5 Must Watch Movies Before a Visit to Disney California Adventure Park
Summer of Disney 2024
July 2024
MOVIE LIST:
Cars
Avengers: Endgame
Monsters, Inc.
Incredibles 2
Big Hero 6
Our second trip to Disneyland in Anaheim California was during the summer of 2024. While Disneyland Park has many rides that are both based on movies and some (like the Matterhorn) unique to the Parks, nearly all the attractions in Disney California Adventure Park were created or have been adapted to tell stories based on Walt Disney movies, television shows, and shorts. Because I was visiting during Pixar Fest, I attempted to rewatch all the Pixar movies before our trip. I found knowing movies inside and out was especially beneficial for some of the Pixar movies and others in the Walt Disney and Marvel franchises.
CARS (Cars Land)
Of all the immersive themed parts of Disney Parks, Cars Land felt to me the most like stepping into an Animated feature. Souvenir shops, restaurants and attractions are all found behind the storefronts and businesses that make up Radiator Springs. Cars and driving themed songs added to the fun and upbeat atmosphere.
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters were fun rides even without knowing details about the movies. Radiator Springs Racers is a very similar ride to Epcot’s Test Track. Because I had watched the Cars movies so recently I recognized many more of the characters and details in the ride’s storyline about upgrading our vehicle before a big race. Note: we purchased Individual Lightning Lanes for our summer visit, saving us 70+minutes in line for $22/person.
Avengers: EndGame (Avengers Campus)
Choosing one movie was a bit of a tough one because the details found in the Marvel Avengers Campus are endless for a guest well-acquainted with the movies and the many Disney+ series. So, for a refresher, Endgame was the best collection of nearly all the characters that guests may encounter.
The Avengers Campus overwhelmed me with the number of characters and the quality of the interactions between them and guests. From “Iron Man doesn’t do autographs because he doesn’t like people to hand things to him” to our conversation with Hope van Dyne (Wasp) about editing Scott Lang’s (Antman) book, it’s a spot that I could visit over and over and still have a unique experience.
The two main attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure both incorporated elements of all the themes from the Guardians and Spiderman movies. I still think that one of the most fun quick service dining locations in all the parks is Pym Tasting Lab, with creative mixes of drinks and fun tiny/giant food creations.
Monsters, Inc. (Hollywood Land)
The entire plotline of the first Monsters, Inc. film was retold in the Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue ride and it was fun to see both the good and bad guys come to life. Note: this ride was one of the more popular Lighting Lanes with most times available later in the day if not booked as one of the first options of the day.
Incredibles 2 (Pixar Pier)
While Pixar Pier features attractions for many of the Pixar Movies, the ride with a storyline most directly related to a movie was the Incredicoaster. Details like the wafting smell of cookies and allusions to all of Jack Jack’s superpowers came straight from the plot of the most recent movie in the franchise. Note: the ride had moderately long waits throughout the day but was walk-on for the first 30 minutes after opening. It was also easy to get a Genie+ Lighting Lane any time.
Big Hero 6 (San Fransokyo)
San Fransokyo opened as a Big Hero Six themed land in 2023, replacing the Pacific Wharf section of the park. It was easy to still recognize the iconic San Francisco landmarks with the Ghirardelli chocolate storefront and the sourdough bread plant. This small section of the park was essentially a themed food hall, with tons of options for quick service dining, snacks, and drinks. There weren’t any major attractions but Hiro and Baymax greet guests throughout the day.
I loved walking through the colorful street at night, but first thing in the morning was also a great time to take photos and to take in all the details related to Big Hero Six.
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