Is the DCA expansion missing the point?

[Jackoman]

Let's think about the name: Disney's California Adventure.

Why are they putting in stuff like CarsLand? Isn't Radiator Springs supposed to be in Arizona?

What do you think?

 

[ChickenCarlos]

i see your point, but dont really care, anything is better than the cheap carnival style rides, i want more disney, weather it is called disneyland 2, DCA, ToonTown 2 or anything, more disney the better, i love disneyland because of all of the small details,when you are in disneyland you are in a fantasy world right down to the trash cans, but the second i go to DCA i feel like i left disneyland and went to a crappy six flags, anything they do to it has to be better than it is now. just my 2 cents.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I'm not sure where Radiator Springs is supposed to be but Route 66 ends in California and there was a big Route 66 theme in that movie.

 

[DLR29]

Cars (the movie) is definitely set in California. Anyways, DCA is so desperate for some really good attractions, that fitting with the CA theme is not as big of a concern right now. So, no, it's not missing the point. The point of these additions is to bring in more visitors to the park with attractions that can be loosely tied into the already waning CA theme.

Take Buzz Lightyear for example. It's in Tomorrowland, but it really has nothing to do with tomorrow. But it's a popular ride and doesn't really detract from the loose theme of "tomorrow/futuristic stuff".

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I am kind of thinking that they are trying to tone down the "California" aspect of the park and are skewing it more "retro", KWIM? Like with re-theming the main entrance like old time Hollywood/LA. I personally think that they will eventually drop the "Calif" and just call it Disney's Adventure park or something like that......

 

[Sherry E]

I am kind of thinking that they are trying to tone down the "California" aspect of the park and are skewing it more "retro", KWIM? Like with re-theming the main entrance like old time Hollywood/LA. I personally think that they will eventually drop the "Calif" and just call it Disney's Adventure park or something like that......

That's exactly what I have been thinking since last year. I have had a feeling that we will see a name change coming at some point - but probably not anything drastically different. Probably something subtle, but to take the focus away from California as a whole state in general. Maybe it could change to something like "Disney's Hollywood Adventure," to put emphasis on Walt Disney's arrival in the Hollywood and Los Angeles of the '20s, and also to kind of tie in to the Disney's Hollywood Studio name. BUt I could be way off base. I just have a hunch that is the direction in which we are going.

Now I have said this in so many posts before, but my thoughts are this: when DCA opened, I (as a California resident) thought it was a silly premise; when I first went to DCA it took me a while to get used to it; now I like it because I am used to it. I think they backed themselves into a corner with a California theme and now everything has to somehow tie into that theme in some remote way, even if it is a stretch. I think they misfired a bit when they came up with the concept of DCA and the longevity of it. BUT I kind of like that DCA is unique in theme and is different than any other Disney park in that way, and that it is a more of an 'adult' park, if you will. I think that, even though I like DCA a lot now and am comfortable with it, it is seriously lacking those 'kisses of magic' that are everywhere in Disneyland. It doesn't have to be a carbon copy of DL, but it somehow needs a bit more pixie dust sprinkled on it to interest more people, I think. I question some of the changes they are making - I would not have chosen a Carsland to put in there UNLESS they were changing the whole park to a Pixar theme (which could have been really fun - Toyland, Monsterland - how fun would those have been?) - but I also welcome some of the changes. I eagerly anticipate the Little Mermaid ride (long overdue), but I think it is totally out of place in DCA and would have fit so much better in DL, whereas Nemo should have gone in DCA. But perhaps the Little Mermaid ride will give DCA one of the kisses of magic that it needs?

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

Sherry, I am thinking the same way! I used to be a Calif. resident, and the first time I walked through it I thought "Cute, but it would get old pretty quickly." And it sort of did, although I did find that there were lots of little "gems" to discover if you were to take the time. What it was missing, and I think you hit it right on the head, is the "magic" that DL has. I am hoping that the Little Mermaid ride, the World of Color, Carsland, and mostly the retheming of the main drag to echo Walt's early years, will give it a little more "pixie dust." It is not an easy task, trying to make a park "feel" like Disneyland while still being unique and distinctive.....Can you imagine the pressure? I am so glad that my job is simply to enjoy the end result, and not be in any way responsible for it!

