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Anyone else actually like DCA?
- Thread starter George Lucas on a Bench
- Start date
Sharon&Susan
Well-Known Member
What? You guys don’t love Plasterland?
Macro
Well-Known Member
Technically, it's StuccoLand.
And as for DCA, the Aladdin show was one of my favorite things in either park and I watched it on most visits. So DCA used to have something awesome. Shame it's gone, but I just can't let it go.
And I still enjoy getting something at Ghirardelli's and then eating it in Carsland while watching the racers go by. So there's that.
DCA ain't Disneyland but it still has some high points.
phantazmick25
Member
I first visited California Adventure back in 2005, during the 1.0/1.5 era. Even back in those days, I’ve always had a soft spot for DCA as a theme park with its own unique charm and feel. When the major 5-year renovation plan was announced, I was excited that the park was finally getting some attention and much-needed improvements, including a permanent nighttime show and Cars Land.
Nowadays, despite a few grievances I have (no Muppet-Vision, Soarin Around the World, Aladdin replaced by Frozen, etc), I still do enjoy California Adventure, warts and all.
That said, I’m trying hard not to get sucked into unconfirmed rumors and reports. But if the leaked Marvel Land
plans and the lackluster Ant-Man ride is anything to go by, yeah...Disney really needs to step up with Marvel, especially with Avengers: Endgame breaking box office records and Spider-Man being one of the most recognizable superheroes of all-time.
Nowadays, despite a few grievances I have (no Muppet-Vision, Soarin Around the World, Aladdin replaced by Frozen, etc), I still do enjoy California Adventure, warts and all.
That said, I’m trying hard not to get sucked into unconfirmed rumors and reports. But if the leaked Marvel Land
plans and the lackluster Ant-Man ride is anything to go by, yeah...Disney really needs to step up with Marvel, especially with Avengers: Endgame breaking box office records and Spider-Man being one of the most recognizable superheroes of all-time.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
DCA is a lot of fun, and despite all its flaws, I'd rather go there than a Six Flags park. Cars Land, Grizzly Peak and Buena Vista Street are wonderful, and though I miss ToT, I think MB makes better use of the ride system, and it's actually become one of my favorite rides. I'm not a Marvel fan, so right now there's nothing to get me excited about the park's future... but nearly anything would be an improvement over current Hollywood Land. I view the park as a very flawed but very enjoyable work in progress.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Fixed that for you
fravit
Active Member
I love DCA. I love the vibe, love that I can unwind with a cocktail in some pretty settings, love that there are fewer strollers and wider pathways. I love that there's a professional Broadway quality performance venue that has staged some excellent (not Steps in Time) high quality live theater that features the latest in stage technology. I actually wish they rotated shows more often - I'd love to see a new musical in the Hyperion every summer. Local regional theaters manage to pull off 3-4 full scale shows during a single summer season every year, with a fraction of Disney's budget.
The lobby to the animation building, the Pacific Warf passage to Cars Land , and the side dining room in Flo's Diner that faces the canyon are my three favorite places in the resort. In fact, Cars Land is one of my favorite things Disney has built in recent memory, and I am completely indifferent to the Cars films. Racers is the first ride to come to California in a long time that I think Walt would be really super into if he came back today. In my mind it honors every philosophy and design tradition that WDI has become known for to a T. I think the Route 66 angle was a great way to incorporate the land into DCA, and I love that it looks like this will stay a DCA unique offering, at least for a while.
I ADORE World of Color, nearly every version (sorry, NPH.) I love the Food and Wine festival. I love Soarin', both versions. I loved the Hollywood nighttime parties and I hope they return soon.
I always have a great time at the park and I like nearly all the changes they've made in the last decade. Not everything. I mostly I don't like the idea of Pixar Pier, though I don't actually hate all of the execution of the remodel. And I hope they get going on fixing Hollywood sooner than later. But this park has really grown into one of my favorite Disney parks. I legitimately can't wait for Marvel Land.
The lobby to the animation building, the Pacific Warf passage to Cars Land , and the side dining room in Flo's Diner that faces the canyon are my three favorite places in the resort. In fact, Cars Land is one of my favorite things Disney has built in recent memory, and I am completely indifferent to the Cars films. Racers is the first ride to come to California in a long time that I think Walt would be really super into if he came back today. In my mind it honors every philosophy and design tradition that WDI has become known for to a T. I think the Route 66 angle was a great way to incorporate the land into DCA, and I love that it looks like this will stay a DCA unique offering, at least for a while.
I ADORE World of Color, nearly every version (sorry, NPH.) I love the Food and Wine festival. I love Soarin', both versions. I loved the Hollywood nighttime parties and I hope they return soon.
