RIP Sunwheel :( Who else is Sad

[DoomBugger]

Are you sure, DoomBugger? I definitely read in a couple of articles that a name change is very likely going to be phased in over the next few years. It may not be a drastic name change, could be subtle, but different, from what I read. And when I heard that, I thought to myself, "Well, they changed Disney MGM and they changed EuroDisney, so it is not unheard of." So unless that plan has been changed in the last couple of months, then the last I read was that a name change of some sort is on the horizon eventually...which would make sense because they are trying to make it less about California specifically and more about Disney, right? So if that is still the plan, then a name change would make sense. In fact, aren't they eventually getting rid of the California letters at the entrance to the park? That was in the article I read too. It is just that this is not going to all happen overnight. It will take a few years for everything to subtly unfold.

Yes, I have heard that too but I have my doubts. What would be the point? The confusion they would create and all the explaining about the reasoning for the name change would just be a waste of time. Plus, when you think about it there really isn't a great name out there to justify it anyways. Whenever a name change happens I'm always worried it is going to be a corporate naming-rights cross-promotion deal like if they renamed it "Pixar California Adventure" or "California Adventure Miramax Studios."

California Adventure it is and should always be and no matter how many Pixar / Disney additions they make there is still more than enough California in there that can't and won't be removed. Even Carsland, the future area is total California with the Mojave Desert setting and the cars... LA is Carsland.

The Hollywood backlot, the Condor Flats area, The wilderness area and SF area and the Paradise Pier area are all direct references to California. Hollywood obvious, Condor Flats as a tribute to California's leading place in aviation history, The wilderness / Grizzly Peak area like the Sierra Nevadas / Yosemite areas and Paradise Pier is a tribute to the old boardwalk amusement parks that were very common up and down the California coast during the first half of the 20th century. The Santa Cruz boardwalk is the only surviving example today and PP pays homage to it and the other now lost parks that were the original fun parks of the West Coast.

Plus, the new entrance they are going to build will be a theater and street resembling Los Angeles in the 1920s when Walt first arived in California to begin the dream we are all still celebrating, and living!

I seriously doubt they will change the name of California Adventure but only time will tell.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

DCA better be the name from now and forever!
With a lot of the changes, even though it's going to appeal to the mass majority, it's going to loose it's Cali touch. I love how Mulholland Madness, the Maliboomer, etc. have a Cali reference. With everything turning into Disney & Disney/Pixar, the Cali theme goes away little by little.
So I am very sad that the sun is being replaced bc it's one of the first attractions that you see when you look at Paradise Pier along w/ California Screamin'. Instead of seeing a happy Cali sun, it'll be a happy Mickey which I think would be better at DL. Plus, California Screamin' already has a Mickey. We don't need 2 when we look at Paradise Pier.

 

[DoomBugger]

DCA better be the name from now and forever!
With a lot of the changes, even though it's going to appeal to the mass majority, it's going to loose it's Cali touch. I love how Mulholland Madness, the Maliboomer, etc. have a Cali reference. With everything turning into Disney & Disney/Pixar, the Cali theme goes away little by little.
So I am very sad that the sun is being replaced bc it's one of the first attractions that you see when you look at Paradise Pier along w/ California Screamin'. Instead of seeing a happy Cali sun, it'll be a happy Mickey which I think would be better at DL. Plus, California Screamin' already has a Mickey. We don't need 2 when we look at Paradise Pier.

There will still be plenty of California no matter what they do. The mickey on Cali Screamin' is to be removed so we will have the one Mickey on the ferris wheel. Personally I think the sunwheel looks great the way it is.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

There will still be plenty of California no matter what they do. The mickey on Cali Screamin' is to be removed so we will have the one Mickey on the ferris wheel. Personally I think the sunwheel looks great the way it is.

What?!? I love the California Screamin' Mickey. It's so glowy. I know that there's still the Cali theme, but the only real Cali addition is the front. Other than that it's just Cars and the Little Mermaid and blah blah blah.

 

[Sherry E]

What?!? I love the California Screamin' Mickey. It's so glowy. I know that there's still the Cali theme, but the only real Cali addition is the front. Other than that it's just Cars and the Little Mermaid and blah blah blah.

