California Adventure Rennovation Thread

[goofycathy]

I for one am VERY VERY excited to see the changes at DCA....Im thinking about postponing our 2009 trip until DCA is done so I can check it out! I cant wait!

 

[Diznut84]

I too am sad about the loss of California Dreams. Combined with the loss of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Disneyland isn't quite as inspirational.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I have to say that I am super excited about the re-theming of DCA's entrance and of the pier. The implement of the red car system is a great nod to Roger Rabbit in a more grown-up way (which is only appropriate because the sub-plot of the freeway conspiracy was meant for adults anyways). A lot of people come to L.A. on vacation in search of old Hollywood, something that was killed a long time ago, so it's smart of Disney to make an effort to bank on it instead of doing a lukewarm attempt at reproducing a backlot (esp. since you can easily go see the real thing in Burbank or Culver City [where Sony is]). Similarly, if you want a modern pier, then go to Santa Monica, where you don't have to pay admission, whereas Disney will do a trhowback to another era, something that it does well.

Finally, a lot of attendance to the parks comes from the general area (basically west of the Rockies and east of the Pacific Ocean) and many of these people come once a year or more and tend to go do other things while they're in Southern California, so Disney has to differentiate their parks as much as possible. It isn't like WDW, where you could spend a couple of weeks on the property and never spend any money on anything that wasn't owned or run by Disney.

 

[Petticoat Pirate]

I liked it and thought it pointed out some of the best things of Calif. Too often Calif. is just dismissed as wacky (and deservedly so, sometimes) so I just thought was fun to see all the best parts all together.

It's good and interesting to see other's points of view, so thank you for this perspective. I guess I'm selfish on vacation...lol I'm just thinking about myself and my family and what we like and hope for on our (rather expensive) trip. I don't even think about the perception the parks are putting out about California... I'll have to try and encompass a larger scope of view here. It is pretty (the parts we've seen) and we are determined to make a better effort of seeing ALL of the park (that is, what isn't under construction) this visit.

 

[TinkerbellTris]

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on Disneyland compared to the Magic Kingdom

I would love to share some thought, since we prefer WDW over DL. Now if WDW were not clear accross the us from us we would go there all the time. But in my opinion (please remember this is only my opinion) We like how spread out everything is. We love spending a lot of time in Magic Kingdom, they do have some different rides, like Aladin's flying carpets, Mickeys Philharmagic, Monter's Inc Laugh Floor, Stitches Great Escape, they still have Bear Country Jamboree, and Swiss Family Tree House. But the rides they have that are similar like Pirates, it is done a little differently. Now I like DL's Pirates better, but I love WDW Haunted Mansion a lot more than DL. I also like WDW Jungle cruise better, I like their Pooh ride better also. So there are similar rides and some different. Also we spend alot of time in Epcot. Epcot is our 2nd fave park. The only similar ride there is Soarin over Ca. We love everything about this park. All rides are unique to WDW at Epcot. We like Animal Kingdom, although not our favorite park, it boast some pretty incredible rides like Kilamajaro Safari (the best), Dinosaur is fantastic, But expedition everest is our all time favorite disney ride ever made. And lastly Disney Studios (formerly MGM studios) They are redoing this park as well, but it has some great rides like the great movie ride, thier version on Tower of Terror puts DL's version to SHAME!, Aerosmith Rockin rollercoaster, and of course the back lot tour. WDW has more room, therefor a lot more to offer Not to forget they have 2 fully themed water parks, a huge lake (bay Lake) and other waterways, the do hay rides, horse and buggy rides, speed boat rental, pirate adventure cruises for kids, parasailing, jet ski, and etc. They also have better deals and values there than at DL. The last thing in comparison is the hotels. Now we have stayed at Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and Grand California Hotel. We have paid the outragous prices. And to be honest those hotel are very comparible to the Moderate resorts in WDW. So I look at it like this If I'm gonna pay $300 a night for a room, I'd rather be in the Poly or Grand Floridian, not at the Grand Cali in DL. Not worth the price at all.
Now as for changes in DCA:
I'm excited, this park has needed a change since it opened. They are bringing a test track style ride over themed on Cars, I also heard a rumor about a roller coaster similar to rockin roller coaster from Disney Studios. This will be exciting. On a side note, the little mermaid ride was and has been in the works for like 4 years. About 4 years ago we were at DL when they were testing ride vehicles on peter pan that they were planning to use for little mermaid.

