DCA is really confusing me...

[AmyK]

I've tried reading some of the mega threads on the changes going on over there over the coming years but without having been there, it's confusing. If all I care about right now is actual rides, not shows, and our trip is in June 2011... what will be there? Girls will be 9 and 11 and like moderate thrill rides (loved Everest in WDW for example)

GRR
Soarin
Monsters Inc
Tower of Terror (not sure my girls will be up for that)
TSMM (we were able to go when it first opened in WDW, want to do this more than once)
CA Screamin
Mulholland Madness(but it will be rethemed?)
Orange Stinger (also rethemed? not sure my girls would like it anyway)
SunWheel
Challenge Trail (will they be too old to care?)

And what about the Electrical Light Parade, will it be there?
Did I miss something big?

ETA: I deliberately left out the Bugs land stuff as it looks a little young for my girls?

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I'm not sure that anyone knows for certain what will be there in 15 months, that's a long time.

Orange Stinger is gone already, a swing ride will be replacing it and will be open before you get there.

I believe Carsland is supposed to be open by then.

The Electrical Light Parade only has a couple of shows left. It will be moving to WDW for their Summer Nighttastic event.

The major rides should still be there. TOT, GRR, Sorin, TSMM, Screamin.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Here is some further info, kindly provided by Hydroguy.

Here are some highlights:

o WOC viewing area walls come down this Friday
o WOC testing going well and on schedule
o WOC debut looks like Thursday June 10 - this is a grad night and will only be a media event (the public debut would logically be on June 11).
o The WOC Showpass is going to happen and they will use the GRR FP machines
o Two WOC shows will happen each night at 9PM and 10:15
o All PP rides will go down for the night at 8PM to focus on WOC
o Golden Zephyr reopening this week
o PP will have new background music
o Radiator Springs Racer car testing to start in May
o Silly Symphony Swings in to open in May
o Little Mermaid set to debut in late May 2011
o Maliboomer removal to happen in September
o Mulholland Madness going down for retheme to Goofy Sky School in October
o Captain EO has been a success

 

[HydroGuy]

I've tried reading some of the mega threads on the changes going on over there over the coming years but without having been there, it's confusing. If all I care about right now is actual rides, not shows, and our trip is in June 2011... what will be there? Girls will be 9 and 11 and like moderate thrill rides (loved Everest in WDW for example)

GRR
Soarin
Monsters Inc
Tower of Terror (not sure my girls will be up for that)
TSMM (we were able to go when it first opened in WDW, want to do this more than once)
CA Screamin
Mulholland Madness(but it will be rethemed?)
Orange Stinger (also rethemed? not sure my girls would like it anyway)
SunWheel
Challenge Trail (will they be too old to care?)

And what about the Electrical Light Parade, will it be there?
Did I miss something big?

ETA: I deliberately left out the Bugs land stuff as it looks a little young for my girls?

This thread by MasterGracey on MiceChat is the best consolidated information on DCA. Maybe you have seen it already.

Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker IX

Everything you mentioned will be there. Mulholland Madness will be re-themed to Goofy's Sky Skool by then if MasterGracey is correct and Disney holds to schedule. Orange Stinger has already been re-themed to Silly Symphony Swings but has not opened yet. That is supposed to happen next month. SunWheel has already been re-themed and opened as Mickey's Fun Wheel. It is an innocent looking ferris wheel ride until you get up close and see all of the terrified riders.

Not sure about Challenge trail. If this is the Redwook Creek Challenge it is open and appropriate for your girls.

The Disney Electrical Parade (DEP) - is not and has never been called the ELP or Electric Light Parade - despite frequent misposts around here - is leaving for WDW of all places next week. It will show in MK starting this June until and then come back to DCA in April 2012 after they have finished the DCA refurb and have a better parade route figured out.

Also by June 2011 a major new ride will be open at DCA - Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

 

[AmyK]

thanks. I know it's a ways off, but I'm just trying to wrap my mind around it all.

