FIGS AND FLIGHTS
  • home
  • life
    • life and links
    • at home
  • food
    • Recipes
    • Kitchen Tips
  • travel
    • Travel in the USA
    • Travel the World
    • Travel Tips
    • Seattle
    • Disney + Universal
  • {Events}
  • {Videos}
  • About

Life fueled by food and travel.

Disney's California Adventure - Fav 5 {Travel Guide}

12/21/2017

0 Comments

 
Recently I shared the basics of Disney Parks and today I'm giving you my five favorite things, aka Fav 5, from Disney's California Adventure Park (DCA) in Anaheim, California.

Disney's California Adventure is the younger of two Disney parks on the West Coast. The "other" park just next to Disneyland. California Adventure is ode to Cali with varying areas and time frames of the State's history featured throughout the park, plus all of the Disney and Pixar magic you'd expect from Disney.

There are seven "lands" in the park
  1. Cars Land (of the Cars movies)
  2. A Bug's Land (of A Bug's Life movie)
  3. Buena Vista Street
  4. Paradise Pier
  5. Grizzly Peak
  6. Pacific Wharf
  7. Hollywood Land.
Picture
Oogie Boogie, from the Nightmare Before Christmas Movie, greets you at the entrance to Disney's California Adventure during the Halloween Season
The park was decked out in Halloween decor when I visited in October. Our crew included two grown ups, myself and my Sister in Law, and two kids, my 7 year old niece and 1 year old nephew. We spent just around 8 hours in the park.

​Here are my Fav 5 spots at Disney's California Adventure:

​1. Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters - my favorite ride
​2. Flo's V8 Cafe - an adorable, quick, and tasty eatery
3. Lavender Lemonade at Schmoozie's Cafe - the best cool and refreshing drink 
4. Veggie Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill - yeah, they were exceptional!
5. Boudin Bakery Tour and Sourdough Bread Bowls - a taste of San Francisco in Southern Cali
Picture
Our crew included two overly enthusiastic grown ups, a 7 year old, and a 1 year old
Cars Land is easily the most themed and BEST of all of the lands and their Halloween decor was not to be beat. 
Picture
Mater, dressed up as Elvis (and Dracula?) for Halloween, drives past Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure Park
1.  Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters, located in Cars Land, is the ride that makes you smile, laugh, oooh and ahhh. Last summer we fell in love with this ride and this year we sprinted from the park entry directly to Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters for our very first ride of the day. 

The whole experience is themed for Italian language, Italy, and cars. If you've seen Cars,  the Pixar Movie, you're familiar with Luigi, the owner of Casa Della Tires in Radiator Springs. If not, you'll love it regardless. The cafe lights and flags above combined with the classic cars and silly music can make any Grumpy dwarf smile. The cars dance across the floor while you hold on (or put your hands high). You spin and float around, then all the cars perform together for the grand finale! Even watching the riders before you is fun.

The best part of the ride is that just about anyone can enjoy it. All 4 of us (2 adults, big kid, and baby) LOVED it. Last year Mamma rode pregnant and this time 1 year old Wyatt felt like a King twirling around and scanning the cars for his big sister. We rode in 2 cars, Aurora and I in one, Mamma and Wyatt in the other.

This ride is a must and it's even more magical and beautiful in the evening. 
Picture
Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters, my favorite ride in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure Park
Picture
Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters, my favorite ride in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure Park
Picture
My 7 year old niece, anxious to ride Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters, my favorite ride in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure Park
2.  Flo's V8 Cafe is a quick service restaurant also located in Cars Land. The vintage/cars theme from Cars Land flows seamlessly into the restaurant and the food is excellent. 

You'll know Flo's from Cars and the interior is just like the movie. It's TOO CUTE and even the waffles are on theme, featuring Mater, the famous tow truck from Cars! The kids loved it and so would my Dad/any other old guy car enthusiast. Added bonus for a ton of indoor seating.

We stopped at Flo's for breakfast and shared the American Breakfast of Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Bacon and a Biscuit for $8.99 and the Kids Waffles served with Turkey Bacon and fresh Fruit for $6.49. Overall it was a tasty and filling meal to carry us through a few hours of riding. [Yes, we shared just 2 meals. The big kid ate breakfast at home before we left and we had tons of snacks to supplement, see the Disney Basics post for more strategies.] I'd intended to have just one bite of the biscuit but it tasted perfectly homemade and I ate the whole thing! The potatoes were also worth mentioning. 

Flo's V8 Cafe also serves lunch, dinner, milkshakes, coffee, tea, wine, and beer. They've even got seasonal offerings like rotisserie-roasted turkey breast and pumpkin pie [served only on Thanksgiving Day] and Holiday Peppermint Candy Cane milkshakes and Chocolate Peppermint pie leading up to Christmas!
Picture
The interior of Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure
Picture
Mater Waffles at Flo's V8 Cafe at Disney's California Adventure
3. The Lavender Lemonade at Schmoozie's Cafe in Hollywood Land is the most Instagrammed item in the park, thanks to its light up ice cube! I'm happy to report that it's not only cute but the BEST cool and refreshing drink, totally worth the $7.59. While my sister-in-law ordered it for herself I stole more than a few sips. She became obsessed with this lavender lemonade and has been trying to recreate it at home! 

