Disney California Adventure

Surging Saturated Symphony

Disney California Adventure, Paradise Pier

I forget just how many colors you witness when watching World of Color, but it’s mind boggling. If you have a favorite color, even if it’s obscure, chances are that it’s there. One after the other, colors flash and dance across Paradise Bay in cascading jets of water. Sometimes you think you’ve got it figured out, but you don’t. There’s so much going on, it keeps the fluttering feeling of anticipation constant. This weekend I will have the opportunity to watch this show with some of my family who haven’t seen it yet. I’m pretty sure that I’m more excited to see them watch for their first time than they are. The smiles, laughter, and joy are the most magical things Disney shares with us.

Cascading Color

Disney California Adventure, Paradise Pier

I think one of my favorite things about World of Color is the fact that like so many things Disney, once is not enough. You can’t possibly see everything or hear everything, in just one viewing. It’s far too expansive. Even if you’re not fortunate enough to find yourself in one of the premier viewing areas of Paradise Park, the areas surrounding Paradise Bay offer different perspectives, still well worth your while. We actually watched the show for our second time across the bay in front of Midway Mania, which offered us a vantage point of the eighth wonder of the world, the backside of water! Yes, I went there. Maybe the experience isn’t for everyone, as you really cannot see much of the animation. But I found the withdrawn setting peaceful. The show certainly retains its enormity from this perspective, and the you can still feel the heat from the fire. Oh yes, there’s fire.

Waves of Color

Disney California Adventure, Paradise Pier

I had no idea what to expect when we brought our cameras to shoot pictures of World of Color. Because an HDR image is a composite, it’s much easier for editing to take pictures of objects that don’t move much, if at all. World of Color is constantly moving and changing, particularly in light levels. So I decided to take my best guess for camera settings and just keep shooting. After all, something had to turn out. To my surprise and delight, it went very well. Taking multiple pictures and combining them created a much more true to life result than a single image could. The show is truly breathtaking, and if you haven’t had a chance to see it yet you are in for a real treat. Just make sure to get your Fast Pass for it early in the morning for the best view!

Silly Symphony Swinging

Disney California Adventure, Paradise Pier

What once was the Orange Stinger has been transformed into the new Silly Symphony Swings. They officially opened last Saturday, with the premier of the World of Color, but they had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago. The ride, though similar to the Orange Stinger, offers a different and much more “Disney” experience. The music is amazing and can be heard from across Paradise Bay. The new design certainly feels much more in line with the spirit of Disney and the goal of the Disney California Adventure remodel. Did you know that this ride was hand painted? It’s a beauty to behold. Standing in line, waiting to ride it for the first time, I looked up and had to take a picture of what I saw. If you are wondering, this is not a true HDR image, but a Pseudo-HDR, which is made from one picture instead of multiple. If you get a chance to ride the swings, I recommend one of the outer seats.

California Zephyr Midday

Disney California Adventure, Sunshine Plaza

It never ceases to amaze me how often the many beauties of the Disneyland Resort go unnoticed. Even while standing in line for extended periods, a vast majority of people fail to notice the myriad of details poured into Disney theming that create settings which carry us away to both fantastical, and idealistic worlds. When people visit art galleries or museums, it’s understood that time must be invested to take in and appreciate a piece. That’s how I view Disney. All of this theming is art, put forth from the brilliant minds of Imagineers. If people don’t stop to look around themselves, they are truly missing an integral part of the experience that can be had. I realize that many people do not have the luxury of visiting the resort with any kind of frequency, and as such, spend as much time as they have trying to get on all the rides their time allows. I often see these people stressing and hustling around the parks. While the three of us took pictures one day near Thunder Mountain, a father was power-walking his kids through. The kids stopped for a moment to see what we were looking at. Their father quickly noticed their lagging behind and abruptly stated, “We’re not here to sight-see, we’re here to ride some rides!” It gave us all a good chuckle at the time, but it really enforced this idea in my mind that people don’t take time to notice Disney’s attention to detail. I love the rides, but rides are not the only treasure within the parks. Sometimes looking up or turning around is all you have to do to see something you’ve never noticed before, like I did for this picture. Next time you go to DLR, try looking for things you’ve never seen and take them in. Art is capable of enriching our lives. Enjoy all that Disney has to offer.

Screamin’ at the Pier

Disney California Adventure, Paradise Pier

If you’ve never taken a few moments to stand here and watch one of the trains of Screamin’ launch into coaster bliss, you’re missing out. On a moderately busy day at Disney’s California Adventure like the one this shot was taken, they really crank the trains through. It’s a lot of fun to watch the butterflies of excitement flutter, as riders anticipate being thrust back into their seats and propelled up the hill. The sounds of the boardwalk music and the countdown to launch race across the water to Ariel’s Grotto until the air is filled with screams and laughter… and of course the brightly colored train barreling up to fifty-five miles per hour in four seconds. It always brings a smile to my face.