Today is the last day of operation for the Maliboomer, as well as several other areas in California Adventure.
Paradise Pier was a disaster in 2001. As is always the story when discussing the design of Disney California Adventure, Tim Delaney's budget was decimated. Early concept art for the area shows what might have been.
The Maliboomer was a byproduct of the way the Park was designed: Imagineers were dictated a hourly capacity their districts must meet, a number of shops and dining areas they must accommodate and a small budget to make it all happen.
How do you meet hourly capacity requirements when you don't have a lot of cash? Lots and lots of stucco, switchback queues and off-the-shelf rides.