#disney-california-adventure

#disney-california-adventure

Cars Land opened in 2012 as part of a reworking of the theme park and at long last gave it a striking land that could rival - and in many cases surpass - those of its next-door neighbor, Disneyland. Flanked by sun-scarred, reddish rocks that look lifted from Arizona, Cars Land is a marvel of a theme park land, with its backdrop mountain range ever so slightly nodding to the fins of classic Cadillacs from 1957 to 1962.

As we drove along palm tree-lined Disneyland Drive, filled with the excitement and giddy anticipation only a Disney vacation can conjure, I was eager for my first visit to the only hotel dedicated to celebrating the wonderful works of Pixar Animation Studios. Opened in January 2024, the hotel that is now Pixar Place has technically been part of the Disney real estate portfolio since 1995. Today its modern, white exterior leads to a colorful atrium, illuminated by the California sunshine bursting through a glass ceiling.

The D23 fan event featuring updates on new lands and attractions coming to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will return to Anaheim in 2026 along with exhibits, panels, presentations and shopping tied to all things Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will return to Anaheim in 2026 on Aug. 13-16. Houma Atsushi dresses as the Partners statues that stands in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland during the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Aug 23, 2019.

The Disneyland Forward expansion will include new lands, hotels, shopping and dining, with an estimated cost of $1.9 billion rolling out over the next decade.