News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort

[BrianLo]

It’s more the flagrancy of the IP overlay that bothers me and some of the stands.

 

[Distorian]

The second pic is DCA 2.0. You said 1.0 was the best. Be consistent.

I never said that. I said DCA 1.0 was better than the current state, which it was. DCA 2015 is when the park peaked.

In sum, 1.0 was the worst version of the Pier too. But they are all unremarkable.... so this is pointless.

Even if DCA 1.0 was the worst version aesthetically, it had more character and personality than slapped on IP, plus it had the Beach Boys, so for those reasons I'd rather go there than Pixar Pier.

 

[DrStarlander]

I’m still surprised, if I think about it, how generic the entrance is now.

You mean the entrance inspired by the Pan-Pacific Auditorium?

I think that's a cool nod. But I don't enjoy that it's used at both DCA and DHS. That feels lazy.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

Soul.

Slop.

Soul.

Slop.

 

[DLR92]

I really miss the sun art on the Ferris wheel.gives it quite a nod to Mary Blair style.,

 

[Distorian]

Soul.

View attachment 908826

Slop.
View attachment 908827

This is a self incriminating post.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

This is a self incriminating post.

One of them looks like it could actually be in a Disney park, the other looks like a cheap boardwalk knockoff. Hope that helps

 

[D.Silentu]

You mean the entrance inspired by the Pan-Pacific Auditorium?

I do, it lacks the visual punch the mosaic had. Not to mention there aren't enough people aware for me to make Xanadu jokes about it. Seriously though, the original entrance was this fantastic collage, implying things you would see inside. The Disneyland entrance across the way has a train station behind it, hinting at the transportive nature of the park and the journeys in store. The current DCA entrance just doesn't promote that inviting sense of whimsy or adventure.

 

[Disney Irish]

I do, it lacks the visual punch the mosaic had. Not to mention there aren't enough people aware for me to make Xanadu jokes about it. Seriously though, the original entrance was this fantastic collage, implying things you would see inside. The Disneyland entrance across the way has a train station behind it, hinting at the transportive nature of the park and the journeys in store. The current DCA entrance just doesn't promote that inviting sense of whimsy or adventure.

Some of us are old enough -

 

[coffeefan]

I think it’s just as simple as bad timing in the sense that DLR fans are craving new attractions based on actual Disney IP (and Pixar as many view it as an extension of Disney). It’s been all Star Wars and Marvel outside of Tiana and we all know how that went. And Outside of ROTR the execution thus far hasn’t been great for the lands and the rest of the attractions. Fans see all the Frozen, Zootopia, Encanto, Lion King, BatB, Monsters inc coasters and Fantasy Springs attractions going up all around the world and want a piece of that.

DLR also got MMRR. The other parks have also gotten or will get more Marvel attractions. WDW with the least only due to legal restrictions.

 

[coffeefan]

I am not convinced that the ultimate goal isn't to make Disney Adventure World a franchise in and of itself. DCA and to a lesser degree DHS being rebranded in such a way still seems very much like a modern Disney thing to do.

Disney Adventure World is the least attended Disney park in the world. Why would they rename the other parks after it?

 

[coffeefan]

Additionally, the "why have a fake Hollywood when the real Hollywood is half an hour away?" mentality fails to acknowledge that at DCA's Hollywood you don't have to worry about being stabbed by a homeless man. Creating a theme park entirely set in 20th century California before the state became third world is a great concept and I lament that they abandoned right after it began to find its footing.

Go touch some grass.

 

[britain]

Disney Adventure World is the least attended Disney park in the world. Why would they rename the other parks after it?

It’s technically not DAW yet, nor has it opened any of its new areas and attractions.

 

[DrStarlander]

I do, it lacks the visual punch the mosaic had. Not to mention there aren't enough people aware for me to make Xanadu jokes about it. Seriously though, the original entrance was this fantastic collage, implying things you would see inside. The Disneyland entrance across the way has a train station behind it, hinting at the transportive nature of the park and the journeys in store. The current DCA entrance just doesn't promote that inviting sense of whimsy or adventure.