 

[pixiewings71]

I've never felt that DCA is old...in fact we spent all of last Saturday there, right up until the Electrical Parade was over. We had a GREAT day there, we had a lot of fun. But yes, Cars is centered in CA, Route 66 ends in CA so that would be the tie, that and it's a Pixar movie and most of Pixar's movies seem to be in DCA.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, I am thinking the same way! I used to be a Calif. resident, and the first time I walked through it I thought "Cute, but it would get old pretty quickly." And it sort of did, although I did find that there were lots of little "gems" to discover if you were to take the time. What it was missing, and I think you hit it right on the head, is the "magic" that DL has. I am hoping that the Little Mermaid ride, the World of Color, Carsland, and mostly the retheming of the main drag to echo Walt's early years, will give it a little more "pixie dust." It is not an easy task, trying to make a park "feel" like Disneyland while still being unique and distinctive.....Can you imagine the pressure? I am so glad that my job is simply to enjoy the end result, and not be in any way responsible for it!

What is notable is that at least all of us here (in this thread) have been to DCA and can give an educated opinion on what we like or don't like about it, what needs to be fixed or improved upon, etc. - we at least gave it a fair shot and we learned to like it for its little gems and good rides, or in some folks' cases, decided they didn't like it. Heck, I couldn't skip DCA now even if I wanted to because it has TSMM and Soarin' in it, and those are two of my favorites, so they really roped me in! BUT there is something about DCA that seems to not appeal to newcomers or people who are not HUGE Disney fans. People who are only planning to be at DLR for one day are generally only going into DL (even though I TRY to convince them to get one-day Hoppers!) and DCA is not even a consideration. My friend who lives in Anaheim - who likes DLR and is always on trips with me but doesn't 'get as much out of' the trips as I do (meaning she is not a fanatic like I am), was puzzled when I first suggested we should go into DCA to check it out. She said, "But.....what would we do in there?" And I said, "Well, how are we ever going to know what is in there if we don't go in and look around?" (And now she loves TSMM and Soarin' and Monsters Inc. too!) And yet another friend of mine from Georgia, just back from all 4 parks in WDW, who brought her mom and son to DLR for one day last year, was only planning to go into DL, and DCA was not on the radar at all - that is, until I encouraged her to go in and check it out...which she did...and they loved it. My other friends who live in another part of Orange County had not had APs in years and years, and didn't even consider getting them again, nor had they been in DCA at all....until I got them Park Hoppers and we all went into DCA and rode Soarin'...and they were at the Disneyland Bank getting their brand new AP photos taken within weeks after that! In fact, now they have Premium APs.

There is something that is deterring people from wanting to go into DCA and see what is there, even though they would all probably enjoy it once they went in, and I can't figure out if it is the California theme that I once thought was so silly when I first heard about it, or if it is the misconception that DCA ONLY has thrill rides and nothing that is okay for non-thrill ride people. I think many folks at first thought that DCA was going to be a thrill ride-only park, but I don't think any true Disney fan who understands what Disney is all about would ever really think they would do an all-thrill ride park. That is just not their style. Or it could be the misconception that there is nothing much at all to do in DCA. So I don't know what it is precisely that turns people off from even wanting to sample DCA, but there is definitely something. Now, all of these attempts to lure lots of people into DCA could end up being a nightmare in the future because it is a small park, and I imagine that heavy crowds in a small park could be stifling. But Disney is trying to do whatever they can to draw in the masses.

Just as it is baffling what exactly is turning people off from trying DCA, it is also slightly intangible what 'works' so well about Disneyland that it attracts people from all over the world. Yes, it is the hidden gems and the little details everywhere and the characters and the fun rides and the overall feeling of magic, but it is more than that. Something that can't quite be explained. It is almost like a feng shui expert came in to DL back in the '50s and arranged everything so that it just 'flowed' well and that the 'energy' was perfect. Disneyland just sort of flows well, and there is a happy, positive energy there. It feels like there is a purpose and place for everything, and that everyone belongs there and it doesn't feel disjointed or a tad disconnected like DCA can feel at times. Everything seems like it is in its proper place and there is something for everyone, and I think that all contributes to why DL works so well and is so appealing. Also, it doesn't hurt that Walt actually set foot in DL and walked the grounds and was the mastermind behind everything, so his 'spirit' is very much felt in everything in DL, whereas DCA didn't have the magical, personal touch of Walt. Maybe that would have made all the difference for DCA if he had been able to oversee it?

 

[Jackoman]

One thing I wish would happen: Put in some kind of animatronic grizzly bear in Grizzly River Run or something. They already have the noise, so why not put in an Audio-Animatronic similar to what they did with the Abominable Snowman to Matterhorn?

