California Adventure - Disapointment??

[Renae De Liz]

I feel you should go and make your own decisions about the park and don't worry about those reviews. Everyone's taste is different. I agree you should go into the park without expecting to be disappointed.

That said, for me personally I am let down by California Adventure, but I have not been since 2009 (and 2006 before that). I have kept a close eye on the revamps, and as much as I want to LOVE California Adventure, I am just not excited about Carsland or Buena Vista Street. I am sorry everyone, I just cannot feel the magic in any of it. I wrote a long detailed reasoning why, but I see so many people love it here and I really think chances are you're going to love it too as so many do as well! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[korg]

I feel you should go and make your own decisions about the park and don't worry about those reviews. Everyone's taste is different. I agree you should go into the park without expecting to be disappointed.

That said, for me personally I am let down by California Adventure, but I have not been since 2009 (and 2006 before that). I have kept a close eye on the revamps, and as much as I want to LOVE California Adventure, I am just not excited about Carsland or Buena Vista Street. I am sorry everyone, I just cannot feel the magic in any of it. I wrote a long detailed reasoning why, but I see so many people love it here and I really think chances are you're going to love it too as so many do as well! Have a wonderful trip!

Again thanks for all the opinions. And to Disney Dream's point I admit from reading early reviews (several from reputable professional travel experts) I was expecting disapointment and was HOPING from posting this question the way I did that members would reply and talk me out of my preconceived doubts about the park. And i'm happy to say the reviews that are available NOW about DCA are much more positive and they along with most feedback on this site have made me much less of a "glass half empty" person about the park. I fully intend to go in with an open mind and fully EXPECT to have a wonderful "Disney" time. It's obvious from Renae's reply not everyone loves the park but that's true with all things. You'll never get a 100% positive reaction to ANYTHING in life. But enough have chimed in who like DCA to talk me into "having an open mind" and I'm expecting to have a great time. I generally love all things Disney so I expect to love the park at least as much as the Movie studios or the Animal Kimgdom in WDW.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

 

[Meggysmum]

This is a brilliant thread for me to read. I have visited WDW many times and love it. Eventually I visited DLP and took an instant dislike to it, it didn't have the Magic for me and I was a little nervous about our West Coast Trip incase I suffered a similar disappointment but now I am even more exvited and in just under two weeks I will see for myself!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I love CA, even before the remodel and I hope I will get back to see the new and improved next month. Sorry, but have not had the WDW exp as of yet.

Jack

 

[Malcon10t]

I went to the AP preview of Cars Land, adn loved it. But what I loved even more was Buena Vista Street. In fact, I loved it enough, I bought a Cars Land preview ticket for the next day, so I could spend MORE time exploring the little things there. (I did go to Cars Land too...)

I have always enjoyed DCA, but never considered it a whole day park. It was more something to pop into to get away from the crowds. Our last trip, over the 4th, we noticed we spent a LOT more time in DCA than in Disneyland. We really enjoyed DCA.

 

[Sherry E]

I went to the AP preview of Cars Land, adn loved it. But what I loved even more was Buena Vista Street. In fact, I loved it enough, I bought a Cars Land preview ticket for the next day, so I could spend MORE time exploring the little things there. (I did go to Cars Land too...)

I have always enjoyed DCA, but never considered it a whole day park. It was more something to pop into to get away from the crowds. Our last trip, over the 4th, we noticed we spent a LOT more time in DCA than in Disneyland. We really enjoyed DCA.

Malcon10t -

I did the AP preview as well (on June 9th - 8 a.m.-12 p.m.), and I agree with you. Don't get me wrong - I love Cars Land because it embodies all of those wonderful Disney details, jokes and hidden gems that I adore (kind of like Toon Town does, but in a different theme), and I think it has a great overall energy to it, which is largely fueled by the music.

I greatly enjoyed DCA prior to the new lands as well - and at times have spent more time there than in DL - but I always felt there was something missing. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was missing - I didn't want DCA to be a carbon copy of DL, but I felt like there was some intangible element that was not present in DCA. It always felt like there were some gaps for me that needed to be filled in. Still, over the last several years I have really become a fan of DCA.

