Avatar Experience Replaces Monsters Inc. - Monsters Inc. Closing Early 2026 - Future DCA Expansion Plans - Avengers Campus Expansion, Coco Ride

[LAS2AMS]

The one thing I keep wondering about is this:

View attachment 977680

If they close the western entrance to the loop, and end the loop road next to the bottom buildings there - it would actually give them a pretty sizeable parcel to work on - including room for the potential bridge over Disneyland Drive for DisneyForward. They don't necessarily need that western entrance anymore - vehicles could get to Paradise Gardens from the GCH entrance, and to those bottom buildings using the loop road from Harbor. (There's a cut-through right underneath my black line.)

I think someone figured out that the ride building for Mermaid would fit in where the parade storage building is now. Potentially, there's room for something pretty sizeable (if they do something like this).

Scott Gustin claims they’re trying to build the ride with minimal backstage removal, so presumably the parade shed will stay. Coco is suppose to be a boat ride, I think think will have a large footprint than Mermaid? NRJ ar DAK is short but the show building is huge.

DCA 2.0 was suppose to have a second dark ride added to the PP/PG area, so I assume there has long been a plan.

I do wonder how they’ll expand the park with Disneylandforward. You’d have to think they’d close down West St, which would mean they’d be demolishing the western boarder of the park anyway. Building across the street and connecting the sections with a bridge seems like it’d waste a lot of space and just be… odd.

 

[brightlined]

Scott Gustin claims they’re trying to build the ride with minimal backstage removal, so presumably the parade shed will stay. Coco is suppose to be a boat ride, I think think will have a large footprint than Mermaid? NRJ ar DAK is short but the show building is huge.

DCA 2.0 was suppose to have a second dark ride added to the PP/PG area, so I assume there has long been a plan.

I'm wondering if it's possible that the parade shed might actually be some percentage of an attraction building - if it's possible that it was built for that purpose but adapted for parade storage. (I think Germany and Japan at EPCOT both have attraction buildings that are being used as storage, since the original attractions were cancelled.) That would explain why they wouldn't need to demolish anything - it would just be a matter of rehabbing/remodeling that building and potentially adding onto it.

They're losing the parade entry gate to Coco, so I don't know how they could still use that building for parade storage.

I've got a fantastically terrible idea - since that building is basically a long barn with garage doors on each end - have it be in one end and out the other and make it like Fast & Furious at Universal (lol).

I do wonder how they’ll expand the park with Disneylandforward. You’d have to think they’d close down West St, which would mean they’d be demolishing the western boarder of the park anyway. Building across the street and connecting the sections with a bridge seems like it’d waste a lot of space and just be… odd.

I was kind of imagining something sorta like Downtown Disney, where it would basically be a second level above Disneyland Drive without it necessarily feeling like one. (I was quietly hoping that they would use the Simba lot for Avatar - and essentially have you enter from a "hill" over Disneyland Drive that would overlook the land. If they did it right, I thought that might be an amazing view, especially at sunset.) But if Anaheim is willing to cede Disney that section of Disneyland Drive, that'd be pretty amazing.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I'm wondering if it's possible that the parade shed might actually be some percentage of an attraction building - if it's possible that it was built for that purpose but adapted for parade storage. (I think Germany and Japan at EPCOT both have attraction buildings that are being used as storage, since the original attractions were cancelled.) That would explain why they wouldn't need to demolish anything - it would just be a matter of rehabbing/remodeling that building and potentially adding onto it.

They're losing the parade entry gate to Coco, so I don't know how they could still use that building for parade storage.

I've got a fantastically terrible idea - since that building is basically a long barn with garage doors on each end - have it be in one end and out the other and make it like Fast & Furious at Universal (lol).


I was kind of imagining something sorta like Downtown Disney, where it would basically be a second level above Disneyland Drive without it necessarily feeling like one. (I was quietly hoping that they would use the Simba lot for Avatar - and essentially have you enter from a "hill" over Disneyland Drive that would overlook the land. If they did it right, I thought that might be an amazing view, especially at sunset.) But if Anaheim is willing to cede Disney that section of Disneyland Drive, that'd be pretty amazing.