The message I got from reading articles in our local SoCal papers about it last year and early this year is that the idea was to sloooooowly phase out the California-specific theme, get rid of the California sign and eventually change the name (whether they do or not remains to be seen!) and make it more like Disneyland. So the Cars and Little Mermaid stuff would fit into that idea. I definitely think it is lacking some sorely-needed Disney-fication and Disney magic in certain spots. I don't feel that sense of Disneyland magic when I am in DCA, although there are some great things about it. As stated in a previous post, to me, it hasn't found its proper flow or balance yet. Personally, I like to see the Mickey in Screamin' and I wish they would leave that alone. I think that would look better than a giant Mickey on the Sunwheel. I like the whole look of the Paradise Pier area from the street. I really think they should leave that as its own land and not touch it, but as Doom Bugger said, there are so many other California things throughout the park. I think they are trying to Disney-fy PP and leave some of the other things alone and then throw in a dash of Pixar and other things, and I don't know what will become of it all. Honestly, to me, it sounds like if they are trying to make it less about California and more about Disney, their plans for the next five years are not extensive enough, really, when you think about it. They would have to change the entire park to do that, and that would far exceed the billion dollars they are spending on this project. They can't do that. It all seems kind of poorly laid out plan to me, like a big mish-mash of ideas. I still get the feeling that Disney really doesn't know what to do with this park, even though they have a plan, overall. I mean, there are people who like really DCA and there are those who think it was an ill-conceived park to begin with. I just hope that whatever direction it takes, it doesn't get worse!

And I, too, think they should spend some money in figuring out what to do with the People Mover track in DL...or just bring back the People Mover!

Time will reveal all.....

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

We just got home from a quick trip... As of last night at 8 PM the Sun Wheel is still opened for business..... it is still the Sun Wheel... No signs of construction, no signs of it being put to rest....

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

The swinging gondolas on the Sun Wheel are pure pure terror. ToT have nothing on those evil devils. I have never been so scared in my life while riding that, I was screaming the whole time..

hahahahaha evil devils. i totally agree!! i cried both times i went on them, and had to get off before the ride finished. i dont know why i keep going back on that thing! i guess i like scaring myself

Can I just say that calling it "Mickey's Fun Wheel" is just Disney lying to us? There is nothing fun about that ride, nothing.

I just keep imagining all the poor, trusting little children that will be clamoring to ride that thing because Mickey's face is on it.

yes! it should be called mickeys wheel of terror! i definitely dont get the "fun" vibe while on that thing lol

 

[jernysgirl]

What?!? I love the California Screamin' Mickey. It's so glowy. I know that there's still the Cali theme, but the only real Cali addition is the front. Other than that it's just Cars and the Little Mermaid and blah blah blah.

From what I have heard from the rumor mill.... The plan was to replace the sun on the Sun Wheel with a giant Mickey face/head and to replace the Mickey head on Screamin' with a sun & PP logo. Tell me....... how much of a waste of money is that? "Hey let's just change the logos of the rides and people will think it's brand new!!!"

I personally think that the Sun Wheel and Screamin' are two of the most iconic parts of DCA (not the only places, but definitely two of the top). I think that it is kind of silly they are spending all this money on simply re-themeing rides instead of building more. (Turning Orange Stinger into Sily Symphony swings, Mulholland Madness into Goofy's something... ?) That has always been my complaint about DCA. There just wasn't a lot to do. Too many shops & restaurants compared to rides. And I didn't even mind most of the time because DCA was such a nice break from the hustle and bustle of DL.

I do not think they are spending their money wisely on the DCA revamp. I know I will still go, regardless, because DLR is always special, but I do not think that DCA is going to get the popularity they are hoping for.

 

[Sherry E]

From what I have heard from the rumor mill.... The plan was to replace the sun on the Sun Wheel with a giant Mickey face/head and to replace the Mickey head on Screamin' with a sun & PP logo. Tell me....... how much of a waste of money is that? "Hey let's just change the logos of the rides and people will think it's brand new!!!"

I personally think that the Sun Wheel and Screamin' are two of the most iconic parts of DCA (not the only places, but definitely two of the top). I think that it is kind of silly they are spending all this money on simply re-themeing rides instead of building more. (Turning Orange Stinger into Sily Symphony swings, Mulholland Madness into Goofy's something... ?) That has always been my complaint about DCA. There just wasn't a lot to do. Too many shops & restaurants compared to rides. And I didn't even mind most of the time because DCA was such a nice break from the hustle and bustle of DL.

I do not think they are spending their money wisely on the DCA revamp. I know I will still go, regardless, because DLR is always special, but I do not think that DCA is going to get the popularity they are hoping for.

You are right - switching the Mickey heads from one ride to another is a waste of money. And they should leave that whole specific area alone because those rides are integral to the landscape. I agree - I think they need to add a lot of things and make changes to the park but I suspect they are spending the money on the wrong things, too. I just sort of feel like they are throwing darts and hoping they hit their target. It wouldn't be this way if Walt Disney were in charge - he would know exactly what to do and what people wanted! I don't know - I won't pre-judge. Perhaps I will LOVE DCA (or whatever it ends up being called) and what they have done with it in a few years, but I think they might be misfiring.

