DCA Revisited
DCA Revisited
Do or Don’t? Disney California Adventures with Genie+ Pass
I recently headed back to Disney California Adventures (DCA) in my first visit to that park since before the pandemic. This park has grown on me since the days when it first opened (and drew many understandably negative comparisons to Disneyland, its neighbor park across the way).
In fact, this time around I actually found myself comparing DCA to Tokyo’s DisneySea, which I visited with family about five years ago and absolutely loved. It has that same mature, fun-for-adults-too vibe that DisneySea had. More on that at another time.
What I noticed this time in comparison to my 2019 DCA visit, however, was how the MaxPass (now Genie+ pass) had changed. Here are my thoughts on those differences and my opinion about purchasing a Genie+ pass for DCA.
So in 2019, with family members visiting us in LA, we took them to DCA and opted to maximize our time by using the (now defunct) MaxPass. We loved it. We could ride all the rides we wanted, as long as we had a Fast Pass (which we got quickly and efficiently with the MaxPass). My son and cousins must have gone on Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout like five times. In a row. Which they did quickly with the MaxPass. We were able to jump on Radiator Springs Racers at least a couple times using the MaxPass as well. All in all, it was well worth the extra cost for the MaxPass ($20pp) for the time it saved and what it offered in terms of access.
Fast forward to this year. MaxPass is now called Genie+, and while it functions similarly to MaxPass, there are a few big differences. First, even though you pay extra for Genie+, there are STILL rides you do not have access to with Genie+. The new Avengers Campus has opened now, and its marquee ride is Spiderman Web Slingers. Well, you cannot use Genie+ for this ride. Nor can you use it for the OTHER marquee ride in the DCA park, Radiator Springs Racers. So despite paying an additional $20 per ticket (same as before with the MaxPass), you do not have special access to these rides with Genie+.
Second, and worse, I think, is you cannot use Genie+ multiple times on rides. So, for example, if you use the Genie+ for the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, that is the only time that day you can use it. The example I gave with my son riding Guardians multiple times with cousins using the MaxPass could not happen with Genie+. I did not realize this when I purchased the Genie+ pass (I must have missed the fine print) and was under the assumption it was the same as it was with MaxPass. Imagine my disappointment when I tried to use the Genie+ pass for another round on Guardians only to discover we had “exceeded the number of times” we could use Genie+ for the ride.
Given those two factors, I would not recommend purchasing Genie+ for DCA, especially if you go during the off season, and start early in the day (where you can get on some of the rides quickly). I don’t think it is worth it, since you most likely would be waiting in line anyway for rides you want to go on multiple times. My favorite Disney travel blogger would disagree, but now you have two opinions to choose from.
Now in terms of experience, DCA has really grown on me since those early days. I enjoyed both times I visited recently. The Avengers campus, though small, boasted some cool features, including the Spiderman Web Slingers ride I mentioned. My daughter and I had a chance to ride this, and it is fun and interactive. I also hit this section of the park later in the day with my friend, and we had some excellent alcoholic drinks, since DCA serves alcohol, whereas Disneyland is very limited in terms of alcoholic offerings. Try the “Honey Buzz” at Pym’s Tasting Lab if you like something alcoholic and sweet.
I also really like spending time in Cars Land. This addition to the park is ten years old(!), and it is extremely well done, in terms of things to look at, eat, and experience. As mentioned, Radiator Springs Racers is amazing, and the food options are good. Try the dill pickle popcorn at Cozy Cone 5 - the “PopCone”. The “Sh-Boom” moment at sunset (recently discovered) is a hidden gem of an experience.
Finally, World of Color at DCA is a show I have always wanted to see, and it did not disappoint. It was truly gorgeous, and not as maniacally crowded as Fantasmic at Disneyland.
As many Disney fans will tell you, Disneyland is still the number one Southern California Disney destination. But I think if you are a Southern California local (or even visiting with family), DCA is a good “date night” park with lots of ambiance, especially at night! Bring a babysitter with you! Enjoy World of Color, drinks, eats, and adult-friendly vibes at Disney’s California Adventures. Just skip the Genie+. Let me know your DCA experiences below in the comments.