Schmoozie's also serves smoothies and espresso drinks. Head here when you're not yet ready for another meal but need a beverage. 
Picture
Lavender Lemonade at Schmoozie's Cafe at Disney's California Adventure
4. The Veggie Tacos from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at the Pacific Wharf were exceptional! I'm still fairly new to meat-less eating but I know that often times a veggie anything is just stuffed with lettuce and tomato and totally unsatisfying. This was not the case with the veggie soft tacos Monterrey. They're not an official item posted on the menu but part of the fine print lis of the items which can be made vegetarian. The other tacos Monterrey items are $11.99, which I assume this dish cost as well.  

The warm flour tortillas are packed with roasted carrots, zucchini, and yellow squash, plus shredded cheese and served with a bit of sour cream, guacamole, and pico de Gallo on the side, plus rice and refried beans. This was a simple, delicious, and filling meal. Thanks for looking out for the vegetarians, Disney. 
Picture
Vegetarian soft tacos Monterrey from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at Pacific Wharf, at Disney's California Adventure
5. Boudin Bakery is a fixture in San Francisco and Disney's California Adventure's got a Boudin Bakery Tour and the famous Sourdough Bread Bowls. If you love the City by the Bay you will love this taste of San Francisco in Southern Cali. The tour is a brief walking tour and includes a bread sample. You can see the Mickey Mouse loaf below and there are many other novelty shaped breads for you to enjoy. 

There's also a cafe where you order any of their hot/prepared food items. Seating is plentiful outside.

I was delighted to order broccoli cheddar soup in a sourdough bread bowl. My 7 year old niece was shocked to discover macaroni and cheese in one! This meal was tasty, reminiscent of one of my favorite cities, and just enough food for a mid-day park meal.
Picture
Boudin Bakery tour at Disney's California Adventure
Picture
Outdoor seating at the Pacific Wharf Cafe/Boudin Bakery at Disney's California Adventure
Picture
Sourdough bread bowls at Boudin Bakery at Disney's California Adventure - broccoli cheddar soup and macaroni and cheese
We had a GREAT day in the park. I hope this guide is helpful to you on your next visit.

​Stay tuned for another Fav 5 for our day at Disneyland Park!
Picture

Similar Posts

Disneyland
Picture
Disney Parks Basics
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Hello, I'm Angela.

    Figs and Flights is all about traveling near and far & eating great food both at home and away. 

    Picture
    ​Learn More>>

    Let's Connect.


    Search Here:


      Receive updates via email:

    Sign Me Up!

    Figs and Flights via Instagram:


    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Almond Butter
    Amusement Parks
    At Home
    Austin
    Babies
    Baking
    Banana
    Barcelona
    Bloody Mary Bar
    Books
    Breakfast
    Brunch
    Buffalo
    Cake
    California
    Canada
    Cannoli
    Carry On
    Carry-On
    Cauliflower
    Chocolate
    Christmas
    Cocktail
    Cookies
    Cooking
    Corn
    Cous Cous
    Dip
    Dippy Eggs
    Disney
    DISNEYLAND
    Disneyland Paris
    Dole Whip
    Drinks
    Eat 'N Park
    Eggs
    Epcot
    Events
    Fallingwater
    Fav 5
    Fav Five
    Festivals
    Figs
    Flights
    Florence
    France
    Garden
    Giveaway
    Halloumi Cheese
    Halloween
    Hawaii
    HI
    Hollywood Studios
    Home
    Hummus
    International Travel
    Ireland
    Italy
    Japan
    Kauai
    Kenzie Faye
    Kids
    Kitchen Tips
    Las Vegas
    Life And Links
    Magic Kingdom
    Markets
    Maryland
    Meal Planning
    Middle Eastern
    Mochi Ice Cream
    Nashville
    NYC
    Ocean City
    Oregon
    Packed Lunch Project
    Packing
    Paris
    Pasta
    Peanut Butter
    Penn State
    Pierogies
    Pittsburgh
    Pizza
    Pncpark
    PNW
    Poke
    Portugal
    Printables
    Productivity
    Recipe
    Rome
    Salad
    Seattle
    Sicily
    Smoothie
    Snacks
    Spain
    Summer
    Sweets
    Tequila
    Texas
    The Cabin
    Trader Joe's
    Travel
    Travel Tips
    Tried It
    Universal Studios
    Vancouver
    Vegetarian
    Video
    Walt Disney World
    Watermelon
    Weddings
    Yoga

Home

About Me

Recipes

In Seattle

Contact

  • home
  • life
    • life and links
    • at home
  • food
    • Recipes
    • Kitchen Tips
  • travel
    • Travel in the USA
    • Travel the World
    • Travel Tips
    • Seattle
    • Disney + Universal
  • {Events}
  • {Videos}
  • About