What's so bad about California Adventure?

[dwaters]

It seems from reading different boards that Disney's California Adventure is not well-liked. I've heard it called a "flop" and a "bomb", etc. It's been a punchline a couple times on "The Simpsons".
Are you sending me to prison?
Worse. Disney's California Adventure. (or something like that)

I went to Disneyland in 2002 but we didn't make it over to DCA. I really wanted to see "Soarin'".
What's the deal? Is is the layout? Is it the attractions? Is it being next door to an all-time classic like Disneyland?
Just wondering.

 

[iceskatejen]

I really don't think there's anything bad about DCA. It's not my favorite Disney park, but I like it just fine. I can no longer spend a full day there, but I've been known to spend a few hours over there. When it first opened, people complained about the lack of attractions, especially for young children. With the addition of Bug's Land, it doesn't have that problem anymore. Others have complained about the carnival type atmosphere of the Paradise Pier section, but as they were theming it after California's seaside amusement parks, the theming works perfectly. It's a better park now than when it first opened.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Personally, I dont have any huge problems with the park. I do think it lacks shade and transportation, but that is minor.

Most people feel: it isnt Disney enough, doesnt have enough "big" rides, lacks "family" rides (either big or kiddie - not much for everyone) the CA theme didnt work like they thought it would, and as they made changes to some areas it lost the theme, many of the original attractions and places to eat closed with in the first year or two. They are slowly reworking the park. We'll see some new logo's, new rides, and some other changes in the next couple of years.

IMO, its a young park, and in time it will be great place rather then just DL overflow. We usually spend one day there, and 2 or 3 at DL.

 

[dizzyami]

We love DCA - we would by no means just go there - but we love to hop over there every day of our trip!! It is the best place to meet the characters - we love Californian Screaming, the Grizzly Rapids and Tower of Terror. The Bugs life movie is great - the kids love the bug rides - and this year we will get to experience the Monsters Inc. ride. We enjoy too the themes that make it unique to California - and we love the fact that it has a hotel in the park!!!

 

[lg3]

IA with above posters on this. I think it gets an undeserved bad rap, but you have to know what you are walking in to. It is just so different from a "typical" day at DL or WDW. We also devote one day to DCA, and are always glad that we do. It is just a more laid back, outdoorsy type of park. We absolutely love Soarin' and think that is worth getting multi-park passes just because of that.

 

[tinkermell]

If you've been to MGM at WDW I would say it's on par with that park. I think even better now that they've added Tower of Terror. The problem is probably the same as WDW. We always like DL better than CA because it is the "Magic Kingdom." I would say most people at WDW like the MK the best over the other parks, because once again it is the "Magic Kingdom." I think another problem was that at first the pricing was the same for both parks. If you had just one day to go to Disneyland Resort, what would you pick? Hum??? DL with a ton of good rides and magical fun or CA which at the time had probably half of the rides for the same price? Well we would always pick DL, which I'm sure most people did. I bet if somebody had to choose just one park at WDW, most would pick the MK. DL Resort finally got a clue and started offering 1 day hopper tickets for people like us, who might just have one day. That way we get the best of both worlds so to say. I would also say that the amusement ride part of the park reminds me of Animal Kingdoms. I think it's cheesey at both parks. But alot of people like them. From what I understand, CA is going to do something about that. We'll see.... Anyways, on our next trip I'm looking forward to both parks. So if you've been to WDW put it in that light. Have fun!

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is the opinion of someone who has visited both resorts recently and has spent time at DCA during four trips over the last 3 years:

1. DLR has a much higher percentage of local visitors than WDW. A lot of these people have Annual Passes (I believe about 600,000). Unlike most WDW AP holders, DLR AP holders visit the park regularly (every month or every week in some cases). They have a much stronger sense of ownership than do WDW visitors. Therefore their standards are much higher for DL and DCA than are WDW visitors. IMO, if any of the Epcot/AK/MGM parks at WDW were built in place of DCA, the criticism would have been similar to that of DCA.


