Celebrating 15 years of California Adventure

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The park really grew on me. I would miss getting drunk at Carthay Circle and stumbling down Hollywood Pictures Backlot to Tower of Terror, after stopping for another drink and having a smoke at Mad T Party while the band plays that song ''Everybody Talks'' and lamenting the replacement of Superstar Limo. I'm serious!

 

[lazyboy97o]

The biggest issue with DCA is the lack of E tickets. Some of the ones that are there can be pretty meh by Disney standards and lack that Disney magic. I'm looking at you, Grizzly River and Screamin'! Okay, RSR, TOT and Soarin' are good. But what else is there? There certainly isn't a Superstar Limo!

I'll say it, E-Tickets are over-rated and have warped park design for the worse. Multiple, smaller experiences can provided a greater sum. Central Florida is full of marquee experiences but very little gets close to the experiential richness and emotional resonance of Disneyland.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

You could be right. But DCA is also severely lacking in good A-D tickets. That's where DL excels, with dark rides, flats that are oozing with charm and those warm fuzzy Disney feelings, the railroad, the Rivers of America and hole-in-the-wall attractions such as the Castle Walkthrough and Lincoln. DCA has some super charming stuff like the Red Car, Heimlich's Chew Chew Train and the Golden Zephyr, but the rest is pretty crappy as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Figments Friend]

This is a picture of my daughter Michelle on opening day of DCA on the Orange Stinger(?). I took this with a disposable camera over my shoulder. This pic also was published in the now defunct Disney Magazine which really made her feel like a big shot! She's 22 now. Boy how time flies!!View attachment 129687

I have that issue and remember seeing this photo!

 

[Curious Constance]

That's kind of assuming the Marvel E-ticket is done by then, and that it's life-changing. Two things which aren't certain just yet.

Is that a definite thing? For sure???

 

[Curious Constance]

You could be right. But DCA is also severely lacking in good A-D tickets. That's where DL excels, with dark rides, flats that are oozing with charm and those warm fuzzy Disney feelings, the railroad, the Rivers of America and hole-in-the-wall attractions such as the Castle Walkthrough and Lincoln. DCA has some super charming stuff like the Red Car, Heimlich's Chew Chew Train and the Golden Zephyr, but the rest is pretty crappy as far as I'm concerned.

You did not just include Heimlich's Chew Chew Train in that list.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

If DCA had more stuff like that, it would be a much better park.

 

[Curious Constance]

100% agree. There are thrill rides and kiddie rides at DCA -- very few "family" rides with depth that everyone can enjoy (and last more than 1 minute) evenly on the level of Small World, Pirates, HM, Fantasyland dark rides, etc. We're pretty much limited to Little Mermaid and Monsters Inc. for those at DCA and well, you know how that goes.

Which is why my husband tries to go on Mermaid over and over lol.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Is that a definite thing? For sure???

Marvel is definitely coming to DCA, hopefully sooner rather than later. The project was ready to announce and then delayed. Not sure of the status right at this moment, but with WDI in flux it's really hard to say.

 

[Curious Constance]

Marvel is definitely coming to DCA, hopefully sooner rather than later. The project was ready to announce and then delayed. Not sure of the status right at this moment, but with WDI in flux it's really hard to say.

Any idea where it is going to be???

 

[Californian Elitist]

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train is wonderful.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Any idea where it is going to be???

MiceAge has consistently reported this one accurately. It will go in the expansion pad behind Tower of Terror as an extension of Hollywood Land.

 

[Curious Constance]

MiceAge has consistently reported this one accurately. It will go in the expansion pad behind Tower of Terror as an extension of Hollywood Land.

Any idea if the rest of Hollywood land will be getting any help?

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Any idea if the rest of Hollywood land will be getting any help?

A few years ago Monstropolis was to serve that function, but thankfully those plans were shelved. I haven't heard anything about anything else coming to Hollywood Land, but it's really needed.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Monstropolis was a terrible idea. I don't know why so many people were in favor of it and clamoring for a ''door coaster''. What?

 

[mickEblu]

MiceAge has consistently reported this one accurately. It will go in the expansion pad behind Tower of Terror as an extension of Hollywood Land.

So it won't be its own land? I also read a rumor that "Marvel land" will extend from the expansion pad, wrapping around TOT and taking over the Hollywood backlot as well. Have you heard anything of this?

 

[mickEblu]

Which is why my husband tries to go on Mermaid over and over lol.

I think both are good quality dark rides but the biggest thing they both suffer from is their pacing. I don't understand why Monsters Inc. in particular couldn't have been faster paced.

Without even getting into sets, storylines, lighting etc. A good pace with tighter turns can go a long way in making it feel like your in the action and not watching a book report

 

[Curious Constance]

A few years ago Monstropolis was to serve that function, but thankfully those plans were shelved. I haven't heard anything about anything else coming to Hollywood Land, but it's really needed.

Any idea when I'm going to stop asking questions that begin with, "Any idea"?

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I think both are good quality dark rides but the biggest thing they both suffer from is their pacing. I don't understand why Monsters Inc. in particular couldn't have been faster paced.

Without even getting into sets, storylines, lighting etc. A good pace with tighter turns can go a long way in making it feel like your in the action and not watching a book report

Because it was meant to be an awkward limo ride past Cher and Regis, not a thrilling chase through monster land.

 

[mickEblu]

Because it was meant to be an awkward limo ride past Cher and Regis, not a thrilling chase through monster land.

And they couldn't adjust the speed a little bit ?