mickEblu
Well-Known Member
No way. They know they need more capacity at DCA. Not replacements. Plus, the Grand Californian.
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News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
No way. They know they need more capacity at DCA. Not replacements. Plus, the Grand Californian.
MarvelCharacterNerd
Well-Known Member
Do you mean the Grand Na'vidian???
Kidding. I think it belongs in the backlot next to Avengers Campus. And then just change the park name to Disney Adventure Park and be done with it.
October82
Well-Known Member
I agree with you. I also don't think Disney management really understands (or perhaps more accurately - cares) what makes a theme park more than a random collection of attractions, and perhaps more importantly, shops and restaurants. It seems like they (for better or worse) are rewarded for that lack of care by ever increasing value delivered to the shareholders.
As much as I'd like to think Disney is trying to solve the problem of a limiting theme chose in the late 1990s by single IP lands, I think it's more likely that they simply want to sell you a Disney+ subscription, a ticket to see the new Avatar movie, AND a vacation to see your favorite blue aliens. It just doesn't matter whether it belongs in some abstract way between your favorite anthropomorphic cars, your favorite anthropomorphic toys, and your favorite comic book characters from ~decade old films.
I'll add that the problem with DCA 2001 wasn't theme but execution.
October82
Well-Known Member
Disney has a mixed track record - at best - on prioritizing capacity. DHS is an obvious example of moving mainly laterally, but Star Wars Land at Disneyland traces its roots to efforts to add park capacity going back more than a decade. Even as a pure addition, it hasn't addressed the crowding and low(er) average attraction per guest numbers in that park.
One thing Disney has shown is that they're just as happy having fewer guests spending more than they are having more guests through the gates. If they think Navi River Run and Soarin' over Pandora will increase average guest spend, they'll do that.
I also wouldn't put the "Grand Na'vidian" past this company - single IP hotels are found at every resort.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Disney isn't in a place to spend billion(s) for a lateral move or slightly better capacity. Also, if they want to get more people over to DCA they need to add and not replace stuff.
Is Avatar the property you go with to increase guest spend? At least in any meaningful way that makes it worth the billions it would cost to retheme a land and two attractions? I think what Pandora does is it moves the needle in getting more bodies to the park because it translates to a theme park land beautifully. I don't think the merch is flying off there shelves. As a new build absolutely worth it. As a replacement for one of the best lands in the park that would also require an extensive renovation of your flagship hotel? Not worth it.
Lastly, every time Iger mentions this new land he also speaks of the desire to increase capacity.
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October82
Well-Known Member
I think Disney doesn't especially care about capacity as long as average guest spend goes up. That's what matters to the bottomline.
Do I think Avatar is a property that will do that? No, not especially. But I frequently have different views from Disney's accountants. As much as I want to agree with you, I think it's disturbingly plausible that Disney goes the retheme rather than expand route.
I don't think you're alone here in caring about these things. I mostly agree with you. The sad reality is that I don't think Disney really cares about what makes for a good theme park land or what the best land at DCA is. These just aren't factors that drive decision making in the same way they drive (some) Disney Parks marketing. At the end of the day, it's about brand value and synergy. Disney wants you to buy the Avatar vacation package because the Avatar vacation package brings in more revenue than more day guests from Fullerton.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I don't trust them either. But in this specific case I think re-theming Grizzly Peak does not make sense for them (not just me) and is not happening.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
... with that said, I for one should be worried. In under 8 short years they have removed my favorite ride from Disneyland, favorite ride from DCA and are now drastically altering my favorite place to sit and relax at Disneyland. It's only fitting that they would proceed to remove my favorite land from DCA as well.
Basketbuddy101
Well-Known Member
Don't remind me. The damage, much of it irreversible, current leadership has done in the last decade is staggering.
MarvelCharacterNerd
Well-Known Member
Echoing sentiments above - while I have no use whatsoever for anything Avatar (I didn't even care for the slow boat ride - and I love slow boat rides lol), I accept that it and many other things in the years ahead will be brought to the parks that don't interest me at all.
Which is why I hunker down and cheerlead for the one little corner addition that does make me happy - Avengers Campus - even when I get repeatedly razzed for that opinion here.
Because whatever is coming - other than maybe a Frozen land, which I'd admittedly enjoy, and Encanto, too - is not likely to appeal to me. But I'm the past and present of the parks, and they don't really care if I'm the future.
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
Whats interesting is how deep some of the damage goes. Things- like actual grass planters- have been removed. The Disney Look is gone. Food portions have gone down, prices have gone up. Stuff like that adds up to an experience that feels worse overall, even if the average guest won't be able to pinpoint why. And that's not getting into the staff and maintenance issues.
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
Dude what's sad is that they didn't outright remove Tower of Terror or Splash either- they're going to sit there in altered states reminding us of their past glory each and every visit.
At least when an attraction usually gets removed it gets removed, so you don't have to see it in a ruined form every visit.
Vegas Disney Fan
Well-Known Member
At least they aren’t left standing or just sitting empty, we just got back from a DL trip and half of Tomorrowland is just useless reminders of old rides that don’t exist anymore, the peoplemover track, the carousel of progress building, the rocket jets, the old boat dock… just teasing us with what used to exist, and been that way for years and even decades.
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
Don't forget the empty Magic Eye theater!
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Yeah this is a tough one for me. Although I miss the old rides very much I also really enjoy the ride systems and Splash in particular has really good bones. The ride path staying the same is nice. You’ll still feel the joy of that rollercoaster drop for example. Hopefully the ambiance on the outdoor portions of the ride keep most of their old charm.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Haha I actually want the Pier to stick around. I think it’s pretty synonymous with DCA at this point and the Mickey Fun Wheel is the second most photographed spot in all DLR I believe. Maybe I’m just a nostalgic fool but I think the pier in some form should always be part of DCA. Definitely good with it being upgraded though.
Consumer
Well-Known Member
What better reason is there to get rid of something than because the guests like it?