2. DCA does have some chinks. There is a bit of evidence that the park concept was not vetted with Disney Imagineering, and was pushed through on a reduced budget by senior management who had little idea how to build a theme park (BTW, all of these people have since left the Walt Disney Company). The original budget for DCA was $2.1 billion, and was cut to $1.4 billion. Of that, almost half was spent just on the GC Hotel. So only about $700 million was spent on DCA itself. Many knowledgable people would argue that to build a successful Disney park, several billion dollars is required. DL regulars who are aware of this feel like Disney short-changed DL fans and they deeply resent it.

Read this thread for some of the nitty gritty details www.micechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9078


3. Many of DCA's critics claim that DCA is "not a true Disney park". When questioned further, many of them have only ever been to DL and never to WDW. So when they criticize DCA, many of the criticisms could be equally made of the WDW parks. Except they do not know that. Many of them have an unrealistic understanding of what the WDW parks are like.


4. Like MGM and AK at WDW, DCA is really a one day park. However, one difference at DCA is that it is located so close to DL (the gates are within 100 yards of each other) that it is very easy to go back and forth. On my last four trips to DLR, I have never spent an entire day at only one of the parks. In other words, I have parkhopped every single day. And sometimes I have hopped 3-4 times on the same day. So thinking of DCA as a one day park is a bit misleading when compared to MGM or AK.


5. Many people criticize DCA because it has "too few" rides. In fact, it has more rides and more or an equal number of headliners than the WDW parks except for MK. DL fans are spoiled because DL has so many headliner rides - several more than MK even.


6. IMO, most of the DCA criticism comes from locals. Those who visit only occasionally from out-of-state tend to find DCA to be a pretty cool place. Not a great place. But definitely worth their time.


7. DCA attendance has never reached original projections. It was planned to have 7 million a year, and in reality it has only had 5-6 million. And Disney had to make compromises to get that number there, such as changing their AP rules because in its first year no one was going to DCA.


8. In 2005 DCA was the seventh most attended theme park in North America, with 5 of the 6 parks ahead of it Disney parks. Here is a link to the top 25 www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200512/2

1. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 16.1 million, +6.5 percent
2. Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. 14.5 million, +8.5 percent
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 9.9 million, +5.5 percent
4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.6 million, +5 percent
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.2 million, +5 percent
6. Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando, 6.1 million, -8.5 percent
7. Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., 5.8 million, +3.6 percent
8. Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, 5.76 million, -8.5 percent
9. SeaWorld Orlando, 5.6 million, +0.2 percent
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, 4.7 million, -6 percent


Here is a poll I created recently about DCA that might shed further light:

"How Does DCA Compare To The WDW Parks?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1216366

 

[autumnbaby9]

While I like DCA it just doesn't have the "Disney" feel to it. I don't feel immersed into another world while in DCA like I do in DL or the MK. I also have to agree with a pp that there isn't enough shade. While the Paradise Pier section does fit well with the California theme my problem with it is Walt's idea with DL and WDW was to make theme parks that where nothing like the California carnivals. Seems somewhat wrong to me to make one and put his name on it.

 

[jemilah]

I have had more character interaction at DCA
The rides like soaring, TOT, and grizzly rapids make the park special.......ohh I forgot California screaming!
Yes there is a carnival type look............but I bet you have never seen one so clean!

 

[Harmony]

We loved CA! The character interaction was great! The lights at night are wonderful! And the Animation Theatre and Monsters Inc ride...perfect!

However, I can see where some people don't like the "carnival atmosphere" at the Paradise Pier section. Understandable. But still, we had a great time there!

 

[spazzyjazzy]

We love DCA too! Sometimes we spend more time there it seems.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I really like DCA. It's a great park to visit because you can actually relax a little, try a beer or two on the wharf, then stroll to the next attraction. It's just such a nice change of pace after rushing around DL trying to get to all your favorite attractions, grabbing fastpasses, and manuvering in and around the crowds.