 

[BuckeyeGuy28]

I would love to share some thought, since we prefer WDW over DL. Now if WDW were not clear accross the us from us we would go there all the time. But in my opinion (please remember this is only my opinion) We like how spread out everything is. We love spending a lot of time in Magic Kingdom, they do have some different rides, like Aladin's flying carpets, Mickeys Philharmagic, Monter's Inc Laugh Floor, Stitches Great Escape, they still have Bear Country Jamboree, and Swiss Family Tree House. But the rides they have that are similar like Pirates, it is done a little differently. Now I like DL's Pirates better, but I love WDW Haunted Mansion a lot more than DL. I also like WDW Jungle cruise better, I like their Pooh ride better also. So there are similar rides and some different. Also we spend alot of time in Epcot. Epcot is our 2nd fave park. The only similar ride there is Soarin over Ca. We love everything about this park. All rides are unique to WDW at Epcot. We like Animal Kingdom, although not our favorite park, it boast some pretty incredible rides like Kilamajaro Safari (the best), Dinosaur is fantastic, But expedition everest is our all time favorite disney ride ever made. And lastly Disney Studios (formerly MGM studios) They are redoing this park as well, but it has some great rides like the great movie ride, thier version on Tower of Terror puts DL's version to SHAME!, Aerosmith Rockin rollercoaster, and of course the back lot tour. WDW has more room, therefor a lot more to offer Not to forget they have 2 fully themed water parks, a huge lake (bay Lake) and other waterways, the do hay rides, horse and buggy rides, speed boat rental, pirate adventure cruises for kids, parasailing, jet ski, and etc. They also have better deals and values there than at DL. The last thing in comparison is the hotels. Now we have stayed at Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and Grand California Hotel. We have paid the outragous prices. And to be honest those hotel are very comparible to the Moderate resorts in WDW. So I look at it like this If I'm gonna pay $300 a night for a room, I'd rather be in the Poly or Grand Floridian, not at the Grand Cali in DL. Not worth the price at all.
Now as for changes in DCA:
I'm excited, this park has needed a change since it opened. They are bringing a test track style ride over themed on Cars, I also heard a rumor about a roller coaster similar to rockin roller coaster from Disney Studios. This will be exciting. On a side note, the little mermaid ride was and has been in the works for like 4 years. About 4 years ago we were at DL when they were testing ride vehicles on peter pan that they were planning to use for little mermaid.

I think a lot of my feelings have to do with my location. You live in California where Disneyland is smaller and more 'classic' whereas I live two miles from the Downtown Disney entrance and WDW where everything is big, modern, and spread out. You like ours better, I like yours better. First, we only go to DL once a year so it is more special, but I like how close together everything is. To get from park to park or from park to Downtown Disney in California you can just WALK within five minutes (at most!!) as opposed to taking a monorail and a bus and a parking lot hike at WDW. Also, resting in the hotel takes up less of your day because (especially at our hotel, Grand Californian) they're all right there with everything. Without cars and roads, you seem to just forget about everything in the outside world and that to me makes a true vacation (Universal Orlando is great for this too ) I think that living in Florida, this is also why I like California Adventure so much--being in Orlando, lots of stuff is 'Mickey-fied', which can get pretty annoying...its nice to be able to go to California Adventure and see a great park that doesn't have ears on anything (except CA Screamin, but I LOVE that photogenic mouse head the loop goes through). And seeing all the landmarks, well, that's cool because even though on our CA trip we like to see the sites outside of the LA area (as many as possible without wearing us out), CA Adventure was cool for these because of their irreverence and fun to them--nothing historical or serious about them...plus all the sites are all in one place which is a plus (no packing and unpacking everytime you see something new!) Oh well, I guess if they made a FL Adventure, I'd be pretty bored with it too. There's nothing I can do to change the execs' minds so I guess I should just hope for the best and that whatever they do to the park, they do well! (Also, to the OP who said Test Track was a dud-- )

 

[Sherry E]

BuckeyeGuy28 - here are two links to other threads (one of which Disney Dreams previously referred to) in which we were discussing the problems with DCA and the upcoming DCA changes. In any case, many of the same thoughts have been echoed on this new thread, but you may want to take a look at these two older threads to see the opinions of others who have not spoken up here yet. It's kind of interesting to get an overall idea of which way people are leaning, what they are excited about and what they think will not work in the long run. It is definitely a hot topic!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2053256

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2021971

 

[nunzia]

DCA has some great and exciting changes coming it's way. I am excited for all of them! Wish it'd be done before 2012 actually. I think DCA for some was a let down, I personally like it...however it doesnt bring in the crowds like their other theme parks do so they are trying to bring more people in. I think it'll be an amazing park when this project is completed.

