Disneyland...OMG!!!!!!!!!!

[DLgal]

It is interesting to read the responses. I have only seen one Star Wars movie in my life, yet I really like Galaxy's Edge. I think it is because I feel more immersed in the theme of the land when I am in there. Maybe it is because I can't see the Matterhorn or other attractions peaking over the top, but I feel as if I have left the main park when I am in GE.

On the same note, I might have seen a Marvel movie (not sure) and I think Avengers Campus is lackluster and boring. Avengers campus also has only two attractions - GOTG and Spiderman.

Nah. Avengers Campus is far superior and I say that as an extremely casual Avengers fan. Like, I've seen a handful of movies, that's it. I don't know all the characters or how they are interconnected.

That said, the music in the land is ACTUALLY from the movies. It's amazing how if you use familiar music, it really makes the land immersive. You walk in there and suddenly feel like something exciting might happen.

The whole theme of it being a "campus" where the Avengers hang out and train is done very well. The characters make appearances frequently (ALL the characters regardless of "timeline") and the live shows are frequent and really well done. The rides are themed well and are both super fun. The food at Pym's is great and the outdoor bar is far better and more accessible than Oga's. And the way they fill up the cups there is cool. The redo of Tower was controversial, but in the end, the ride is much better than ToT was and the theme of the collectors museum is very well executed. Everything in that land is familiar to casual fans and there are lots of little hidden Easter eggs for the uber fans.

 

[BrianL]

My problem with Galaxy's Edge is I don't feel like I'm in a Star Wars land. It's nothing like Radiator Springs where it's like you stepped into a movie. If it weren't for the Millennium Falcon or the other ships, it would be hard to tell what the land was supposed to be. Mind you, I am more of an original trilogy and prequel gal, but I LOVE Star Wars...and GE just doesn't do it for me.

(As an aside, am I the only one who likes the prequels? To be fair, those were my era of Star Wars films, so I'm probably biased).

I love the prequels, and I'm of the age where I am SUPPOSED TO hate them and love the OT only. I've got news for everyone, I kinda like the Prequels better than the OT. I also like the Sequels too, so....

 

[DizMe]

I love the prequels, and I'm of the age where I am SUPPOSED TO hate them and love the OT only. I've got news for everyone, I kinda like the Prequels better than the OT. I also like the Sequels too, so....

Me too! I never watched the originals even though they came out when I was a young adult. I tried to watch the first one and it just didn't hold much interest for me.

When we were on Covid lockdown and the whole family was home, we watched every SW movie on Disney+. I liked the movies a lot more than when I was younger and definitely preferred the prequels, but it's not really my thing. I have friends who are HEAVILY into SW. My oldest loves the movies and shows and asked me to make him a Boba Fett hat, so I understand it's very special to a lot of people and that's cool.

 

[SpaceMan5]

On the same note, I might have seen a Marvel movie (not sure) and I think Avengers Campus is lackluster and boring. Avengers campus also has only two attractions - GOTG and Spiderman.

I may not be following the thread correctly but I was expecting more out of the Avengers Campus in CA. I did like the piped in music but the placement of things were so so. Kinda a weird flow thing for me.

 

[LKing]

I may not be following the thread correctly

This thread has taken many twists and turns.

 

[Jwaire]

I may not be following the thread correctly but I was expecting more out of the Avengers Campus in CA. I did like the piped in music but the placement of things were so so. Kinda a weird flow thing for me.

Well they haven't built the main E-ticket yet. So, there's that. But yeah it's not as impressive thematically as say Cars Land or Galaxy's Edge. There's a scale problem for me. And while I love the Guardians ride, it doesn't really fit in Avenger's Campus nor does it fit in CA.

But does anything fit in CA anymore? I mean it's become a hodgepodge park. This is what happens when you shoehorn IPs in theme parks that aren't designed for them.

 

[wendlle]

I can't stand Avengers Campus and I don't like Galaxy's Edge either.
For me they just do nothing for me, I don't watch either of these types of movies so the entire place is lost on me.

I am still dirty they got rid of the Chew Chew Train
I'm more of a "original Disney" fan, so I like animation and I enjoyed the lands more when they weren't so full of IP

 

[pks_domer]

Our trip last week, our son turned 3. All we did for early entry on his birthday was just ride Mater's, over and over. The CM finally took mercy and just let us stay on the ride instead of going through line again. And then meeting McQueen... OMG he had no idea what to do with himself. I am sure we'll be back in a few years for just the reasons you mention.

Though both kids love Frozen and Peter Pan is my wife's favorite, so with the Fantasy Springs details this week it seems like I need to plot a Tokyo trip once the kids are a little older...

 

[Jwaire]

Though both kids love Frozen and Peter Pan is my wife's favorite, so with the Fantasy Springs details this week it seems like I need to plot a Tokyo trip once the kids are a little older...

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at an Imagineering/OLC meeting.

1. We'll take Frozen, but we don't want your weirdo Frozen animatronics or your 1980's ride track and vehicle. Build us new ones and we'll take the full scale Arendale castle too.
2. We don't want Star Wars or Marvel, we want Peter Pan from the 1950's.
3. You guys didn't build a Tangled attraction after it made you like $600 million? Cool you can build us one.

Here's $2 billion for an expansion.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Though both kids love Frozen and Peter Pan is my wife's favorite, so with the Fantasy Springs details this week it seems like I need to plot a Tokyo trip once the kids are a little older...

