DisneylandForward

[MistaDee]

I think I am all for ambition in theming, but the whole IP Land thing I think needs to take a break especially when the land is always 1 E ticket and 1 C ticket. I'd rather they make a cook environment/theme and have multiple rides, restaurants, and properties in there.

Why not have a cool beach area that fits multiple things instead of being tied to one movie? Why is California Adventure now going to have 2 beach areas?

I agree. It's also sad how even Florida doesn't utilize their blessing of size and instead rethemes rides.

I don't see how that site's concerns about the ride entrance is valid at all. I'd imagine it's a non issue.

I forgot about the blackbox ride idea. I actually really like that and it doesnt tie something to a property forever.

I think there's two different ideas worth parsing out here:

1) ambition/scale of new development

2) single IP vs. multiple IP lands

I'm generally very much in favor of having a more open-ended theme for a land, like they're doing with Tropical Americas for AK or Fantasy Springs at DisneySea. For Pandora though I do think it makes sense to be a single IP land since the world lends itself so well to a theme park.

If Disney wanted to create a Latin American based land with the Coco and then later on add an Encanto attraction then that would make a lot of sense.

To save what? Some ugly backlot theming? I’m confused. I get the sentiment of wanting multi IP lands and not devoting so much acreage to single IP lands but I don’t think it’s quite making sense in this scenario when you consider the possibilities at DLR.

At this point, DCA is in such desperate need of pleasant atmosphere, I don't care if it's all wrapped up in one IP with only 2 attractions. I don't trust the crew that made Pixar Pier to deliver multiple IPs within a land of densely packed attractions.

To what end though? Just to have a single ride? That seems like a waste.

And no offense, but I'm tired of this faux movie studio lot theming, I think its time to go away from that. That was so late 90s/early 00s cheapness that I think they can do better. But that requires a lot more resources, which I think they are only willing to spend on an entire land.

100% agree with y'all. Outside of Cars land and parts of Grizzly Peak there's really nowhere in DCA that provides that transportative, immersive feeling that make theme parks so compelling for me.

Pandora - even despite the fact that I don't particularly enjoy the films, or the awkward fit with the park's current theme - does make for an incredible theme park land. With the state of DCA what it is - I'll take that deal.

 

[BrianLo]

Gosh if this is the scale of the land I'm so disappointed. Why does every land have to be a Cars Land / Galaxy's Edge size now? That works fine in Florida but not in California.

Disney has to think long term how much better it would be to slowly build out and expand into this land they just got approval for. This Avatar thing is huge.

The land isn’t quite as big as you think it is, maybe about 7 acres. When the show building is like 3, I’m not sure that registers as overkill.

 

[mickEblu]

Agreed on all your points. What do you think about how to present the Pandora entrance on the Hollywood side?

I like them. From an aesthetic standpoint, of the 3 I’d say the movie theatre facade would be my favorite but you mentioned the issues with it. That it would be a little repetitive and have to be less grand than Carthay. I also don’t love what the theater implies - that this ( Pandora) isn’t real.

It’s a tough transition from Hollywood Blvd to Pandora. I think understated would be the best approach. Think Frontierland to GE. Except here since city to jungle would be jarring maybe you just kind of transition to a city park and then as the foliage changes to a transition Pandora preferably with a portal tunnel. Not sure they have they have the space for this though. So maybe they just have to plop that portal tunnel recessed a bit but right there off Hollywood Blvd. I’m not worried about the entrance that’s tucked away behind all the facades next to Hyperion. More concerned about the entrance in the middle of Hollywood Blvd but either way I think it’ll be fine.

 

[Misted Compass]

I think understated would be the best approach. Think Frontierland to GE

What about the Muppets to GE transition at DHS? That pretty much transitions city to wilderness.

 

[mickEblu]

What about the Muppets to GE transition at DHS? That pretty much transitions city to wilderness.

