WOW DCA is a MESS!

[lorasmom]

There are walls around a large part of the lagoon - but a large part of it is open and you can see the active construction going on.

It doesn't bother me, since I've just moved here and got an annual pass - I'll be back, and I'm not concerned about it. It just seems significantly messier than anything I've seen at DW in Orlando.

 

[Belle Ella]

Maybe I'm alone in thinking this, but I kind of like the idea of getting to see the phases of how different areas of the park come to be. Yeah, it may detract a little from your trip, but just think how much better it will be the next time you go. Unless you really only ever plan on going once in your life, I don't see the big deal behind it.

 

[erdons]

If you walk towards the side where California Screamin is at there are no walls and you can see the construction going on in the lagoon.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Maybe I'm alone in thinking this, but I kind of like the idea of getting to see the phases of how different areas of the park come to be. Yeah, it may detract a little from your trip, but just think how much better it will be the next time you go. Unless you really only ever plan on going once in your life, I don't see the big deal behind it.

Me too. It is like being a part of disney history! Just think how neat it'll be knowing that you walked in the original DCA park before it was improved upon. But that's just me too.

 

[LavenderPeach]

So is it? Are the walls all the way around the lagoon?

We were there about a week ago and I don't remember walls being all the way around the lagoon but i wasn't paying that much attention since we had already been there a couple of times while the construction was going on. I'm pretty sure there were no walls across from the boardwalk area and in the area where you watch the people take off for CS. I know in January there weren't walls going all the way around.

When there were pictures posted awhile back of DL and the walls up for the Main Street repaving it looked like the whole park was covered with walls but when we saw it in person it didn't seem like that much. There is a lot of construction going on at DCA but I don't think it's as bad as it looks in the pictures.

 

[pixiewings71]

Not all the way, as someone else mentioned the area around Screamin' isn't covered.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I can sort of see both sides of this debate. For someone who travels a long distance to come to DL, of course I would love for everything to be perfect for our trip. But I also realize that, in order for there to be all the fabulous new attractions added to the park that my family and I are looking forward to (counting the days till Cars Land is open!!), there will have to be construction.
I am still incredibly excited about our *possible* upcoming spring trip, and though I am a bit nostalgic about seeing Ariel's Grotto reflected in the waters of the lagoon, I know we will still have a fabulous time, and, let's face it. There isn't enough construction in the WORLD to keep me out of DCA!! And, as far as discounts, unless they are closing rides/attractions, I'm not sure if many people travel to DL simply for the views. For me, it's an added plus, not a necessity.

But, on the plus side, less people at DCA because it's messy, means fewer people, shorter lines and a nicer time for me!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I think seeing the pics will at least prepare someone that a lot of activity is going on at DCA. Could you imagine showing up & not knowing that ahead of time. We're going in 5 days & are going to miss the beauty of the lagoon, but am just darn curious at seeing all the construction that is going on. From pics I've seen the walls are decorated & themed to what's going on & I plan on taking pics of the walls!!! Weird, I know!!!

Walt always said the DL would never be done....and that holds true to the sister park of DCA. We may be disappointed if something is down for refurb or walled up as a change is being put in place.....but everytime you go, you'll find something new & magical. I'll be able to look back on our upcoming trip & say "I was here when the lagoon was empty & they were putting in the new water show". I can't wait to see what's going on there!

I think it's all about attitude. When I go to Disneyland, my attitude is about magic, fun & *+*+*+*+pixie dust*+*+*+*+*.

I hope your friends enjoy their trip & can look past the construction. There is so much more to these 2 parks then that.

 

[evandmp]

I guess what it comes down to is that people have different perceptions of what messy is. Construction confined safely to an area is not messy to me. Trash, disorganization, clutter, that is what I consider messy. As long as I'm not walking through the construction, things are clean, and everything is running smootly, then I don't consider it messy. Some might though but I think it would be pretty hard for an area of contruction to take away much from a trip, especially if you park hop.

 

[mousireid]

I was there this weekend (WOOHOO!) and on the boardwalk bridge (toward Ariels Grotto) was where you could see the actual construction, the entire golden state park boardwalk area was cordoned off with walls of what was to come, adverts and mickey hats (to stop and put your head against, photo op!). It was rather congested to go over the boardwalk bridge but as soon as you were on it the crowds levelled out just fine. There are spaces available where you can see them working away and sure its not pretty but I just looked in the other direction! It was the same in Disneyland on main street with the walls up and the congestion but its temporary. It was different, not bad, not good, just different top see it that way.
We rode plenty rides and enjoyed them anyway Can't wait to see what comes next, eh?
P.S. I would like to put a map of the Grand Californian Hotel on here but cannot. It has room numbers etc. Can someone explain how to post it? Thanks!