It's true that it didn't used to be very "child ride" friendly, but now it has many fun attractions for the kiddies. Our kids (7 & 3) really enjoy a day at DCA.

Also, DH and I actually think DCA is quite pretty. We love all the gorgeous tile work, the fountain, the pier, the wharf, the sunwheel, Grizzly Peak...all of it!

We're really looking forward to seeing how the park evolves over the years. It's already evolved soooooo much already since it first opened, so the next several years ought to be exciting as well...I'm hoping anyway!

 

[mundaremom]

Last year when we were at DL we went to CA for a few hours, we didn't see it all and at first it didn't bother us because we love DL. But after spending the past months reading postings, we have decided that this Nov when we go back we are going to spend some real quality time at CA and really check it out. I am really looking forward to seeing more of CA this time!

 

[monzmom]

We really like DCA. It's grown on me over the years, and now we find ourselves spending a good chunk of time while we're at the parks. My DD & DH spend a lot of time on Screamin' and TOT. My daughter even loves Mullholland Madness.

My advice: go check it out with an open mind. It may not be your favorite Disney theme park, but you'll definitely enjoy it.

 

[M4travels]

Personally, I dont have any huge problems with the park. I do think it lacks shade and transportation, but that is minor.

I do understand the shade portion, but what transportation issue are you speaking about?

Michael

 

[Rence]

I absolutely hated DCA. I went with low expectations and the park didn’t live up to them. I have been to a lot of theme parks all over the country, my day at DCA was my worst theme park visit ever. It is the only time I ever remember being at a theme park that after a few hours, I just wanted to get out.

I didn’t think that the park layout or the attractions were that bad. Not up to usual Disney standards but not awful. Some of the attractions were decent enough.

My big complaint – it was the worst managed theme park I have ever seen. At attraction after attraction, the ride crews seemed incapable of loading the ride at anything near capacity. The all seemed to be standing around in a daze with no idea what to do. The park was busy but the help (I know the correct Disney term is the cast, but using the term ‘the help’ is overrating them) was clueless.

A prime example – there was a horrible little mess where the line for California Screaming blocked access to the fast pass machines – this created a massive mess of a traffic jam with no one quite sure where to go. There was an employee there who was sort of controlling the California Screaming line but not doing anything about the chaos around the fast pass machines. He was just standing there with a vacant expression on his face, he could have simply smiled and pointed to one side “Fast Pass this way, enter here for fast pass” and solved much of the problem. A guest walked up to him and said that it was a mess and that it would really help things if the employee could direct people the right direction. The employee’s response “It’s not my job”. That was the attitude that pervaded the park.

I don’t recall a single employee that had the Disney sparkle, never a friendly smile, never stepping the least bit of their way to give a guest a pleasant experience.

Lunch at the aviation themed restaurant was a disaster. We walked in, there were lines, but not too bad. In less then five minutes we were able to place our order. Our order was basic menu items, nothing special, we then walk up to the counter to get our food, slowly the crowd behind us is pushing in and the backup is getting bigger and bigger. Staff behind the counter is standing – doing absolutely nothing, just staring with a scared “I don’t know what the hell do to look”. Minutes tick by – nothing, no one is getting food. After 15 minutes (this is 15 minutes AFTER our order was placed) we ask if there is anyone actually managing the restaurant – employee just looks at us and shrugs. It was 26 minutes from the time we ordered before our food was served. It must have been sitting back there the whole time because it was ice cold and inedible. I’ve had poor service and poor food at theme parks before but nothing that bad.

At attraction after attraction we saw excessive line jumping. Teens would blatantly hop over a fence to get to the front of the line and then use their cell phone to call their buddies over. A good 25% of every line wait was due to line jumpers. Park security stood there and watched. We asked a couple security guards if they were going to do anything, they just shrugged. We determined that the shrug is the official response of Disney’s California Adventure.

