What's wrong with DCA?!

[PrincessYessenia]

So I've never been to DLR but will be taking my first trip in June with my mom!...Anyways, for the past few months since we first made our plans I've been doing research on DLR every single day, and the same thing I see everywhere is how DCA is not even half as good as DL...I'm just curious as to why. I'm already expecting to be disappointed because of everything I've read and now I'm pessimistic Can ANYONE tell me their personal opinion as to what exactly all the complaining is about? I'm already upset that the "pond" (for lack of better word) will be drained and empty, and now I hear there will be some ride closures as well. But judging from the pictures I've seen it just doesn't seem very "Disney" to me...idk...I guess I will see when I get there? Let me know what you think!

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

Well first of all, DCA is in the middle of a MAJOR facelift so its hard to judge on it right now especially since its going to be under reconstruction for a while (including during your trip). I personally like DCA. Its hard to compare the two places just because DL is the first park. There is a lot of history behind it & naturally people are going to be prejudice when looking at the two places, but they are different for sure.

I say, enjoy it for what it is and look for the hidden gems in that park, because there are some. For example, go on these attractions for sure: Monster's Inc., Tower of Terror, Grizzly River Run, Soarin' over California, California Screamin, and Toy Story Mania Midway. These attractions are absolutely fantastic.

Also, you HAVE to watch the Aladdin musical. Its absolutely magical. Not to mention, it is so wonderful to be in the Animation building (especially if you're a big art buff or a fan of the movies). There is so much to discover in there, if not just to see the huge screens that display art from various Disney movies.

There is also It's Tough to Be A Bug, its a show like Honey I Shrunk the Audience, and its sooo fun Then they put the Electrical Parade in DCA and the Pixar Parade is too cute (if its still around when you are there). So there is PLENTY for you to enjoy. Most people complain about the place because it doesn't compare to DL, but what can? That place is way too much to live up to. I hope this helps

 

[mechurchlady]

The only construction is at the wharf and around the bay. You do not se any of that at the Rapids, Soarin, Hollywood area, or the Bug's Land area. I had the time of my life indoors on Toy Story for example. People are enjoying themselves despite the closures. Currently only thing I saw down was the carrousel and SunWheel which will open this next month.

I saw kids running and old ladies munching on snacks happy and not worrying about the construction. The Sun Wheel was an unforeseen event and was supposed to open this month. I hear the screams on Screamin and watch the baby oblivious to the construction.

It is not so pretty right now but if you get yourself enmeshed in the site and have fun then you forget about the mess. I would do DCA any time if I could especially Toy Story Mania.

 

[mystic_path]

Dont be disappointed at all! DCA is a great park. True it is not as exciting as DL park but there is still LOADS to take in. Its a great park to head to during the mid afternoon rush when the main DL park gets a bit crowded.

California Screaming, Tower of terror, Grizzly River Run, a bugs land and its 3D show, Soarin over California, Pixar Play Parade, Aladdin Musical, Animation Studio, Muppets 3D vision, Monsters Inc. , Mickey's Fun wheel, Electrical parade, etc. There is still lots more to list but its an idea as to what you can do and see there. Its a wonderful and beautiful park. Granted there will be some renos going on during that time, but ignore the fences that surround it and enjoy.

If anything think of it that you get to see DCA the way it Originally was before the MAJOR MAJOR renos hit, such as the new park entrance, building facades etc. Perhaps if you go back for a 2nd trip you will get to see the park newly renovated with new lands and all the other brand new things to see. It will make it fun for you to compare how it was before and after.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

wow, that helps a lot, THANX! I understand it's a very young park and things aren't always perfect from the beginning. Sometimes it takes time to perfect something! I'm just kinda sad that all this will be happening while I am there , but it's going to better the park, so I can't complain! Hopefully the next time I go back it will be much better, even though it IS going to to take an adequate amount of time to get everything done.

