Does Anyone Else Miss the Old California Adventure?

[HydroGuy]

Maybe what some of us enjoyed a lot about DCA was that it seemed to have areas that effectively celebrated the spirit and experience of true California natives? I loved the Paradise Pier area because it reminded me of the boardwalk at Santa Cruz...the GRR reminds me of Yosemite, the area across from it reminds me of the Redwoods, the Condor Flats area because it celebrates the huge role CA played in early aviation, etc. Maybe Walt Disney loved California (or maybe he didn't?..IDK), but he was no native...his childhood memories were not completely intertwined with the features and landscapes and monuments of CA....so while maybe DCA became something that Walt buffs would say Walt Disney was trying to "avoid"....I think many of us really appreciated the park's focus on the elements that we love most about this state.

Lol, but obviously that wasn't bringin' in the bucks, so out it goes!

Yes, but really, Paradise Pier does nothing that communicates "California" to the average visitor or even to most California natives. Condor Flats does. The GRR area does. The Hollywood area does - just not very well. Bugs Land? Zero too. Pacific Wharf? Yes, that works well enough. But Paradise Pier? No.

Just my opinion. Not trying to shoot you down. Just having a debate.

 

[nunzia]

Of course one of the criticisms of Paradise Pier is that it is exactly what Walt Disney was trying to avoid when he built Disneyland - a carnie type environment. Puuulease, would someone burn down those carnie games!

I always just run by them, but have to admit they are a TAD better now that they at least have a Disney theme/prizes. My grandkids that I took in January really had fun with it and won a couple things..pricey yes, but there is a certain excitement when all seats are filled for the horserace game and you are playing for the big prize..wouldn't miss them if they were gone, but still, surprised how much fun the boys had with them.

 

[Moomduck1]

I will miss the letters. Would have loved the Soap Opera Bistro! We live on the east coast and have only gotten to DCA once but will be there this fall again.

 

[Mugglemama]

Yes, but really, Paradise Pier does nothing that communicates "California" to the average visitor or even to most California natives. Condor Flats does. The GRR area does. The Hollywood area does - just not very well. Bugs Land? Zero too. Pacific Wharf? Yes, that works well enough. But Paradise Pier? No.

Just my opinion. Not trying to shoot you down. Just having a debate.

Oh I didn't think you were trying to shoot me down. Believe me, I don't take ANYTHING on the DIS *that* seriously, lol. It's about a theme park, after all. I can appreciate that you didn't like the Paradise Pier area. And I suppose for those CA visitors or natives who don't have fond memories of some kind of seaside park like Santa Monica or Santa Cruz (I would guess that a fair percentage of CA natives *have* been to one of those places, though), then maybe it would be less clear to them the tie-in, although it seems blaring to me.

I happen to LOVE Los Angeles...and particularly the most historical aspects of the city (My Dad was born and raised there, and I grew up nearby, so we spent a lot of time there as kids)...so I *am* looking forward to a lot of the changes. I actually have kind of an affinity for historical L.A. bridges (which are almost always just road/freeway overpasses), so I'm especially curious to see the new bridge behind the new entrance.

Honestly, my biggest gripe about the direction that DCA is moving in, is the fact that our last visit included encounters with a LOT of people who'd had too much alcohol to drink walking around the park (or smoking pot in the walkways, or making out with their SO in the ride lines). In the years that we'd been visiting, we'd NEVER before experienced that kind of trashy conduct in either of the parks.

