Guest Review of Disney's California Adventure
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Introduction
When I first heard that Disney’s new theme park was going to be Disney's California Adventure (DCA), I must admit I was a little disappointed. After all the hoopla about the WESTCOT Project, it seemed to be a rather odd decision to choose such a generic idea as California Adventure. Once I got over the shock though, I began to wonder what attractions Disney would fill this new park with. The possibilities were seemingly endless since just about every type of ride could fit into the concept. Then the first set of concept art came out, and again I was shocked. The artwork showed a huge Ferris Wheel next to a boardwalk style roller coaster. The idea that this was what Disney would build in a theme park was disappointing for me to say the least. So when the day finally came for me to enter, I came in with very very low expectations. For this article I will present my reactions to different attractions and whether I liked them or not. I do not expect my reactions to be typical for most people, but they should give you an idea of what the attractions are like.

Disney’s California Adventure
DCA will affect people in many different ways. Some will enjoy it, others will love it while others may hate it. Whether or not you like Disneyland is not really a gauge, I think, for whether or not you'll like DCA and vice versa. Overall, I found the park to be very good in a few areas. First of all, the cast members are very nice and really do help the whole atmosphere of the park. The food and shopping areas are very well themed and add to the atmosphere as well. The live entertainment was excellent and very unique. I found quite a few flaws in the park as well. The queue areas are incredibly dull and detract from the whole experience. There are way too many theater attractions, and for me the screens got boring really fast. Besides Paradise Pier the only two attractions that don't rely heavily on screens are Grizzly River Run and Superstar Limo (not including interactive areas like Redwood Creek Challenge Trail). The capacity of the rides in the park are weak at best. There are very few rides that move people through effectively. This is especially apparent in the Paradise Pier area. Hopefully DCA will expand a lot over the next few years to take advantage of the scope of the California idea.

The Attractions
The order in which I discuss the attractions is the order found on the DCA map.

Bountiful Vallery Farm

Bountiful Valley Farm
Their description: Experience a "growing" tribute to California’s heartland.
My description: This area is probably the least interesting area in Golden State. There are planters (similar to Tomorrowland) with different types of vegetation growing. There’s also a big water fountain where children can get wet. The farm is worth a look if you have the time, but not really an attraction in my mind.
I give Bountiful Valley Farm a 3 out of 10.

The Golden Dreams building

Golden Dreams
Their description: Storyteller shares tales of California.
My description: Whoopi Goldberg does an excellent job of playing Calafia the spirit of California. The movie is surprisingly mature in the way it tackles some of California’s issues. The ending montage of California’s faces and events is very uplifting, especially for locals. My only complaint about this attraction is the lack of themeing in the queue. One thing that was really convenient was the fact that each show is on the :15 and the :45 of the hour. This makes it much easier to catch the film. Don’t be fooled by the simple description on the guide, this is a very inspiring look at California’s history.
I give Golden Dreams an 8 out 10.

Golden Vine Winery
Their description: Featuring Seasons of the Wine
My description: The movie is beautiful and very clear (I wonder what kind of technology was used to film it). The color is vivid and the film is informative. The presentation of the movie is unique and fun.
I give Seasons of the Wine a 4 out of 10.