel.

The park is split into nine lands: Buena Vista Street, Avengers Campus, Cars Land, San Fransokyo Square, Pixar Pier, Performance Corridor, Hollywood Land, Paradise Gardens Park, and Grizzly Peak.

This land doesn’t get quite as crowded as Disneyland, as it was also built to seem less confining. This is a rundown of each land and the attractions within.

The Parks

Buena Vista Street/Performance Corridor

These two lands are very small and border each other, so I will be combining the two for the purpose of this post.

Buena Vista Street is the first land you’ll visit when walking through the main entrance (there is another, hidden entrance located in Grizzly Peak). It pays homage to the early years of Walt Disney and his company, with many 1920s references and performances done in cable cars. This is also where you’ll do the hefty bit of your shopping in California Adventure, as the street is lined with both food and merchandise.

The Performance Corridor is a continuation of Buena Vista Street and connects all of the lands except for Hollywood Land together. This is where festivals like the Food and Wine festival take place and where the Magic Key terrace is, along with a few wine terraces.

Characters to see:

The classic Mickey and the gang characters.

A must do:

This is where all of the merchandise in the entire park collects in one place – Marvel, Pixar, classic Disney, and more! So, this is the best place to buy your souvenirs.

A hidden treasure:

The Food and Wine festival is a popular activity to participate in, but it only lasts a few months from late winter-early spring, so be sure to book your tickets in advance.

Top Tip!

The restaurants/eateries in these areas usually have multiple options for people with food allergies.

Hollywood Land

This land is a hodgepodge of different attractions, united by the common aesthetic of Hollywood and the movie process. There is only one ride (Monsters Inc. themed), but there are a few other activities like the PhilharMagic and a large stage where various acts come to perform. Many people think of this space as merely a place to walk through, but there are hidden treasures here, including my favorite place in both parks!

Another highlight of this land are its two theaters. One for small children that is based on Disney channel shows targeted for young ages. The other, a true gem that offers condensed versions of Disney movie musicals. The two I’ve seen have been Aladdin and Frozen, both of which were shockingly good.

Characters to see:

Anna and Elsa have a permanent viewing spot in the Animation Academy.

A must do:

One of my favorite shops in the store (featuring classic Disney characters and many paintings and drawings), called Off The Page! is located on this street and is a treat to search through.

A hidden treasure:

The Animation Academy. This is a quiet, unassuming place from the outside, but the inside holds all the true magic of Disney. First, you walk inside and are greeted by giant screens of Disney movie images, be it storyboard sketches, stills from the movie, or movie clips. There are more than a dozen different movies in rotation, each enchanting in its own right, with theme music playing and different lighting.

Then, you can choose to take a drawing class, visit with Anna and Elsa from Frozen, or try out Turtle Talk with Crush! But personally, I like to relax on the couches and enjoy the ambiance of Disney’s animation.

Top Tip!

This is one of the best areas for young kids in California Adventure, with multiple shows, attractions, and activities for them to do. These change based on the week so be sure to keep yourself updated using the Disney app!

Avenger’s Campus

This land is dedicated to Disney’s acquisition of Marvel and mainly focuses on the Avengers and sometimes helps promote new Marvel content. There are two popular rides, a ‘reenactment’ of an Avengers fight, and multiple shops and characters to take pictures with.

Characters to see:

Multiple Marvel characters.

A must do:

The WEBSLINGERS ride is very well done and is a must-try. The ride is appropriate and fun for people of all ages and the only downside is a sore arm left after slinging webs as fast as possible.

A hidden treasure:

To-scale replicas of Marvel props exist only in the shop here. Major Marvel fans will have way too much fun with this information (yes, they’re expensive).

Top Tip!

Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission Breakout! took over the famous Tower of Terror and is very popular but DOES NOT have a single rider line – which is very important to know when planning out your day.

Cars Land

Walking through this land is like taking a stroll down Radiator Springs just as you saw it in Cars. There are three rides, two for younger children, and the other called Radiator Springs Racers. The Racers ride is vastly popular and rightfully so, as it mixes speed and thrills with nostalgia, storyline, and animatronics.

Characters to see:

The Cars franchise characters.

A must do:

At dusk there’s a special moment where the Cars land lights up for the night, mimicking the moment in the movie where Radiator Springs comes to life once more. It’s a beautiful sight, and looks like a near exact copy to the moment in the film.

A hidden treasure:

The secret shortcut between San Fransokyo Square, Cars Land, and the Avengers Campus. It’s a beautiful walkway that is blissfully free of crowds!

Top Tip!

