Disney California Adventure Celebrates 25 Years with Nostalgic Looks Back

The park has undergone major changes since its star-studded grand opening in 2001.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Disney California Adventure celebrated its 25th anniversary on February 8, 2026. The park has seen significant renovations and reimaginings since its grand opening in 2001, which was attended by a slew of celebrity guests including Jack Nicholson, Fran Drescher, Mickey Rooney, David Cassidy, Drew Carey, Wayne Knight, and George Lucas. While the park originally paid homage to the state of California, it underwent a $1.1 billion "re-imagining" in 2007 to become more Disney-themed, with changes to the entrance, rides, and themed areas.

Why it matters

Disney California Adventure's 25-year anniversary marks a significant milestone for the park, which has evolved from its original California-themed concept to become more closely aligned with the Disney brand. The changes reflect the company's efforts to continually refresh and reinvent its theme park offerings to keep them relevant and appealing to modern audiences.

The details

The park's original entrance featured a miniature version of the Golden Gate Bridge and California landscapes, but this was replaced in 2012 with a more futuristic welcome motif. Other changes include the removal of the Orange Stinger ride, the reimagining of the Sun Wheel ferris wheel as the Pixar Pal-A-Round, and the transformation of the California Screamin' coaster into The Incredicoaster.

  • Disney California Adventure celebrated its 25-year anniversary on February 8, 2026.
  • A 6-year, $1.1 billion "re-imagining" of the park began in 2007 to make it more Disney-themed.
  • The entrance gate was replaced with a more futuristic design in 2012.

The players

Disney California Adventure

A theme park located adjacent to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which opened in 2001.

Jack Nicholson

An American actor who attended the grand opening of Disney California Adventure in 2001.

Fran Drescher

An American actress who attended the grand opening of Disney California Adventure in 2001.

George Lucas

An American film director, producer, and screenwriter who attended the grand opening of Disney California Adventure in 2001.

Michael Eisner

The chairman and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company from September 1984 to September 2005.

Roy Disney

The nephew of Walt Disney and a former senior executive for the Walt Disney Company and the chairman of its animation division before his death in 2009.

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The takeaway

Disney California Adventure's 25-year anniversary highlights the park's evolution from a California-themed homage to a more Disney-centric experience, reflecting the company's ongoing efforts to reinvent and modernize its theme park offerings to keep them engaging and relevant for contemporary audiences.