#Grizzly adventure disneyland series

Soarin Around the World premiered at Disneyland & Epcot on Friday (and a day earlier in Shanghai). Notes from JMy first flight on Soarin' Around the World on its opening day. On Jthe original Soarin' Over California film had its last flight and on Jthe new Soarin' Around the World film premiered. As part of this expansion the area was converted from a desert airfield to a more park like setting. That area is now the Grizzly Peak Airfield. But when a monorail cane by, the change was obvious.Ĭlick here to post comments at MiceChat about this article.Grizzly Peak expanded in 2015 and took over the former Condor Flats area. The final two photos in this set show another corner of the park that had not changed much by 2013. “Bear Left” billboard and Mark VII Monorail (2013) “Bear Left” billboard and Mark V Monorail (2002) Pathway near Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa (2013)īigger trees and more benches in 2013 than in 20o2. Pathway near Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa (2002) The photo was taken when Grizzly River Run was down for refurbishment. He lost the logo from his life vest and his oar now looks like an old-fashioned wooden oar, not a contemporary aluminum oar.īy the way, the wooden fence and the covered sign in the 2013 photo were temporary. When the theme of Grizzly River Run-including its queue and its scenery-changed from extreme sports to traditional 20th century State Parks, the bear got a bit of a makeover. Grizzly River Run, a white water raft ride, has a bear as its mascot and signpost. Grizzly Peak isn’t the only grizzly bear in the area. Disney reopened the space as the table-service Wine Country Trattoria before the end of the year.

On October 1, 2001, the then-troubled winery pulled out of its sponsorship arrangement with the then-troubled park. When Disney’s California Adventure opened in February 2001, the terrace was the outdoor seating area for Wine Country Market, a gourmet grab-and-go food shop presented by Robert Mondavi. A sturdy trellis now provides partial shade over many of the tables on the terrace at the Wine Country Trattoria.Ī bigger change happened before the 2002 photo. The difference between the two photos above is obvious. Wine Country Trattoria at the Golden Vine Winery (2013) Wine Country Trattoria at the Golden Vine Winery (2002) The cone-shaped evergreens don’t lend themselves to that kind of trimming. It’s not a simple matter of trimming the tops of the trees. In the second photo, he appears to be gasping for air while drowning in a sea of trees. In the first of the two photos above, the powerful bear thrusts his head skyward. Despite being extinct since the 1920s, the creature became the official State Animal of California in 1953.Īs the trees keep growing, the mountain may also become extinct, at least in the eyes of guests. Grizzly Peak looks like the head of a California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus). Golden Vine Winery and Grizzly Peak (2013) Golden Vine Winery and Grizzly Peak (2002) It’s not just because less of the mountain is showing it’s also because the trees serve as a frame of reference regarding its size. From some angles, trees now hide much of the faux mountain.Īs the trees have grown larger, the mountain has appeared to become smaller and less majestic.

Now, the ever-growing evergreens threaten to tower above Grizzly Peak.

Grizzly Peak originally towered above the trees. The thing will get more beautiful every year.Īs the two photos above show, the trees have also been growing at Disney California Adventure. Not only can I add things, but even the trees will keep growing. The park means a lot to me, in that something that will never be finished, something I can keep developing and adding to. , Curator of Yesterland, September 13, 2013.

#Grizzly adventure disneyland series

Today, in the first of a series of Disney California Adventure “then and now” comparisons, Yesterland looks at some spots around Grizzly Peak. But some parts of the park did not need major redevelopment because they were designed well to begin with. Disney California Adventure has seen huge changes over the past decade.