I just hope the CALIFORNIA letters are still there at the entrance when I go! I've been dying to take a picture there. I just think it was a great idea, but apparently it'll be gone for good soon, although I haven't really heard of an exact time window when the entrance will start to undergo all the work. If you don't mind me asking, how are the lines for the rides? Very long? I've been to WDW tons of times, and it has a few of the same things DCA, like Tower of Terror (although I'm sure the one there has it's own special quirks), It's Tough to be A Bug, and Soarin', but they never get old!

 

[Teki]

Well for many people nostalgia plays a big factor in there love for DL, DCA lacks that. Second, many people think that its a little redundant to have a california park in california, including alot of locals (I happen to like it though). Lastly alot of people feel its a little disjointed or doesnt flow well. The park itself I think is actually really good, but to each there own.

 

[Quilter007]

We love DCA. It's a great place to go when DL is too crowded. Don't forget to go to the Animation bldg. DCA has more "just hang out & relax" areas. If you are in ride-mode, then DL is better. But after a couple of days of maximizing fastpasses, DCA is a good change of pace. I always look forward to eating at the Wine Country Trattoria (sp??) - that place by the Blue Sky Cellar. It's just darn good! The rapids are great. Love the Redwood Creek area. I've done Soarin so many times that now I just ride it to close my eyes & rest my feet.....darn it -- that just makes me sound old! We also love the Bugs Life movie. There always seems to be a group in there that have never seen it before and it's just so funny!

We also like going on the rapids w/ first-timers. We've got our kids in on the joke with us -- as we're going up the first slope, we tell them that the first drop is really surprising and watch them sweat it out all the way up....then we laugh hysterically at the little plop when they scream like they are going to die!

My biggest concern w/ DCA is that once they get all the new stuff in, then everyone else is going to go & clog it up! That's why we bought VGC -- so we'd be able to get a room w/ a view of the World of Color show. I know I'm not going to want to fit w/ 8000 people for a spot!

 

[PrincessYessenia]

I wanted to treat my mom to Wine Country Trattoria, and since you seem to like it so much I guess I will be going!

 

[Sherwin]

Not only to commemorate California, but DCA was also meant to supplement the growing Pixar culture.

 

[paperdoll1986]

Here is the thing. I try to appreciate DCA for it's good points, I do. But it just isn't.......

ok, honestly, it sorta has the feel of some other company trying to build a Disney park.

It's not that it's bad, but for one thing, for a locals resort (technically) everything it portrays as a park is just a short drive away.

And after going to WDW, I can see where it was trying to insert some of Epcot's philosophy into the park, edutainment-wise, but suffered somehow in the translation.

I've grown to love it in some ways, but really, it just tries to ride too thin a line between "historically accurate" and plain "Disney-ish".

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I did a segment on this one the 2nd Disneyland edition of the podcast about 1 month ago. (you can get the show off iTunes or from the Podcast link at the bottom of the page).

One of the things to understand is that the park is designed more like a WDW park and not Disneyland. People didn't get the theme or the stories to the different areas and how it was all supposed to be tied in together.

The theme is that the "lands" of the park represent the things that California was known best for in it's Golden Era of expansion (1930s-60s) - Hollywood, the nature and agriculture, and the pier amusement parks - which were as famous as Coney Island, but are now heading for extinction.

The park is spread out and has fewer attractions - where as DL's attractions are placed quite close and intimately. That was one of the early culture shocks for a community that has (mostly) never travelled to WDW. The visual lack of attractions and the early phyisical lack of attractions created a lot of bad press for the park early on that has never really died.

Now that this construction is happening, the bad press is back. I think your best bet is to decide to listen to what folks have to say and then throw it all out the window - pro and con. Open your mind, go for yourself and just let it seep in slowly. Then decide which camp you belong to!

 

[PrincessYessenia]

All of you have been so much help! Thanx!

 

[WonkaKid]

Here is the thing. I try to appreciate DCA for it's good points, I do. But it just isn't.......

ok, honestly, it sorta has the feel of some other company trying to build a Disney park.

