New Disney's California Adventure

[Coaster Justin]

It seems that Disney isn't happy with how California Adventure turned out and they are spending 1.1 Billion dollars over the next five years to improve it. What do you guys think they are going to do to the park. I don't know how to add links, but I hope this works. The website is clean.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1192577 ... lenews_wsj

[Aaron084]

I would think they'd eventually add a very large nightime show centered in the lake. Something on the scale of Illuminations would be awesome. Maybe more fountains/lasers than fireworks though. Also, a few more dark rides would be nice, they're working on that toy story one, but they need plenty more to draw people from the main Disneyland park.

[Bob O]

Once this is done it will give me another reason to return to CA for a vacation!!

[Tip Top Club]

Yeah, I heard about this early this summer, definetely something to watch...

[greatamerica2003]

Whats interesting to note is that they spent $1 billion to build that place.

And there already is a water show in the works called "Disneys Wonderful World of Color", a name which is borrowed from the 1960's tv show of the same name. It will have water-projection technology like the Fantasmic! show, as well as music and lighting effects.

[coasterkid94]

I have never been to Disney World or Disney Land, but even from just CA's website and photos from it it really doesn't seem to have the same Disney "feel". When I see pictures of the Magic Kingdom, I immediately think of Disney characters and movies. When I think of California Adventure, however, the image that pops into my head is a Californian boardwalk, but definetely not Disney.

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

well, i've never been out to the west coast, but when I'd watch the travel channel specials, it didn't look disney at all. Sure, there were some mickey mouse heads around, and a few disney rides, but there just seemed to be a different feel about it. I remember back when it first opened with the previews on the disney channel and thought it just felt like a whole different place.

[FParker185]

Disneyland in CA was the first and it started it all, it is more Disney than anything else. Basically all the other Disney parks were built after Walt Disney died.

Though I do perfer WDW, DL is a pretty nice park. Also was at DCA in 01 right after it opened and I thought it was a pretty awesome park, though it was always bashed by critics and disney fans for some reason. Will be neat to see what they come up with.

[Trailblazer Tony]

^That makes more sense, i always thought it looked like a sensational park despite bad reviews. If only it was closer...

As for the new rides, i think Toy Story Mania will go good this year, despite the fact that Buzz Lightyear just opened up two years ago across the enterance plaza from it. The water/night show for next year, however, sounds like an INCREDIBLE use of that lake. From what it's described to be like, it looks like the best of both Illuminations and Fantasmic...my kind of show!

It's also nice to see them making plans to build a classic dark ride (Little Mermaid). To me, nothing says Disney more than a well themed, moderately paced dark ride and it's nice to see new ones still in the works. Finally, as for Carland, all I can say is: AWESOME idea to express that movie!!!!!!!!!

Overall, these announcements make me REALLY wish i could head out there sometime over the next decade! Let's hope it works well in favor of the park.

[coasterkid94]

After seeing some of the artwork for Carland on Scream Scape, I would have to say that would be the area that I am the most excited about. There was one illustration that showed a ride that looked very similar to Test Track at Epcot, except with a Cars theme. You can see it here: http://www.screamscape.com/html/dca_-_cars_land_1.htm.

[cycamps]

I can see why they would capatilze on Test Track & Cars: A famous ride and a famous movie...

[zjohn1988]

The confirmed additions I know of will definitely make DCA what it should be. Everyone will be happy with the changes.

[Danhockey04]

I can see why they would capatilze on Test Track & Cars: A famous ride and a famous movie...

Except they cut so many corners on Test Track, stupid budget cuts making the ride less superior to what it should be.

About these additions to DCA, it is about time they are doing something to that park. That park is in dire need of some attention, they have put way too much money into DL's MK than DCA. They are starting to go in the right direction. From what I have heard, the Little Mermaid is going to be like the new Nemo dark ride at EPCOT, but going to cost a lot more money, it's supposed to have the same clam cars and such. The night show is going to be superb and the technology going into it will cost them quite a bit of money. But this show is just a precursor to what will be coming to EPCOT soon with their new night show coming within a couple of years, depending on when Siemens approves of it. Carland is a great idea, let's hope they don't cut so many corners on it, even that, on the whole project. Disney tends to do that, as do most companies. Toy Story Mania is going to be insanely good, from what I heard, both of them, at WDW and DCA, they will be the same ride basically with their slight differences. The major differences will be the buildings, entrances and queue.

Lastly, the current rumor of the park is that the Golden Gate Bridge, the giant CA letters and the tile murals will be be gone within the next year, so they can redesign the park to a different theme. I think this will help this park significantly and draw many people to the park. It will keep the whole California theme, but they plan on doing it in a complete different way than before. I'm interested in how they will do this.

[Trailblazer Tony]

^The new enterance is the only thing I don't like about the expansions. Yeah, the new enterance seems like it's more Disneyesque and worthy, but I like the letters and the Golden Gate Bridge, i thought it showed great site context.

[rich12_16]

I agree, the entrance of dca is great, and i dont think it should be changed.

[Coaster Justin]

Since they want to add Pixar themed rides, Why not name it "Disney's Grand Pixar Park" or "Disney's Magic Movie Park".

- The Entrance Area could look like the Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando or be renamed "Pixar Plaza".

- Hollywood Pictures Backlot can stay the same.

- Paradise Pier should be divided into two areas. The Muholland Madness Area should be overhauled to look like Tokyo DisneySeas theming. Maybe rename it "Dreamworld Bay". Remove Muholland Madness and replace it with an indoor coaster like "Crush's Coaster" at Disney Studios in Paris.

- The Second Area should have an American Theme. Maybe "Americana Fairgrounds" or something. California Screamin renamed to Industrial Revolution. MaliBoomer renamed Firecracker Towers, and Sun Wheel renamed Midway Wheel and Given a US Flag instead of a Sun.

- San Francisco could be renamed "Mermaid Lagoon" since I think the Mermaid ride is going there and new Kids Rides could be added there similar to Mermaid Lagoon at DisneySeas.

- I think the Carland Area is taking over A Bugs Land. According to Screamscape Its rumored that The Cars Attractions may end up being Dueling Launching Maurer Sohne X Car Coasters. There should also be a Bumper Cars Attraction called "Road Rage" and a Children's Wet Play Area called "Radiator Springs".

- Redwood Creek Area with the Rapids could be renamed "Camp : Toy Story". Maybe a new ride there called "Woody's Roundup" with Music.

- Condor Flats could be renamed "Incredible Island" and be themed to the Incredibles. Soarin would get a new film with a plot similar to Spiderman at Islands of Adventure.

- Pacific Wharf could be renamed "Flik's Down Home Farm" and have attractions and a few rides themed to "A Bugs Life".


This is just what I would do if I was deciding for DCAd, finally, they cannot offer tickets on the same level of Disneyland because they don't yet offer a day of fun as Disneyland does. Anyway, these are all just ideas that I have.

Yeah, I know that my name Ideas are Weird.

[Aaron084]

I've been to DCA several times now, the most recently being this past April. I thought it was a great park, often less crowded than Disneyland. California Screamin' is a great coaster, Tower of Terror is awesome, Mulholland Madness is a great wild mouse with an AWESOME capacity considering its a wild mouse. (The cars never stop moving, in turn, either does the line). DCA could use more Disney charm, but its hard when it's being compared to the orgininal Disneyland. I think of it more like an advanced version of Epcot, only DCA is about California traditions instead of the future/World Showcase. If you 'get' the California concept, I think the park works much better. Also, who can beat the onsite tortilla factory with free fresh samples?