Disney’s California Adventure opened on February 8, 2001 to mixed reviews. And by mixed, I mean that the reviews ranged from “oof” to “I liked it better as a parking lot.” The latter is a real quote from Disney Imagineering Legend John Hench. DCA opened to downright negative and openly hostile reviews. It was a dud.
Twenty-five years ago, the new park that sat across the esplanade from Disneyland, the most revered theme park in the world, failed to meet even the lowest of expectations. Disney tacitly acknowledged its many mistakes with DCA almost immediately, implementing a series of quick fixes aimed at bringing the park up to Disney standards and improving attendance at the flailing park.
It took until 2007 before the company made an explicit admission of its many mistakes with DCA 1.0. CEO Bob Iger announced an ambitious five year expansion plan aimed at reinventing Disney California Adventure. It was labeled an expansion plan to save face, but in reality, it was a makeover so extreme that Disney basically spent the equivalent of a brand new park in fixing DCA. It was the first time Disney embarked on such a drastic reinvention of an existing theme park. But oddly, not the last. The DCA blueprint is currently being used as Paris transforms its second gate into Disney Adventure World.
On June 15, 2012, this five-year extreme makeover concluded with the opening of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street, the two largest aspects of the so-called expansion. With that, the ugly duckling of the United States Disney theme park pantheon was transformed into one of its crown jewels. At best, Disney California Adventure was a worthy peer to Disneyland. At worst, it was no longer in the running for worst Disney theme park in the world.
In the decade-plus since, there have been a lot of other changes at DCA. Grizzly Peak Airfield, Pixar Pier and San Fransokyo are all reimaginings of existing lands, and at least one of those projects was an improvement over what came before. Avengers Campus also exists, having replaced “a bug’s land.” So those are things that have happened, too. They also added a large Big Al wood carving to Grizzly Peak, which is my favorite addition to the park since 2017.
Not everything from Disney California Adventure’s past and present is worth celebrating, but the once-maligned park’s 25th Anniversary certainly is. Here are 6 of the highlights that Disneyland Resort has announced!
New DCA 25th Character Costumes
As a tribute to the park’s history, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will dress in all-new outfits on Buena Vista Street for a limited time, beginning February 6, 2026. The sun motifs and vibrant color palette nod to when the park first welcomed guests with golden possibility.
I’ll be honest with you: when I first saw the thumbnail for these, I was unimpressed. I thought it was just a slight twist on the 70th anniversary outfits. But then I looked closer, and noticed these are a nod to the Sun Wheel, Sunshine Plaza, and even that glorious hubcap that greeted guests. Okay, I’m sold on them.
My one wish is that Disneyland would bring back the OG DCA tourist costumes for Minnie & Mickey. We last spotted these back in 2023 during Moonlight Magic (photo below), and I could not believe they still existed. If they survived the overhaul…and spotty storage practices during COVID…surely they’re still around today. Please, Disney, bring these back for the anniversary, too!
Soarin’ Over California Returns for Longer Run!
The fan-favorite Soarin’ Over California – one of the park’s opening day attractions – will return for a limited run beginning February 6 and continuing through July 1, 2026.
Set to a serene and dramatic musical score, take a virtual tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Palm Springs, Downtown Los Angeles, Anza-Borrego, Lake Tahoe, Malibu, Camarillo, and more.
On July 2, the all-new airborne adventure, Soarin’ Across America, will debut in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
DCA 25th Food & Stuff
Available for a limited time, February 6-15, 2026, Schmoozies! will serve a decadent cake shake, a confetti shake with strawberry icing, sprinkles, whipped topping, and a slice of cake.
You can also “swing by” for this awesome 25th anniversary novelty: a bucket modeled after the iconic Pixar Pal-A-Round. Featuring embedded “Magic Inside” technology, the Pixar Pal-A-Round Bucket reacts to select locations in both theme parks, changing color, and lighting patterns that will surprise and delight. The lighting effects enhance the storytelling of some lands and attractions, as well as amplify select nighttime spectaculars.
