DCA has Park Icon Removed

[k5jm]

I always enjoyed the monorail going across the Golden Gate Bridge. But progress must march forward!

http://www.ocregister.com/news/california-310559-park-adventure.html

Disney park removes iconic structure

By EUGENE W. FIELDS / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER


An iconic remnant of the original concept of Disney California Adventure has been removed as part of the theme park's $1 billion makeover.
The removal of the Golden Gate Bridge facade, which hid part of the monorail track, was completed Friday, said Disney spokesman John McClintock.

The removal began 10 days earlier, including taking down the signature cables and towers that evoked images of the famous San Francisco bridge. The work took place over night after the theme park closed.

When California Adventure opened in 2001, the facade was part of a larger tribute to California, meant to give guests a postcard view of the state.

Annual passholder Ashley Yashar of Los Angeles said she was sad to see the facade removed.
"When walking into the theme park, it feels like I am entering many different parts of California, and the Golden Gate Bridge has always been a part of this magical journey," said Yashar, 18. "I feel like the entering of (California) Adventure will be different and strange for me, because I won't be going under the bridge anymore."

Matt Gottula, another annual passholder, and a blogger, said he didn't mind that the facade's removal.
"I think it was an eyesore," the Placentia resident said. "It was too small and smooshed together, and it failed to evoke the grandeur and beauty of the iconic suspension bridge in San Francisco."

California Adventure is in the midst of a project to re-theme the park to give it more of a Disney feel. California Adventure recently unveiled a new entrance, modeled after the historic Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Instead of walking through the regular entrance to the park and walking out onto Buena Vista Street, guests will soon enter the park and follow a path to Condor Flats.

Areas of construction include:
Buena Vista Street, the under-construction entrance corridor of Disney California Adventure, will open in 2012.
New shops and venues will line the main corridor past the turnstiles based on the California that Walt Disney saw when he started here in the 1920s and 1930s.
Oswald’s Filling Station will be one of the stores along Buena Vista Street. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was a character created by Walt Disney in 1927. He was a precursor to Mickey Mouse.
Los Feliz Five and Dime is another store. Walt Disney lived in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles when he first moved to California.
Construction of the framework of the Carthay Circle Theater, a key building in the entrance, recently began at the park. Read more about Carthay Circle Theater in Disney California Adventure.
Cars Land, an area based on the “Cars” movie, opens in 2012.
The Radiator Springs Racers ride will make up about six of the 12 acres of Cars Land.
The ride will last about 5 1/2 minutes, going through scenes based on movie themes, including Taillight Caverns. The last third of the ride is a side-by-side race.
A Curio Shop is inspired by the trading posts that creators saw during a Route 66 road trip to get inspiration for Cars Land.
Find previous details and a video about Cars Land.
Read more facts about Cars Land.
Crews are scheduled to complete the California Adventure project next year. When the construction is completed, a new facade – Hyperion Bridge – will have been erected.
"I'm not one for a lot of change, but I know that taking down the bridge will be a good thing in the end," Yashar said. "I'm sure this remodeling of the park is going to change my mind on why I think the bridge should have stayed."

 

[Disneyfreak616]

What would you say the park icon for DCA is now?

 

[PinkBudgie]

I think DCA has always tried to use the Grizzly Bear mountain as its icon, but when I want a picture of DCA, my favorite is the lagoon and Mickey Wheel lit up at night. This is what is on my pc desktop. Ironic because there is no way I'm ever riding on it!

Going to miss the GG bridge because it always reminded me of home while I was there. But when I was there and they just revealed the new entrance, I could see how the GG bridge in the background just didn't fit anymore. Overall I'm excited to see the "new" DCA next summer!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I have to admit I liked the old entrance better. The new one is going to look so much like DHS. Why do that?

 

[rlduvall]

I have to admit I liked the old entrance better. The new one is going to look so much like DHS. Why do that?

We just got back from Disneyland this weekend and you are right that it looks just like the entrance to DHS. I like the new entrance, but my DH thought the Golden Gate bridge entrance was cooler.

 

[cslafferty]

We have a brick commemorating our wedding that is in front of the entrance to DCA. It was placed there in 2005, but I imagine it's probably gone now

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

We have a brick commemorating our wedding that is in front of the entrance to DCA. It was placed there in 2005, but I imagine it's probably gone now

Should still be there.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I have to admit I liked the old entrance better. The new one is going to look so much like DHS. Why do that?

