California Adventure gets scrubbed

[cmwade77]

For Soarin' over California, the last that I have heard is it will remain the same here, but may change at Epcot. This makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Again, the California theme is currently NOT going to be abandoned here, but that is of course subject to change as is all of this, we do know the new show is coming since construction has already started, short of that everything can change.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm on board with the other changes to DCA... but I REALLY WISH they'd leave Soarin' over California alone!!! I think they should put the new Soarin' over the World in Florida. Having a California themed attraction there never did make sense...

I think sometimes, they should just let the original be!!

I'll put it this way - I will keep an open mind. I will be very happy if they leave the Soarin' film as it currently is here in California - at least for another decade or so - but IF they do change it to the 'world' theme, which fits so much better at Epcot, I am sure it will be lovely and great and I will get used to it. You are right - it doesn't make sense to have Soarin' Over California (even though it isn't called that, exactly) in Epcot. They should get the World theme, and leave us with the California theme. Or switch back and forth every so often!!!

 

[Sherry E]

How about they rename it WESCOT?

OK, coming from a guy who lives in the Midwest and has visited both parks a couple of times, so I'm not an expert. I just have an opinion.

I really believe that DCA has gotten a bad rap all these years, and a lot of that has to do with native Californians not getting excited about their own state. In one sense I can understand that since when I go to the county fair I don't go looking at the cows since I see them everyday living in Wisconsin.

However, from a non-CA point of view, DCA was something really cool because it showed us a little bit of California, which is the reason we were visiting. I'm disappointed to see the CA sign taken down, but I'm sure those that live in CA don't care. Again, it's like people coming through WI, they have to stop at the border and take a photo under the "Welcome To Wisconsin" sign.

I hope they don't go with a mainstreet type entrance. It would be cool if they went with an early 20's LA type entrance. It needs to keep that west coast flavor.

As for Soarin', they can do what they like, just keep the oranges and the last scene over DL. They better not change the ride music!!!! I can't imagine a music that makes me think of flying more than that one.

Wish they'd get rid of the swings. DCA needs a couple more dark rides. Too bad they didn't do one based on old time mining, it could have competed with Pirates.

Those of us who live in California and have lived here all our lives DO get excited about our own state, but we get excited about the real Golden Gate Bridge and the real Hollywood Boulevard, etc. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Catalina Island - that is one of the best things about California - but I wouldn't want to see a fake one....also located in California! My hunch is that when Disney first conceived DCA, they were mainly thinking of out of state or foreign tourists who wanted to come to a park where they could get a feel for California, which is fine, but they were not figuring into the equation all the many, many, many local visitors who have grown up in California and who love the special magic of DL, and who visit year round, at times when the other tourists don't. So when DCA first opened, I think people in SoCal did not take to it right away because it lacked that certain charm that DL has and it displayed fake versions of things we have all already seen. I live 5 minutes from the real Hollywood Boulevard, so a mock-up of one wouldn't overwhelm me. This was the feeling in the beginning, I think, for many Californians, but I think that view has changed.

I MUST emphasize that I like DCA now. It has grown on me, I like the fact that it has its own personality and it is a nice, complementary addition to DLR. I would have initially preferred to have Westcot - which was the original plan for a new park way back in the '80s - but DCA is what we were given, and so it grew on me. And I think it has grown on many SoCal and California residents. I wouldn't feel complete now if I JUST went to DL and didn't stop in for a visit to DCA! I think just as many of us were starting to really settle into the whole DCA idea and get used to it and welcome it as part of the DLR family, it is transforming on us! I do think it needs some bits of tweaking here and there, and some extra infusions of magic where it is lacking, and hopefully the revamping will help, not hinder, it. But it is fine as its own park. It doesn't need to be a carbon copy of DL, nor does it need to become exactly like one of the Florida parks. I think that Disney might be on the right track - with the exception of Soarin' - with some of its ideas for DCA, but some of them seem a little iffy to me.

 

[pixiewings71]

We love DCA and wish it wasn't changing quite so much. I love love love the letters out front and walking under the GG Bridge never gets old. And you know what, I've driven across that bridge numerous times and it NEVER gets old....I'm always just as awed as I was the first time. CA is an amazing state and I love it, and I love that DCA has always played that up. I hope they don't change Soarin'.......why can't they make more than 1 movie? Switch it off every other time, the CM's can tell people as they are loading which movie it is or even better there are 2 sides, play 1 movie on 1 side and another on the other side. Keep the FP line where it is and the CM at the bottom of the ramp can ask guests which one they want to see and direct people from there. That would be the ultimate!!