Seconded! There's nothing wrong with DCA but DL is in a completely different league: it's like comparing the Yankees with the corner tavern softball club ;-). Definitely go to CA because there are some cool rides but, truth be told (and why not? ;-)), DL is worlds away.

Hope this helps .

Rob (relatively new poster).
Chicago

 

[Mike_M]

Another positive note to keep in mind is that due to the closeness of the two parks to each other and the fact that most people get park hoppers anyways it feels more like an extension of disneyland than a seperate park. (This is also though where much of the critisizm comes from too since it is physically an extension but not thematically consistant with DL) It's not like WDW where you are usually going to experience one park per day. You can easily go back and fourth between the two parks here. If you want to ride HM and then ToT, it's just a short hop over to DCA and you're there. You can plan a day at DCA and still make reservations for Blue Bayou on the same day.

 

[avalon451]

I love it, but then I think I love it BECAUSE it is very different from the park across the Esplanade. DL is so packed with detail, so much to see and so much to do-- you feel kind of overwhelmed. I mean... just look at Main Street. Not even any rides, but you have enough to see there that you could hang just on Main Street all day, looking, and never ride rides. Also, the park is so small to have so much packed into it, and the traffic flow problems are epic! It gets difficult just to move in the mass of humanity there!

So when you can't take the crowds any more, then you stroll over to CA. Suddenly everything is open and sunshine-filled. There's great music playing (ok, I'll say it, I can get REALLY sick of "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "California Dreamin'" can be a great change!) and people are strolling instead of shoving. There's great rides, places to relax, good food.

I do think the layout is kind of cockeyed; it's frustrating when you're over by Screamin' to see ToT so close but you can't get to it through Bug's Land. And GRR is far away from everything except the Grand Californian Hotel entrance. It would be nice if there were more of a central hub, like in DL. But... other than that... I love it, and take it for what it is-- a very different aspect of Disney from Walt's Park.

Also, I can get a margarita or a beer and walk around with it. Can't do that in Disneyland!

 

[Sherry E]

I can see that many of us are thinking along the same lines and have similar views on DCA. Let me first state that I DO like DCA very much now and it is a MUST for me on every DLR trip because it holds two of my all-time favorite rides: Toy Story Mania and Soarin. I can't miss those, so I will always be going into DCA as long as those rides are there. It also does not hurt that the Monsters Inc. ride is there and that they are building the Little Mermaid ride. A Bug's Land has some very Disney-type hidden gems if you take the time to look (and listen!) around. The Aladdin show is definitely great and worth seeing. The Animation building has some really cool things in it. There are a lot of things to love about DCA once you get used to it. I have to it admit that it grew on me. I was underwhelmed when I first visited DCA, but the more time I spent there, the more I liked it. I was originally opposed to the idea of a California-themed park in California, and to be honest, I still kind of think that theme was a misfire and they should have taken a different direction with DCA 10 years ago, but it is what it is, and they cannot totally revamp the entire park from top to bottom without major interference and money involved, so I have to accept what it is and what it becomes. And it does have a LOT of great things about it. It is also a fabulous place to escape to when you are trying to get away from the masses of people inside of DL. Also, Taste Pilots Grill is a great little counter service restaurant and Wine Country Trattoria is a lovely table-service place to eat. Off the Page and EnginEars are great stores.

Now, all of that said, even though I will be continuing to visit DCA for as long as my favorite rides are there, in my opinion it doesn't have the right 'flow' to it. It almost seems as though they need a special Disney feng shui expert to come in and rearrange things! It feels to me like a park that is trying to develop an identity that lives up to its original concept. There are lots of areas in between and around rides that need some serious kisses of that special Disney magic (which DL has by the ton!) that they currently just do not have...but I am hoping that in time they will become more magical. I like that DCA has its own personality separate from DL, but it is still underdeveloped. I question some of the additions and changes that are taking place, but I will keep an open mind. That is the bottom line - go in with an open mind and enjoy the great rides, shops and restaurants that are there, realizing that it is not a carbon copy of DL, nor is it supposed to be, but it IS a work in progress!

