WOW DCA is a MESS!

[PinkBudgie]

The picture on my desktop is one I took of the Lagoon last summer at night. So pretty with all the lights. It will have to hold me over until they fill it again.

Of course I prefer it filled but a part of me likes to see how things are done/made. I like peeking behind construction walls to see what's going on.

I remember looking through the little windows in the walls when they were buidling DCA. They just had that big orange there and we couldn't figure out what that would be. And the prospect of DTD was so exciting!

If going to DLR would be probably be a once in a life time deal, then I would wait until it was finished too. I've never been to WDW and if we do get to go, I couldn't count on being able to go again because it is so far away and expensive. If I found out that one of the parks there was undergoing major renovations that would make it so awesome afterwards, I'd wait too.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think if people are going to be spending a lot of money to visit the Disneyland Resort, or if their trip is going to be their first experience, then wait until 2012 when things are finished. I was there with my cousins this past weekend, and there was a lot of construction at DCA. We still did a lot there, and spent our whole Saturday there, but with the construction around the lagoon and the area around Pacific Wharf boarded up, I could see how first-timers, or even repeat visitors who rarely make it out to the DLR could be really disappointed.

My cousins were a little shocked that California Adventure is changing so dramatically, so I told them we can always play the "remember when" game after the transformation.

 

[noga]

Well we just got back from being there a whole week.
I didn't think it was a mess. There is work going on and it's nothing different then when any new ride, attraction or whatever goes in at any kind of park.
It was a very, very busy weekend and it was awsome during the week.

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

We were there two weeks ago, it was everyone's first time being in DL and sadly, we did only spend one day in DCA however, I have to say that I didn't mind the construction because it kept everyone else away and we were able to do everything but Muhullond (sp?) Madness and Monsters before my friends left at 1.

However, one of the people I was with did say there was a distinct LACK of Disney feel to that side of the park, and I had to agree! But with the refurb I do think that feeling will change, although I'm still a little miffed I didn't get to have a picture with the Mickey Head in the background (of Screamin' that is)

I'm not sure what is down at the moment but the only thing that wasn't running while we were there was the Sunwheel! IMHO DCA was still a lot of fun! Plus, it gives me an excuse to go back before 2012, just to chart the progress for myself

Then naturally in 2012 as well!

 

[bumbershoot]

It occurs to me that I might not be bothered by it b/c I have a 4 year old son.

And that lagoon looks better than the street outside our condo building.



I was thinking about our trips last night, and remembered that our first trip as adults was in '05, and I kept the park map...the park map is HUGE and announces that Space Mountain is BACK, and I didn't even get that at the time, only found out later on that it had been closed entirely for *years*.

So I'm definitely happier with things being imperfect, rather than entirely closed... (not that one could have had Space being entirely refurbished and open at the same time, this isn't really apples to apples here)

 

[mechurchlady]

DCA IS A MESS!

Some things that I learned on my last trip and experienced.

Have you ever been to a place with someone that loves something a lot like music or art? Have you ever seen someone act like a kid and go gaga over something? Have you ever seen the parks from a newbie's eyes? The awe and wonderment of the parks outweighs the walls, dust, and empty lake.

My friend loved the flowers at the winery and blissfully savored a Mickey Bar while taking in the view of what someday we will get to do. Dreams forming in his head and me watching him happy just setting in an ECV eating and staring blissfully at the park.

It is the newbie who sat there sucking on rib bones and munching on onion rings and yammering on and on about all he had seen and done. It is the newbie who stares and a plane and has to stop and see Cruella. It is that child like awe and wonder at the characters, shows and rides.

My friend did not see the things that are gone from Disneyland like the peoplemover, keel boats, Indian Village, flying saucers, Captain Eo, and America Sings. He did not see the missing things or the changes that I who have gone there for over 46 years saw. He is not engulfed in the emotions that I feel like the hate speech of pin traders, the kiss in the garden with whatshisname, seeing the fireworks from the Mark Twain, the parties, the gone friends, and the happy times with friends pin trading, eating, and playing.

My friend is in a whole new world and he does not see the Big Thunder Ranch as closed but sees a path to who knows where, fantasmic is where we stopped and he was more excited and rambunctious that the kid behind me who had some mental challenge. That boy was so into the show that he did not know he was getting a bit loud but boy was he seeing the magic and not the dust.

