Happy 8th Birthday, Disney's California Adventure!

[DisneyDaniel]

Hello to everyone at LoT (both those I've known for years here and the others who I've yet to meet). But anyway, it's been much too long since I last logged on to LoT (working and traveling too much again), but today is not about me -- it's all about Disney's California Adventure!

Happy 8th Birthday, Disney's California Adventure! You're my favorite theme park and I know the "Blue Sky" dreams for you from Disney Imagineering will make you an even better park for years to come. Opening Day of Disney's California Adventure: Feb. 8, 2001.

I'm off to the Disneyland Resort now, so maybe I'll bump into some of you there!

The weekend rain in Southern California is mostly gone today, so the golden sun will be shining in Disney's California Adventure on its 8th anniversary!

[flippyshark]

Your favorite park, huh? I knew such a person had to be out there somewhere. Anyway, I hope the ongoing changes won't ruin it for you. (There's been a lot of heartbreak for us D-landophiles of late.) If I lived about 3000 miles west of where I do, I'd join you for a celebratory scoop of Fantasia ice cream. (Are they still selling that?)

[JWBear]

Eight years already? I'm still in morning for the parking lot.....

[DisneyDaniel]

Thanks, flippyshark. Unfortunately, Fantasia ice cream has been gone from the Disney parks in California for a few years now. But at least Dole Whip is still sold in Disneyland!

You're right; I'm one of the few more vocal, admitted fans of Disney's California Adventure since the beginning (but I think there are a lot more DCA fans who are simply silent).

I will dearly miss the entrance (the gorgeous mosaic, Golden Gate Bridge, Sunshine Plaza and CALIFORNIA letters). The planned, new entrance gates for DCA look EXACTLY like the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios, so I'm very disappointed about the lack of originality there.

And, I already miss my favorite DCA attraction, Golden Dreams. But if its replacement -- a Little Mermaid dark ride -- will be a potential guest favorite, then so be it.

Overall, I think the planned changes and many, new additions are great and will finally give Disney's California Adventure the love, respect, money and attention it deserves.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by flippyshark

I'd join you for a celebratory scoop of Fantasia ice cream. (Are they still selling that?)

Unless they revived it when I wasn't paying attention (a distinct possibility), then no they stopped making Fantasia several years ago.

[bewitched]

They're taking down the CALIFORNIA letters? Every time we go, Olivia has her picture taken in the "O" It's like a timeline of her visits. What a bummer.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Eight years already? I'm still in morning for the parking lot.....

You and me both, JWBear. I especially miss the up-front motorcycle parking.

Originally Posted by Alex

Unless they revived it when I wasn't paying attention (a distinct possibility), then no they stopped making Fantasia several years ago.

How to make Fantasia ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery:

1. sweet cream ice cream with pistachio syrup
2. banana
3. cherry pie filling
4. roasted almonds

This isn't 100% authentic, because Cold Stone doesn't have pistachio nuts. The almonds work almost as well.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Wow, EIGHT years ago.

Yay, Daniel! My favorite DCA fan! Good to see you here. Hope you have a great day at the park.

I've also got my fingers crossed for those Blue Sky improvements. Can't wait to see how it all comes out.

[JWBear]

I, for one, can't wait for the "paint by numbers" murals to go away.

[BarTopDancer]

Eight years?? HOLY CRAP!