 

[Sherwin]

Hey, it's progress.

 

[Disney~Rocks~08]

Hey, it's progress.

and you know what we say about progress...."There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"

 

[Ride Junkie]

I'm just glad they are finally doing something with the lagoon. What a wasted space! I think doing an Illuminations-type water show would be awesome.

 

[Mike_M]

Considering that I fall into the group that thought the original theming of DCA was way under par for Disney, I say bring on the construction. The proposed changes have got me really excited and I'd rather see them take a couple years to do a large chunk of it than spread it out over a longer period to keep the fences to a minimum.

I think once we start seeing the new theme take shape, people will start to forget about the construction madness and will start getting excited for the proper 2nd gate at DLR.

 

[Stacerita]

Last time I was there, the walls were not up around the entire lagoon. And the amount of construction was not huge or noticable to me. Just the construction walls.

 

[WannaBeAPrincess]

I agree that the construction walls, the empty lagoon, etc. are a bummer, but it's all for the greater good. I'm super excited to see DCA complete.
For people who may only visit the park on rare occassions, or are planning a once in a lifetime trip right now, I feel their pain. I only hope that they were aware of the construction before they planned their trip. I would never call DCA a "mess" though. What is behind those construction walls probably would look like a mess to the average observer, but then again, that's why the walls are there, so we don't have to see it.

 

[kikiq]

It would really put off a first timer if they didn't know, paid $75 to go in there and saw that mess!

I actually went to the website and looked at the pictures. Other than the walls around the SF area, the pictures are of the lagoon area drained with construction. FYi, the wiring required for the new show is quite extensive and couldn't be done without the lagoon being drained. The lagoon area is only ONE part of DCA, the back part with TSMM, Screamin' and Paradise Pier. It isn't what they would see right away unless they RAN back to TSMM first. We were with some first timers from Oregon , the youngest boy was thrilled with the construction. They did not think it was a mess. It's not like the walkways are trashy and the landscaping is brown.

My advice to any first timers reading this: Look at the pictures and then look at the DCA map to see where the lagoon is. You are walking around the lagoon and looking into the construction while on Paradise Pier. Should not take away the excitement of riding Screamin' and TSMM and there are other parts of DCA that you don't even see the lagoon.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for everyone who let me know I was only half right.

 

[nancy drew]

I actually went to the website and looked at the pictures. Other than the walls around the SF area, the pictures are of the lagoon area drained with construction. FYi, the wiring required for the new show is quite extensive and couldn't be done without the lagoon being drained. The lagoon area is only ONE part of DCA, the back part with TSMM, Screamin' and Paradise Pier. It isn't what they would see right away unless they RAN back to TSMM first. We were with some first timers from Oregon , the youngest boy was thrilled with the construction. They did not think it was a mess. It's not like the walkways are trashy and the landscaping is brown.

My advice to any first timers reading this: Look at the pictures and then look at the DCA map to see where the lagoon is. You are walking around the lagoon and looking into the construction while on Paradise Pier. Should not take away the excitement of riding Screamin' and TSMM and there are other parts of DCA that you don't even see the lagoon.

At first I was kind of annoyed that the lagoon would (likely) be drained during our upcoming visit, as one of my favorite photos of my kids was in front of the lagoon with the DCA icons (Screamin', Sun Wheel, etc) in the background and I hoped to take another one this year as part of the tradition. But then I realized my son loves construction more than he loves pretty much anything Disney (DD and I are the true Disney freaks, DS goes along with it and enjoys it, and will probably be my adventure ride partner in crime one day, but he isn't internally driven by Disney like we are, he would rather watch movies about trucks). So for him, seeing a lagoon full of diggers and dump trucks or even just men in hard hats with power tools is going to be heavenly. If they could throw a few monster trucks down there and have them smash a few old ride vehicles it would be even better . So he will get his fix, most likely, and DD and I will get ours. And if the lagoon is filled again (anyone know when that's supposed to happen?) then that's good too. But if it isn't, its not such a big deal to me anymore. And I'll still take a photo, to show that we were there during some important changes. And then next time we go, there will be another photo, and more changes. I think it will be cool one day when we can look back at those photos and compare them.

 

[Sherwin]

Darn! Labor day? I guess that's going to be a lot of summer visitors without their lagoon fill. Oh well, like I said! Progress.