The DCA tracker link (I did read through it ) says that Cars land will be June 2012. But if they are testing for it soon, it may be open in 2011? Or does it take 2 years to build these things? My girls LOVED Test Track at WDW, so that would be cool. Of course riding a brand new ride always has it's crazy moments as everyone wants on it at once.

I did mean the Redwood Creek Challenge, so thanks for letting me know my girls would be interested in that.

So, no light parade. Bummer. Just have to try and catch castle fireworks and Fantasmic. We skipped Fantasmic while in WDW anyway... could only handle so many late night things when they were 6 and 8 and castle fireworks were more important to me.

thank you!

 

[perlster]

DCA has confused me since its construction was announced. I still haven't heard a good reason why a "California Adventure" park belongs in California.

The "theme" of this park isn't going to get any clearer with The Little Mermaid Ride (for obvious reasons) and Cars Land (Radiator Springs would be somewhere in Arizona.)

 

[pycees312]

Hydro Guy you are so funny.... I was one of those terrified disney fans about a year ago when I finally decided to go on this ride.. all was well and then woooooosh... i thought I was going to die! My husband got the biggest kick out of it!

 

[Reddog1134]

I deliberately left out the Bugs land stuff as it looks a little young for my girls?

This is something I have learned. Never assume anyone is "too old" for anything at Disney.

 

[HydroGuy]

DCA has confused me since its construction was announced. I still haven't heard a good reason why a "California Adventure" park belongs in California.

Better than locating it in Peoria, don't ya think?

The "theme" of this park isn't going to get any clearer with The Little Mermaid Ride (for obvious reasons) and Cars Land (Radiator Springs would be somewhere in Arizona.)

Yes but...many Disney parks have theme confusion. The Matterhorn represents the Swiss Alps and has a yeti that belongs (physically or metaphorically) in Asian Himalayas!

To play devil's advocate, the ocean is a huge part of California culture and Little Mermaid was placeless. Why not California? Radiator Springs was on Route 66 which does lead to California and I do not remember it specifically taking place in Arizona. Just a place that looks like Arizona. But I only saw the movie once.

Further, "car culture" is linked heavily with California (e.g., American Grafitti).

Frankly these two rides do not cause theme confusion for me. But your general point that DCA has suffered from theme confusion does have some validity.

 

[bumbershoot]

DCA has confused me since its construction was announced. I still haven't heard a good reason why a "California Adventure" park belongs in California.

That way of thinking kept us out of DCA for two years! Thank goodness we pushed through our misgivings and went.

And yes, going along with Hydro, where ELSE would you want it? Would it make sense in WA? Tibet? Where? It's fine in CA.


OP, bug's land has, basically, a different-looking Dumbo (Flik's Flyers) and a different looking Teacups (gah, it's our fave land and I can NEVER remember the proper name! Frances' Ladybug Boogie, I believe). Also a "bumper" car that y'all can just skip if you want, and Heimlich's Chew Chew Train which is actually quite charming and I've ridden it on a solo trip b/c I just LIKE IT.

There are also 3 water play areas, though the one as you enter the land is likely better for bigger kids...leave the other water areas for the bitty kidlets (my son at 3 was knocked HARD to the ground by a 12-or-so year old so I'm biased and will very likely keep him out of the little areas when he gets bigger)...great places to just walk through to cool off!


I know this sounds silly, but I do find the disneyland website to be helpful to see what is there *currently*. They have nice descriptions of things. So as the trip gets closer, do check out the actual site!

 

[DLR29]

thanks. I know it's a ways off, but I'm just trying to wrap my mind around it all.

The DCA tracker link (I did read through it ) says that Cars land will be June 2012. But if they are testing for it soon, it may be open in 2011? Or does it take 2 years to build these things? My girls LOVED Test Track at WDW, so that would be cool. Of course riding a brand new ride always has it's crazy moments as everyone wants on it at once.