I am excited for the changes but I'm also sad because I do love the letters and want them to stay.

 

[kc10family]

Wow those are some interesting changes.

I think they will help a lot.

 

[Sherry E]

We love DCA and wish it wasn't changing quite so much. I love love love the letters out front and walking under the GG Bridge never gets old. And you know what, I've driven across that bridge numerous times and it NEVER gets old....I'm always just as awed as I was the first time. CA is an amazing state and I love it, and I love that DCA has always played that up. I hope they don't change Soarin'.......why can't they make more than 1 movie? Switch it off every other time, the CM's can tell people as they are loading which movie it is or even better there are 2 sides, play 1 movie on 1 side and another on the other side. Keep the FP line where it is and the CM at the bottom of the ramp can ask guests which one they want to see and direct people from there. That would be the ultimate!!

I am excited for the changes but I'm also sad because I do love the letters and want them to stay.

Yeah, I kind of got used to the letters when I accepted DCA as its own park with its own personality. I like that the letters are supposed to be reminiscent of what you see on a postcard, and that whole view from afar of the entrance to DCA with the letters and the various icons in the background is supposed to look like a postcard from California. It is really a clever little concept that I think a lot of people overlook (again, hats off to Disney and their attention to detail!). And I think it would be great if they switched films in Soarin' and just rotated them every so often.

 

[DahliaRW]

I'm bummed about muppet vision. That is one of the best attractions in the park and I will be sad to see it go.

 

[lugnut33]

Those of us who live in California and have lived here all our lives DO get excited about our own state, but we get excited about the real Golden Gate Bridge and the real Hollywood Boulevard, etc. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Catalina Island - that is one of the best things about California - but I wouldn't want to see a fake one....also located in California! My hunch is that when Disney first conceived DCA, they were mainly thinking of out of state or foreign tourists who wanted to come to a park where they could get a feel for California, which is fine, but they were not figuring into the equation all the many, many, many local visitors who have grown up in California and who love the special magic of DL, and who visit year round, at times when the other tourists don't. So when DCA first opened, I think people in SoCal did not take to it right away because it lacked that certain charm that DL has and it displayed fake versions of things we have all already seen. I live 5 minutes from the real Hollywood Boulevard, so a mock-up of one wouldn't overwhelm me. This was the feeling in the beginning, I think, for many Californians, but I think that view has changed.

I MUST emphasize that I like DCA now. It has grown on me, I like the fact that it has its own personality and it is a nice, complementary addition to DLR. I would have initially preferred to have Westcot - which was the original plan for a new park way back in the '80s - but DCA is what we were given, and so it grew on me. And I think it has grown on many SoCal and California residents. I wouldn't feel complete now if I JUST went to DL and didn't stop in for a visit to DCA! I think just as many of us were starting to really settle into the whole DCA idea and get used to it and welcome it as part of the DLR family, it is transforming on us! I do think it needs some bits of tweaking here and there, and some extra infusions of magic where it is lacking, and hopefully the revamping will help, not hinder, it. But it is fine as its own park. It doesn't need to be a carbon copy of DL, nor does it need to become exactly like one of the Florida parks. I think that Disney might be on the right track - with the exception of Soarin' - with some of its ideas for DCA, but some of them seem a little iffy to me.

One of the cool things at Hollywood Studios are the streetmoshpere people who are all mostly from the 20's & 30's. They put on great shows. So, like I said, maybe if their main street was like LA in the 20's, and they had some streetmosphere characters, that would be pretty cool. It would allow Californians to live a bygone era, while allowing non-calis to feel like they are in California.

I was talking with my daughters (ages 11 & 8) and they are glad to see Maliboomer and the Jumpin' Jellyfish go. Sad to see Ariels Grotto go. They were indifferent to changing Soarin'. Also, they seemed tentative about changing the Sun Wheel to a more Disney theme. Oh, and they were definitely upset by the California sign getting taken down.

 

[mybestieismickey]

As much as I love Toy Story and would love to see a musical based on those movies, I must say that of all the changes to DCA, this will be the one my husband and I will have the hardest time with. We're shows, parades, and people watchers and Aladdin is our absolute, number one can't miss attraction that is tied with the Parade of Dreams over at DL. It will be dearly missed. Especially the Genie's jokes that my husband randomly reworks into our everyday life just to see if I'm paying attention.

On the plus side, I love Philharmagic and would love to see it brought to DLR.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

We're shows, parades, and people watchers and Aladdin is our absolute, number one can't miss attraction that is tied with the Parade of Dreams over at DL. It will be dearly missed. Especially the Genie's jokes that my husband randomly reworks into our everyday life just to see if I'm paying attention.

