Is the DCA expansion missing the point?

[PinkBudgie]

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.

I agree and he gives me hope for the upcoming areas at DCA.

 

[bumbershoot]

"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."


Yep, that was us! Two day-trips and nary a visit until our third visit when we finally hopped. LOVED IT.

I grew up in CA and just did not get, during the daytrips, why there would be a CA themed park in CA. Stopped my thinking there and didn't go in.

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?

no no no. You can hear the bear snoring or growling (one of the two, not sure) in a cave...that's enough. It's a fun, wonderful, happy laughing ride, no need to have something jump out!

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?

And yep, once I really started thinking about it...where ELSE would you put a CA themed park?


We love DCA, I smile while there far more than at DL.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

i can NOT be the only person who LOVED DCA the first second i stepped into it, can i? LOL

 

[pixiewings71]

i can NOT be the only person who LOVED DCA the first second i stepped into it, can i? LOL

Absolutely NOT!!!! I loved it from the first moment, we all love it in DCA!!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

ok good.

I was starting to feel like a dork. LOL

Seriously tho, I'll miss it, but I'm excited for change.

 

[pixiewings71]

ok good.

I was starting to feel like a dork. LOL

Seriously tho, I'll miss it, but I'm excited for change.

If you're a dork, I'm a dork!

 

[DLR29]

Our first trip we were pleansantly surprised with the park. We had heard some negative stuff about it, but we really liked it. Actually the first time we went to DCA (2004), I had to use the Single Rider line for Soarin because the rest of my family thought it was "just another simulator". Now, they all love it! I really can't wait for all of these new additions and how they will make an already good park, a great park.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Honestly, if they're gonna revamp I hope they DO change the name. Think about our grandkids in the future learning about DCA and what it was..and what it turned into (Sorta like the ticket books they used to have?)

I can't wait for cars and the little mermaid rides. My son will LOVE cars (well maybe he'll be done with that by then..hmmm)

 

[LavenderPeach]

If you're a dork, I'm a dork!

Hi! Another dork here! I really liked DCA the first time I went too and I was so excited to have a whole new park to explore! We went the first year it opened. Actually we went Sept 10, 2001 (it's easy to remember that exact date). We were there all day and the park was empty! We literally walked onto every ride and I think we did everything. That was also when they first brought back the electrical parade in order to lure people over there. We sat down on a bench along the parade route about 30 minutes before it started and there was hardly anyone else staking out a spot at that time. We actually could have found a great spot right as the parade started but we were tired and wanted to sit so that's why we got our spot early.

But even though I thought it was a lot of fun, I could see there needed to be some improvements made so I'm excited for all the changes.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Hey! I'm a DCA Dork too! People told me it was just ok but I always liked it.

 

[nunzia]

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?

Funny you bring this up. I work part time stocking magazines at a book/entertainment store. I remember reading awhile back an article in Science of Mind about how Disneyland was built on some special place using some combination of numbers and lat/long which was confusing to say the least, but bottom line was that it was a perfect place somehow. I should go to their website and search and see if I can find that article...

I really think they kind of lost the California thing almost immediately...what does Monsters have to do with California, and now, Mermaid? They never developed the Cannery Row type thing well, I see the Hollywood old time era theme works pretty well, but I always thought Radiator Springs was in NM or AZ, but the Route 66 thing works. Maybe it should have been called Pixarland, but that would have driven all of us nuts, and alot of stuff still wouldn't fit..I think the theming will be much more like early Hollywood in the entrance and then, who knows how they'll tie it all in to CA. Nebulous I'm sure, but I wouldn't be surprised at a name change either. It doesn't matter to me..I love the changes and can't wait to see it all come together.

 

[nunzia]

<<<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. >>>

My Disney freak friend and I have been talking about this very thing. Lasseter is this era's Walt in many ways. I have huge respect for him and admiration.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

haha DCA Dorks UNITE!

Yeah I think they should change the name the more I think about it.

 

[Sherry E]

Funny you bring this up. I work part time stocking magazines at a book/entertainment store. I remember reading awhile back an article in Science of Mind about how Disneyland was built on some special place using some combination of numbers and lat/long which was confusing to say the least, but bottom line was that it was a perfect place somehow. I should go to their website and search and see if I can find that article...

I really think they kind of lost the California thing almost immediately...what does Monsters have to do with California, and now, Mermaid? They never developed the Cannery Row type thing well, I see the Hollywood old time era theme works pretty well, but I always thought Radiator Springs was in NM or AZ, but the Route 66 thing works. Maybe it should have been called Pixarland, but that would have driven all of us nuts, and alot of stuff still wouldn't fit..I think the theming will be much more like early Hollywood in the entrance and then, who knows how they'll tie it all in to CA. Nebulous I'm sure, but I wouldn't be surprised at a name change either. It doesn't matter to me..I love the changes and can't wait to see it all come together.

