Page 27 - 2022-2023 Travel Guide to California

JURASSIC WORLD — THE RIDE, Universal
Studios, right; Sea Lion Return, SeaWorld
Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program,
below; Thor at Avengers Campus, Disney
California Adventure Park, opposite.
lots. Transformers: The Ride 3-D is on the
Lower Lot. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem,
a 3-D simulator ride, and Super Silly Fun
Land, an outdoor family-friendly play-
ground, are on the upper lot.
Children’s Fairyland
Believe it or not, the first theme park in the
U.S. to cater to families with young children
was Children’s Fairyland, a blink-and-
you’ll-miss-it theme park on the shores of
Lake Merritt in Oakland. The place opened
in 1950 (original admission started between
9 and 14 cents), making it the first official
theme park in California, as well. According
to some, it was one of Walt Disney’s inspir-
ations for the eponymous park he created
five years later.
Today, Fairyland includes small rides
such as a mini Ferris wheel and carousels,
and life-sized sets depicting scenes from
timeless storybooks (The Old Lady in the
Shoe and The Alice in Wonderland Tunnel
are two favorites). The theme park also is
home to the Storybook Puppet Theater,
which opened in 1956. A number of the
country’s most famous puppeteers got their
start here, including a teenager by the name
of Frances Oznowicz. You likely know him
as Frank Oz.
Disneyland
California’s most famous theme park
opened in 1955 with one hotel. Since the
1990s it has grown exponentially, adding
a new theme park—Disney California
Adventure, a shopping district—Downtown
Disney, as well as additional hotels.
The newest themed area or “land” in
California’s most famous theme park is Star
Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Be part of a six-person
crew on “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers
Run” where you walk through a full-sized
replica of the Millennium Falcon and then
climb into the cockpit where Hondo Ohnaka
leads a secret mission. A cast member hands
each person their role assignment—a pilot,
gunner or engineer. “Star Wars: Rise of the
Resistance” is a massive, multi-platform
attraction, unlike anything else at Disney-
land. Guests are in an epic battle between
the First Order and the Resistance, boarding
an Imperial Star Destroyer with animatronic
storm-troopers and Kylo Ren. A team of
Resistance fighters with Rey and BB-8 are
there to help you escape.
A Marvel-themed land, Avengers Campus,
is the biggest and newest addition at Disney
California Adventure which opened last year
with an interactive 3-D ride-through attrac-
tion featuring Spider-Man—WEB Slingers:
A Spider-Man Adventure.
Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm began in the 1920s as
a family-run roadside berry stand. With
a growing number of visitors, other
shops and attractions were added as, over
the years, it transformed into a 160-acre
amusement park. Now owed by Cedar Fair,
this destination includes thrilling rides,
shows, restaurants and attractions in four
themed areas: Ghost Town, Fiesta Village,
The Boardwalk and Camp Snoopy.
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