Finding Dory is my new favorite Disney movie, and it might be your tadpole’s too. Dory may not have the best short-term memory, but you and your tadpoles can make hoppy long-term memories when you visit her and get to talk to Crush, the surfing turtle, in Disney Animation at Disney California Adventure. You can meet Dory and even some of her friends from Finding Dory in the funny interactive Turtle Talk with Crush & Finding Dory Pals show.
Finding Dory at Turtle Talk
It can be easy to swim or hop right by Disney Animation in Disney California Adventure. Located in Hollywood Land, many park-goers pass it right by. When you make your way down the street, your eyes may be fixed on the Hollywood backdrop and marquee for Frozen Live at the Hyperion Theater ahead (Frozen is my other favorite movie!), causing you to miss the treasures in the Disney Animation attraction on the right. Disney Animation offers four different experiences, including Turtle Talk with Crush (and now Dory).
Each Turtle Talk show starts on the hour and half-hour throughout the day. Every show is unique because Crush takes questions from the kiddos, and even the parents in the audience, through his underwater microphone. Even the segments containing Dory differ from each other from show to show. Practice your “Duuuude!” and “You so totally rock!” as you learn surfer sea turtle lingo. And be sure that and your froglets have a question for Crush ready just in case you get picked. Tad recently recorded a video of Turtle Talk with Crush and Dory (plus Dory’s friend, Destiny) at California Adventure for our YouTube channel.
Other Animation Academy Attractions
After you find Dory and Crush, be sure to visit the other Disney Animation experiences. You can meet Anna and Elsa at Character Close-Up. The line is much shorter these days, and you no longer need a FastPass to meet these popular princesses.
One of our favorite free things to do is to take an art class at Animation Academy. The Disney artists offer free art classes every 30 minutes. You get to keep your drawing as a souvenir. Each class offers a chance to learn how to draw a different Disney character. They provide a schedule out front so you can find the class time for your favorite character.
In the Sorcerer’s Workshop you can also make art. You can learn how to make a picture appear to move and learn about the magic of animation and how they make cartoons. You can also visit the Beast’s library to find out what kind of villain or other character you might be.
One of the best times to visit the Animation Academy in summer is during the heat of the day. It is indoors and air conditioned, making it one of Mommy Frog’s favorite ways to beat the heat at Disneyland and take a breather in summer. That means she is happy to take me there. There are a lot of seats to sit down and rest. If you need to wait for the next show or art class, you get to be entertained by large screens surrounding you with 360 degrees of Disney animation and music. We also like to visit in the morning when the lines are the shortest.
If you are a fan of Dory and her friend Nemo, you don’t want to miss the specialty Dory and Nemo caramel apples in Trolley Treats. They are so cute and delicious! Fish may be friends and not food in most cases, but in this circumstance we give you permission to chow down.
Related: 11 Tips for Managing Summer Crowds and Heat at Disneyland
Love,
