Rides of the Boardwalk

In the ten year history of Disney California Adventure, the Boardwalk of Paradise Pier has seen attractions come and go, while others have remained the same.

Down along the shore, Jumpin' Jellyfish gives a colorful kelp and sea creature overlay to a traditional parachute drop ride. Twelve parachute vehicles, dressed as jellyfish, make a "jump" straight up a couple of 60-foot kelp towers, before gently floating back down to the beach.

For such a simple attraction, the details are actually very well done. From the starfish height stick and jellyfish umbrellas in the queue to the rockwork and seaweed-like landscaping, everything contributes to a sense that the tide has receded and allowed us to wander a space typically found beneath the waves.

Nearby is another attraction unchanged since opening day, the Golden Zephyr (my apologies for not having a better photograph). This type of classic "spinning spaceship" ride had not been built for 35 years, but the wait was worth it. Flying in one of the six Flash Gordon-style rocket vehicles, the sense of speed and height reached is far more thrilling than you might imagine. It's actually my favorite Paradise Pier attraction and a "must do" on every visit.

One thing the above photograph does manage to show is a pair of now-extinct rides of the Boardwalk. The attractions may be history, but luckily you can just follow the links from here for one more look at the Maliboomer and the Orange Stinger.

Paradise by the Shore

The marquee entrance to Paradise Pier promises "Fun in the Sun for Everyone," combining the lure of a sunny coastal resort with the nostalgic thrills of a seaside amusement park. Designed as a tribute to the classic Pacific coast parks of the past, Paradise Pier weaves an aquatic theme throughout its boardwalk setting.

At the heart of the boardwalk is an oceanfront park staple, the carousel. Appropriate to the locale, King Triton's Carousel of the Sea puts a twist on the vintage Victorian merry-go-round by swapping the familiar herd of horses for a team of 56 hand-carved sea creatures. The intricately detailed mounts depict native California creatures such as sea lions, dolphins, sea otters, whales, sea horses and flying fish.

Along the upper rounding boards of the carousel are sixteen panels decorated with depictions of historic California amusement parks, including Venice of America and the Santa Monica Pier.

The restaurant overlooking the harbor, Ariel's Grotto (originally opened as Avalon Cove by Wolfgang Puck), is designed as a fanciful beachfront pavilion from the 1920s. Fun, aquatic details abound, from the shell-shaped peaks of the roof to the waves crashing against the breakers below.

Across Paradise Bay is another allusion to the sea, as well as Disney's 1989 animated feature, The Little Mermaid. Jumpin' Jellyfish, a parachute drop ride set in an "underwater" kelp garden, takes its name from Sebastian the crab's trademark exclamation. You may even find yourself shouting, "Jumpin' jellyfish!" as your perch flies to the top of one of the 60-foot towers before gently floating back to earth.