20 Years OF DCA: A Retrospective

[Practical Pig]

At this point they could just rename DCA Disney's Corporate IP Dump.

Hyperbole aside though, there is still some charm to the park that I enjoy. The Grizzly Peak environs and the Flo's /Radiator Springs Racers association are authentic Disney.

 

[mickEblu]

I find it sad that they still have to subsidize California Adventure. You know how many people would happily rather buy a DL only pass if they could? California Adventure still isn't a draw for crowds and even with included admission, I rarely found myself over there.

Costco's failed California Adventure annnual pass is proof of how no one wants to go there. If APs didn't "include" admission and Park Hopper tickets didn't exist, DCA would be a ghost town.

Now they are "plussing DCA" by removing rides and replacing them, instead of adding attractions in a park that still has very little to do.

As much as I prefer Disneyland, a Disneyland only pass would have to be considerably cheaper for me to consider it. DCA may only be a diversion or two on my average trip but I would miss having the ability to do that quick park hop to do do some of DCAs highlights.

 

[mickEblu]

At this point they could just rename DCA Disney's Corporate IP Dump.

Hyperbole aside though, there is still some charm to the park that I enjoy. The Grizzly Peak environs and the Flo's /Radiator Springs Racers association are authentic Disney.

I’d throw in BVS and the Pier too. Specially at dusk and at night. Not that Pixar Pier is authentically Disney but it’s a fun place to walk around. Lots of kinetic energy. Even a ride on the Golden Zephyr at dusk or night overlooking the bay is quite enjoyable. It’s a shame they can’t just get the theme on par with all of the good things the land has to offer.

 

[Sailor310]

They still need more trees.

 

[Professortango1]

I agree that Guardians won me over... At least in the sense that it's a lot more fun than I thought it would be. If we're honest with ourselves, ToT at DCA was an inferior version to the one in Florida, so if we had to lose one, at least it wasn't the better version.

You're welcome to that opinion. Many found TOT 2.0 to be an overall improvement. I will say I do prefer the façade/queue for the original Tower, but I find the actual ride experience to be much better in the newer Tower.

 

[Professortango1]

In my mind, I think the name still holds it back. It was a mistake to theme the park after California. They need to just bite the bullet and rename the park to something else. Something more interesting. Early DCA, for all its flaws, at least had consistent theming, and wasn't the hodge podge of IPs it is now. It's definitely better now, but they need to find a way to tie it all together and rebrand the entire park, because at this point it's far better than several of the Orlando parks, but without the reputation.

I think the CA theme isn't the issue, its the execution. If they approached "California" as they approached "Seas" in Tokyo, they would have been fine. TDS isn't a part centered 100% on the ocean, instead it focuses on what the ocean symbolizes. Adventure, lore, exploration, ports to distant worlds. With California they could have explored legends of El Dorado and the Lost City of Mu, pioneers seeking a golden life, glitz and glamour, the birthplace of modern technology and science.

Look to Knotts Berry Farm to see California executed so much better. They explore Bigfoot legends and Native American mythology, the gold rush and cowboy culture, Mexican and Spanish history, the spirit of aviation, etc.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

You're welcome to that opinion. Many found TOT 2.0 to be an overall improvement. I will say I do prefer the façade/queue for the original Tower, but I find the actual ride experience to be much better in the newer Tower.

Yeah I'm going to be in the boat that was happier with Guardians than TOT. Our TOT seemed egregious short and almost never worth the wait IMO. Lower on my list of priority attractions for each visit unless I had a Fastpass and even then...

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I think people hate the theme of GOTG and like the ride itself. It's got a good drop sequence but the haunted Hollywood hotel was just cooler. The redone building looks like Tetris pieces of the 1998 Tomorrowland were assembled by a 2 year old banging buttons on the controller.

 

[mickEblu]

I think people hate the theme of GOTG and like the ride itself. It's got a good drop sequence but the haunted Hollywood hotel was just cooler. The redone building looks like Tetris pieces of the 1998 Tomorrowland were assembled by a 2 year old banging buttons on the controller.

