By Harold Merton

As guests enter the park, they are greeted with the view of the Golden Gate Bridge - giving them a sense that they have stepped inside a living postcard from California. From this focal point, the three themed lands of Disney’s California Adventure may be seen: Paradise Pier, Hollywood Pictures Backlot and the Golden State.

Paradise Pier is the ultimate beach front amusement zone decked out in spectacular lighting and elegant graphics associate with the heyday of the great amusement park piers. One of the main attractions is "California Screamin", a steel coaster disguised as a white wooden coaster, but with a Disney twist: guests are looped upside-down around a Mickey Mouse head icon! Another major attraction in Paradise Pier is the unique Ferris wheel, featuring a revolving sunburst. On this “SunWheel”,. The carriages are on tracks that slide to the centre of the wheel, adding an exciting gravity element to an already spectacular visual experience. Every attraction has distinct California style, from the thrilling “Maliboomer” to the dynamic “Orange Stinger”, to the one-of-a-kind : “King Trition’s Carousel” with ocean critters instead of horses.

When the sun goes down, Paradise Pier dazzles the night sky as thousands of lights turn the rides and facades into a spectacular visul display, crating a new generation of memories of the ultimate beach front amusement area.

Hollywood Picture Backlot celebrates the magic of the movie business and the culture, frame and celebrity atmosphere that surrounds it. Guests enter through the majestic studio gates and discover a place where reality blends seamlessly into illusion. Among the attractions featured are the "Hyperion Theater", a 2,000 seat venue for a variety of stage productions, “Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3-D” and “Disney Animation”, where guests view pencil test scenes from animation features that are still in production. For guests who want to be a part of the limelight, there’s the ABC Soap Opera Bistro; a restaurant that puts them right in the middle of the sets and melodramas of the ABC’s daytime shows. Every detail of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot helps tell the story of the magic of movie making ... from the scenically painted facades to the street performers, props and portable greenery.

The Golden State has six distinct districts, and is highlighted by the majestic bear-shaped mountain Grizzly Peak. The eight-acre mini-wilderness pays tribute to California’s spectacular wilderness area featuring redwood trees, authentic Gold Country artifacts, critter sounds, and nature trails. One of the attractions in the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area is the”Grizzly River Run’, a white water rafting ridetwirling guest 360 degrees as they drop down two waterfalls. For those who like to work a bit harder for the excitement, there’s the “Redwood Creek Challenge Trail”, an exciting obstacle course of rope bridges, hiking trails, rock climbing and cargo netting in the treetops.

Condor Flats district celebrates California’s aviation heritage in the design of the high desert air fields. 'Soarin’ Over California’s most spectacular scenic wonders.

Celebrating the state’s rich agricultural heritage is the Bountiful Valley farm district. Guests can walk-through areas growing with citrus, walnuts, avocados and artichokes, or sit in the “Bug’s Life Theater” and watch It’s Tough To Be A Bug, a stunning and comical 3-D presentation. Adjacent to the farm is a rural ranch market area containing food carts, a garden shop and a restaurant featuring fresh-made salads and other home-grown edibles.

In partnership with Robert Mondavi Wines, Disney’s California Adventure also has it own taste of Napa Valley. The “Golden Vine Winery” showcases a romantic winery complex designed in the California Mission architectural style and feature a vineyard, and wine-tasting opportunities and fine dining experiences for guests.

The Pacific Wharf district of the Golden State is inspired by Monterey’s Cannery Row. This waterfront industrial area gives guest a first-handlook at sourdough bread baking at the “Boudin Bakery” and fresh tortillamaking at the “Mission Tortilla Factory”.

In the Bay Area, guest can experience “Golden Dreams”, a filmed theatrical celebration of California’s cultural diversity. Hosted by actress Whoopi Goldberg, the show pays tribute to the people whose courage and creative spirit have made, and continues to make, California a dynamic and trend-setting state.

Disney’s California Adventure is a theme park of many different moods. Each land and attraction is designed to evoke an aspect of the California dream by taking guests on a thoroughly entertaining trip to visit the places, stories and people that make California the dreamstate.

Perched majestically behind the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area is Disney’s Grand California Hotel, an elegant, deluxe property. Designed in the Arts and Crafts style of early California, the 750-room hotel is actually built inside the new theme park, making stays at the Grand California Hotel a uniquely themed experience.

Connecting Disney’s California Adventure and Disneyland with Disney’sParadise Pier Hotel (formerly the Disneyland Pacific Hotel) and the Disneyland Hotel, with be Downtown Disney, a public esplanade of retail, dining and entertainment experiences.

For general California Disneyland information, call (714) 781-4565 o rvisit the Disneyland Resort Web site at www.disneyland.com.canada

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