The Radiator Springs Racers ride is yet another option where I would use the single riders line and avoid trying to wait in regular line or get a Lightning Lane pass (an additional cost).

San Fransokyo Square

Formerly the Pacific Wharf, this land is all about food and drinks, and is themed around Big Hero 6. There are seven restaurants/booths to choose from and lots of seating.

Characters to see:

Baymax and Hiro from Big Hero 6.

A must do:

This is the best place to grab food with a large family in all of California Adventure. The food is slightly more reasonably priced than other areas and there are multiple different types of cuisine to choose from, insuring a satisfied family.

A hidden treasure:

The sourdough bread! This was a staple of the original land (formerly Pacific Wharf) and they’ve still kept it! Now, you can get it from Aunt Cass Cafe or at a stand in front of the cafe.

Top Tip!

Try the udon at the Lucky Fortune Cookery and get the chicken on top!

Paradise Gardens Park

This land was formerly part of Paradise Pier. But when the land was split into two parks, one became Pixar Pier and the other the Paradise Gardens Park. It includes the five rides on the right side of the Pier, from Jumping Jellyfish to Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.

Characters to see:

This land has the biggest mix of Disney characters in California Adventure. Sometimes it’s Mickey and the gang, but other times you may see the Zootopia characters or the Coco characters or even a few Disney princesses.

A must see:

The World of Color show is one of the best shows to see in both Disney parks. It is a MUST see.

A hidden treasure:

Bayside Brews is a great place to stop and grab a drink while enjoying the ambiance of the park.

Top Tip!

Be careful with Goofy’s Sky School if you have neck or back problems, it jerks you around a bit too much to be comfortable with.

Pixar Pier

This land consists of everything that was on the left side of the old Paradise Pier and has become Pixar-ized, with a focus on The Incredibles, the Toy Story franchise, and Inside Out (with some Monster’s Inc. thrown in for flair).

Characters to see:

The Pixar characters! Mainly characters from The Incredibles, Inside Out, and Toy Story. Characters from Pixar’s new releases will also be found here.

A must do:

Toy Story Mania is one of the best rides in the park! It’s similar to Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters in the Disneyland park, but is higher tech and more colorful and fun.

A (not-so) hidden treasure:

The Lamplight Lounge is a great place to take your kids for a character dining experience. Plus, there are many options for people with food sensitivities.

Top Tip!

Use the single riders line for the Incredicoaster. It’s fun ride for sure, but not worth waiting in line for hours over.

Grizzly Peak

Dedicated to the Californian wilderness, the land is actually my favorite land in all of California Adventure. Two rides reign supreme here, with Soarin’ Around the World being a unique experience that leaves you suspended in the air over a screen with music and different smells piped in (sometimes during the year it becomes Soarin’ Over California). Then Grizzly River Run, a water ride with a precious memory attached to it.

Characters to see:

This land offers less characters but you can occasionally see a few of Mickey’s friends there – namely Chip, Dale, and Pluto.

A must do:

The Grizzly River Run, a fast-paced river ride with rapids, geysers, and huge drops! Water rides are already divisive, and since this ride does SOAK you, people tend to avoid it when it’s not hot or when it’s early in the morning. My advice? Avoid this thought process.

One of my favorite memories of Disney is from when I was a child and it was pouring rain so, of course, nobody wanted to try this ride. Nobody – except my father and I. Again, and again, and again. Laughing hysterically as we sprinted from exit to entrance over and over, this was one of the best moments of our trip.

A hidden treasure:

There is an exclusive entrance to Grand California Hotel in front of Grizzly Peak. Use it to avoid long lines!

Top Tip!

The line for popcorn in this area of the park is always a lot shorter than everywhere else.

Park Tips!

Things To Remember:

1. Don’t go during peak season. Peak season is summer and the holidays, where you’ll be guaranteed longer lines and hotter hours.
2. Get to the park as early as possible. Some hotels offer early access.
3. Get Lightning Lane passes! They can turn a 2 hour wait into a 15 minute one. The most popular rides to get Lightning Lane passes for are: Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, Radiator Springs Racers, Grizzly River Run, Soarin’ Around the World, the Incredicoaster, and Toy Story Mania.
4. California Adventure is a newer park and is therefore very wheelchair accessible.
5. Young kids should take a nap in the middle of the day, leaving them fresh for the least crowded and less hot part of the days.
6. 100% you must see World of Color, it’s a one of a kind experience that is heaven for any Disney fan.

Conclusion

Disney’s California Adventure is a park you’ll only be able to visit in California. No other Disney park in the world has it, therefore making it a truly unique Disney experience. One that you can’t miss!

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For updates to the park click here.

Any questions? Contact me or comment below!