I agree with everything except I think the drop sequence on TOT was better. GOTG is more of a series of smaller bouncier drops with some medium ones mixed in. Not one of the drops seem to go the entire distance as TOTs last drop did. I wish someone could confirm this. It also doesn’t help that from a thrill perspective it’s all downhill after the initial shot up in GOTG. TOT not only built up suspense psychologically as the ride progressed but it also did from a thrill standpoint.

 

[D.Silentu]

I'm fairly sure that the final drops on all sequences are full length. However, to your point about the lack of suspense, the chaotic nature nature of the rises and dips somewhat hides that. I must say I do think the drops on Guardians are superior, but only due to their variety.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm fairly sure that the final drops on all sequences are full length. However, to your point about the lack of suspense, the chaotic nature nature of the rises and dips somewhat hides that. I must say I do think the drops on Guardians are superior, but only due to their variety.

Their are definitely a couple ride profiles that are much better than the rest. Overall experience still falls short from TOT though for me.

 

[Practical Pig]

I’d throw in BVS and the Pier too. Specially at dusk and at night. Not that Pixar Pier is authentically Disney but it’s a fun place to walk around. Lots of kinetic energy. Even a ride on the Golden Zephyr at dusk or night overlooking the bay is quite enjoyable. It’s a shame they can’t just get the theme on par with all of the good things the land has to offer.

Belated response here, but I agree with all of that. I haven't experienced Pixar Pier in person yet, but the regrettable overlay hasn't changed the dynamic kinetic attitude of the pier, and yeah, it's best in those golden to violet hours of the evening. But then that's also true of so much at the parks, and in life.

 

[J4546]

pixar pier, cars land, and probably avengers campus all are gorgeous at night. i cant wait to see the dr strange area at night, with all the lanterns glowing. should be pretty cool looking

 

[fctiger]

pixar pier, cars land, and probably avengers campus all are gorgeous at night. i cant wait to see the dr strange area at night, with all the lanterns glowing. should be pretty cool looking

I actually posted a video in the Avengers Campus thread where someone filmed some of the WEB building at night lit up and it does look amazing for the little seen. I do too think this is going to be an amazing area at night to be in and will probably equal to BVS, Pixar Pier and Carsland as all beautiful night time areas.

That's also when DCA really does feel the most 'Disney' at night when you have these areas lit up with the effects of WOC and the night parades running as well. It all feels, dare I say it, magical!

 

[truecoat]

Like the guys that tried to reuse the sign letters of a Golden Corral and called their restaurant Gorillas, DCA could rearrange some letters of California and now be called Disney Fornical Adventure.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

I think the CA theme isn't the issue, its the execution. If they approached "California" as they approached "Seas" in Tokyo, they would have been fine. TDS isn't a part centered 100% on the ocean, instead it focuses on what the ocean symbolizes. Adventure, lore, exploration, ports to distant worlds. With California they could have explored legends of El Dorado and the Lost City of Mu, pioneers seeking a golden life, glitz and glamour, the birthplace of modern technology and science.

Look to Knotts Berry Farm to see California executed so much better. They explore Bigfoot legends and Native American mythology, the gold rush and cowboy culture, Mexican and Spanish history, the spirit of aviation, etc.

I agree 100%! DCA after the refurb was amazing. Paradise Pier and Grizzly Peak were great! Pixar Pier is just not that good imo. I'm really excited for Avengers Campus though!

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

Also this is one of the best videos on DCA

 

[Sailor310]

I might get thrown off this site, but I LIKED the Maliboomer. Yes, it was off the shelf, but it was fun, not too intense and the line usually wasn't bad.

 

[Tamandua]

I might get thrown off this site, but I LIKED the Maliboomer. Yes, it was off the shelf, but it was fun, not too intense and the line usually wasn't bad.

Where are the mods?!?!