 

[Disco]

Won't miss it a bit. Worst Disney park ever.
Theming it after all the attractions in the state was just plain stupid. I don't go to a theme park in NY to see a scale model of the Statue of Liberty. I don't go to Washington DC to see an animatronic giving me the spiel of the Lincoln Memorial. Same comments for Grand Canyon, Old Faithful and Mount Rushmore.
You can argue that CA is a large enough state that southerners don't see the Redwoods and Golden Gate and such but other major theme elements in the park are an hour drive away to see the real thing!
It would be like if you took MGM Studios and gave it an all swamp/alligator and/or Miami Vice theme. Floridians would just flock to it.
Not to mention rides in the park were just commercials for CA. I like Soarin but it has a lot more potential than being a big add for CA. OMG and let’s make a dark ride where you see cardboard cutouts of a bunch of B ranked actors from CA.
Problem is the new park isn't shaping up to be much better. Yes it has more attractions and rides but now all the themes and areas don't mesh. They also can't fix some of the plain and boring existing themes and they can't fix other inherent park problems like the layout.
The new Mermaid ride wasn't great (wasn't bad either) but it looks like just what it is. "Hey let's throw in a new ride here to see if it fixes our problems." It doesn't mesh with any current theme, it lacks any original/creative external characteristics or queue theming, it totally sticks out like a sore thumb. I'm worried CarsLand is going to suffer from similar issues.
I think the only fix for DCA is a bulldozer at this point.

 

[Sherry E]

Won't miss it a bit. Worst Disney park ever.
Theming it after all the attractions in the state was just plain stupid. I don't go to a theme park in NY to see a scale model of the Statue of Liberty. I don't go to Washington DC to see an animatronic giving me the spiel of the Lincoln Memorial. Same comments for Grand Canyon, Old Faithful and Mount Rushmore.
You can argue that CA is a large enough state that southerners don't see the Redwoods and Golden Gate and such but other major theme elements in the park are an hour drive away to see the real thing!
It would be like if you took MGM Studios and gave it an all swamp/alligator and/or Miami Vice theme. Floridians would just flock to it.
Not to mention rides in the park were just commercials for CA. I like Soarin but it has a lot more potential than being a big add for CA. OMG and let’s make a dark ride where you see cardboard cutouts of a bunch of B ranked actors from CA.
Problem is the new park isn't shaping up to be much better. Yes it has more attractions and rides but now all the themes and areas don't mesh. They also can't fix some of the plain and boring existing themes and they can't fix other inherent park problems like the layout.
The new Mermaid ride wasn't great (wasn't bad either) but it looks like just what it is. "Hey let's throw in a new ride here to see if it fixes our problems." It doesn't mesh with any current theme, it lacks any original/creative external characteristics or queue theming, it totally sticks out like a sore thumb. I'm worried CarsLand is going to suffer from similar issues.
I think the only fix for DCA is a bulldozer at this point.

Don't hold back now, Disco - tell us how you really feel!


I'm torn on this aspect of the subject. I feel two ways about it.

Being a Californian through and through, I don't mind the "big ads for California" and I absolutely love Soarin.' California is a wonderful, beautiful state with so much to offer, so I don't mind celebrating that. (I even like the Paradise Pier area of DCA somewhat, to a degree!)

BUT I always felt a little odd about the concept of a CA-themed park in California...or maybe just in general (no matter which state it was in). That idea never totally sat well with me, even though I have grown to love DCA for what it is/was over time.

I think I wanted a theme that was more, I don't know, 'of another time,' I suppose. I would rather feel like I am stepping back in time, or into another world, into another country - something fantastic other than leaving my California neighborhood and stepping into a park all about California. I want to feel like I am being transported elsewhere, somewhere out of the norm. DCA doesn't really transport me anywhere...yet.

And I agree with you that it seems like some of the themes aren't meshing well now. I haven't been to DCA since December, but from what I've seen, it has come across that way. I'm hoping that's just a temporary issue and that everything will mesh better when the billion dollar makeover is complete. I am holding out hope that the 1920's/1930's Los Angeles theme will give me more of that 'of another time' feeling.

As a side note, one of my favorite movies is the old Michael Crichton sci-fi thriller, "Westworld," which is about a theme park for adults, with lands and full-fledged fantasy experiences in Medieval, Roman and Western themes. Of course, because it's a sci-fi thriller, things go horribly awry and robots run wild, but that's the sort of 'of another time' experience that I always thought would be so awesome in a theme park - to feel like I had stepped back into Medieval days, or into ancient Rome, etc.

