Page 23 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to California

JURASSIC WORLD RIDE, at Universal Studios Hol-
lywood theme park in Los Angeles, opposite;
entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter,
opposite, right; Children’s Fairyland at Lake Mer-
ritt in downtown Oakland was the first themed
amusement park in the USA — it opened in 1950
and is still a popular destination, below.
The park is divided into two areas con-
nected by escalators: the Upper and Lower
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 Frank 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.
There's even a reimagining of Mickey’s
Toontown, including CenTOONial Park and
a dreaming tree. Guests can also board
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway with
Goofy as the engineer on a madcap, out-of-
control cartoon adventure.
The newest themed area or “land” 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 to steal coaxium for
the Resistance. Each person has a role
assignment—a pilot, gunner or engineer.
“Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance” is a mas-
sive, multi-platform attraction, unlike any-
thing else at Disneyland. Captured 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.
Also added to the mix is a Marvel-themed
land, Avengers Campus, which recently
opened at Disney California Adventure
with an interactive 3-D ride, including other
attractions like Spider-Man—WEB Slingers:
A Spider-Man Adventure.
2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 21