OMG DCA IS A MESS
Pshaw I go for the magic and love and friendship and food and will continue to enjoy the blow by blow talking of a handicapped kid and the reactions of my friend. I attack the parks but now I have to stop for each new thing and let him enjoy it. It is not like me to not see most of both parks but he is blissful so I am happy even if I am setting doing nothing new or exciting as I am blissful in the bliss of others.

 

[DLR29]

If you think that this thread is an example of nasties, you haven't spent a lot of time on the WDW boards.

Is DCA a mess? Depends on your definition. Should it be closed? Ummm, no?? because currently the only ride/attraction down is Mickey's Fun Wheel. Currently, DL has no parades or fireworks running as well as the Matterhorn Bobsleds with the Mark Twain and the Carousel to be scheduled to go down in the next week. Along with that, DL has many huge construction walls along Main Street and back by Frontierland. Should DL offer a discounted admission too? No.

My question is do these construction walls/work on the lagoon really distract a significant amount from the experience?? It's not like Screamin is less fun because I can glance off to the side and see a large cement construction site. If that bothers you, then you also shouldn't look to the other side and see the urban jungle of Anaheim which might take away from the "experience".

 

[QueenDoOver]

Hey, just got back from 7 days in both parks. We had an absolutely fabulous time, best trip ever. I was worried about the walls from all the pictures and the talk but for us, it did not detract at all. In fact it just makes me really excited to get back and see all the wonderful new things that will be there to experience the next time. I love your post mechurchlady.

 

[marsrunner]

Its a mess alright. It has been since it opened. The "mess" there now is them trying to clean up the mess they made when they did such a poor job of designing the place in the beginning!
All my opinion of course. I'm glad the walls are up and they are making improvements. I can't wait to see what it looks like when its finished. It certainly won't detract from any of the attractions in the meantime!

 

[amyamya]

Just looked at the pictures and WOW! that is some major construction! I have to chuckle when I see the empty lagoon and wonder what they found when the drained the water out. I know they found a Cinderella slipper in there because my DD4 was leaning over to watch her Dad take off on Screamin' after our lunch with Ariel and her shoe fell in the lagoon! She cried but we told her she was even more like Cinderella with the missing slipper!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Just looked at the pictures and WOW! that is some major construction! I have to chuckle when I see the empty lagoon and wonder what they found when the drained the water out. I know they found a Cinderella slipper in there because my DD4 was leaning over to watch her Dad take off on Screamin' after our lunch with Ariel and her shoe fell in the lagoon! She cried but we told her she was even more like Cinderella with the missing slipper!

That's funny. Good thing it wasn't a different character's shoe she was wearing since having a missing slipper only works for Cinderella! Yeah, that would be interesting to hear about what other things they found down there when they drained the lagoon.

 

[luvsmickey1968]

I for one am thrilled about all the construction and the walls and I would be very upset if they closed DCA!
I have a trip planned for May and I admit that I will miss seeing the lagoon and the way all the lights reflect off of it but I am happy that I am going to be able to do all the things I love in DCA.
I am a huge fan of DCA and spend a lot of my trip there and I would probably consider not going if it was closed!
All this construction is exciting because I know that there is so much more to look forward to!
I know that the second time I went to Disneyland, they were doing all this work in Tomorrowland and it seemed to me that walls were everywhere. However, it certainly did not affect the rest of the park and I still got to enjoy a lot of attractions!
It was really neat when I went back years later to see what Tomorrowland actually looked like!
That being said, if it is going to ruin someone's trip, they should just go somewhere else!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Construction, refurbs and progress are facts of life for Disney vacations. I have yet to go on any Disney trip (DL or WDW) when there hasn't been something going on. Granted, this is extreme but when its done, it will be great. I do think first time visitors might be disappointed but I can't say I'd tell anybody to postpone.

I remember when they had the sidewalk area around Matterhorn completely torn up. From the monorail it looked terrible and it made getting around that area of DL a mess. Even worse, I remember our trip for dd's birthday in September of 2004, the castle at DL was completely covered. It looked like three big blocks. I have a video going up Main Street shot from teh top of the double decker bus and you can see the castle/cube thing and it looks so funny. Talk about a bummer for first time visitors who didn't know the castle was being worked on. And that was during the time Space Mountain was under its years long refurb. We still had fun along with thousands of other people.