I was thrown off by "generic" since it's extremely "specific" (versus, the Disneyland train station which is more "generic") And neither word is meant as a substitute for "effective" or "good" or "successful" or anything. Just whether the design is adhering to or representing an architectural style or type of building generally, versus a particular historic building.

I never saw the original entrance the DCA. Based on what I had heard and knew about the new park, I wasn't enthused to go (even as a lifelong Disney nut). I regret that now. I'd pay for a LL single pass to be able to ride Superstar Limo now. And those tiles mosaics do look cool in the photos above, too bad they didn't re-use them around a pool area at the hotel or something.

 

[britain]

The very best part of DCA 1.0, the part that really captured a uniquely Californian spirit while being top-notch Disney in terms of quality and creativity is still with us… The Grand Californian. The second best part of DCA 1.0 is sporadically still with us: Soarin’ Over California. Nothing else from 2001 is worth preserving. (But I will give honorable mentions to Grizzly Rapids and Redwood Trail.)

 

[mickEblu]

DLR also got MMRR. The other parks have also gotten or will get more Marvel attractions. WDW with the least only due to legal restrictions.

Oh yeah. Although I’m not sure Ren n Stimpy Mickey hits people in the feels.

 

[britain]

Oh yeah. Although I’m not sure Ren n Stimpy Mickey hits people in the feels.

I like him. Regular Mickey is kind of cringey to me.

 

[mickEblu]

I like him. Regular Mickey is kind of cringey to me.

It’s fine for me. I like the show. I like that some of the episodes pay homage to the old school animated classics and to Disneyland. And they re funny too. Not crazy about the design style though and wouldn’t have chosen this version of Mickey n the Gang for the attraction. I would have went with something more timeless.

 

[mickEblu]

To get back on topic I don’t think it’s outside of the realm of possibility that Avatar is moving locations, is in limbo or just being cancelled. I get the sense they are trying to buy time postponing Monsters Inc’s closure while they figure out what they want to do. Not sure I buy the reason they gave of wanting to keep another family attraction open for guests. That’s just a byproduct of what’s happening behind the scenes and how they re trying to sell it. The amount of negativity online towards this Avatar project is startling and I can’t imagine that it goes unnoticed when preparing to spend a billion dollars on a land/ attraction.

I think it would it would be a shame if it was cancelled because there is so much potential and that when considering the alternatives there are few aesthetics/ settings or attractions that I would find more appealing. Granted, would Zootopia or Monsters fit better in that location? Sure. If they come to the conclusion they could spend half the amount on a Monsters Inc coaster for example and people would be happier why wouldn’t they do it? And here’s the kicker- Zootopia and Monsters sell way more merch than Avatar.

 

[Gusey]

To get back on topic I don’t think it’s outside of the realm of possibility that Avatar is moving locations, is in limbo or just being cancelled. I get the sense they are trying to buy time postponing Monsters Inc’s closure while they figure out what they want to do. Not sure I buy the reason they gave of wanting to keep another family attraction open for guests. That’s just a byproduct of what’s happening behind the scenes and how they re trying to sell it. The amount of negativity online towards this Avatar project is startling and I can’t imagine that it goes unnoticed when preparing to spend a billion dollars on a land/ attraction.

I think it would it would be a shame if it was cancelled because there is so much potential and that when considering the alternatives there are few aesthetics/ settings or attractions that I would find more appealing. Granted, would Zootopia or Monsters fit better in that location? Sure. If they come to the conclusion they could spend half the amount on a Monsters Inc coaster for example and people would be happier why wouldn’t they do it? And here’s the kicker- Zootopia and Monsters sell way more merch than Avatar.

I think with how long this project has been in the works (February 2023 being the first mention) there isn't much chance that this is getting cancelled. Not only did they reiterate Avatar was still coming when they announced Monsters, the last time they cancelled a major project like this due to a lukewarm fan reaction was Disney Adventure World's Star Wars Land, which was cancelled internally in 2021, 3 years after first announced. Also Avatar at DCA is almost the last project Iger has been championing, other than Abu Dhabi, so feels like something he's been pushing for and it would be a big shock to cancel it as soon as he's officially on the way out