Well, I've never seen DHS so that means nothing to me. The entrance isn't taken after an entrance at WDW though, it is designed after a famous theater that used to be down there. So, the fact that DHS has a similar entrance doesn't matter to me. I can see how it seem odd to someone who is familar with DHS though. Someone pointed out it was in Xanadu but I have to admit it has been years since I've seen that movie so I don't remember.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We actually talked about the entrance 2 shows ago
http://www.wdwinfo.com/podcast/roundtable311-072111-DL.mp3

and you can find the original reference material on the official Disney blog site (I've put the links in).

It is based on the entrance facade to the Pan Pacific Auditorium - a popular concert venue in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. It was a prime example of Streamline Moderne architecture - designed by one of Walt Disney's neighbors.

Ironically, the original building burnt down 3 weeks after DHS opened as the Disney MGM Studios in 1989. The building had been closed since 1972. Therefore, as always, Florida tries to claim the main gate as being theirs, but it really was inspired by us out here in California!


http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...en-at-disney-california-adventure-park-today/


For concept sketches of what the new entry street will look like, check this newer blog on the official Disney site.


http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ew-disney-california-adventure-park-landmark/

 

[k5jm]

We actually talked about the entrance 2 shows ago
http://www.wdwinfo.com/podcast/roundtable311-072111-DL.mp3

and you can find the original reference material on the official Disney blog site (I've put the links in).

It is based on the entrance facade to the Pan Pacific Auditorium - a popular concert venue in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. It was a prime example of Streamline Moderne architecture - designed by one of Walt Disney's neighbors.

Ironically, the original building burnt down 3 weeks after DHS opened as the Disney MGM Studios in 1989. The building had been closed since 1972. Therefore, as always, Florida tries to claim the main gate as being theirs, but it really was inspired by us out here in California!


http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...en-at-disney-california-adventure-park-today/


For concept sketches of what the new entry street will look like, check this newer blog on the official Disney site.


http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ew-disney-california-adventure-park-landmark/

Thank You, Na Jo!!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thanks both to Mike & NaJo for the interesting read

I really liked the old entrance, but I also like the new concept for the park. (I just roll that way )

 

[DisneyKevin]

Therefore, as always, Florida tries to claim the main gate as being theirs, but it really was inspired by us out here in California!

as always???

Are you trying to cause trouble or do you suffer from Castle envy?

 

[Oglet]

Maybe this will catch on and the hat at DHS will meet the same fate.

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks for the info Nancy. I wonder what it will look like in November when Val & I visit.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

as always???

Are you trying to cause trouble or do you suffer from Castle envy?

MOI? Cause Trouble?

Nah - it's funny, but it's actually just something we've been hearing a lot of our here in response to local news blogs and such - not from the normal Disney fan sites.

I honestly think it's because folks seem to forget how much backstory goes into the design and overall meaning of the park. They see a structure and associate it with it's location. Can you imaging Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in another setting?

That's why WDW goers associate their knowledge of context with their park and DLers with theirs. It's like being a in dream where you know the hall in your house leads to your bedroom, but when you open the door, it's your kitchen. Same principle!

With a redesign such as this, you have to realize that the original - which doesn't exist and therefore has no geographical context for modern generations - has it's orientation in CA and therefore can fit both modes.

The fact that the blueprints already exist is the equivalent of getting points off the bonus round!

 

[DisneyKevin]

MOI? Cause Trouble?

Nah - it's funny, but it's actually just something we've been hearing a lot of our here in response to local news blogs and such - not from the normal Disney fan sites.

I honestly think it's because folks seem to forget how much backstory goes into the design and overall meaning of the park. They see a structure and associate it with it's location. Can you imaging Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in another setting?

That's why WDW goers associate their knowledge of context with their park and DLers with theirs. It's like being a in dream where you know the hall in your house leads to your bedroom, but when you open the door, it's your kitchen. Same principle!

With a redesign such as this, you have to realize that the original - which doesn't exist and therefore has no geographical context for modern generations - has it's orientation in CA and therefore can fit both modes.

The fact that the blueprints already exist is the equivalent of getting points off the bonus round!

This all sounds terrific.

But what does that have to with Florida?


"Ironically, the original building burnt down 3 weeks after DHS opened as the Disney MGM Studios in 1989. The building had been closed since 1972. Therefore, as always, Florida tries to claim the main gate as being theirs, but it really was inspired by us out here in California!"

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

This all sounds terrific.

But what does that have to with Florida?


"Ironically, the original building burnt down 3 weeks after DHS opened as the Disney MGM Studios in 1989. The building had been closed since 1972. Therefore, as always, Florida tries to claim the main gate as being theirs, but it really was inspired by us out here in California!"

It's because I missed a couple words in my exciting ability to type the original post. That should have read " Uneducated Hardcore Florida Enthusiasts".