DCA Project Sparkle - Relaunching A Park

[TP2000]

One of the longer-term locations for Project Sparkle has been the old Cove Bar, upstairs at Avalon Cove restaurant. It's been closed since March and has been entirely walled off. They must be into some heavy reconstruction and remodeling there at that original 2001 patio bar!

Picture from today's Dateline Disneyland, taken high atop Mickey's Fun Wheel. http://micechat.com/blogs/dateline-...e-brave-cars-monorails-dca-previews-more.html

The Cove Bar is set to reopen in a few weeks!

I hadn't hung out there in years, as it did seem to look very contemporary circa 2001 and it just wasn't the hip place to be any more. Although I do remember having a few drinks and some lobster nachos there a few times circa 2001-05. It was designed rather cheaply, as was so typical of most of DCA, but in that late 1990's style that Wolfgang Puck's restaurants around SoCal were decorated like during the late 1990's and very early 2000's. It needed an update and upgrade badly, and I can't wait to see what they've done to the place during this major remodel for Project Sparkle!

The Cove Bar circa 2001 - A typically DCA 1.0 cheap design motif

 

[jpittore1]

2013 trip

Our family has never gone to Disneyland because of the "lack of love" to the parks...with all the updates over the last few years and the addition of Cars we just recently decided to take a trip in June 2013. This posts adds to the excitement to see the Park that Walt built and DCA!

 

[Admiral01]

Our family has never gone to Disneyland because of the "lack of love" to the parks...with all the updates over the last few years and the addition of Cars we just recently decided to take a trip in June 2013. This posts adds to the excitement to see the Park that Walt built and DCA!

I have to say, as a WDW regular who dabbles in the Disneyland visits, Disneyland gets lots and lots of love. Between Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom, I choose Disneyland any day of the week. DCA was just poorly themed and executed, but the love of upkeep and effort was certainly there.

 

[sponono88]

One of the longer-term locations for Project Sparkle has been the old Cove Bar, upstairs at Avalon Cove restaurant. It's been closed since March and has been entirely walled off. They must be into some heavy reconstruction and remodeling there at that original 2001 patio bar!

Picture from today's Dateline Disneyland, taken high atop Mickey's Fun Wheel. http://micechat.com/blogs/dateline-...e-brave-cars-monorails-dca-previews-more.html

The Cove Bar is set to reopen in a few weeks!

I hadn't hung out there in years, as it did seem to look very contemporary circa 2001 and it just wasn't the hip place to be any more. Although I do remember having a few drinks and some lobster nachos there a few times circa 2001-05. It was designed rather cheaply, as was so typical of most of DCA, but in that late 1990's style that Wolfgang Puck's restaurants around SoCal were decorated like during the late 1990's and very early 2000's. It needed an update and upgrade badly, and I can't wait to see what they've done to the place during this major remodel for Project Sparkle!

TP, I think you may be onto something here -- look at this snazzy new sign that popped up at the Cove Bar this week. Maybe an indication of what's to come on the inside?

In other Project Sparkle news, they are still working on the Bugs Land mural:

Back in Paradise Pier, they replaced the large billboards with some fun new art that fits the new Paradise Pier theme

And finally, it looks like they added some new graphics to this Condor Flats hangar:

source: MintCrocodile

 

[TP2000]

You would think Project Sparkle would be ramping down here in late May, but it seems to be going full steam ahead all over the park! I walked through the park earlier this week and it seems nearly every handrail has a paint barricade in front of it as all the handrails in Flik's Fun Fair and Hollywood Land and Paradise Pier get repainted. The handrails I saw weren't in bad shape or noticeably damaged, but I guess TDA just wanted them repained anyway.

The Taste Pilots Grill had its rocket-plane removed recently, likely due to sightlines from the Carthay Circle area nearby. They are working on a new wall behind the tarps. What will it look like I wonder? All of the landing stripes on the tarmac throughout Condor Flats has all been repainted recently.

The entire facade of the Bugs Life Theater is now behind tarps. They've already repainted the top a light blue, now the mural is under the Sparkle tarps.

Across the pathway, the old Bugs Fastpass area is being rebuilt into a satellite location for Radiator Springs Racers Fastpass, to help with traffic in Cars Land.

