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Buena Vista Street

Buena Vista Street officially opened to the public on June 15, 2011. It is a re-imagined entrance to Disney California Advnenture. You walk down Buena Vista Street, which is a look at how California/Hollywood was when Walt first arrived back in the 20s and through the 30s. Icons such as the Carthay Circle Theater (where Snow White premiered) will be included. There will be a Red Car line that will stretch from the entrance down Hollywood Blvd and on to the Tower of Terror area.

The entrance coridor will be a more traditional street, unlike the vast/open courtyard that originally existed when the park opened in 2001.

The new Pan Pacicific Auditorium inspired entrance to the park opened to guests on July 15, 2011. A bulk of the work on converting the old Sunshine Plaza stores and entrance into Buena Vista Street is slated to start August 1, 2011. The Golden Gate bridge is slated for removal starting on July 17, 2011.

 

Description from the Disneyparks Blog:

First up is Oswald’s, which is bound to set your California adventure off on the right foot. All of your road-trip essentials, including autograph books, hats, bags and souvenirs like “Cars”-themed antenna toppers, key chains and travel mugs “fill up” the shelves of this gas station-themed store.

Just down the way and most reminiscent of a bygone time will be Los Feliz Five & Dime. This one-stop shop is where you will find just about anything you need for the entire family. Within its walls, you’ll find collections of t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, figurines, souvenirs and more inspired by railways and trolleys as well as character merchandise featuring Mickey Mouse and friends in retro mood styling. What does it look like? Well, where would the fun be if I gave it all away today? But I promise you won’t have to wait too long – in fact, you might even see something from me later this week.

As we continue, next door you’ll find Big Top Toys, which it has to be said, this circus-themed toy store is going to be an extravaganza! Offering a playful environment for kids and kids at heart, you will find shelves lined with innovative and interactive toys, games and plush inspired by many of our famous Disney Parks attractions and characters to get you “on with the show!”

Finally, you will find yourself paying tribute to the opulent art deco department stores of yesteryear, with Elias & Co. As you take a moment to step back in time, envision yourself standing in an idealized version of 1923 Los Angeles, as a young traveler named Walt Disney steps off a train, a fedora on his head, luggage at his feet, his best pal at his side, and a dream in his mind that one day would become a reality. As you continue through the store, be sure to take note of the retro-style attraction posters that will also appear on a wide variety of clothing, souvenirs and collectible items. Now, before you depart, I encourage you to embrace the spirit that Walt Disney showed during his early days as an eager young producer and complete your ensemble with a selection of men’s period fedoras and executive-style accessories.



Attractions & Entertainment (Parades, Shows & Fireworks)
Current Attractions:
  • Red Car Trolley (Buena Vista Street Stop) (Opened: Jun 15, 2012)
  • Unnamed Coco Attraction (Opening: 0000)
Current Entertainment:
  • Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! (Opened: Apr 26, 2024)
  • World of Color - One Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Opened: Jan 27, 2023)
  • World of Color - Season of Light (Seasonal) (Opened: Nov 10, 2016)
Retired Entertainment:
  • Paint the Night (Apr 13, 2018 - Nov 07, 2018)
  • Pixar Play Parade (Mar 14, 2008 - Aug 20, 2017)
  • World of Color - Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney (May 22, 2015 - Sep 05, 2016)
  • World of Color - Winter Dreams (Nov 15, 2013 - Jan 06, 2014)
  • Instant Concert... Just Add Water (Jun 15, 2012 - Nov 30, 2013)
  • Disney's Electrical Parade (Jul 03, 2001 - Apr 18, 2010)
  • Block Party Bash (May 05, 2005 - Jan 06, 2008)
  • LuminAria (Nov 09, 2001 - Jan 06, 2002)
  • Disney's Eureka! A California Parade (Feb 08, 2001 - Nov 30, 2001)
  • World of Color (Jun 11, 2010 - Nov 30, -0001)
Dining Options

 

Shopping
  • Oswald’s
  • Los Feliz Five & Dime,
  • Big Top Toys
  • Elias & Co
  • Kingswell Camera Shop
  • Julius Katz & Sons
  • Atwater Ink & Paint
Quickfacts
  • The new entry turnstiles of Disney California Adventure are inspired by the Pan-Pacific Auditorium. The Pan-Pacific was designed by architect Welton Becket. Disney is said to have consulted his friend Becket when he was planning Disneyland in the 1950s. Becket told Walt he already had all the talent he needed at the Disney Studios. That talent was the creative team that became Walt Disney Imagineering.
  • Entering the turnstiles, guests find themselves in Buena Vista Plaza, a town square with a flag pole, a stop for the Red Car Trolley, and Oswald’s gas station. Passing through the town square, guests walk under Hyperion Bridge (the Disneyland Resort Monorail track), modeled on the concrete Glendale-Hyperion Avenue bridge near Walt Disney’s early Hyperion Animation Studios.
  • Past Hyperion Bridge and into the central entry plaza, which leads into the eight themed lands of Disney California Adventure, guests will find Carthay Circle Theatre, inspired by the motion picture palace where “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered in 1937. It’s the home of the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge.
  • The Carthay Circle Theatre stands 89 feet 6 inches to the top of the cupola spire. It is approximately a ¾ scale to the original Carthay Circle Theatre building. In comparison, Sleeping Beauty Castle stands 77-feet high, with a design that makes it appear taller through forced perspective.
  • The central plaza is also home to “Storytellers,” a statue of Walt Disney with Mickey Mouse. Placed at street level and less monumental than the “Partners” statue in Disneyland, “Storytellers” depicts Walt Disney as a humble, optimistic young man, dreaming of achievements to come, standing alongside Mickey Mouse.
  • 9.5 – Height in feet of the Carthay Circle Theatre on Buena Vista Street – 12.5 feet taller than Sleeping Beauty Castle at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland Park
  • 1937 – Year “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered at the original Carthay Circle Theatre, lending inspiration to the Carthay Circle Theatre icon now on Buena Vista Street
  • 200 – Number of seats in the Carthay Circle Restaurant dining room, in addition to a 56-seat terrace and the 68-seat Carthay Circle Lounge
  • 235 – Approximate number of different wines offered at Carthay Circle Restaurant, including 35 by the glass; also 16 craft beers
  • 20 – Number of passenger seats on each Red Car Trolley, with additional space for a wheelchair
  • 623 – Number on one of the Red Car Trolleys, representative of the 600 series of trolley cars built for the Pacific Electric Railway; also reflects 1923, the year Walt Disney first arrived in California
  • 717 – Number on the second Red Car Trolley, representative of the 700-750 series of trolley cars built for the Pacific Electric Railway; also reflects July 17, the month and day Disneyland opened in 1955
  • 1923 – Year listed on embedded plaque at Storytellers statue at Disney California Adventure, reflecting the date when Walt Disney left Kansas City to embark on his new adventure in California and the year he founded his world-famous company
Related Disney News Releases
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