I agree with you..I've always loved DCA..BUT..it looks like it will be even better. The preview center (Blue Sky Cellar) has amazing stuff. The story is the park will be California as it was when Walt first arrived to make pictures..1930's. As far as I can see the changes all look postive and classy (hope Boudin stays) Can't wait for the new water show and Mermaid ride. I hope the trend in rides is more like Toy Story Mania rather than roller coasters. Much more fun. Good things are coming

 

[Michael623]

I will miss the C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters. One of the goofy things we like to do when we were there was take each others photos in the "******".

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I will miss the C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters. One of the goofy things we like to do when we were there was take each others photos in the "******".

 

[alvernon90]

I suggest we embrace Mickey as he represents what brought us to love Disney in the first place.

I suspect that if you took a survey at the gates, Hilary Duff would get more votes on this matter than Mickey.

Not me. My love for Disney started with the films.

We should embrace TRON.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I suspect that if you took a survey at the gates, Hilary Duff would get more votes on this matter than Mickey.

Depending on the age of the guest surveyed, VERY true.

We should embrace TRON.

Well..... maybe not THAT film. Now, the arcade game of it - good times!

 

[Brian Shepherd]

We should embrace TRON.

Well..... maybe not THAT film. Now, the arcade game of it - good times!

TRON would make for a GREAT RIDE! think of the possibilities....is it a traditional DARK RIDE? Maybe an Indy style ride, maybe a test track style ride.

almost endless possibilities

 

[BuckeyeGuy28]

BuckeyeGuy28 - here are two links to other threads (one of which Disney Dreams previously referred to) in which we were discussing the problems with DCA and the upcoming DCA changes. In any case, many of the same thoughts have been echoed on this new thread, but you may want to take a look at these two older threads to see the opinions of others who have not spoken up here yet. It's kind of interesting to get an overall idea of which way people are leaning, what they are excited about and what they think will not work in the long run. It is definitely a hot topic!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2053256

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2021971

Thank you Sherry E! Those links are great

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you Sherry E! Those links are great

You're welcome!

 

[Teknik_DC2]

I just went to dca for the first time last month and I personally loved it. To me it still had that disney charm to it while still offering you something different then the magic kingdom style parks much like epcot. Or dhs does too. However I do agree that this refurb is nesicery to enhance the park more. Sunshine plaza is so bland right now and just doesn't welcome you like disney parks are known for. Also I thought paradise pier was very tacky. The victorian building will look 1000x times better in my opinion. I don't think the necesarly need to take out the maliboomer. They just need to retheme it in a way that will fit paradise pier better. I think the hollywood pictures backlot is fine the way it is. But it makes sence to me that it needs to be changed to flow into buena vista street (the new name for walt disney plaza) better. Overall all the changes are only going to make the park better for everyone. I'm excited for it.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Since the entrance to DCA is blocked off, can people still enter the park??

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Since the entrance to DCA is blocked off, can people still enter the park??

Yes. You go around either side of the construction walls to get in/out. When facing the park, the entrance is to the left and the exit is to the right.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Oh okay! Thanks! It seems like DCA is getting a lot of work. I am usually a WDW person, but I recently became a DLR lover as well. The new DCA entrance reminds me of the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.

 

[Funball]

Since the entrance to DCA is blocked off, can people still enter the park??

YES..

Yes. You go around either side of the construction walls to get in/out. When facing the park, the entrance is to the left and the exit is to the right.

Well.. you never know they can change it, they did that one day...

Oh okay! Thanks! It seems like DCA is getting a lot of work. I am usually a WDW person, but I recently became a DLR lover as well. The new DCA entrance reminds me of the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.

it's suppose to be a 1940's art deco theme, themed to the early 1940's california..i can't wait for the new entrance! it is going to look soo great!