If you want to see true nastiness, go over to the WDW Resorts Board and tell them you plan to pool hop and use your mugs from 2003 and see what happens!

 

[disney-inspired]

I just checked out that article, and the only mess I saw was pictures of the empty lagoon. Which were very likely taken from rides, up above where, um, the average person is going to be thinking about taking pictures or looking down for more than a moment.

And of course it's easy for me to talk since I LOVE DCA and can overlook quite a bit just to get onto Toy Story Midway Mania, Monsters, Grizzly, and Screamin', and I have an AP so I can hop and go to DLR and not think about the cost for a year, BUT a one day one park is 69, while a one day hopper is 94, so they are already giving quite a discount if you feel you've paid to go to Disneyland and want to hop to DCA.


I'm bummed for your friends that those pictures kept them away...there are so many great rides that are open, and I'm not planning on looking down into the lagoon while on Screamin' anyway, so assuming those walls I see around the lagoon in those from-high-up pictures are all around, I doubt I'll even notice it.

I agree Molly, DCA is a great park even with the construction going on. Which really isn't that big of a deal since it's only the lagoon and sun wheel. I love that you can go to DCA and it's NOT crowded I love me some TSMM, Aladdin, and the other rides

No, they were doing DL and DCA for 3 days, and are really picky people, and that mess is not acceptable to them.....
I would go because I love DCA, but I have been before.I can see how that could be off-putting to people though. Its not really pretty to look at.

If they are so picky how are they going to ever go, because if you think about something is always under construction (being refurbished) or they are building something new.

 

[alvernon90]

If you want to see true nastiness, go over to the WDW Resorts Board and tell them you plan to pool hop and use your mugs from 2003 and see what happens!

What kind of MONSTER are you? Don't even joke about that! Are you trying to start a riot?!?

 

[DizNee Luver]

think I'll just sit here & enjoy my popcorn!!!!

Sorry, thought we should lighten the mood!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

One of my favorite pictures ever is of my parents standing in front of the "mess" of Tom Sawyer Island at WDW being built - opening Spring of '73 I believe. I like the picture b/c it was also my first visit to WDW and for me it's part of the history.

It is very difficult to go at a time when something isn't being refurbished, rebuilt or replaced. This is a very front and center refurbishment but I personally would rather have the lagoon drained when I visited than Space Mt. closed! Of course I also think that anytime the Sunwheel is closed it's a good thing!!!!!

 

[mechurchlady]

What kind of MONSTER are you? Don't even joke about that! Are you trying to start a riot?!?

Sounds like it for sure. WE at disAbilities board just educate you to the point you wish you had stayed quiet. You will find that I am doing that here too.

 

[bluedoll]

I was there for my first time this weekend, and would disagree - it was a bit of a mess. I've never seen a Disney park such a wreck

Have you ever been to a Disney park while they were doing extensive refurbishments?

I agree there should be some sort of discount, but not shut down because then there are still rides in operating condition.

MOST rides are still operating. I don't think they were should be any discount.

If you think that this thread is an example of nasties, you haven't spent a lot of time on the WDW boards.

Is DCA a mess? Depends on your definition. Should it be closed? Ummm, no?? because currently the only ride/attraction down is Mickey's Fun Wheel. Currently, DL has no parades or fireworks running as well as the Matterhorn Bobsleds with the Mark Twain and the Carousel to be scheduled to go down in the next week. Along with that, DL has many huge construction walls along Main Street and back by Frontierland. Should DL offer a discounted admission too? No.

My question is do these construction walls/work on the lagoon really distract a significant amount from the experience?? It's not like Screamin is less fun because I can glance off to the side and see a large cement construction site. If that bothers you, then you also shouldn't look to the other side and see the urban jungle of Anaheim which might take away from the "experience".

exactly.

Personally, I thought it was interesting to see the refub stuff going on. And it's fun to have pictures of the lagoon drained. We also took tons of pictures of all of the attractions they are getting rid of/changing. It'll be fun to look back on those photos some day.