Was the parade shed built with DCA? Or was it hastily added when they desperately added MSEP? IIRC, the park wasn’t built with the intention of running parades and in order to accommodate MSPE, they had to make some modifications to the walkways.

DCA had so much backstage space/ facilities, it’s insane. But I think you’re right - the buildout of the Avengers Campus will make it difficult to keep the parade gate/ path, so maybe they’re discontinuing parades. Which makes me wonder if OBB will return to DL as MNSSHP!

I think Anaheim would like DLR close West St but the bigger question would be how would they route traffic to the hotels, DTD and backstage areas? So logically, a bridge like the one for DTD will probably be the solution. But it wastes so much space…

 

[LAS2AMS]

I’ve long maintained that Disney sells nostalgia; people are attracted to the timeliness and how it enables them to relive memories.

Well, there’s an active thread on Reddit discussing how DCA 1.0 was “peak Disney” and how they’ve since destroyed it and are continuing to destroy it.

Yes… a budget park hated by almost every Imagineer (one Disney Legend once said ‘I liked it better as a parking lot’) is “peak Disney.” Sorry my friends that you grew up and have to put your big person pants on today…

 

[disneychrista]

Was the parade shed built with DCA? Or was it hastily added when they desperately added MSEP? IIRC, the park wasn’t built with the intention of running parades and in order to accommodate MSPE, they had to make some modifications to the walkways.

DCA had so much backstage space/ facilities, it’s insane. But I think you’re right - the buildout of the Avengers Campus will make it difficult to keep the parade gate/ path, so maybe they’re discontinuing parades. Which makes me wonder if OBB will return to DL as MNSSHP!

I think Anaheim would like DLR close West St but the bigger question would be how would they route traffic to the hotels, DTD and backstage areas? So logically, a bridge like the one for DTD will probably be the solution. But it wastes so much space…

DCA opened with the Eureka! Parade.

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Disney's_Eureka!_-_The_California_Adventure_Parade

 

[LAS2AMS]

DCA opened with the Eureka! Parade.

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Disney's_Eureka!_-_The_California_Adventure_Parade

Good catch, I don’t remember that parade!

 

[LKing]

I don't know the proposed layout/map of the Avengers Campus expansion. Is there a float barn (or room for a float barn) on that side? Could they close off the backstage loop and make the parades alternate directions like they do in DL?

 

[LAS2AMS]

I don't know the proposed layout/map of the Avengers Campus expansion. Is there a float barn (or room for a float barn) on that side? Could they close off the backstage loop and make the parades alternate directions like they do in DL?

I believe they exit the gate by Guardians and make their way back to the parade shed behind PP.

Upon further research, maybe the Avengers Campus expansion won’t impact it? Here’s a recent picture of the expansion pad (former backstage parking lot) courtesy of Mice Chat.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I’ve long maintained that Disney sells nostalgia; people are attracted to the timeliness and how it enables them to relive memories.

Well, there’s an active thread on Reddit discussing how DCA 1.0 was “peak Disney” and how they’ve since destroyed it and are continuing to destroy it.

Yes… a budget park hated by almost every Imagineer (one Disney Legend once said ‘I liked it better as a parking lot’) is “peak Disney.” Sorry my friends that you grew up and have to put your big person pants on today…

Not Peak but I do miss Blast and the parade and the music on the Peir (beach boys) from 1.0

I think DCA 2.0 was the best version of DCA....we had Aladdin still...the Peir look nicer with the blue paint on the coaster and I think the Mad Tea Party/Elec-TRON-ica (also shout out to Glowfest) were a great use of the Hollywood backlot....plus the OG Soarin was still around which I just think flows soooo much better then the new one, along with WOC now is for me worst then what we had back then as well.

So for me I miss DCA like 10 years ago but I assume DCA 3.0 will be even better when we get Avatar(land and E ticket), Coco and the two Avengers rides open

 

[LAS2AMS]

Not Peak but I do miss Blast and the parade and the music on the Peir (beach boys) from 1.0

I think DCA 2.0 was the best version of DCA....we had Aladdin still...the Peir look nicer with the blue paint on the coaster and I think the Mad Tea Party/Elec-TRON-ica (also shout out to Glowfest) were a great use of the Hollywood backlot....plus the OG Soarin was still around which I just think flows soooo much better then the new one, along with WOC now is for me worst then what we had back then as well.

