Paul Vercammen: 'Best parts of California' condensed in park

Paul Vercammen reports from Disney's newest theme park: California Adventure

CNN Correspondent Paul Vercammen was among the first to check out Disney's California Adventure theme park, which opened Thursday in Anaheim.

Q: What's distinctive about California Adventure?

Vercammen: The major difference between this and other theme parks is this is all about California. Instead of having to drive up and down and all over the Golden State, which would take you days, suddenly we have many of the best parts of California condensed into one theme park.

For example, you can go down the Grizzly River Run and get a sense of what it might be like to raft down one of the California rivers. Or you can take a stroll down the boardwalk on the Paradise Pier, and that's reminiscent of the Santa Cruz boardwalk or perhaps one of the older boardwalks in Santa Monica.

	ALSO
New Disney park welcomes California dreamers

Q: Which of the rides seems to be generating a lot of buzz?

Vercammen: There's one ride that encompasses all of this, and it's called Soarin' Over California. It's a virtual reality ride, and you sit and actually lift up somewhat in what seems to be a hang glider and all of a sudden the state's scenic wonders unfold in front, to the side of and below you, and you just have this feeling of being suspended in air as you go drifting over white snow in Lake Tahoe or skirt nearby the U.S. Navy fleet in San Diego or see landmarks in Yosemite. That might be the showcase ride here. It had a lot of people shaking their heads in wonder as they left.

Q: Does California Screamin' live up to its name?

Vercammen: California Screamin' is a roller coaster that starts off with a bang. Instead of that slow methodical leisurely ascent to the top, you begin as if you are just launched, and you go from 0 to 55 and up a steep incline in just 4 seconds. And then you begin on this very boardwalk-style roller coaster to go through all sorts of curves. There is a very tight 360 which flips your heels over your head and back, and then catapults you on again.

Q: Did you go on any other memorable rides?

Vercammen: There's another funny one, the Maliboomer. I'm guessing it's about 150 feet high and it replicates those strength tests at a county or state fair where you pick up the mallet and you try to pound a scale-like structure and hit the bell. You're the projectile in this case, and in 2 seconds you are vaulted skyward, and the pit in your stomach collides with the lump in your throat, and that's takes about 2 seconds. When you drop down, you get that uneasy feeling once more.

Q: Will California Adventure visitors feel like they're at a Disney park?

Vercammen: You don't see Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse walking around the park, and in keeping with the California tradition, there are not rides gussied up with a lot of Disney characters.

Q: Who's the target audience for the new park?

Vercammen: It's probably a little more adult-oriented, for bigger kids. There certainly are rides for the little ones, but you have to remember, there's actually a vineyard here -- Golden Vine Winery.

New Disney park welcomes California dreamers
February 8, 2001

Disney's California Adventure

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.