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...hotos/23184248_2tVzc5#!i=1868581658&k=kbHL8Q9

 

[disney fan 13]

You would think Project Sparkle would be ramping down here in late May, but it seems to be going full steam ahead all over the park! I walked through the park earlier this week and it seems nearly every handrail has a paint barricade in front of it as all the handrails in Flik's Fun Fair and Hollywood Land and Paradise Pier get repainted. The handrails I saw weren't in bad shape or noticeably damaged, but I guess TDA just wanted them repained anyway.

The Taste Pilots Grill had its rocket-plane removed recently, likely due to sightlines from the Carthay Circle area nearby. They are working on a new wall behind the tarps. What will it look like I wonder? All of the landing stripes on the tarmac throughout Condor Flats has all been repainted recently.

The entire facade of the Bugs Life Theater is now behind tarps. They've already repainted the top a light blue, now the mural is under the Sparkle tarps.

Across the pathway, the old Bugs Fastpass area is being rebuilt into a satellite location for Radiator Springs Racers Fastpass, to help with traffic in Cars Land.

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...hotos/23184248_2tVzc5#!i=1868581658&k=kbHL8Q9

Lookin good... Can't wait to see everything in December!

 

[nemofinder22]

The new billboards on Paradise Pier look much better than what used to be there.

Cove Bar re-opened this weekend with a very nice modest make over. The signs that decorate the place are wonderful! Helps give Paradise Pier some history even if it's fake history, I guess no one wants to remember the 2001 version of it :ROFLOL:

A few photos can be found here.
http://micechat.com/forums/disneyla...-project-tracker-12-a-564.html#post1056767294

With some more here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/socal_ron/page4/

Not pictured are the really cool "vintage" photos that were "taken" when the pier was under "construction". As soon as I find them I'll post them.

 

[TP2000]

One of the aspects of Project Sparkle, aside from all the physical building remodels and about a million gallons of paint, is an update to the uniforms the CM's wear at DCA.

One of the latest new uniforms to debut this week is the outfits the vending CM's wear at the popcorn and ice cream carts around the park. The previous uniform from 2001 to May, 2012 was a generic blue pants and blue and red polo shirt. The bland polo shirt had the old 2001 park logo on it still, to add insult to injury. Here's the old uniform from 2001 to May, 2012 as seen last week.

This weekend the new uniform debuted at all the vending carts around DCA. The new look is a 1950's milkman outfit with a hat and bow tie, with the new DCA logo on the shirt. Sharp!

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...01-12/23307852_hnddHk#!i=1881200680&k=tXJrHRJ

 

[Disneybird]

Thank you for the great information and pictures. Having been to DL twice and loving it, my family is thinking of another trip next year with more newbies.

The only negative I have experienced is that both trips the weather was too cold to enjoy Grizzly River Rampage.

 

[Californian Elitist]

One of the aspects of Project Sparkle, aside from all the physical building remodels and about a million gallons of paint, is an update to the uniforms the CM's wear at DCA.

One of the latest new uniforms to debut this week is the outfits the vending CM's wear at the popcorn and ice cream carts around the park. The previous uniform from 2001 to May, 2012 was a generic blue pants and blue and red polo shirt. The bland polo shirt had the old 2001 park logo on it still, to add insult to injury. Here's the old uniform from 2001 to May, 2012 as seen last week.

This weekend the new uniform debuted at all the vending carts around DCA. The new look is a 1950's milkman outfit with a hat and bow tie, with the new DCA logo on the shirt. Sharp!

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...01-12/23307852_hnddHk#!i=1881200680&k=tXJrHRJ

I love the new uniforms, they look MUCH better than the plain, red and blue ones. Good job, TDA!

 

[sponono88]

I'm loving all the new themed ODV carts throughout the park! Here's a BVS cart that was introduced this week:

The carts in a bug's land

source: Dateline Disneyland

 

[sponono88]

Going back to the Cove Bar changes.. here's a closer look at some of the new stuff that was added during the remodel

They changed everything from the chairs to the outdoor lamps and created a new themed interior with vintage posters and other signage

New wooden trim and panels give the room a whole new look

The items on the wall tell the story of the beginnings of Paradise Pier, in particular the men who created the unique signs

The menu has been updated as well, with specialty drinks such as Midway Martini and Sideshow Novel-Tea

all photos by Dateline Disneyland

To see photos of the original Cove Bar, visit this page and scroll down: http://www.yesterland.com/avaloncove.html

 

[TP2000]

Oh my gosh! The Cove Bar really turned out great! It's a completely different theme and vibe in there now.