I did mean the Redwood Creek Challenge, so thanks for letting me know my girls would be interested in that.

So, no light parade. Bummer. Just have to try and catch castle fireworks and Fantasmic. We skipped Fantasmic while in WDW anyway... could only handle so many late night things when they were 6 and 8 and castle fireworks were more important to me.

thank you!

Unfortunately, Carsland is pretty much set on opening in 2012. However, Ariel's Undersea Adventure should be great, although brand new, which will bring in crowds. You mention watching the fireworks and Fantasmic, but you will not want to miss World of Color also.

Also, check out the Animation building. One of DCA's hidden treasures.

 

[Think I'm Tink]

The Disney Electrical Parade (DEP) - is not and has never been called the ELP or Electric Light Parade - despite frequent misposts around here - is leaving for WDW of all places next week. It will show in MK starting this June until and then come back to DCA in April 2012 after they have finished the DCA refurb and have a better parade route figured out.

<insert a bad word here that would not go over very well on Main St. USA> I was hoping that it would finish its summer run in WDW and return to DLR in time for my trip in November.

Wait a minute... gears turning... idea forming... That just means I'll have to plan a trip back in a couple years!!

 

[AmyK]

This is something I have learned. Never assume anyone is "too old" for anything at Disney.

Very good point and I will keep that in mind!

 

[AmyK]

Better than locating it in Peoria, don't ya think?

Well, if it meant Peoria, IL that would be right handy since it's 90 mintues away from me. lol

 

[AmyK]

I know this sounds silly, but I do find the disneyland website to be helpful to see what is there *currently*. They have nice descriptions of things. So as the trip gets closer, do check out the actual site!

That site is soooo slow though. But I will check it more as the trip gets closer. And thanks for the other tips. Love spinny rides like tea cups so that other ride may be a winner!

And all, sorry for all the posts... couldn't figure out how to multi quote from multiple posts!

 

[AmyK]

Unfortunately, Carsland is pretty much set on opening in 2012. However, Ariel's Undersea Adventure should be great, although brand new, which will bring in crowds. You mention watching the fireworks and Fantasmic, but you will not want to miss World of Color also.

Also, check out the Animation building. One of DCA's hidden treasures.

That's o.k. my girls never knew it was an option anyway. I've impressed upon them that we are NOT comparing the two parks but having two different magical Disney vacations. They'll find new favorites that can only be had in CA as well, I'm sure. I'll see what everyone says about WOC and hope the craziness settles down in a year! And I'll keep the animation building in mind! Thanks!

 

[Hound 109]

....OP, bug's land has, basically, a different-looking Dumbo (Flik's Flyers) and a different looking Teacups (gah, it's our fave land and I can NEVER remember the proper name! Frances' Ladybug Boogie, I believe). Also a "bumper" car that y'all can just skip if you want, and Heimlich's Chew Chew Train which is actually quite charming and I've ridden it on a solo trip b/c I just LIKE IT......

Bumber & I are such dorks.

My 10 y/o (now 11 ) kid & I always invest 10-15 min. in Bug's Land (longer if we intend to see the Bug's Life 3D show). We'll hop on whatever ride has the shortest line, check out all the cool surroundings.....AND then we ALWAYS ride Heimlich's Chew Chew Train.

For us, it's got that kinda cool & kinda corny quality that Mr. Toad has.


DCA isn't DL.....BUT it does have the following "do not miss" attractions:

- Tower of Terror.
- Soarin'
- Screamin'
- Griz Rapids
- Monsters Inc.
- Crush
- Bugs Life
- Toy Story
- The Aladdin Show

& I also like:

- Heimlich
- the Golden Zephyr
- The Tratoria Restaurant
- Access to the GCH
- Corny Dogs (is the Castle still closed?)

I highly recommend that folks dedicate 2-4 hours a day (each day) on a 3 - 4 day visit