tired of it!!

[pezhead1976]

I am tired of hearing so many complaints and bad things said about California Adventure. I was made my first trip to Disneyland and California Adventure this past August and loved both parks.

It not only has great rides (Soarin, Screamin', GRR) but the feel of the park is great. The themeing of the park is amazing. It is as good as an other Disney Park - and I have yet to be at one that was not good.

We had a number of days to spend at both parks and took advantage of everything California Adventure had to offer. We stayed at the Grand Californian and often found ourselves heading back into California Adventure in the evening.

 

[WDW2002]

I agree. A lot of people go to DCA expecting another Disneyland, and they are not going to get it. IMO, that is like going to EPCOT and expecting the MK. They are two completley different parks.

 

[roymccoy]

there's got to be SOME reason that they're having to give the tickets away! The old DL parking lot made more money than DCA. (On a lot of days that's a true statement...factoring in the AP's)
We always list the same three rides when we mention DCA...Soarin', Grizzly and Screamin'.
That ain't gonna cut it. It was obvious then and it's obvious now.

Roy

 

[Amusement Park Junkie]

I too agree with PH'76. It's not my favorite Disney park, but I enjoy it more than AK & Epcot. As long as a number of people feel this way, I'll simply enjoy the smaller than anticipated crowds.
I disagree with the parking lot statement, but Disney won't turn it back into a parking lot regardless. They're going to slowly add new attractions, as was the plan from the beginning. I've read that there were more attractions (major and minor) open at the DCA opening than at the MGM opening.
Soarin' gets mentioned a lot because it is one of the most unique attractions at a Disney park (US, at least. I've never visited a park in another country). In my opinion, DCA will have the best 1-2 punch of any Disney park when TOT opens in a couple of years.

 

[cinderellakh20]

I'm glad to hear someone liked it...my DH husband and I are real Disney fans and going next month for the first time on our one year anniversary - we can't wait and think CA Adventure sounds great!!!

 

[Uncle Buck]

On a multi-day stay, DCA makes a nice place to get a way from the crowds on a day you chose to keep short anyway. We were there four days last year and entered the park only once. It's a tweener park with little to do for the under-48" crowd (Flik's may help change that as long as the bugs don't freak-out the littlest ones) or the older crowd.

I love MGM and can see some of the same potential here, but it will take years to develop into a mature park. For now, outside of Soarin', DCA is a "Best of" Knott's with no history behind it.

GRR: Big Foot 10 years later, Timber Mountain Log Ride generations later, no Perilous Plunge
Screamin': Nothing like a real woodie like GhostRider, slower and shorter (height) than Xcelerator.
Maliboomer: shorter than Supreme Scream

History: DCA is the icons, Knott's is the real deal

Don't take this as bashing. I can see what the future can hold. For those of us who can bury the cost of entering this park with the total cost of an extended stay will have a much easier time to justify the admission than DLR's typical one-day-at-a-time local guest.

 

[preshi]

maybe it's cause I've lived here my whole life that I don't care for the themeing? I don't know...

 

[Rodrigo]

DCA is a great park. Soarin over California is amazing! If people want it to be like Disneyland, Epcot, MGM or the parking lot.. then go to Disneyland or Epcot or MGM or stay in the car!!!

 

[hookedup]

I really like DCA - I think it is a nice complement to DL. I do think that buffing up some more attractions would help them but frankly I love the fact it is not so crowded there! Last year we were at DL and it was sooooooo crowded - there was some sort of cheerleading competition going on there, man was it packed! We went over to DCA and it was a nice to get away from the mind-blowing crowds. You know the kind of crowds I am talking about - where even Main Street is packed and you can't find a bench anywhere - after a while it starts making you have sensory overload!
DCA was busy too but NOTHING in comparison to DL that day. I like having a spot I can get a drink of beer if I am in the mood - I guess you can debate the theming all day long but I do think it is a neat place and I am a native Californian!

 

[raidermatt]

If people want it to be like Disneyland, Epcot, MGM or the parking lot.. then go to Disneyland or Epcot or MGM or stay in the car!!!

Judging from attendance reports and all of the discounts being offered, it appears a lot of people are taking your advice...

Personally, I had fun at DCA. But you just can't argue with the facts, which are that attendance is just plain disasterous compared to what was hoped for, or even considered a worst case scenario.

Doesn't mean nobody likes it, but clearly there aren't enough who consider it to be the same caliber park as DL, MK, Epcot, MGM, or even AK.

 

[Michelle]

I too really enjoy DCA, but as locals we were very disappointed when Mondavi and Wolfgang Puck pulled out as sponsors (although we understood the business decision). Since we are so close we would head to DCA for a few hours primarily to eat there, when we could enjoy the Golden Vine Terrace with Mondavi and Avalon Cove with Puck.

Now when we go to DCA (and we still love several rides) we generally leave the park to eat. We definitely do NOT head to the park as a dining destination.

I think the addition of TOT will be a good thing, and this park will slowly grow, just like MGM did when it opened.

 

[MarkRG]

The biggest mistake is the park's name itself is a misnomer. Because of it a lot of natives go in jaded taking their locality for granted. While it has Cali theming, it is definitley NOT just a sample of it.