 

[disney4metoo]

Dont be disappointed at all! DCA is a great park. True it is not as exciting as DL park but there is still LOADS to take in. Its a great park to head to during the mid afternoon rush when the main DL park gets a bit crowded.

California Screaming, Tower of terror, Grizzly River Run, a bugs land and its 3D show, Soarin over California, Pixar Play Parade, Aladdin Musical, Animation Studio, Muppets 3D vision, Monsters Inc. , Mickey's Fun wheel, Electrical parade, etc. There is still lots more to list but its an idea as to what you can do and see there. Its a wonderful and beautiful park. Granted there will be some renos going on during that time, but ignore the fences that surround it and enjoy.

If anything think of it that you get to see DCA the way it Originally was before the MAJOR MAJOR renos hit, such as the new park entrance, building facades etc. Perhaps if you go back for a 2nd trip you will get to see the park newly renovated with new lands and all the other brand new things to see. It will make it fun for you to compare how it was before and after.

I agree wholeheartedly!

 

[bumbershoot]

We pretty much like DCA *more* than DL, so you weren't reading my trip reports.

bug's land is better than Fantasyland for kids (nothing scary (except tough to be a bug, which we have easily avoided) unlike much of FL), DCA's walkways are nice and wide, I love the music there. Grizzly is one of the best rides ever; unless you're with a huge group, you're veyr likely to be seated with strangers, and the camaraderie that develops on the ride, and the shared laughs, are precious to us.

We still haven't done everything in DCA; we are much closer to the "everything" mark in DL.

They have the Animation Academy there!


When we were doing our one day trips from longer visits to my brother in San Diego, we avoided DCA b/c it seemed stupid. A CA themed park in CA? And then finally we went for a longer stay and hopped b/c of course normal tickets over one day are hoppers automatically, and oh did we regret avoiding it! A CA theme in CA didn't bug us anymore...where *should* a CA themed park be? In Wisconsin? What sense would THAT make?

And when I lived in CA (born and raised there until I ran away at 17 b/c I despised it so much) we could never afford to go anywhere in CA anyway...only a couple short trips to Disneyland in 17 years...my dad lived in Santa Cruz so I saw redwoods, but only b/c his house was "in" them...never went to Yosemite, etc...so just b/c things are closeby doesn't mean everyone sees them, so a CA themed park in CA is just fine with me.


Everyone was talking about how messy the construction was, but when we were there in Dec, I noticed that most of it is "covered" from our eyes by bright, colorful, fun walls. There's one part where the walls got a little claustrophobic, but in that spot there was no real choice. There are areas where you can see construction, and sure it's not as pretty as it is when the lagoon is there, but it's still fascinating. Though I do have a 4 year old boy, so my ideas of fascinating might be different now than they were a few years ago.


Go, enjoy! Ride Monsters and sniff out the pickled ginger as you enter the sushi restaurant, draw some characters at the Animation Academy, ride TSMM (another Best Ride Ever...I can't make up my mind between it and Grizzly!), ride Grizzly (wear a poncho and put your valuables in the free and secure lockers!!!!!), and have a great time!

 

[PigletGurl]

Look, I will put it simple. There is NOTHING wrong with DCA. It's totally awesome!

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

I always have a great time at DCA. I remember not liking the park so much when it first opened because I thought it was a little boring. However, now I like it more and more everytime. In fact, after I don't know how many visits to DCA, just this past February we went into the Animation for the first time. I didn't even know it was there!!! Thanks DIS! It was so much fun in there. I have found that to be true for most of DCA, you have to look a little harder for the magic than at DL.

Plus, they do have excellent margaritas and an entire bar for relaxing and getting away from the crowd!