These were not isolated incidents. This was consistent throughout the entire stay. In my mind it is not the park itself that is the problem but rather the management and lack of training of the staff. Whoever is in charge needs to be fired ASAP before the park goes down hill further.

After several hours I couldn’t take it anymore. We were having a miserable time, we enjoyed a few of the rides, once you got past the loading and unloading by the incompetent help. But overall it was my worst experience ever in a theme park. I had seen a few staff at other parks with the DCA bad attitude but I had never seen it park-wide before.

We went over to Disneyland. I was worried because it had been years since I’d been there and I feared that whatever horrible curse had been cast upon DCA might cover the whole DL resort. We were staying at the Grand Californian and the hotel and staff were incredible so it made it even more of a shock that DCA was so bad. We got to DL and it was as great as ever. Every single cast member (and they were cast member) had a smile and that Disney magic. Everyone knew their job and did it well. While we really felt that our presence was an irritant to the DCA employees, we felt truly welcomed at DL.

It will be a very very long time before I set foot in that abomination which is DCA.

 

[iceskatejen]

In the many times I've been to DCA (and it's in the hundreds), I have never once seen anything like you are describing. Almost every CM has been at least pleasant (I've only rarely ever had an issue with one), and doing their job compently.

 

[DLR29]

I don't think it's very Disney when have of the rides are Carnival style rides I can ride anywhere. The low capacity rides means either:
A)Longer lines
B)Shorter ride cycles

Disney tried to make this better by adding MI:M&SttR and ToT and soon to be Midway Madness.

The other problem the park had when it opened was characters. Just ITtbaB and Disney Animation were the only attractions based or featuring a Disney character(other than Muppets). Now they have Block Party Bash, Turtle Talk, Monster's Inc, A Bug's Land which are all kid frinely attractions, another thing lacking from the origianl DCA. Granted I never visited DCA until 2004 but I heard things were bad from 2001-2003.

 

[JosephTNielsen]

I'm with a few other posters. I couldn't stand DCA when I first went. (Notice how I said, "first," so this will have a positive ending - I promise.) I understood that it wasn't supposed to have the BIG, BIG Disney feel to it since it was based on the state, California. However, a few touches of Disney here and there would have helped. Not to mention would it have killed them to have named Grizzly River Run after one of the characters from "Brother Bear?"

Anyway, the other thing that really ruined it for me was that many of the rides or shows were constantly shut down due to "technical difficulties." I won't even begin on the Limo ride. (I'm sure it's been blasted before on this board - I could be wrong though.) ToT wasn't even open until 2004. The Zephyr was shut down most of the time due to minor 5MPH winds. (I really do hope they either revamp that ride or get rid of it.) The only two rides I can clearly remember going on within my first two trips to the park were "Sorain'" and "Grizzly..."

The soap opera thing really turned my stomach. If I wanted to get surrounded by soap operas I would turn on a TV or go to Hollywood, not The Disneyland Resort.

However, through the years I slowly warmed up to it. The staff became more helpful, the bad rides either got revamped or removed, and the Disney "feel" is slowly starting to get implemented (i.e. Monsters Inc., Disney's Electrical Parade, etc.) My partner and I sometimes either go to TDR just for DCA, or we at least spend one full day over there. Like someone else said there's not that feeling of being rushed to get everything in. It's a much more calmer atmosphere.

In the end I would recommend going to DCA. You may not meet all the characters that you'd like to like you would at Disneyland, but you'll definately have a better appreciation for the park now than you would have 5 years ago when it opened.

...Joe...

 

[spazzyjazzy]

In the many times I've been to DCA (and it's in the hundreds), I have never once seen anything like you are describing. Almost every CM has been at least pleasant (I've only rarely ever had an issue with one), and doing their job compently.

I agree with your post.
I am not sure what the other poster is talking about. Not once have I ever seen or heard of anything like that except when I was at Knotts Berry Farm.
Now that was a disaster.