Is Disney embarrassed of DCA?

[bbeagle]

It's hard to invest in something that's lost money 90% of its lifetime, despite being the #1 tourist attraction in Europe.

Disneyland Paris is nowhere near the #1 tourist attraction in Europe.

The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge .... to name a few - are much bigger tourist attractions.

 

[Smugpugmug]

100% the first thing I noticed was that I could see the wall in the Phantom Manor cemetery. Something I had never noticed at DLR.

It's got a gorgeous castle tho.

I moreso meant the Studios park when I said it was cheap and low effort. Borderline Six Flags theming in a Disney park.

DLP is a gorgeous park though. I would go back to see that park and skip Studios.

Disneyland Paris is nowhere near the #1 tourist attraction in Europe.

The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge .... to name a few - are much bigger tourist attractions.

I think they meant #1 most visited theme park in Europe, which it is.

 

[starlite_]

I moreso meant the Studios park when I said it was cheap and low effort. Borderline Six Flags theming in a Disney park.

DLP is a gorgeous park though. I would go back to see that park and skip Studios.

I think they meant #1 most visited theme park in Europe, which it is.

I didn't even see Studios, we jumped over to ride Rock n Roller coaster, got on for almost the last launch of the day and went back to DLP.

 

[LKing]

Grizzly mountain is such a pretty icon, and I still remember it vividly from when the park opened.

When California Adventure first opened, there were no Disneyland characters or merchandise in the park. The rides, shows or attractions weren't based on Disney movies. The entrance to the park had large letters spelling out CALIFORNIA and you walked under the Golden Gate bridge to Sunshine Plaza. At that time, the grizzly was a primary icon. That changed around 15 years ago when they took the sun off the ferris and added Mickey's face. Since then, I think the ferris wheel has become more of an iconic symbol of DCA than the grizzly. It is certainly easier to photograph.

From most parts of the park, you can barely (no pun intended) see the grizzly's jaw line. I started photographing the transformation of SanFransokyo back in February. In order to see the grizzly's head, I needed go to the top of Pixar Pier.




On a side note, I find it ironic that they removed the GG bridge 15 years ago, only add it back in a different location this year.

 

[Jwaire]

Disneyland Paris is nowhere near the #1 tourist attraction in Europe.

The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge .... to name a few - are much bigger tourist attractions.

Yeah, OK.

"Disneyland Paris has created unforgettable memories that live inside each of us and became Europe’s top tourist destination."

https://disneylandparis-news.com/en/history/

"And it’s nothing new — Disneyland Paris (or Euro Disney as it used to be called) has been operating for over 30 years and has welcomed over 375 million visitors during that time. And believe it or not, today, the theme park is Europe’s top tourist attraction."

https://matadornetwork.com/read/disneyland-paris/#:~:text=And it's nothing new — Disneyland,is Europe's top tourist attraction.

From all the way back in 2012, "With a total of 250 million visitors since it opened in 1992, Disneyland Paris is the most popular tourist destination in Europe."

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20120406-disneyland-paris-europes-top-tourist-destination

It has been for years.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

When California Adventure first opened, there were no Disney characters or merchandise in the park. None of the rides, shows or attractions were based on Disney movies.

That’s not exactly true. I have photos of my kids with characters from Bug’s Life in the farm area in 2001. And of course Tough to be a Bug was there from the beginning. I also believe characters from Atlantis were in the backlot area then. And the bears from Brother Bear were added to the Redwood Creek Trail soon after opening.

I’m pretty sure Mickey and Friends were around too. The difference was they were “on vacation” when they appeared at DCA.

 

[Steven G]

I think others have hinted at this, but I think it's because DCA doesn't really have an identity anymore that is different than DL. Maybe part of that is that they are so close to each other, and part of it is a lack of creative direction, but there is no longer a cohesive story/theme going on at DCA that is independent of DL, because of all the stuffing full of IP in the last few years.

The only truly California things left are Grizzly Peak area, hollywood land, and buena vista street. Maybe Paradise Gardens, although that is more generic.

So, it's not so much that they are embarassed by it, but it really difficult to create merchandise for something with so little of a theme left.

 

[bcla]

When California Adventure first opened, there were no Disney characters or merchandise in the park. None of the rides, shows or attractions were based on Disney movies. The entrance to the park had large letters spelling out CALIFORNIA and you walked under the Golden Gate bridge to Sunshine Plaza. At that time, the grizzly was a primary icon. That changed around 15 years ago when they added Disney characters, attractions and merchandise into the parks. They took the sun off the ferris and added Mickey's face. Since then, I think the ferris wheel has become more of an iconic symbol of DCA than the grizzly. It is certainly easier to photograph.

From most parts of the park, you can barely (no pun intended) see the jaw line.
View attachment 796698

I started photographing the transformation of SanFransokyo back in February. In order to see the grizzly's head, I needed go to the top of Pixar Pier.

View attachment 796709View attachment 796710


On a side note, I find it ironic that they removed the GG bridge 15 years ago, only add it back in a different location this year.

Disney donated the CALIFORNIA lettering to Cal Expo in Sacramento.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ers-dedicated-at-160th-california-state-fair/​

The iconic C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters that previously stood at the entrance of Disney California Adventure park for a decade will welcome tens of thousands of guests to the California State Fair tomorrow on its opening day! The letters were dedicated in a ceremony today at the site of their new home, the California State Fair’s Main Gate.​

 

[LKing]

That’s not exactly true. I have photos of my kids with characters from Bug’s Life in the farm area in 2001. And of course Tough to be a Bug was there from the beginning. I also believe characters from Atlantis were in the backlot area then. And the bears from Brother Bear were added to the Redwood Creek Trail soon after opening.

You're right. It's Tough to be a Bug and Muppet Vision 3D were there when the park opened. I don't believe Bugs Land opened until 2002. Maybe you are thinking of what they called Bountiful Farm. On the map, it says "Bountiful Valley Farm: Presented by Caterpillar. Experience a "growing" tribute to California's Heartland.

In Hollywood Pictures Backlot, they had Disney Animation and Off the Page as the nod to Disney's impact in Hollywood.

 

[LKing]

The only truly California things left are Grizzly Peak area, hollywood land, and buena vista street. Maybe Paradise Gardens, although that is more generic.

Also the wine country area.

 

[Jwaire]

You're right. It's Tough to be a Bug and Muppet Vision 3D were there when the park opened. I don't believe Bugs Land opened until 2002. Maybe you are thinking of what they called Bountiful Farm. On the map, it says "Bountiful Valley Farm: Presented by Caterpillar. Experience a "growing" tribute to California's Heartland.

In Hollywood Pictures Backlot, they had Disney Animation and Off the Page as the nod to Disney's impact in Hollywood.

View attachment 796767 View attachment 796769

How did they end up building that ^ when they started off with this?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Well to counter your food and wine, the Oggie Boogie merch or wrist bands this past week didn’t have anything that said DCA...

The OBB pins and the OBB Spirit Jersey this year say Disney California Adventure 2023.

From The Disney Food Blog (https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2023...ive-merchandise-at-disneys-oogie-boogie-bash/):

OBB Spirit Jersey on the left


All 3 OBB pins say Disney California Adventure

 

[Philsfan77]

Na...they are just trying to brand EVERYTHING portfolio wide as "Disney Parks"...

...just another touch of the magic gone.

Agreed...coming out of the re-opening on both coasts, we've felt the same way. In general we haven't seen many picture frames to the OP point. My wife is a picture frame person, and thats been one of her biggest gripes going on about 3-4 years now.

 

[NorCalFanatic]

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