I always have a great time at the park and I like nearly all the changes they've made in the last decade. Not everything. I mostly I don't like the idea of Pixar Pier, though I don't actually hate all of the execution of the remodel. And I hope they get going on fixing Hollywood sooner than later. But this park has really grown into one of my favorite Disney parks. I legitimately can't wait for Marvel Land.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
So basically you love Cars Land, World of Color, the animation lobby (which I also think is great), Soarin and Hyperion shows. That’s not a huge chunk of the park. DCA has its highlights but it lacks the cohesion and intangibles that Disneyland has. My biggest issue is just that it’s moving backwards. I defended DCA many times from 2012-2016 when others would bash it even then before the controversial changes.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
RE: Their choice of Ghiradelli as the best thing at DCA: The chocolate shakes are so good that... I actually wouldn't argue with that point.
fravit
Active Member
I mean, I'm not gonna get a park map and highlight areas, or tally a list of attraction and calculate a percentage of what I listed just to demonstrate that "not a huge chunk" is not really an accurate descriptor for what I said. I just want you to know that I really want to.
But hey, cool, I can keep going.
I love Mission Breakout. Unpopular opinion, but aside from it's thematic inconsistency with it's surroundings and being a general eyesore from the outside (particularly when it's framed behind Grizzly,) I think it's superior to Tower of Terror in nearly every way. When Marvel Land is built, the thematic inconsistency issue will change slightly as it'll become a weenie for the new area. But I think it's a far better story setup and use of the ride system. And the concept of Monsters After Dark is absolutely brilliant - you can ride one version of the ride in the morning, and then ride it's sequel later on. Can't think of that being done before.
I enjoy most of the Pier offerings. I wish Mermaid was a tiny bit longer but I think it's a solid dark ride and I there's never a visit I don't ride it. Monsters is a delightful experience and I'm always impressed by how they salvaged the previous dumpster fire that inhabited that space.
Ain't nobody gonna break my stride.
(Grizzly is just fine, though.)
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Yeah it was a big eye opener the one time I was stuck there with family that bought 2 day, 1 day per park tickets. Of course, it didn’t help that Paradise Pier was closed (except for TSMM) during the Pixar Pier makeover.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Grizzly peak is my favorite land. It’s the only land that really makes me feel like I’m somewhere else. Cars Land is amazing but do I feel like I’m at radiator springs? Nope. I feel like I’m at an amazing replica of a cartoon land.
Hey more power to you. I’m glad you enjoy it. But i would say that “not a huge chunk” was a pretty accurate description before you added more things you liked. Anyway, I standby what I said. DCA has some nice highlights ( most of which you pointed out) but lacks the cohesion, intangibles, magic of DL. I do enjoy the wider walkways though... when they re not clogged up with food and wine.
And it’s always hard to see something go backwards.
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Rich T
Well-Known Member
I agree the management is allowing way too many guests to cram into DL--and it's damaging the experience-- but as a lifelong DL visitor, DCA for me doesn't have 1/20th the amount of imagination, detail, heart and creativity that DL has baked in over the years. I agree, though, that DCA at its best can be a very pleasant, relaxing park. Some day, if DLR management has their way, DCA will be crammed with too many guests as well.
fravit
Active Member
You know, I actually really like the area, it has a great vibe to it. I just don't enjoy the ride itself enough to ever spend enough time there. I wish there was a nice indoor / outdoor lounge or dining venue, closer to the mountain and trails area, where you could hang out and relax and really enjoy the environment (picturing something similar to the patio area of Hungry Bear, one of my favorite spots in DL.) Or that GRR was a little bit better of a ride. I usually skip it. I do love that Condor Flats got absorbed into this land. I always thought that was a good choice, and we ended up getting more national parks theming out of it.
aliceismad
Well-Known Member
At the risk of having tomatoes thrown at me, I like DCA. I haven't been there since Pixar Pier, but I like DCA. It's not to the same caliber as Disneyland, but it's perfectly enjoyable. I like World of Color. I like the Grizzly Peak area. I enjoyed Paradise Pier and the coaster formerly known as California Screamin. I like the shows and Monsters ride in Hollywood Land. I think Marvel Land will be a nice addition. Bugs Life was the biggest disappointment for me, and now that's gone away.
Is there anyone who doesn't like Cars Land?
Is there anyone who doesn't like Cars Land?
fravit
Active Member
Lol. I think judging it just as a roller coaster and nothing else, it's awesome. As long as the track layout never changes, nothing can change this in my mind.
I have very mixed feelings about the Incredicoaster remodel. On the one hand, the theme went from basically nothing to, something. On the other hand, I wish it had been more extensive. But idk, I still like it. It's a great roller coaster with some weird frosting on it.
Like, this cake probably tastes great, but what weird frosting.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
If I was a WDW regular, I would feel the same way about DCA. Aside from Cars Land, all its best experiences exist in Florida. I'm a Californian, and even I treat DCA as a Park-Hopper-Only add-on to a day at DL, usually for a couple of hours while DL is unbearably crowded.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we as super fans/ fan boys/ aficionados or whatever you want to call us, talk in nuances because we analyze these things so deep and so often. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything we like about a particular subject. So to make it more clear if I had to grade Disneyland I would give it an A- (A+ before project stardusting).
DCA gets a C+ from me right now ( B before the GOTG: MB, Soarin, Pixar Pier changes). I understand though that it’s easy to think one hates something when they are only mentioning what they don’t like about the park.
DCA gets a C+ from me right now ( B before the GOTG: MB, Soarin, Pixar Pier changes). I understand though that it’s easy to think one hates something when they are only mentioning what they don’t like about the park.
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