I'm going next year and I am SUPER excited for the new expansion. Tickets, food and merchandise are way cheaper than Disneyland too.

 

[SpaceMan5]

But does anything fit in CA anymore? I mean it's become a hodgepodge park. This is what happens when you shoehorn IPs in theme parks that aren't designed for them.

So true! That is a big part of why we spend the majority of our park time in DL

 

[DonMacGregor]

But does anything fit in CA anymore? I mean it's become a hodgepodge park. This is what happens when you shoehorn IPs in theme parks that aren't designed for them.

Curiously, I think Hollywood Studios is far worse. That place makes zero sense to me. You walk 50 feet and you've gone from the planet of Batuu to Andy's back yard? Go in the other direction through a very short tunnel and you're in a Hollywood back lot inhabited by Muppets? I get (and love) Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard, but beyond that it's a mess. Does anyone really spend any real time in the Animation Courtyard if they don't a bunch of time they need to kill?

 

[BrianL]

Curiously, I think Hollywood Studios is far worse. That place makes zero sense to me. You walk 50 feet and you've gone from the planet of Batuu to Andy's back yard? Go in the other direction through a very short tunnel and you're in a Hollywood back lot inhabited by Muppets? I get (and love) Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard, but beyond that it's a mess. Does anyone really spend any real time in the Animation Courtyard if they don't a bunch of time they need to kill?

But, isn't any land like that? I mean, you can walk 50 feet from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland, or from Africa to Asia at Animal Kingdom. There has to be a dilineation point. I do agree that HS has areas that need some work, like the Animation Courtyard which is underused since the shows there were closed. I just don't think the theming is a big problem though.

 

[DonMacGregor]

But, isn't any land like that? I mean, you can walk 50 feet from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland, or from Africa to Asia at Animal Kingdom. There has to be a delineation point. I do agree that HS has areas that need some work, like the Animation Courtyard which is underused since the shows there were closed. I just don't think the theming is a big problem though.

My point exactly. It just seems like there is a similar bias in favor of WDW parks on the specific subject in a lot of these threads. I have seen, over and over, people shaking their heads in confusion and amazement as to why Galaxy's Edge in Anaheim was placed in Disneyland, where it "makes no sense", rather than Hollywood Studios (which apparently makes perfect sense). Sure, Star Tours was there already (although nowhere near Galaxy's Edge), but?

The transitions in DL are all from rustic/wooded and pine tree filled areas of adjacent lands (Critter Country and the Big Thunder Trail area of Frontierland), and are much longer and less jarring. It's a good 100 yard walk, with gentle curves and almost imperceptible theming transitions (basically just the light posts and sound effects) from Hungry Bear to the fully themed area of Batuu, and the walk from Batuu to Big Thunder trail, while slightly shorter, leads you through a longer tunnel with only gradually perceptible changes in the texture of the rock (versus a stark transition to white subway tile in HS) and with both the bend and soft transition, is completely invisible to people walking in Frontierland.

In Hollywood Studios, the transitions are far shorter, and the theming and design elements abutting Batuu are far more jarring.

 

[BrianL]

My point exactly. It just seems like there is a similar bias in favor of WDW parks on the specific subject in a lot of these threads. I have seen, over and over, people shaking their heads in confusion and amazement as to why Galaxy's Edge in Anaheim was placed in Disneyland, where it "makes no sense", rather than Hollywood Studios (which apparently makes perfect sense). Sure, Star Tours was there already (although nowhere near Galaxy's Edge), but?

The transitions in DL are all from rustic/wooded and pine tree filled areas of adjacent lands (Critter Country and the Big Thunder Trail area of Frontierland), and are much longer and less jarring. It's a good 100 yard walk, with gentle curves and almost imperceptible theming transitions (basically just the light posts and sound effects) from Hungry Bear to the fully themed area of Batuu, and the walk from Batuu to Big Thunder trail, while slightly shorter, leads you through a longer tunnel with only gradually perceptible changes in the texture of the rock (versus a stark transition to white subway tile in HS) and with both the bend and soft transition, is completely invisible to people walking in Frontierland.

In Hollywood Studios, the transitions are far shorter, and the theming and design elements abutting Batuu are far more jarring.

Well, i sould say the cavern/tunnel works well as a demarcation line. I can agree that the path to Toy Story Land is a bit shorter. It's not that bad though - a minor quibble.

 

[Tinkaboo]

And while I love the Guardians ride, it doesn't really fit in Avenger's Campus nor does it fit in CA.

Not sure why you feel this way…GOTG are part of the Avengers and I love the Awesome Dance Off! I probably spend an equal amount of time inAC as I do at DL.
ESPECIALLY at night, it takes on a very cool vibe. All the characters are out just milling around, lots of fun encounters if you like that sort of thing.

Just hope they keep RTM around awhile longer or bring it back for Christmas time!

 

[GoofyGoofyGoofy]

Our trip last week, our son turned 3. All we did for early entry on his birthday was just ride Mater's, over and over. The CM finally took mercy and just let us stay on the ride instead of going through line again. And then meeting McQueen... OMG he had no idea what to do with himself. I am sure we'll be back in a few years for just the reasons you mention.

Happy Belated birthday to your son! I love Mater's ride too. I think it is the best ride in Cars Land. I get the thrill racing any time just riding in the car with my hubby so RR doesn't appeal to me.