True but GE just feels like a very earthly Chaparral like setting whereas Pandora is very clearly going for something other worldly. Either way it’ll be ok and frankly even if the transition sucks it’s still worth it. DCA really needs a family friendly boat ride and some more beautiful atmosphere to go with Cars Land, Grizzly and BVS.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

As far as I’m concerned, DCA will never reach a great feel for atmosphere as long as the carnival pier exists.

 

[mickEblu]

As far as I’m concerned, DCA will never reach a great feel for atmosphere as long as the carnival pier exists.

What about when you’re in the 5 lands where you can’t even see the pier?

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

What about when you’re in the 5 lands where you can’t even see the pier?

I get what you’re saying but that wide open expanse should be creating an inviting atmosphere. In that the design of the Pier misses the mark. And unfortunately, it’s a big piece of DCA. Then again, others may find it enticing and lovely.

 

[CaptinEO]

I like them. From an aesthetic standpoint, of the 3 I’d say the movie theatre facade would be my favorite but you mentioned the issues with it. That it would be a little repetitive and have to be less grand than Carthay. I also don’t love what the theater implies - that this ( Pandora) isn’t real.

It’s a tough transition from Hollywood Blvd to Pandora. I think understated would be the best approach. Think Frontierland to GE. Except here since city to jungle would be jarring maybe you just kind of transition to a city park and then as the foliage changes to a transition Pandora preferably with a portal tunnel. Not sure they have they have the space for this though. So maybe they just have to plop that portal tunnel recessed a bit but right there off Hollywood Blvd. I’m not worried about the entrance that’s tucked away behind all the facades next to Hyperion. More concerned about the entrance in the middle of Hollywood Blvd but either way I think it’ll be fine.

A soundstage transition from set to "real world" Pandora is the perfect solution.

 

[mickEblu]

A soundstage transition from set to "real world" Pandora is the perfect solution.

I mean it’s ok. It wouldn’t offend me. It’s just reminiscent of the “ride the movies” “behind the scenes” stuff that all parks including Universal seem to be moving away from. I don’t like the implication that Pandora is not a real place in a park that’s presenting real adventures. I’d prefer just walking through that movie theatre facade instead of a sound stage if that’s the route they re taking. Or maybe just kind of like a back alley that turns into the tunnel portal.

 

[DLR92]

I get what you’re saying but that wide open expanse should be creating an inviting atmosphere. In that the design of the Pier misses the mark. And unfortunately, it’s a big piece of DCA. Then again, others may find it enticing and lovely.

I’m in the minority, but I don’t mind the pier. I was hoping Disney would complete the Pier Victorian overhaul.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I’m in the minority, but I don’t mind the pier. I was hoping Disney would complete the Pier Victorian overhaul.

Same, the original pier was just ok, and the current Pixar pier version is just ok, but I thought the DCA 2.0 version was great, not the best thing Disneys ever done but miles better than the worst they’ve done over the years.

It wouldn’t make my greatest list or my worst list but it’s also something I wouldn’t have found worthy of changing after the 2.0 overhaul, especially with so many areas in DCA and other parks around the world that could have used that money to fix bad areas in desperate need of change.

 

[DLR92]

Same, the original pier was just ok, and the current Pixar pier version is just ok, but I thought the DCA 2.0 version was great, not the best thing Disneys ever done but miles better than the worst they’ve done over the years.

It wouldn’t make my greatest list or my worst list but it’s also something I wouldn’t have found worthy of changing after the 2.0 overhaul, especially with so many areas in DCA and other parks around the world that could have used that money to fix bad areas in desperate need of change.

And that why I was open with idea having Coco filling in next door to Toy Story Mania. I would have like Goofy Sky School annex with a dark ride. Having two new attractions can solidify the pier.

 

[yeti]

It seems to me they'd want to do something about the Mission Breakout tower looming overhead when facing south....perhaps keep the Animation structure and connect it to Hyperion, then build a rockwork facade so that the whole land is enclosed? Or maybe they just don't care, lol.

