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

Spin Cycle (2005)

This is the Golden Zephyr, a spinning attraction at Disney California Adventure… and a rather stupid one.

I took this photo in the rain during a January 2005 trip. At the time, I was riding the Ferris Wheel (formerly known as the Sun Wheel, now called Mickey's Fun Wheel). Unfortunately, the Zephyr didn't work in the rain. Nor does it work when the winds are higher than 10 mph. Whose bright idea was it to build an attraction like that?

In any case, the view behind the Zephyr is much different today, thanks to the big renovation at DCA. Those tacky storefronts have been replaced with something a bit more themed and period-appropriate.

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.

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A 2005 photo I took at Disney's California Adventure — in the rain — was recently featured on the web show Communicore Weekly.

Steve's Winning "Fuzzy Photo"

Named after the section of Epcot that used to sit right behind Spaceship Earth (now known by the name Innoventions), the show is hosted by George Taylor (of Imaginerding.com) and Jeff Heimbuch (of MiceChat.com), two Disneyphiles I've gotten to know via Twitter thanks to my passion for Disney trash cans.

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It's time for another Theme Park Thursday photo. This one is from Disney's California Adventure…

Amy loves Disney's California Adventure (2005)

In January 2005, Amy & I got to travel to California for a conference I worked while on staff with Kidology.  For me, it was my first visit to the West Coast.  More importantly, it was my first visit to Disneyland, the mother park!  In typical Tanner fashion, it pretty much rained the entire time we were there.  We got to spend 2 days at the Disneyland Resort, which gave us a chance not only to check out Disneyland, but also explore the park that everyone loves to hate, Disney's California Adventure.

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