That's why Disneyland is so effective for me - there are very different and distinctive themes to each land, and they work wonderfully at making me think I have been transported!

 

[ArchOwl]

I don't really miss the old DCA, I don't think it really lived up to Disney standards. I am very excited to see how DCA turns out and I think it has the potential to really be awesome. I like how they are tying it to how LA looked when Walt would have first seen it. That way you have the park that was the spark and then Disneyland which is the fantasy. It could be really special in a way the old DCA was not.

I like the Paradise Pier area because it reminds me of Santa Cruz, but way cleaner, lol. I like the popcorn lights at night and all the white wood, the Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta area is such a good addition to the theming. Goofy's Sky School not so much, but I understand it is on its way out. I can wait.

Honestly, the DCA construction in an operating theme park is amazing. It has made things a little difficult to navigate, but what other company could pull off such an ambitious project? I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and wait to see the end result. I think it will be worth the construction mess and tear down of old rides. Fingers crossed!

 

[Thundergod]

The first time I have ever been to DCA was this past week or so. I remember seeing it last year while we were at DL but really had no clue what was in there. The California letters were still there then and looked cool. I was sad to read on here that when I was going to go this year they wouldn't exist.

anyhow, the park itself. I didn't like getting through the turnstile only to run into a wall. I felt like a mouse in a maze cept no cheese to lead me where I wanted to go. Just hundreds of crazy people pouring down the narrow opening between the zephyr(?) and big blocked off area in the center of the park.

To be honest I felt no california connection with the park. I think it would have been cool if I had. I'd love to learn more about the bygone era's of California. Maybe I just missed the connection or so much has been removed that I wasn't suppose to feel a connection.

I liked the paradise pier area though I avoided the carny type games. I thought it looked cool and I felt comfy there. the rest of the park I felt lost and like it was disorganized which was probably from me not being familiar with it. I do think it's retarded to shut down rides to do a light show. Even if the light show is cool. I was only in the park maybe 2 hours on my trip. Long enough for me. shame cuz I am so intriqued by hollywood, boardwalks, and highways like 101 and 66. I love feeling nostaligic and would love to see some retro looks that maybe was in the park in the beginning

 

[Mugglemama]

Theming it after all the attractions in the state was just plain stupid.
I think the only fix for DCA is a bulldozer at this point.

...says the guy who lives in a state known only for hookers, gambling, and desolation.

 

[HydroGuy]

Won't miss it a bit. Worst Disney park ever.
Theming it after all the attractions in the state was just plain stupid. I don't go to a theme park in NY to see a scale model of the Statue of Liberty. I don't go to Washington DC to see an animatronic giving me the spiel of the Lincoln Memorial. Same comments for Grand Canyon, Old Faithful and Mount Rushmore.
You can argue that CA is a large enough state that southerners don't see the Redwoods and Golden Gate and such but other major theme elements in the park are an hour drive away to see the real thing!
It would be like if you took MGM Studios and gave it an all swamp/alligator and/or Miami Vice theme. Floridians would just flock to it.
Not to mention rides in the park were just commercials for CA. I like Soarin but it has a lot more potential than being a big add for CA. OMG and let’s make a dark ride where you see cardboard cutouts of a bunch of B ranked actors from CA.
Problem is the new park isn't shaping up to be much better. Yes it has more attractions and rides but now all the themes and areas don't mesh. They also can't fix some of the plain and boring existing themes and they can't fix other inherent park problems like the layout.
The new Mermaid ride wasn't great (wasn't bad either) but it looks like just what it is. "Hey let's throw in a new ride here to see if it fixes our problems." It doesn't mesh with any current theme, it lacks any original/creative external characteristics or queue theming, it totally sticks out like a sore thumb. I'm worried CarsLand is going to suffer from similar issues.
I think the only fix for DCA is a bulldozer at this point.

Don't hold back now, Disco - tell us how you really feel!