 

[MistaDee]

As far as I’m concerned, DCA will never reach a great feel for atmosphere as long as the carnival pier exists.

Yeah it's a real barrier for DCA to ever be a world-class theme park. I thought the DCA 2.0 idea: making it a 1900s Victorian era pier at least could make you feel like you're transported to a faraway time, much like Main Street USA but they've really moved away from that with Pixar Pier.

The Midway Mania portion of Tokyo DisneySea's American Waterfront does a better job of this than Paradise Pier ever did, but I do think there's potential there.

I think both can coexist, i.e. the Pixar characters are presented within a Victorian era pier but that's as good as it'll get imo

I mean it’s ok. It wouldn’t offend me. It’s just reminiscent of the “ride the movies” “behind the scenes” stuff that all parks including Universal seem to be moving away from. I don’t like the implication that Pandora is not a real place in a park that’s presenting real adventures. I’d prefer just walking through that movie theatre facade to a sound stage if that’s the route they re taking. Or maybe just kind of like a back alley that turns into the tunnel portal.

That makes sense - I think presenting it as "Pandora Theater" might be a way to have it be more a wink/nod to what the land is without fully committing to that faux "ride the movies" concept that I agree is best left in the past

 

[mickEblu]

Yeah it's a real barrier for DCA to ever be a world-class theme park. I thought the DCA 2.0 idea: making it a 1900s Victorian era pier at least could make you feel like you're transported to a faraway time, much like Main Street USA but they've really moved away from that with Pixar Pier.

The Midway Mania portion of Tokyo DisneySea's American Waterfront does a better job of this than Paradise Pier ever did, but I do think there's potential there.

I think both can coexist, i.e. the Pixar characters are presented within a Victorian era pier but that's as good as it'll get imo



That makes sense - I think presenting it as "Pandora Theater" might be a way to have it be more a wink/nod to what the land is without fully committing to that faux "ride the movies" concept that I agree is best left in the past

While I’d prefer a movie theatre to a sound stage I think my preference would be for an understated alley or park like setting off Hollywood Blvd that lead to the entry tunnel/ portal and reveal. Ideally Pandora wouldn’t go in the backlot at all and they would just put Monstropolis and Santa Cecilia (or Old Town if they want to keep it California) there.

 

[MistaDee]

While I’d prefer a movie theatre to a sound stage I think my preference would be for an understated alley or park like setting off Hollywood Blvd that lead to the entry tunnel/ portal and reveal. Ideally Pandora wouldn’t go in the backlot at all and they would just put Monstropolis and Santa Cecilia (or Old Town if they want to keep it California) there.

Not sure there's really room for a park like setting to transition between the two lands. And they do need to visually communicate to the guests where they can access Pandora which I don't think an understated alley would quite accomplish

 

[DarkMetroid567]

The Pier is never going away. People love it too much — it’s, for better or worse, the iconic land of DCA.

 

[PiratesMansion]

The pier is probably safe forever by virtue of 1) branding, and 2) it's basically THE location for non-LL/minor attractions in the park, and there's some value to that.

Doesn't mean I have to like what's there. And even in its superior PP 2.0 state it was still always a little jarring to round the bend and come face to face with Screamin', Death Wheel, and the other attractions, at least for me. If you continue straight from the park's entrance it's the first real enormous vista of the park, and frankly from my end it's an incredibly disappointing, anticlimactic one. The worst in any Disney park, arguably, made worse by Anaheim and the incredibly bland PPH being visible right behind the land. Potentially anti-transportive.

 

[mickEblu]

Not sure there's really room for a park like setting to transition between the two lands. And they do need to visually communicate to the guests where they can access Pandora which I don't think an understated alley would quite accomplish

Yeah I mentioned in another post (replying to you I believe) that they probably don’t have room for that.

Why? it works for Galaxies Edge?