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.
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