I'm torn on this aspect of the subject. I feel two ways about it.

Being a Californian through and through, I don't mind the "big ads for California" and I absolutely love Soarin.' California is a wonderful, beautiful state with so much to offer, so I don't mind celebrating that. (I even like the Paradise Pier area of DCA somewhat, to a degree!)

BUT I always felt a little odd about the concept of a CA-themed park in California...or maybe just in general (no matter which state it was in). That idea never totally sat well with me, even though I have grown to love DCA for what it is/was over time.

I think I wanted a theme that was more, I don't know, 'of another time,' I suppose. I would rather feel like I am stepping back in time, or into another world, into another country - something fantastic other than leaving my California neighborhood and stepping into a park all about California. I want to feel like I am being transported elsewhere, somewhere out of the norm. DCA doesn't really transport me anywhere...yet.

And I agree with you that it seems like some of the themes aren't meshing well now. I haven't been to DCA since December, but from what I've seen, it has come across that way. I'm hoping that's just a temporary issue and that everything will mesh better when the billion dollar makeover is complete. I am holding out hope that the 1920's/1930's Los Angeles theme will give me more of that 'of another time' feeling.

As a side note, one of my favorite movies is the old Michael Crichton sci-fi thriller, "Westworld," which is about a theme park for adults, with lands and full-fledged fantasy experiences in Medieval, Roman and Western themes. Of course, because it's a sci-fi thriller, things go horribly awry and robots run wild, but that's the sort of 'of another time' experience that I always thought would be so awesome in a theme park - to feel like I had stepped back into Medieval days, or into ancient Rome, etc.

That's why Disneyland is so effective for me - there are very different and distinctive themes to each land, and they work wonderfully at making me think I have been transported!

As I mentioned earlier, and unlike Sherry, the concept of a California themed park in California has always set just fine with me.

California is unique. It is unique among U.S. states and around the world. It has a mystique about it. If California was a country it's economy would be like the 6th or 7th largest in the world.

California was mystical even among the Spanish. The base word for California was derived from the mythical Spanish princess "Calafia". It has Silicon Valley, Hollywood, aviation history, beach culture, awesome national parks, deserts, mountains, forests, beaches, warm weather, sunshine, wine country, Spanish mission history, San Francisco, ethnic diversity (especially Hispanic and Asian), gold rush history, incredible agriculture production... CALIFORNIA IS SPECIAL.

Even as a California native DCA appeals to me - at least the parts that were done right.

So for me I think DCA's theme is fine.

Now when DLR looks to adding that third park they should look east. Not to Orlando but to the faaaar east - in Tokyo. Tokyo DisneySea is just awesome and would totally work in SoCal.

 

[Sherry E]

As I mentioned earlier, and unlike Sherry, the concept of a California themed park in California has always set just fine with me.

California is unique. It is unique among U.S. states and around the world. It has a mystique about it. If California was a country it's economy would be like the 6th or 7th largest in the world.

California was mystical even among the Spanish. The base word for California was derived from the mythical Spanish princess "Calafia". It has Silicon Valley, Hollywood, aviation history, beach culture, awesome national parks, deserts, mountains, forests, beaches, warm weather, sunshine, wine country, Spanish mission history, San Francisco, ethnic diversity (especially Hispanic and Asian), gold rush history, incredible agriculture production... CALIFORNIA IS SPECIAL.

Even as a California native DCA appeals to me - at least the parts that were done right.

So for me I think DCA's theme is fine.

Now when DLR looks to adding that third park they should look east. Not to Orlando but to the faaaar east - in Tokyo. Tokyo DisneySea is just awesome and would totally work in SoCal.

Don't get me wrong - I love DCA for what it is (though it's drastically changing!) now. I sometimes spend all day there and not even go into DL! It's just that I don't personally feel transported to another time/place/culture/world when I visit it, which is what I would want in a park, and it never would have been my first choice of a theme for a second Disney park in SoCal. I would have gone another direction in theme when this park was first being created on the cheap. When I visit DCA, I feel too much like I am leaving my own California neighborhood and just meandering a few miles into another California neighborhood that's nearby. (But the idea of a California park in another state would have rubbed me the wrong way, too!)

