"Does Something Need to Move In" to Disney California Adventure?!

It’s hard to believe that Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort has been open for almost twenty years. While initially, the park struggled to find its footing in the shadow of Disneyland Park just a hop, skip, and a jump away, the Imagineers were able to go back and sprinkle a helping of pixie dust to give California Adventure a major makeover.

Disney’s California Adventure

Now we can walk down a re-creation of 1920’s Hollywood to the Carthay Circle Theater, journey under the sea with Ariel, race through Radiator Springs, and hang with our Pixar pals on the pier. What can follow this up? Disney California Adventure’s Vice President, Patrick Finnegan, recently gave some insight into where the park is headed in the future.

Details about the Future of the Park

The Orange County Register sat down with Finnegan and asked him what he thought of the last 19 years of California Adventure’s operation and what the future could have in store for the park. This summer, the first phase of the highly-anticipated Avenger’s Campus will open, which includes the Spider-Man shooting-gallery ride where you will sling webs with your hand gestures and the PYM Test Kitchen. We’re excited to try some of their grown and shrunken food!

Avengers Campus Concept Art ©Disney

Spider-Man is going to swing right above our heads, too!

Once the new land opens, the Marvel character meet-and-greets and the towering Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout will officially move out of the adjacent Hollywood Land. Where does that leave the back lot of Hollywood Land? Finnegan responded, “As the Avengers are moving out, we’re certainly looking at, ‘OK, does something need to move in? Does it go back to where it was? It’s very much something that we’re talking about.’”

Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout

While Finnegan didn’t elaborate on what exactly would replace the Avengers in the studio backlot area, we’re excited to see what the wizards at Walt Disney Imagineering come up with. Finnegan also spoke on the possibility of incorporating lessons learned from the Villains Grove conversion of Redwood Creek Challenge Trail for Halloween. During the interview, he said, “It was super popular and very different from anything that we’ve ever done before. We’re looking at how do you use that kind of infrastructure for other things.”

Before the park turns 20 next year, this year is still shaping up to be eventful. The Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival will begin at the end of this month on February 28th and it’s bringing with it the return of Soarin’ Over California!