 

[Sleepless Knight]

DCA is a park that I think really has to grow on you. While I think Walt's personal touch counts for a lot, I fell in love with Epcot on my first visit to WDW and Epcot as opened bore very little resemblance to Walt's vision of Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Growing up in Utah and then moving to northern California, Disneyland was always a special place. It feels like no other place in the world, even including the wonderful WDW. When I walk into any Disney theme park, it took me to another world, a place I'd never been before. And then I walked into DCA, invited by a gigantic sun shaped hubcap and a replica of a bridge I've seen thousands of times on the news back home. Hearing the Beach Boys (a group I like) took me back to waking up at 3:30 in the morning to help my parents with the paper route when I was in high school. You know that magical place I mentioned earlier? Well, DCA wasn't it.

Then Tower of Terror opened. Though disappointed that it wasn't as good as the original version in Orlando, I still enjoy it a lot. I spent more time in DCA, but still just enough to see the handful of attractions that I loved before heading back to Disneyland. Everything changed with TSMM. Suddenly I had a reason to spend more time in DCA. I found myself repeating attractions and even exploring some areas just so I could experience it again.

However, I am very excited about the new DCA. I can't wait to see Los Angeles as it might have looked in the 1920s when Walt stepped off the train and started to pursue his dreams. I love the idea of the new statue depicting Walt and Mickey shortly after getting off the train from New York on the verge of changing entertainment forever. I love the idea of an elaborate themed Cars Land, and a dark ride like no other featuring The Little Mermaid.

And on July 3, I found myself walking over to Paradise Pier to go on TSMM and Screamin' for the first time since Mickey showed up on the fun wheel. As I saw that giant smiling face I smiled to myself. For the first time ever, Paradise Pier began to feel Disney to me. It got even better while waiting for the MSEP and seeing them play with the lights on Mickey's Fun Wheel. And soon the gigantic out of place orange and will be replaced by a Disney themed version of those swings.

I like DCA a lot more than I used to, but I still rate it below Disneyland and the 4 WDW parks. But I'm very hopeful that in a few years, it will jump up at least to #3 on my list behind Disneyland and Epcot.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Just a comment on California being the theme of DCA. I know lots of people have said that they think it's strange to have a California themed park right in California but I never thought of it that way. I wasn't thinking it was a recreation of California in California (which does seem strange) but I always thought it was a celebration of California and all the things that make this state so great! So I don't have any problem with the California theme and I'm sad that they seem to be getting away from that them. I will be sad to see the GG bridge go and I even like the orange so I'll be sad when that is gone soon. But I agree that DCA is missing something so I'm excited to see all new things they're doing and I think (I hope!) it will make it a better park.

 

[Judy from Boise]

DCA most reminds me of future world in Epcot. DL as it is will never be replicated, all new parks will have much wider walkways, more space between attractions, and ultimately less themeing per square inch. Fewer of the rides(at some point none) will be based on the "classics" because each generation wants to reconnect with THEIR childhood.
I think with the changes coming to DCA it will be a park that can hold it's own with any of the WDW parks.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Just a comment on California being the theme of DCA. I know lots of people have said that they think it's strange to have a California themed park right in California but I never thought of it that way. I wasn't thinking it was a recreation of California in California (which does seem strange) but I always thought it was a celebration of California and all the things that make this state so great! So I don't have any problem with the California theme and I'm sad that they seem to be getting away from that them. I will be sad to see the GG bridge go and I even like the orange so I'll be sad when that is gone soon. But I agree that DCA is missing something so I'm excited to see all new things they're doing and I think (I hope!) it will make it a better park.

That is the same way I thought. When people said why is there a California themed park in California, I always wondered well, where else would they put it? It makes less sense to put that in another state. Or should they have put in a park themed to Washington state? You can ask why they thought that was a better theme than some others and I don't know why they picked Calif. but I always understood what they were doing. I would have picked some sort of world show case theme because I always thought that would be neat to see at WDW. I will miss the GG Bridge too when it is gone. It was sort of like seeing a piece of home down there. But I think overall the new changes will be good.

And I hope once they are in place they will lengthen the hours of DCA.

 

[pixiewings71]

Just a comment on California being the theme of DCA. I know lots of people have said that they think it's strange to have a California themed park right in California but I never thought of it that way. I wasn't thinking it was a recreation of California in California (which does seem strange) but I always thought it was a celebration of California and all the things that make this state so great! So I don't have any problem with the California theme and I'm sad that they seem to be getting away from that them. I will be sad to see the GG bridge go and I even like the orange so I'll be sad when that is gone soon. But I agree that DCA is missing something so I'm excited to see all new things they're doing and I think (I hope!) it will make it a better park.