This first-of-its-kind bucket is available for purchase beginning February 6, while supplies last, at the following locations:
- Mobile order: Hollywood Lounge Seasonal Novelty Release (Feb. 6-8)
- Mobile order: Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta Seasonal Novelty Release (Feb. 6-8)
- Mobile order: Popcorn at Grizzly Peak Airfield
- Fairfax Market
- Mortimers Market
- Select popcorn and outdoor vending carts in California Adventure
I have two critiques here. First, that as the other DCA 1.0 “survivor,” Award Wieners should also have a special menu item. Maybe they could serve a limited-time Maliburrito! (Oh, and bring back the Filmstrip Fries while we’re at it!!!)
Second, as cool as the Mickey’s Fun Wheel popcorn bucket is, this should be the Sun Wheel. I get why they’re not doing that since this is an innovative popcorn bucket that they probably want to sell well among younger fans, and perhaps the Sun Wheel is too deep of a cut. As a consolation prize, I will accept restoring the official name to Mickey’s Fun Wheel. Pixar Pal-A-Round is a dumber name than most of the DCA 1.0 puns, and I’m honestly surprised it’s still a thing ~8 years later.
DCA 25th Anniversary Merchandise
Surprisingly, there will also be merchandise. The Disney California Adventure 25th Anniversary Collection merchandise will be available beginning February 6, 2026 while supplies last, at Elias & Co., Gone Hollywood, and Seaside Souvenirs in California Adventure.
The elevated artwork in the collection has stylized illustrations of the park’s icons and symbols, such as the Carthay Circle tower, Pixar Pal-A-Round, and Grizzly Peak. There will also be pins and so forth for the respective anniversaries of Downtown Disney and the Grand Californian.
Few people know this, but I’m actually big on DCA and Grand Californian merchandise. I have multiple Paradise Pier hats, a couple of shirts, and multiple mugs and cups featuring GCH. There’s actually this new-to-me Reyn Spooner Grand Californian button down that I absolutely love. The only problem is that it’s over $100. However, I do not like any of this merchandise. Please make more clean-looking dad hats, Disney.
Commemorative DCA 25th Park Map
On February 8, 2026, while supplies last, guests entering California Adventure with a valid park ticket may receive a complimentary commemorative map. Limited quantities available.
Disneyland does this for every milestone anniversary, and it’s always a nice touch. The one they offered for Disneyland’s 70th last summer was lovely; I hope this leans into the circa 2001 craziness of Disney California Adventure.
Humphrey the Bear Debuts at GCH!
The first Disney hotel to be located inside a theme park, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa welcomed its first guests on January 2, 2001, before officially celebrating its grand opening on February 8, 2001. In 2009, the hotel expanded with the Disney Vacation Club resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
A new character is making his “bear-y” first Disney Parks appearance at Storytellers Cafe! Beginning February 6, 2026, Humphrey the Bear will be among the characters you’ll encounter during Donald’s Tales of Adventure dinner buffet.
This mischievous, snack-loving grizzly bear of Brownstone National Park is featured in several Disney animated shorts, including two of his own as the leading star. Humphrey’s humorous antics in Goofy and Donald Duck cartoons and beyond even inspired Humphrey’s Service & Supplies at Disney California Adventure.
This is awesome. At the same time, it’s unfortunate that Humphrey the Bear is being put behind a $70 paywall. I also wonder whether the target demographic for Storytellers, which I’d safely assume is largely casual guests and first timers, will even know who Humphrey the Bear is.
As someone who routinely meets the Country Bears when they’re out and about on both coasts, I usually (not just sometimes) overhear guests asking Cast Members “who is that?” (or just flat-out calling them the incorrect name). And that’s with an attraction that currently exists at Walt Disney World!
I would imagine that Humphrey the Bear is something they could only get funded if there were direct ROI, so Storytellers was the only option, but I also feel like this is bound to backfire. Character meal guests feeling cheated that they got a “generic” character and diehard Disneyland fans feeling cheated that he’s locked behind a $70 character dinner that they won’t do.
I really hope to be wrong about this, but I could easily see the conclusion Disney reaches at the end of this experiment being “there’s no appetite for Humphrey the Bear at Disneyland,” when in reality, the conclusion should probably be “we screwed up and put him in the wrong spot.” But if there’s one lesson to be taken from the 25 years of Disney’s/Disney California Adventure, it’s the value of being able to admit when a mistake has been made.
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Your Thoughts
Are you excited about Disney California Adventure’s 25th Anniversary? Will you book Storytellers just to see Humphrey the Bear, or is the paywall too steep? Hope Disneyland leans into the chaos and craziness of circa 2001 DCA during this celebration? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!