As a reminder, here's what the Cove Bar looked like previously from 2001 to 2012 before Project Sparkle and the retheme. It was mainly blank walls and a basic patio, with a contemporary dolphin decoration made out of sheet metal behind the bar as the one main decorative element in the entire place.

One of the fun things noted above with the new theme is all the pictures on the wall that have been made to look like they are from the early decades of the 20th century and that detail the construction of Paradise Pier eighty years ago. Very, very clever and a neat way to finally give Paradise Pier some backstory and faux history!

Painting Mickey's face on the Fun Wheel circa 1928

Installing the billboards circa 1928 (the same billboard exists across the walkway)

Building the big coaster in the 1920's

Very clever WDI!

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...01-12/23307852_hnddHk#!i=1881113728&k=D5kPRKz

 

[Californian Elitist]

Oh my gosh! The Cove Bar really turned out great! It's a completely different theme and vibe in there now.

As a reminder, here's what the Cove Bar looked like previously from 2001 to 2012 before Project Sparkle and the retheme. It was mainly blank walls and a basic patio, with a contemporary dolphin decoration made out of sheet metal behind the bar as the one main decorative element in the entire place.

One of the fun things noted above with the new theme is all the pictures on the wall that have been made to look like they are from the early decades of the 20th century and that detail the construction of Paradise Pier eighty years ago. Very, very clever and a neat way to finally give Paradise Pier some backstory and faux history!

Painting Mickey's face on the Fun Wheel circa 1928

Installing the billboards circa 1928 (the same billboard exists across the walkway)

Building the big coaster in the 1920's

Very clever WDI!

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...01-12/23307852_hnddHk#!i=1881113728&k=D5kPRKz

I went on the website and stared and the vintage photos literally for at least an hour. They are beautiful and yes, very clever! I hope they decide to sell replicas! I love the photo with the construction cranes on Paradise Pier.

 

[nemofinder22]

DLR really has a thing for cleverly themed bars lately. The rethemed Cove Bar looks fantastic, warm and inviting.

The old ODV costumes and graphics were so terrible, completely Six Flags in style.

 

[Nicole220]

I am in LOVE with the Cove Bar's remodel and the new ODV costumes!!

 

[nemofinder22]

The Taste Pilots facade has been completed. No more plane.

http://blog.disneygeek.com/2012/06/...as-wrapped-up-the-pattern-was-just-continued/

 

[zjer]

2013 trip

Our family has never gone to Disneyland because of the "lack of love" to the parks...with all the updates over the last few years and the addition of Cars we just recently decided to take a trip in June 2013. This posts adds to the excitement to see the Park that Walt built and DCA!

I think you will be impressed with DLR. I'm only there once or twice a year (five hour drive to DLR vs a five hour flight to WDW) but I've noticed the opposite in regards to the "lack of love". DCA was subject to bad theming but was generally well maintained. I've always thought of Disney Land as being the very definition of a properly maintained Disney theme park. The number of attractions that exist in that one park alone can almost be overwhelming on a busy weekend.

 

[TP2000]

The mural at It's Tough To Be A Bug was finally repainted. Gone are the last vestiges of Bountiful Valley Farm, and in is a new mural entirely that has giant blades of grass and flowers as if you are already shrinking as you enter the queue for the 3-D show downstairs.

Another new change showed up today, with new uniforms for the Grizzly River Run CM's. Their new outfits are sort of 1950's camping attire, that replace the old late 1990's contemporary "Extreme Rafting" outfits they had from 2001. These new uniforms look much better, and fit the new circa 1950 theme of Grizzly River Run perfectly.

All pictures compliments of Mint's extra-bonus Tuesday Magic Eye update! http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2012/06/tuesday-treat-visit-to-disneyland.html

 

[Nicole220]

I don't care for the new Grizzly costume.

Something that went on after park hours as part of Project Sparkle - Toy Story Midway Mania got a nice fresh coat of paint. All the walls, railings, columns, etc on the inside are all pretty now and free of chipped paint and black marks from ECVs and wheel chairs running into them.