Exactly my thoughts!!

 

[HydroGuy]

If you go onto MiceChat you can find DarkBeer's threads about the history of how DCA came to be. In a nutshell some misguided executives with little experience in theme park design decided they could do a better job of creating a theme park than Disney imagineers with decades of experience. So on a weekend retreat they conceived DCA and force fed it to the imagineers and did not give them enough money. They ignored the advice of imagineers and convinced themselves DCA would be a huge success. All those executives are gone but DCA remains behind.

Apparently DCA was originally budgeted at $2 billion which is half what some people thought was needed based on other theme parks built at the time. The budget was cut to $1.4 billion, of which half that was spent on the GCH hotel. That left $700 million for the DCA park. It was underfunded and they tried to use "off-the-shelf" rides to save money. The theming was weak and inconsistent, and not very Disney.

Even so, that does not mean DCA has to be a failure. Even WDW has been reactionary in their DHS and AK parks, responding to the local market there in Florida.

DCA attendance has never come close to what was projected, and in order get to the level it is at now they had to start giving away park hoppers for 2+ day tix, something they initially charged for. No one would pay and it was so embarrasing that the park was so empty that they changed policy.

In any case, DCA's layout is poor and there is not enough shade. During my first time into DCA in 2003 they had blaring rock bands going up and down the walkways on mobile trailers and I thought it was way to edgy and loud for a Disney park. But I did fall in love with Soarin right away.

How much is the current makeover going to help? Well, I think it will help a lot. The new World of Color show is going to finally give people a reason to come over there at night. Some people in the know say WoC may surpass Fantasmic in entertainment value.

I do not think DCA will ever be what Disney wants, but it will be much better than now. I do like DCA but its magic content (as discussed elsewhere here) is pretty low. I think this will be improved.

John Lasseter is an amazing guy and the closest thing Disney has had in a very long time to the original man himself, Walt. Lasseter will get DCA going in a better direction.

 

[Sherry E]

I had a problem with the California theme at first, but not now - let me be clear on that. I don't think it is the theme that is lacking for me, but just that, as I said before, DL has a better flow and order to it than DCA, and DCA is lacking a certain magic element that DL has in spades. But there are many things I love about DCA. I really do. Like Kerri did recently, we also spent an entire day there last October. I think some of the changes coming are questionable (just my opinion), and some will be fantastic! I think we ALL agree that DCA does need to stay open later.

But as stated earlier, we all like DCA and we all see the potential there for greatness because we have been there (it is like a fixer-upper - it has many wonderful things about it and also a lot of potential for improvement, so the key is to maintain the existing wonderful things while adding to it and enhancing it) . However, there is something that is turning off the general (non-Disney fanatic) public from wanting to sample DCA, and it could largely have to do with the California theme, OR with incorrectly assuming it is an all-thrill ride park, OR with the supposition that "there is nothing to do there."

Based on what HydroGuy just posted, if the California theme to DCA was really not borne of the Imagineers' imagination, that would explain a LOT, I think. And I also agree that if anyone is going to fix whatever needs to be fixed, John Lasseter is probably the guy to do it. Basically, DCA was kind of treated as a throwaway park that didn't really pack a full Disney punch but I think it is getting there slowly and will grow into being a destination spot for all those people who are avoiding it now.

I tell you, I will only be there for a few hours next week to get my Fun Card, but all that's on my mind is, "I can't WAIT to get back on TSMM and Soarin'!" DL is second on my list for the day, though I can't miss a chance to ride POTC and Buzz.

 

[perlster]

Nope, the consensus is that Radiator Springs was not in California:
The setting for the fictional town of Radiator Springs is situated between Gallup, New Mexico and Kingman, Arizona. However, the physical location of Radiator Springs in relation to I-40 is similar to that of Peach Springs, Arizona.

 

[pixiewings71]

That's neat info HydroGuy & Perlster, thanks for sharing it with us!! I can't wait for WoC, I hope they start keeping DCA open later as a result of the new show.

 

[HydroGuy]

That's neat info HydroGuy & Perlster, thanks for sharing it with us!! I can't wait for WoC, I hope they start keeping DCA open later as a result of the new show.

FWIW here is a link to some of Darkbeer's DCA history:

http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/9078-dca-interesting-look-back-last-4-years.html