After seeing Aladdin a million times, I find myself knowing what jokes comes next, if they didn't change it of course. Whenever I say the word "afar," my DDad will always say "Oh you like to see it from Jafar?" The Genie definately made an impression on him.

 

[Sherry E]

One of the cool things at Hollywood Studios are the streetmoshpere people who are all mostly from the 20's & 30's. They put on great shows. So, like I said, maybe if their main street was like LA in the 20's, and they had some streetmosphere characters, that would be pretty cool. It would allow Californians to live a bygone era, while allowing non-calis to feel like they are in California.

I was talking with my daughters (ages 11 & 8) and they are glad to see Maliboomer and the Jumpin' Jellyfish go. Sad to see Ariels Grotto go. They were indifferent to changing Soarin'. Also, they seemed tentative about changing the Sun Wheel to a more Disney theme. Oh, and they were definitely upset by the California sign getting taken down.

I agree - I think the idea they are going with for DCA's remodeling seems to be one that will work for locals as well as tourists. People like the idea of time traveling to the past or the future, so I think a '20s Los Angeles theme will be quite intriguing. I am with your daughters in that I am not sure about the changing of the Sun Wheel to a Mickey face. Aren't they supposed to be removing Mickey's head from California Screaming? I think they should just leave that alone. I don't see the point of moving it from one ride to the other. But Mr. Sun is on his way out, so it can't be stopped now.

I know some people didn't understand the California letters/sign at the entrance at first, but when you put it in perspective and see that, from a distance, the entrance is supposed to look like a postcard of California, they makes much more sense and is quite clever. And it is fun to decorate those letters for the different holidays. But I guess there is just no way to incorporate them anywhere in the new version of the park under the current plan. I am just going to make sure to take as many pictures of that whole DCA front entrance as possible when I go in a couple of weeks, just for posterity!

I am kind of iffy about a lot of the changes they will be making to DCA, and I will reserve too much judgment until I see them, but the one thing I know I am excited about is the Ariel ride! Even though I think it would fit better in DL, I think it is LONG overdue! And I think I would enjoy the Toy Story musical. But they had better leave Christmas Disneyland at the end of Soarin'!

 

[pixiewings71]

I think have CM's in period dress would be so neat!!!!!! They should do that, it would work well.

 

[ArielMelody]

As much as I love Toy Story and would love to see a musical based on those movies, I must say that of all the changes to DCA, this will be the one my husband and I will have the hardest time with. We're shows, parades, and people watchers and Aladdin is our absolute, number one can't miss attraction that is tied with the Parade of Dreams over at DL. It will be dearly missed. Especially the Genie's jokes that my husband randomly reworks into our everyday life just to see if I'm paying attention.

I TOTALLY agree! I was surprised this wasn't mentioned until now. I've probably seen that show 15 or 20 times but I still loved it every single time! The Toy Story musical better be pretty darn good, because that is going to be hard to top.

I am however, excited by the thought of expansion to DCA, I've loved the park since it opened and would love to see more! I've lived in california my whole life and can practically see the gg bridge outside my window but it still gets me everytime I walk into the park.

Also, the paradise pier area might be 'run of the mill' like so many people say, but honestly, the 'disney magic' makes everything so much better. I have never been to a boardwalk quite like it.

But I'm still SUPER excited for all the changes! It sounds like they're making my second favorite park even better!!!

 

[lugnut33]

ArielMelody,

This is a little off-topic, but is that your tattoo in the avatar? If yes... I say

 

[TheAXIOM]

I think have CM's in period dress would be so neat!!!!!! They should do that, it would work well.

I like your thinking, pixiewings! That would be such a neat idea!!

And about the Aladdin Musical... Don't go. Not yet .
I like Toy Story, but I wonder how they're going to make a whole musical out of it when all I seem to recall is 2 Randy Newman songs from the flick.

 

[Nomi]

I must say, I quite liked DCA when we went the summer before last. But many of the changes do sound good.

I do have to question making an entire Cars land. A cars ride would be pretty awesome, but a whole area? I mean, this is a movie that, while very good, will not be remembered or relevant enough by the time the land is finished even to earn it's own area. No other movie, however great, has it's own land.

I'm excited for the Little Mermaid ride.

 

[Sherry E]

I must say, I quite liked DCA when we went the summer before last. But many of the changes do sound good.