Ooooh! That would be great to see that article! I had never actually heard that about the stats on how and where DL was built being perfect, but to me, as I stated in that previous post of mine, there is something that just feels 'right' about it - with the exception of the crazy bottlenecking in Adventureland - and like everything is where it is supposed to be, for a reason, whereas, even though I really like DCA now, things do feel 'disjointed' in certain areas to me there. Like you said, Nunzia, Monsters doesn't fit into a California theme at all. Nor does Toy Story Mania (my favorite ride). But they would have been perfectly set in a Pixar-themed park. Maybe I could see them say that the Little Mermaid fits into the sort of ocean aspect of California, but it is a stretch. As much as I like DCA now and I have spent an entire day there, there are elements that do not fit or do not click somehow, as you transition from one area to another. But that kind of all makes sense to me now based on what HydroGuy said about the backstory being that DCA was sort of a throwaway park, and it was not fully realized in the way the Imagineers would have wanted it to be, nor did it have the right budget to make it that way.

So I think that DCA can only get better now, if the Imagineers and John Lasseter can finally step in and reimagine it in the way they really want it to be. They can probably make it flow a lot better and give it more of those little kisses of magic that Disney is so well-known for. I have always thought the DCA name was lackluster, and not only do I have a hunch that they will tinker with the name a bit - ever so slightly - in a few years, but I really HOPE they do.

 

[DisneyIsMagical]

Yep, my name is Vanessa and I too am a DCA lovin' DORK!

I like it because it is so different, nice change of scenery...

 

[HydroGuy]

I really think they kind of lost the California thing almost immediately...what does Monsters have to do with California, and now, Mermaid? They never developed the Cannery Row type thing well, I see the Hollywood old time era theme works pretty well, but I always thought Radiator Springs was in NM or AZ, but the Route 66 thing works. Maybe it should have been called Pixarland, but that would have driven all of us nuts, and alot of stuff still wouldn't fit..I think the theming will be much more like early Hollywood in the entrance and then, who knows how they'll tie it all in to CA. Nebulous I'm sure, but I wouldn't be surprised at a name change either. It doesn't matter to me..I love the changes and can't wait to see it all come together.

Yes, but....

DL also has "theme clashes" that get overlooked because of nostalgia or something. Why is Matterhorn in Fantasyland and/or Tomorrowland? Shouldn't it be in Adventureland? Why is Autopia in Tomorrowland? Why is the Columbia ship in the Rivers of America? And boards in Frontierland/NOS?

 

[DLR29]

Yes, but....

DL also has "theme clashes" that get overlooked because of nostalgia or something. Why is Matterhorn in Fantasyland and/or Tomorrowland? Shouldn't it be in Adventureland? Why is Autopia in Tomorrowland? Why is the Columbia ship in the Rivers of America? And boards in Frontierland/NOS?

And THAT is what this DCA expansion is trying to increase in the park that has been lacking in it for quite some time.

 

[brocklesnar69]

I really wish they would build a Mountain Attraction based on Mt. Shasta. That would be wonderful, and it would mirror the Matterhorn nicely.

I think they should replace Monsters, Inc. with a proper E-ticket attraction. Something in the vein of Pirates or Haunted Mansion which will become an instant classic. Western River Expedition would be a great choice to finally realise, not to mention it would fit perfectly!!!!!!!! The "Gold Rush" theme would be amazing!

They should also either bring back the original Country Bear Jambori, or make an updated one to put in with Grizzly River Rapids.


We just need more classic Disney charm added to DCA and less junk.

 

[Albort]

I really wish they would build a Mountain Attraction based on Mt. Shasta. That would be wonderful, and it would mirror the Matterhorn nicely.

I think they should replace Monsters, Inc. with a proper E-ticket attraction. Something in the vein of Pirates or Haunted Mansion which will become an instant classic. Western River Expedition would be a great choice to finally realise, not to mention it would fit perfectly!!!!!!!! The "Gold Rush" theme would be amazing!


We just need more classic Disney charm added to DCA and less junk.

Not much room behind Monsters to really build a e ticket ride.

DCA is building on Walt's roots. I dont think thats considered junk is it? Hollywood is now turned into Walt's past time when he came to hollywood and the sun plaza( or dirt mt) is the theatre where Walt showed his first film... I think Disney wants us to follow his footsteps...

 

[brocklesnar69]

No, no. Anything to do with Walt isn't junk as long as they keep it true to form and make something Walt would be proud of -- in other words, don't dumb it down or guzzy it up too much just for the sake of the kiddos. What I am refering to as junk is the (soon to be) Goofy's Sky School, the Bugs Land area, and the (soon to be) Floating Tire ride (based on Flying Saucers) in Cars Land, etc. All that stuff just comes across as cheap and beneath Disney standards IMHO. It feels more like a quick filler than a true Disney attraction. They should use their space wisely and really try to build something that could be timeless.


Buena Vista Street is something I am really looking forward to. I am SOOO excited for it. I want to see how it stacks up to Main Street U.S.A, and I want to see if it'll have the same magical feel to it; really brings out the emotions.