November 2020. It had been nearly 9 months since I was last inside Disney California Adventure (DCA). Not a shocking statement, all things considered. However, it was the most significant amount of time I’d spent away from the parks in several years. I had attempted to satiate that itch with visits to Universal Citywalk, trips to Knott’s Berry Farm’s “Taste Of...” events, and exploring every square inch of Downtown Disney. However, there is nothing like sitting inside an actual Disney Park. Thus, I considered it an early birthday present when it was announced that Buena Vista Street would be reopening for shopping and some dining. I was ecstatic because this would be the perfect opportunity to test out everything I had learned in the past year.

A year earlier, I had decided to take up photography as the creative outlet I was sorely missing. Having done some amatuer (really amatuer, if I’m being honest) videography and editing when I was younger, I knew a bit about things like composition, lighting and telling a story with images. However, this medium was relatively new to me, so I figured an easy way to get into it would be photographing the place I loved. I had a blast using my phone’s camera to take photos around Disneyland and DCA. That trip led to me purchasing an actual camera (a Canon Rebel T6), and over the course of the next few months, tools like Adobe Lightroom. After watching a few stories inside Buena Vista Street from a few of my Insta-friends, (hopefully soon to be featured here!), I was ready to roll.

When you enter California Adventure, it is fitting that you immediately find a tribute to one of Walt Disney’s earliest creations. When Walt first hit California, he, along with his brother Roy, created Disney Bros. Studios. One of their first hits was a cartoon featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The Imagineers really showed off their emphasis on storytelling by placing this service station here. Buena Vista Street represents the California that Walt saw when he first arrived and, when we first arrive inside DCA, we see one of his first creations. (Q’s Tip: don’t miss the fun nod, a sign for Disney Bros. Studios, which overlooks the Oswald Station.)

At the time I visited (back in November 2020), the pathway from Buena Vista Street over to Carsland and Pixar Pier was open. I was stoked because his area has my favorite Imagineer "trick." When you're coming from Buena Vista Street and heading towards Carsland, the background music loop shifts from jazz to rock n roll. When DCA first opened, Buena Vista Street was known as Sunshine Plaza, and this pathway was the entrance to the Golden Vine Winery. To make the transition from jams about California to the more mellow theme of the Golden State less jarring, the Imagineers placed this waterfall here to cleanse the ear palette. Super cool, very simple and it still works today, even with all of the changes.

So I’ll keep it real with you: I had seen multiple people take the photo above after DCA reopened. Since this trip was all about using the lessons I had learned from other amazing photographers, I decided to challenge myself to capture this image. Thus, I ended up lying on the ground in front of the Red Car Trolley right before the park closed. This decision also led to an amusing anecdote. While I was on the ground taking the pic, the couple a little ways behind me started having a serious conversation behind. As I started snapping shots, I could hear their intense debate about if I was praying to the Trolley Car.

Heading back to the parks after being gone for so long was so refreshing and gave me a much needed jolt of creative energy. Let’s get to know one another and celebrate community over competition and Disney Photography.