Disney California Adventure celebrated its 25-year anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 8, so we’re taking a walk down memory late to the grand opening of the beloved theme park across from Disneyland!
Photos from the 2001 event show all of the high-profile celebrity guests that got to be in the first groups of people to try out the new rides, hang out with Mickey and Minnie, and have fun with their families. Jack Nicholson, Fran Drescher, Mickey Rooney, David Cassidy, Drew Carey, Wayne Knight, and George Lucas were among the lucky stars to christen the amusement park.
Related: One of Disney’s Most Beloved Rides Is Making a Comeback
The old photos also shed light on how much the park has changed in the quarter-century since it was first opened. While the part was originally a homage to the state of California, a 6-year, $1.1 billion “re-imagining” to make it more Disney themed began in 2007.
The entrance gate, which used to feature a miniature version of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and a postcard image of California’s beautiful landscapes, was replaced with a more futuristic welcome motif in 2012. A flying swing ride called The Orange Stinger, which paid tribute to California’s plentiful orange groves, disappeared. The famous Sun Wheel ferris wheel was reimagined as the Pixar Pal-A-Round, and Sunshine Plaza was replaced with the vintage-themed Buena Vista Street.
Even after the massive renovations, changes and updates have been ongoing. In 2018, the nostalgic California Screamin’ coaster, which formally featured a Mickey silhouette, was turned into The Incredicoaster, getting a new Pixar Pier sign in Mickey’s place.
Scroll through for lots of nostalgic photos, then vs. now comparisons, and memories from the 2001 grand opening of Disney California Adventure!
The original entrance to Disney California AdventureGetty
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The entrance to Disney California Adventure todayGetty
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The California Screamin’ rollercoaster rideGetty
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The Incredicoaster todayGetty
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The Orange Stinger ride next to the Sun Wheel rideGetty
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Actor Mickey Rooney jokes with a Mickey Mouse mascot at a V.I.P. grand opening partyGetty
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Michael Eisner, chairman and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company from September 1984 to September 2005Getty
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Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney and former senior executive for the Walt Disney Company and the chairman of its animation division before his death in 2009Getty
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Riders on the original California Screamin’ roller coasterGetty
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Actress Fran Drescher at the grand opening V.I.P partyGetty
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The grand opening of Disney’s California Adventure kicked off with fireworksGetty
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Director George Lucas arrives with his daughters to VIP party Getty
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Jack Nicholson, Rebecca Broussart, and kids Getty
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David Cassidy with Chip and DaleGetty
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Drew Carey arrives at Disney’s California Adventure for a private pre-opening party
Wayne Knight attends a V.I.P party on the eve of the grand opening of Disney’s California Adventure park
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.