So for me I miss DCA like 10 years ago but I assume DCA 3.0 will be even better when we get Avatar(land and E ticket), Coco and the two Avengers rides open

DCA 1.0 cloned a lot of elements from Typhoon Lagoon. Like The Beach Boys soundtrack (sort of), and the midway games near Boardwalk Pizza was very Typhoony Lagoony.

DL opened Videopolis in an era when its attendance was struggling. Obviously it never fit with the theme of Fantasyland and it attracted non-Disney fans. I think the same is true of the electronic music shows DCA had during the late 2000s/early 2010s. Not saying they were bad - i liked them as well - they just don’t fit in.

The “backlot” portion of Hollywoodland was allegedly set to become monstropolis during DCA 2.0. While the Door Coaster (being built at DHS) has been rumored since 2005, I’m guessing the DCA version would’ve been nothing more than a cheap overlay and Laugh Floor going into Millionaire building.

Turtle Talk doesn’t get much traffic these days. Last time we went, less than 1/2 dozen people joined us. I wonder if the cancel when only a few people show up? I wouldn’t mind seeing Laugh Floor rotate with Turtle Talk - pretty much the same attraction, but I like LF better.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Turtle Talk doesn’t get much traffic these days. Last time we went, less than 1/2 dozen people joined us. I wonder if the cancel when only a few people show up? I wouldn’t mind seeing Laugh Floor rotate with Turtle Talk - pretty much the same attraction, but I like LF better.

I went in and there were maybe 10 people and they did the show

In the morning many shows for that and even the drawing class are close to empty

 

[Pluto468]

Not Peak but I do miss Blast and the parade and the music on the Peir (beach boys) from 1.0

I think DCA 2.0 was the best version of DCA....we had Aladdin still...the Peir look nicer with the blue paint on the coaster and I think the Mad Tea Party/Elec-TRON-ica (also shout out to Glowfest) were a great use of the Hollywood backlot....plus the OG Soarin was still around which I just think flows soooo much better then the new one, along with WOC now is for me worst then what we had back then as well.

So for me I miss DCA like 10 years ago but I assume DCA 3.0 will be even better when we get Avatar(land and E ticket), Coco and the two Avengers rides open

I loved Blast! I also loved Aladdin and the Soap Opera weekends.

 

[LAS2AMS]

If you haven’t watched Jim Schull’s Disney Journeys on YouTube, I suggest you check out the one posted last week on Disneyland. For those that don’t know, he retired after 33 years as an Imagineer.

- He overlays the Shanghai Pirates of Caribbean show building to show how he things it’ll fit into DCA;
- He thinks Avengers Flight Force is a re-themed version of DisneySea’s Peter Pan;
- He overlays DisneySea’s Tangled show building into DCA to show where he thinks Coco will be built out. Spoiler: he thinks it’ll replace the three storage facilities, so while it won’t impact the parade route, it’ll impact the parade storage.
- He discusses how we’re seeing Disneyland Forward evolve. He suggests that Disney may not expand DL and DCA across West St.
- He mentions that he worked on DCA 2.0 and the Carthay Circle is suppose to be the park’s castle / Epcot ball / etc.

@LKing, I know we discussed not that long ago how the CC had become used more in promo for the park, there’s the answer why!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

If you haven’t watched Jim Schull’s Disney Journeys on YouTube, I suggest you check out the one posted last week on Disneyland. For those that don’t know, he retired after 33 years as an Imagineer.

- He overlays the Shanghai Pirates of Caribbean show building to show how he things it’ll fit into DCA;
- He thinks Avengers Flight Force is a re-themed version of DisneySea’s Peter Pan;
- He overlays DisneySea’s Tangled show building into DCA to show where he thinks Coco will be built out. Spoiler: he thinks it’ll replace the three storage facilities, so while it won’t impact the parade route, it’ll impact the parade storage.
- He discusses how we’re seeing Disneyland Forward evolve. He suggests that Disney may not expand DL and DCA across West St.
- He mentions that he worked on DCA 2.0 and the Carthay Circle is suppose to be the park’s castle / Epcot ball / etc.