 

[renderman7]

The message I got from reading articles in our local SoCal papers about it last year and early this year is that the idea was to sloooooowly phase out the California-specific theme, get rid of the California sign and eventually change the name (whether they do or not remains to be seen!) and make it more like Disneyland. So the Cars and Little Mermaid stuff would fit into that idea. I definitely think it is lacking some sorely-needed Disney-fication and Disney magic in certain spots. I don't feel that sense of Disneyland magic when I am in DCA, although there are some great things about it. As stated in a previous post, to me, it hasn't found its proper flow or balance yet. Personally, I like to see the Mickey in Screamin' and I wish they would leave that alone. I think that would look better than a giant Mickey on the Sunwheel. I like the whole look of the Paradise Pier area from the street. I really think they should leave that as its own land and not touch it, but as Doom Bugger said, there are so many other California things throughout the park. I think they are trying to Disney-fy PP and leave some of the other things alone and then throw in a dash of Pixar and other things, and I don't know what will become of it all. Honestly, to me, it sounds like if they are trying to make it less about California and more about Disney, their plans for the next five years are not extensive enough, really, when you think about it. They would have to change the entire park to do that, and that would far exceed the billion dollars they are spending on this project. They can't do that. It all seems kind of poorly laid out plan to me, like a big mish-mash of ideas. I still get the feeling that Disney really doesn't know what to do with this park, even though they have a plan, overall. I mean, there are people who like really DCA and there are those who think it was an ill-conceived park to begin with. I just hope that whatever direction it takes, it doesn't get worse!

And I, too, think they should spend some money in figuring out what to do with the People Mover track in DL...or just bring back the People Mover!

Time will reveal all.....

no they are not re-naming the park. nor are they taking away the california theme. they are just taking into the 1920's. Which was the decade in which Walt came out to california.

look at this for more..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCsmQPwxiP8

its the most acurate account of whats happening.. in a nice video anyway.

 

[DisDancerina]

That ride looks scary! I have no desire to ride it. I always go on something sane like Tower of Tower or Screamin instead.

We just got back from DLR yesterday night. The ride itself is not going anywhere or changing. The only change will be the swapping of the sun face for a giant mickey head. So, for all of you foolish mortals that haven't tried it yet, or actually find it enjoyable rather than terrifying, it will be back in due time!

The swinging gondolas on the Sun Wheel are pure pure terror. ToT have nothing on those evil devils. I have never been so scared in my life while riding that, I was screaming the whole time..

I should have known it was scary. The little girl who came off the swinging gondola right before we boarded puked all over the floor on the loading area....

I am going to miss it for awhile, it does make Paradise Pier pretty...

Can I just say that calling it "Mickey's Fun Wheel" is just Disney lying to us? There is nothing fun about that ride, nothing.

I just keep imagining all the poor, trusting little children that will be clamoring to ride that thing because Mickey's face is on it.

My 4 year old is terribly disappointed that he will not be able to ride it when we go in Dec. He was in line with us to ride it, but had to go to the bathroom. I think he might have enjoyed it more than my 6 yr old who had a death grip on me. I think he was glued to me - with super glue. Thank goodness the fireworks started up while we were on it so he could be distracted.

I personally liked it. I really want to try the stationary gondolas since they go soooo much higher.

I'm personally scared to death of it. My age-old parents don't get why, but I was crying in their laps. It was pretty bag. I'm not good with heights since I rode that. Let me just say, never again.

omg.. how can so many people dislike a wonderful ride. i love the sun wheel, and to me it will always be the sun wheel, mickeys face on it or not. i truely can not see how a giant mickey head though fits into the theming a victorian paradise pier..

also why remove the mailboomer.. thats a great ride.. if they are taking away any rides it should be the golden zypher.. its not even golden..

and i beleive the orange zinger is being rethemed as well.

either way i love the sun wheel and maliboomer and i am shocked to see the treatment of them.

If the orange zinger (One of my favorite rides there other than Cali Screamin) is remodeled it should be like in the shape of a mickey head, but we sould be soaring through the clouds of imagination <3 Just like Walt did.


LOL.

 

[keegro94]

no they are not re-naming the park. nor are they taking away the california theme. they are just taking into the 1920's. Which was the decade in which Walt came out to california.

look at this for more..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCsmQPwxiP8

its the most acurate account of whats happening.. in a nice video anyway.

i watched that whole video. the thing that will be cool about the new dca is carsland and they are draining the lagoon and putting a amazing looking belligio style water show.

 

[TravelNicholas]

We just got home from a quick trip... As of last night at 8 PM the Sun Wheel is still opened for business..... it is still the Sun Wheel... No signs of construction, no signs of it being put to rest....

I was pleasantly surprised to find it up and running all weekend as well!

 

[renderman7]

i watched that whole video. the thing that will be cool about the new dca is carsland and they are draining the lagoon and putting a amazing looking belligio style water show.

yeah the water show will be amazing.. but i just hope its not like illuminations.. i want it to be so different and must see show only at DLR