Condor Flats District
The Golden State is one of the larger lands of Disney’s California Adventure. Accessed from the Sunshine Plaza, it is the home of Grizzly Peak – the park’s signature icon. When Disney’s California Adventure opened in 2001 it was divided into numerous districts (rather than lands), each of which reflected a different geographic locale of California in detail that ranged from the minute to the immersive. Many of these districts featured only a singular attraction or restaurant and flowed rather oddly from one theme to another, to the point that it created confusion for guests. As a result, five of the districts were converted into a new, larger land called The Golden State.
These five sub-lands still exist with their theming and overall execution, and will largely not be affected by the Phrase 1 of the $1.2 billion makeover in effect from now until 2012. From Sunshine Plaza, guests turning right will find Condor Flats, an area dedicated to California’s high-desert airfields. The star attraction here is one of the park’s original hits, Soarin’ Over California. Nearby, the Taste Pilot’s Grill offers up some of the better burgers offered at the Resort. Continuing forward, the land converts into a lush mountain environment rather effortlessly as it wraps around the backside of The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and towards Grizzly Peak Recreation Area, the home to Grizzly River Run – one of the longest and most adventurous raft rides ever built. Just across the way, nestled into a beautiful redwood forest, is the adventurous Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, which includes the “Magic of Brother Bear” show (presented most days).
Continuing straight will take you to The Bay Area. Themed to the beautiful San Francisco Bay, this area is the one portion of The Golden State affected by the current renovation plans. Formerly home to a film on California history entitled “Golden Dreams,” this area is currently being renovated to include a 9,000-person terraced viewing facility for Walt Disney’s World of Color, an elaborate character-driven water and pyrotechnics show set to open in Spring 2010. Also set for 2010 and set to open in The Bay Area is The Little Mermaid: Aerial’s Adventure. One of the most complex and expensive theme park attractions ever created, this E-ticket Audio-Animatronics musical attraction will take guests on an underwater adventure on a scope and scale unseen since The Haunted Mansion.
From this point, continuing straight or turning right will lead you to Paradise Pier; turning left will take you through the rest of The Golden State. Going left, and around the backside of Grizzly Peak, brings you to Golden Vine Winery, an area of the park that pays tribute to the wine-making regions of Napa Valley. Originally designed as an elaborate exhibit and restaurant under the partnership of Robert Mondavi (who has since pulled out as a sponsor of the park), this area does feature Wine Country Trattoria, a wine-tasting venue and high-end deli-style market nestled into the side of the mountain. Also found here in the former location of the “Seasons of the Vine” film is The Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar. Designed as a California Adventure preview center, the Blue Sky Cellar features a variety of drawings, video presentations, models, and other exhibits depicting the current renovation of the park. The current exhibit focuses heavily on the initial Paradise Pier makeover, and will change as work progresses and major attention is focused on different areas.
Across from Golden Vine Winery and the adjacent harbor is the final sub-land of The Golden State, Pacific Wharf. Themed after the seaside wharves of Northern California, this is where you will find two walk-through exhibits, Mission Tortilla Factory and The Bakery Tour. Two of the park’s most popular food outlets are found here – Pacific Wharf Café and Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill – alongside the Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. beer truck.
From here, walking straight along the main path (north) will bring you back to Sunshine Plaza and the entrance for Hollywood Pictures Backlot; walking west will bring you to “a bug’s land” which contains Bountiful Valley Farm and Flik’s Fun Fair.
Soarin’ Over California – Grizzly River Run – Redwood Creek Challenge Trail - Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar – Mission Tortilla Factory – Bakery Tour
Golden State Shopping Guide – Golden State Dining Guide