I do have to question making an entire Cars land. A cars ride would be pretty awesome, but a whole area? I mean, this is a movie that, while very good, will not be remembered or relevant enough by the time the land is finished even to earn it's own area. No other movie, however great, has it's own land.

I'm excited for the Little Mermaid ride.

Nomi, you echoed exactly what I had thought about Carsland all along. In fact, I stated exactly what your sentiments are in another thread quite a while back and was met with much disagreement! So from then on, I kept my opinion on a whole land devoted to Cars quiet. I think a whole land devoted to Toys would be magical. I think a whole land devoted to Monsters would be fabulous! I think a whole land devoted to Nemo/underwater stuff would be excellent! We already have A Bug's Land. I am not sure about Carsland, though, for precisely the reasons you stated, but everyone disagreed with me when I made those points a long time ago!! I am glad to see someone out there agrees with me, so I don't feel completely crazy in my opinion! This is one of the ideas I am 'iffy' about in the upcoming changes. I KNOW kids - especially little boys - love Cars, the movie, but I don't think Cars is a classic/memorable enough movie for ages to come to build a whole land around, even though it is a very good movie, and certainly not before Toy Story gets a land or the other Pixar films get lands. BUT, Disney is trying to fit it in with the California car culture idea, so that is why Cars get a land and Monsters don't!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Nomi, you echoed exactly what I had thought about Carsland all along. In fact, I stated exactly what your sentiments are in another thread quite a while back and was met with much disagreement! So from then on, I kept my opinion on a whole land devoted to Cars quiet. I think a whole land devoted to Toys would be magical. I think a whole land devoted to Monsters would be fabulous! I think a whole land devoted to Nemo/underwater stuff would be excellent! We already have A Bug's Land. I am not sure about Carsland, though, for precisely the reasons you stated, but everyone disagreed with me when I made those points a long time ago!! I am glad to see someone out there agrees with me, so I don't feel completely crazy in my opinion! This is one of the ideas I am 'iffy' about in the upcoming changes. I KNOW kids - especially little boys - love Cars, the movie, I don't think Cars is a classic/memorable enough movie for ages to come to build a whole land around, even though it is a very good movie, and certainly not before Toy Story gets a land or the other Pixar films get lands. BUT, Disney is trying to fit it in with the California car culture idea, so that is why Cars get a land and Monsters don't!

I agree that Cars does seem like a strange choice for making a whole land out of. Of course, I wouldn't have chosen Bug's Life for a Land either since I didn't think that movie was that great. The California car culture is a good theory for why they picked it. I also think they wanted something specifically for boys since there is a lot of "girl" stuff with the princesses and everything. But I think a Toy Story land would be great and would be fun for everyone. Too bad we're not the Imagineers.

 

[Sherry E]

I agree that Cars does seem like a strange choice for making a whole land out of. Of course, I wouldn't have chosen Bug's Life for a Land either since I didn't think that movie was that great. The California car culture is a good theory for why they picked it. I also think they wanted something specifically for boys since there is a lot of "girl" stuff with the princesses and everything. But I think a Toy Story land would be great and would be fun for everyone. Too bad we're not the Imagineers.

I agree - A Bug's Land would not have been my first choice if I were making a whole land out of a Pixar movie. But, that said, I do like A Bug's Land quite a bit - better than I like the movie - because it has a lot of cute little Disney-fied details like bug sounds coming out of the foliage in some spots, and a bench made out of giant popsicle sticks, etc. It is darling. BUT, if someone handed me the keys to the imagineering kingdom and said that I got to make up my own lands based on Pixar movies, I would have chosen Toys, Fish and Monsters! I think those all would have the potential to really capture that unique Disney magic that we feel when we are in Disneyland!

Yes, you are right - there is lots of stuff for girls and they want to do something to cater to boys.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I agree - A Bug's Land would not have been my first choice if I were making a whole land out of a Pixar movie. But, that said, I do like A Bug's Land quite a bit - better than I like the movie - because it has a lot of cute little Disney-fied details like bug sounds coming out of the foliage in some spots, and a bench made out of giant popsicle sticks, etc. It is darling. BUT, if someone handed me the keys to the imagineering kingdom and said that I got to make up my own lands based on Pixar movies, I would have chosen Toys, Fish and Monsters! I think those all would have the potential to really capture that unique Disney magic that we feel when we are in Disneyland!

Yes, you are right - there is lots of stuff for girls and they want to do something to cater to boys.

Yeah, you're right, even though the movie wasn't very good it made a good theme for decorating that area of the park. Right now they even have giant Christmas tree ornaments (complete with wire hook!) laying around in different spots and big Christmas tree lights hanging up.