We went and were quite impressed after all the badmouthing the park gets. We did wind up spending a FULL DAY there. And we are certainly not from California.

We went on all these rides:

• 
  California Screamin'
  Orange Stinger
  Sun Wheel
  The Zephyr
  Golden Dreams
  Soarin' Over California
  King Triton's Carousel
  Muppet Vision
  Hyperion Theater (sorry to hear Blast is leaving)
  Superstar Limo(the only ride that was too cheezy)
  It's Tough to be a Bug
  Disney Animation (makes the Animation studio at WDW pale by comparison)

Now in the evening, we of course picked out a good bench to sit and enjoy MSEP. (yes, I know it's called the Disney Electrical Parade, but I will always call it MSEP no matter where it is) And next to us a person with a small child asks if we'd share, and yes, of course, we're not taking up the whole bench. After a bit we chatted, and lo and behold a local person who only came over from DL to see the parade, disregarding the rest of the park sight unseen, just based on the name alone. Never even considered looking at anything else in the park. After about a half hour discussing rides and such he said that he was going to come back tomorrow and really see the park. I'd really have liked to see what they thought of it after actually participating.

 

[MerryMouseWife]

I am mostly a lurker here, but wanted to chime in on this one.

I have been to DCA and DL twice in the last year. The first time in 11/01 and it was my first time in DCA. I was disappointed that the Mandavi and Puck restaurant were closed. Really wanted to see them. However, having said that, I really liked the park. I happen to love the Beach Boys so loved hearing them in the background. The kids love carnival-type rides and so they loved Paradise Pier. We were there for five days and went into the park for some of each day and spent most of the Saturday we were there in the park.

We went again in June and it was DH's first time in DCA and he really liked the laid back atmosphere. It doesn't have the gotta-do-it-all-now-comando-style atmosphere that can happen in DL, especially in the summer.

I am looking forward to our next trip in November when I go with oldes DD and her BF for their 13th B-day. BF hasn't been to DL since she was five. I think we will have a great time.

Merry

 

[pezhead1976]

i totally disagree with the parking lot comment...

after a whole day and afternoon of being pushed and shoved in DL it was refreshing to come into a park like CA where you had a little bit of room to yourself.

we ate quite a few meals in the park and enjoyed everyone...we were able to grab a corn dog at the corn dog castle and enjoyed every bit...(actually it was too big to finish)...we ate lunch at the pacific wharf and had a huge salad in a fresh bread bowl...

i love the park as it is but i am looking forward to the additions that will be coming soon...my favorite Tower of Terrror!!

 

[raidermatt]

after a whole day and afternoon of being pushed and shoved in DL it was refreshing to come into a park like CA where you had a little bit of room to yourself.

Sure its nice to have a little space... but you only have it because the attendance is so low. Its a catch-22 in some ways. But from Disney's point of view, they need more people paying to get into the park.

 

[year2late]

Since I discovered WDW 5 years ago, I thought our trips to DLR would be few and far between. I am embarrased to say that since DCA opened we haven't thought much about WDW. We love the intimate feel of the parks and downtown Disney. It feels good. It feels cozy. In comparison, WDW seems more like work to me. We will eventually go back to WDW...........

Of course DCA is a work in progress, but heck....so was Disneyland. Trial and error made it so special. It will evolve (probably when our economy does)

 

[Planogirl]

I think that DCA has a lot of potential but would we travel to California to see it? No way. However we certainly would go see that wonderful place next door and intend to again next year. DCA is fine as a diversion when DL gets too crowded but really can't stand up on its own as a theme park IMO.

DCA just had little for us to do. We're not a thrill ride family (even though I often do them on my own ) and some of the attractions were just clones from WDW. Soarin' was wonderful and we thoroughly enjoy seeing the Electric Parade particularly since few other people were watching it. And while that lack of crowds was enjoyable for us, it certainly isn't good for Disney.

DCA will come along as will Animal Kingdom IMO, it's just gonna take some time.

 

[tiggeroo42]

I've been to DCA twice, and I've really enjoyed it both times. I've never understood why so many people dislike it. I love Disneyland, but it's nice to have a whole other park to explore, especially since it's right next door (that's the one thing I don't like about WDW--so much time is wasted traveling between parks!)

On our last trip, I would say we spent almost half our time at DCA. And that's considering we had to spend twice as long in line for rides at Disneyland. Some of the wait times are getting ridiculous over there!

 

[princessKT]

I have been to DCA four times, all four times it was quite crowded and we had to use FastPass to get on things. I love it

 

[honeymom]

DCA exceeded my expectations (very low because of negative attitudes on boards). It's carnival style rides were not typical carnival rides. Each one was carefully thought through as to music, what might make it a more interesting experience, etc. Lines were much smaller than at DL. It had fun play areas for the kids. Soaring was great.

The park is smaller than DL, plus it takes less time to do because the lines are shorter. I don't know that it uses a full day as a destination and is probably best combined with DL, and/or Downtown Disney. I wonder if the lines took longer and it really took all day to see the whole park if people would feel more like they are getting there money's worth.