Disney's California Adventure -- Sunshine Plaza (Disney Lies)

Sunshine Plaza is completely unique amongst Disneyland Resort theme park lands in that it offers copious shopping opportunities without the intrusion of annoying rides or attractions. Just think, you can "shop 'till you drop" with no pressure at all to stand in long, boring lines!

Guests entering Disney's California Adventure are greeted first by the expansive restrooms, then by a miniature Golden Gate Bridge (only half a park away from the Bay Area-themed district) over which the Monorail often passes, as if to taunt guests for visiting a park that has no Monorail station.

After passing beneath the bridge, guests have a choice of two large shopping venues -- Greetings From California and Engine-Ears Toys -- several small eateries and a storefront bikini waxing shop. Engine-Ears Toys offers several unique purchasing experiences, including a "shoplift Mr. Potatohead" area in which kids can, for one small fee, fill their pockets to capacity with Mr. Potatohead parts (noses, mouths, scars, birthmarks, Mickey Mouse hats, shoes, ets.) while a clerk "looks the other way" for 60 seconds. A deluxe package, costing $10 more, includes an additional 30 seconds of shoplifting, and the opportunity to be chased across the park by security.

Once out of range of the shops, guests encounter the actual plaza part of Sunshine Plaza. Here they can purchase sodas and popcorn and, if they're still bursting with money, churros. While eating their snacks, guests can watch a large metal sun glitter blindingly over a fountain in which waves crash into a pool of Santa Monica Beach-themed water (not for human consumption, no wading, no fishing, may contain substances known by the state of California to cause cancer).

Trivia: The waves in the Sunshine Plaza fountain were actually imported from Hawaii.

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Disney's California Adventure

Sunshine Plaza

February 2001