But DCA is there and I like it for several reasons, and now I am looking forward to seeing what these massive changes bring over the next year! It will be fascinating to finally see the finished product, when it's all done.

I am totally on board with a West Coast version of DisneySea if Disney ever wants to do that, and I would have loved Westcot if that had ever come to fruition!

 

[polynor]

We just got back from a visit last week -- the thing I missed the most was the letters in the front! I was looking forward to taking a picture of my boys in front of the letters (and having to watch them run back and forth between letters). And now that I saw the pictures of them removing the Golden Gate bridge I'm going to miss that too!
The other changes I do like -- I like Mickey on the wheel of death, the World of Color was a good show, and the new eatery in paradise pier was better than the average park food with more variety available (and shaded seating). I still don't like the Paradise Pier area -- I don't get the carny rides. And I really really hope they don't close the touring part of the boudin bakery. I like watching the process and now DS5 really liked watching the machines too.

 

[TeddiBarra]

I miss the C_A_L_I_F_O_R_N_I_A

but that's about it. I think I will miss the Golden Gate bridge, but mostly it's big pluses with the changes.

I actually did like the theme- and I am sorry a bit to see some of the "cali"ness leaving ... but only a little sad. I think the more subtle theming may do better in the future. We'll see what Buena Vista Street feels like walking in... maybe that will seam it a little better, or maybe not.

 

[Belle83]

I do sort of miss the old Screamin' with the Mickey ears. I don't like the Mickey face on the Sun Wheel, either.

 

[skiingfast]

I think the more subtle theming may do better in the future.

This is a good way to put it. It's not changing to something different in meaning, just a different take on it. It's still going to be California. If you need it spelled out, maybe you should study its history.

 

[nunzia]

...says the guy who lives in a state known only for hookers, gambling, and desolation.

Now, Now...don't forget nuclear testing
(I can say this because I grew up in Reno..love Nevada)

 

[Club33forme]

I miss it already.

I am not a big fan of change. Just as I grow to enjoy DCA they change it. I have no problem with the addition of some new attractions but there was no problem with the theme of the park, the entrance, etc.

I guess I have both feet stuck in the past. Still getting over The removal of Nature's Wonderland to make room for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at DL.

Going to take many Disneyland Resort vacations to get over all this. I best start booking.

 

[pinktink83]

I don't! It wasn't a very fun place for kids, and it just didn't seem Disney enough. I *love* the new concept for the park. I think its perfect! Vintage characters...how fun!! Plus, they are putting in way more kid friendly rides, which they sorely need. I can go to the county fair anytime. When I'm at Disney, I want SPECIAL.

 

[Mugglemama]

Now, Now...don't forget nuclear testing

LOL, my DH says the same thing.

I don't hate Nevada (in fact, I currently live about 90 minutes West of Reno)...I was just pointing out to Disco that somebody who's from a state that doesn't have nearly the diversity or culture that CA does, might not totally "get" why it was fun for those who live in (or like, at least) CA to visit a theme park with many representations of the state's best features.

 

[kyra's mommy]

I think I wanted a theme that was more, I don't know, 'of another time,' I suppose. I would rather feel like I am stepping back in time, or into another world, into another country - something fantastic other than leaving my California neighborhood and stepping into a park all about California. I want to feel like I am being transported elsewhere, somewhere out of the norm. DCA doesn't really transport me anywhere...yet.

Right! That's what it is. I couldn't articulate what I didn't like about CA and that is it. It wasn't special enough, like the MK or for me, like Epcot. That's why Disney does it for me and other parks never do (like Legoland, Knotts, etc.). Disney makes me feel like I'm somewhere special, not just at an amusement park. I want more then a fast ride, I want my eyes filled with beautiful and or amazing things. You nailed it!