@LKing, I know we discussed not that long ago how the CC had become used more in promo for the park, there’s the answer why!

Aw, I hope the Coco ride is longer than the Tangled one at DisneySea. We were there last November, it was cute but so short! Basically you go into one room and think the ride has just started, then exit the room and there's the exit...

 

[irlandaise]

If you haven’t watched Jim Schull’s Disney Journeys on YouTube, I suggest you check out the one posted last week on Disneyland. For those that don’t know, he retired after 33 years as an Imagineer.

- He overlays the Shanghai Pirates of Caribbean show building to show how he things it’ll fit into DCA;

Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back through this thread to find the answer: what new ride at DL is expected to use the same technology as PotC in Shanghai?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back through this thread to find the answer: what new ride at DL is expected to use the same technology as PotC in Shanghai?

Avatar

 

[brightlined]

If you haven’t watched Jim Schull’s Disney Journeys on YouTube, I suggest you check out the one posted last week on Disneyland. For those that don’t know, he retired after 33 years as an Imagineer.

I'll be the gentle contrarian here - Shull's not the most reliable narrator. Yes, he worked at Imagineering a long time, but, if you follow him on Twitter/X - he's wrong a lot. Honestly, he stuffs his foot in his mouth constantly, and sometimes Tom Morris and Eddie Soto have had to gently step in to nudge him back in the right direction.

He's almost a meme on Reddit at this point. For example:



To that person's point, I wish Jim would focus on historical projects, because he has a crazy amount of knowledge about all of the projects he worked on. But he often thinks his historical knowledge gives him some kind of insight into Imagineering's current thinking, and I'm not convinced that it does.

For example - and he may end up being right here, we don't know - but he's not the only one who assumed that Coco would replace those three storage buildings. But several of the active DLR bloggers have apparently been told by Disney staff that they're not removing all of those buildings - supposedly, at least the two back ones are staying.

Obviously, we'll see, but I wouldn't treat Jim's speculation any differently than I would any of ours.

 

[disneychrista]

Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back through this thread to find the answer: what new ride at DL is expected to use the same technology as PotC in Shanghai?

The Avatar ride.

 

[mdmost]

I'll be the gentle contrarian here - Shull's not the most reliable narrator. Yes, he worked at Imagineering a long time, but, if you follow him on Twitter/X - he's wrong a lot. Honestly, he stuffs his foot in his mouth constantly, and sometimes Tom Morris and Eddie Soto have had to gently step in to nudge him back in the right direction.

He's almost a meme on Reddit at this point. For example:

View attachment 979717

To that person's point, I wish Jim would focus on historical projects, because he has a crazy amount of knowledge about all of the projects he worked on. But he often thinks his historical knowledge gives him some kind of insight into Imagineering's current thinking, and I'm not convinced that it does.

For example - and he may end up being right here, we don't know - but he's not the only one who assumed that Coco would replace those three storage buildings. But several of the active DLR bloggers have apparently been told by Disney staff that they're not removing all of those buildings - supposedly, at least the two back ones are staying.

Obviously, we'll see, but I wouldn't treat Jim's speculation any differently than I would any of ours.

Agree with you. I had to unfollow him on Twitter because his posts about current projects were mostly bad opinions, bad observations, and terrible "insights" into projects he has no real knowledge on. It started to get very old man yelling at clouds. Maybe he's better in his videos but I don't watch those.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Aw, I hope the Coco ride is longer than the Tangled one at DisneySea. We were there last November, it was cute but so short! Basically you go into one room and think the ride has just started, then exit the room and there's the exit...

Thats what I was thinking too

Even if it was the same ride layout but all inside....I just think its too short but we will see. I'm hoping the ride is over 8 mins....DCA needs more rides where you can go cool off like Pirates, HM and Small world at Disneyland