Playing Games on the Boardwalk at Disney's California Adventure

The Games of the Boardwalk is located in the Paradise Pier section of the park situated behind Mickey's Fun Wheel. This area of the park brings a feeling of being at the seaside with its boarded sidewalks, the fresh smell of corn dogs, and a chance to win some prizes. I've passed by several times throughout the years and finally decided to check it out.

There are four different games that you can play for a chance to win a prize. The games must be played with points from a play card that you purchase at a card station. The minimum amount is $5 which is equivalent to 500 points. You can recharge your card with more points. The card machines take credit cards as well as cash. You can play three of the four games with only 250 points and the fourth game costs 500 points. The games are: Bullseye Stallion Stampede, Casey at the Bat, Dumbo Bucket Brigade, and Goofy About Fishin'.

Get ready for an exciting horse race at Bullseye Stallion Stampede. The game costs 250 points and requires at least 2 players to play (you have to have some one to race). The more players increases the size of the prize. If you have 2-4 players, the winner receives a small prize. A medium prize goes to the winner between 5-6 players and a large prize is given to the winner with 7-8 players. The game is played by shooting an air pistol at the target to make your stallion advance. Once the race starts, music plays and you start shooting. The stallions move across the race track until the first one to reach the finish line. This game allows you to trade up your prizes from this game only (no trading prizes between games): three small prizes = one medium prize, and two medium prizes = one large prize. The small prizes are very small stuffed animals but you can win a stuffed Bullseye or Woody.

Hey batter, batter, batter – swing! The classic ball throwing game is Casey at the Bat. For 500 points you get eight baseballs. This is a single player game but that doesn't mean you will be the only one watching! You win a prize when you successfully throw three of the balls in the catcher's mitt hole (it's not as easy as you think). This is a prime challenge game. I remember watching a couple of teen boys playing multiple times trying to get three strikes! A giant stuffed baseball pillow, a baseball batter or a hot dog dog (dressed in a baseball uniform) are the prizes.

I'm sure firefighters have games to find out who or what team has the best skills. Well, Dumbo Bucket Brigade is a challenge to see which clown can asend the ladder the fastest. The game costs 250 points to play and like Bullseye Stallion Stampede, it requires at least 2 players to play. The game is played by hitting a target using a water gun. The more accurate you are, the faster your clown will get to the top. The first one to the top wins! Like the Bullseye game, the more players, the bigger the prize. For 2-3 players the winner takes home a small stuffed Timothy mouse. For 4-5 players the winner receives a large stuffed Dumbo. This game also allows a trade up for prizes with two small prizes equaling a large prize.

Goofy About Fishin' takes you back to a very old fashioned carnival game. The premise is simple, after you pay your points, you use a fishing pool to catch one fish that is floating with all his fish friends in a small stream. The game costs 250 points and is also a single player game. This is the one game where you are guaranteed a prize as each “fish” has a color-coded sticker on the bottom that indicates your prize. The small prizes are very small stuffed animals (turtle, starfish, whale, etc.) but the larger prizes include a fishing-attired Goofy or Mickey.

So next time you're strolling along the Boardwalk, grab a corn dog and then take a moment to play a couple of games. There's rarely a line and you just might get to take a prize home. You certainly will take home a memory that will last a lifetime!

DCA-BW Games

Disney California Adventure Boardwalk Games Sign

About the Author: Dorothy enjoys planning Disney vacations and is looking forward to a cruise later this year with just her husband as they celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.