At Adventure City, ‘Bigger Is Better’ Does Not Apply

In this fantasy land of a county, fun is measured in mouse-ear diameters and loop the loops.

After all, Orange County is known for its theme parks, where the adage is bigger, taller and faster are better.

Except at Adventure City.

Straddling the municipal border of Anaheim and Stanton, the 3-acre plot of roller coasters, petting zoo and midway games lies on Beach Boulevard in the shadow of its larger and better-known neighbors -- Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland and California Adventure.

By comparison, more than 60 Adventure Cities can fit into the two nearby Disney parks. And kiddie-oriented Adventure City, which marks its 10th anniversary this week, can be circled by foot in a few minutes.

General Manager Allan Ansdell knows the demographics he is aiming for. “This is something more convenient -- you can go for an afternoon for three to four hours,” he said.

“It’s hard to do that at the bigger parks. You’ve got to pay for parking and lug all your stuff for a day’s visit,” Ansdell said.

He doesn’t mind Adventure City’s size; in fact, the park makes it a selling point. Its brochures refer to it as an “all-in-one, pocket-size park.” Ansdell said the size is an advantage, because it makes it easier for parents to supervise their children.

On one lovely weekday afternoon, long lines were a foreign concept.

For 15 minutes, 8-year-old Jimmy Wilson has been patronizing the Freeway Coaster, where cars are painted like vehicles.

Because no one was waiting in line, the ride operator allowed kids a second trip on the coaster without their having to step off. Then a third. And a fourth. And a fifth ... and the kids weren’t complaining much.

Jimmy’s grandmother Jolene Wilson was lounging on a bench watching him pass her again.

And again.

And again and again.

Jimmy finally stepped off after 10 trips around the track, his balance perfect.

“Nine out of 10,” he rated the ride.

A stone’s throw from the coaster was the petting zoo, which smelled like a petting zoo should. But for 4-year-old Faith Daily and her sister, Brooke, cuddliness trumped all.

They raced from sheep to rabbit to piglet, touching and petting the animals.

Asked about the highlight of her day, Faith said, “I saw one of the sheep jump up.

“I thought it was cool,” she said.

Though Adventure City doesn’t have all the amenities of the bigger theme parks, the girls’ mother, Pam, said it was a cheaper option, $11.95 each for kid and adult. They came on this particular day after receiving a free pass.

“I compare it to Camp Snoopy [at Knott’s Berry Farm], which is where we spend most of our time anyway,” she said.

“It’s more for the little ones,” Daily said.

A walk around the petting zoo -- a hop, skip and jump sufficed -- and there was another ride, the Tree Top Racers, a soapbox coaster with hairpin turns. The ride has the only height requirement in the park: You have to be at least 3 1/2 feet tall.

That’s nothing for 4-year-old Ryan McCarrell of Rancho Santa Margarita.

By his mother’s count, Ryan had ridden the Tree Top Racers seven or eight times that afternoon.

He high-fived the ride operator and leapfrogged onto the cart.

Once inside, Ryan’s small frame disappeared deep into the seat so only his hands on the safety rails were visible.

His mother, Vikki, snapped pictures with her digital camera. Ryan re-emerged from the cart at the end of the ride, only to run to the front of the line again.

“Fun! Awesome!” he said in passing.

And so it went, another gloriously sunny day at the local amusement park.