Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Steve at the Sun Icon (2005)

Amy & I first visited Disney('s) California Adventure in 2005. As has been our experience in visiting West Coast Disney theme parks, it rained. DCA has never had a good reputation, something that will hopefully be changed when the first phase of its massive $1 billion reboot is finished up later this year.

In today's photo, I'm standing next to the Sun Icon, which believe it or not, sat at the end of what was DCA's "Main Street". This oversized hubcap looks like it would fit in better at a tourist welcome center/rest area. There apparently were reflectors that would help aim sunlight at this sculpture throughout the day. I wouldn't know… it was raining.

Cheap stuff like this is part of the reason that California Adventure got such a bad reputation. It was just bad all around. Bad theme, low budget execution, and pretty much no fun. Which is why it's being replaced with this…

Carthay Circle Theater Concept Art

This is a recreation of Carthay Circle Theater, which is where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs got its world premiere in 1937. It's all part of a new "Main Street" being built in DCA called Buena Vista Street. Hopefully, it serves as a better visual anchor when you first walk into the park.

I'm looking forward to returning to DCA someday… and hopefully, it won't rain.