When I set foot on Buena Vista Street and started to look around - in the window displays, at the light fixtures, at the costumes worn by both the characters and the CM's, at the architecture, and at the theme-specific details - I felt a real sense of nostalgia. Suddenly DCA felt more complete to me, as an overall park. It felt more well-rounded.

I think that BVS gives DCA a necessary heartbeat - BVS is kind of the emotional epicenter, if you will, that parallels Main Street in DL. Now I think that the parks are great complements to each other, where it felt a tad lopsided (to me) pre-CL & BVS. Disneyland and California Adventure feel like two very different parks; different experiences - but now there is a sentimental/nostalgic connection between the two of them that I don't think was there in the past...if that makes sense.

 

[ronandannette]

Carsland is pretty cool, though! Wish they didn't have to take out the big water-play area that my son loved so much, for it, though.

Is Dot's Puddle Park gone from A Bugs Land?? We absolutely loved that last spring

 

[pixiewings71]

Is Dot's Puddle Park gone from A Bugs Land?? We absolutely loved that last spring

There were 2 water play areas in Bug's Land, one was at the beginning and one was inside the Land. The one from the beginning is gone, but the one inside is still there. I hope that's not too confusing......lol

 

[teachU2]

Malcon10t -

I greatly enjoyed DCA prior to the new lands as well - and at times have spent more time there than in DL - but I always felt there was something missing. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was missing - I didn't want DCA to be a carbon copy of DL, but I felt like there was some intangible element that was not present in DCA. It always felt like there were some gaps for me that needed to be filled in. Still, over the last several years I have really become a fan of DCA.

When I set foot on Buena Vista Street and started to look around - in the window displays, at the light fixtures, at the costumes worn by both the characters and the CM's, at the architecture, and at the theme-specific details - I felt a real sense of nostalgia. Suddenly DCA felt more complete to me, as an overall park. It felt more well-rounded.

I think that BVS gives DCA a necessary heartbeat - BVS is kind of the emotional epicenter, if you will, that parallels Main Street in DL. Now I think that the parks are great complements to each other, where it felt a tad lopsided (to me) pre-CL & BVS. Disneyland and California Adventure feel like two very different parks; different experiences - but now there is a sentimental/nostalgic connection between the two of them that I don't think was there in the past...if that makes sense.

Totally agree! When we walked in for the first time. my DH said, "This has a Main Street feel." Yes!
I am a big Cars fan too. It was the first Disney movie my DS saw. I loved walking in Radiator Springs. Racers is super fun and I adore MJJ. The narration and songs are hilarious and the theming is superb.

 

[FlyingBelle]

We're WDW loyalists... but DL and DCA is really starting to grow on us (now that my sister lives in Anaheim Hills!)

I do like the new entrance to DCA - much "homier" than it used to be - I would liken it to DHollywood Studios entrance. Similar to Main Street, but not exactly the same.

CarsLand was not a disappointment - although VERY crowded (we were there on a Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday). We never did get on Radiator Springs Racers - 3 hour wait at all times of the day every day. We are still kicking ourselves for not standing in line for a fast pass the first day - the next 2 days they were gone before we arrived.

For the first time this trip - we spent at least a portion of each day at DCA, whereas in the past we would make it a partial day one day.

Flo's V8 Cafe was a great place to eat - the food was very good, we would consider it the best we've eaten at all of DL/DCA. DH and I split a meal for lunch two days, it was plenty for us (entree, 2 sides, and an onion roll for about $12. We purchased an additional onion roll for $1.25)

With the opening of Cars Land, there's another entrance into Bugs Land (behind Luigi's), and an entrance into the Wharf (under the bridge in Ornament Valley). Both of those made getting around the park a little easier (to us).

I'm still not a fan of the Paradise Pier area, but that's just us. I"m not a fan of carnivals and carni games.

 

[Bungle]

DCA has been edging out DL as my favorite for a few years. I have to say that TSMM and WOC put it in first place. I haven't been there since Carsland opened so I'm not sure how that will affect my decision.

I would try both, you might be surprised how much fun DCA is.