Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout announced for Disney California Adventure

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I know that there obviously must be plans for the future, but the west side of DCA is really depressing these days. Despite the heavy crowds, the entire area remains eerily tranquil, with the occasional red car passing through. It's like a graveyard of lost attractions right on display for you to wander through. Tower of Terror, Aladdin, Mad T Party, the Muppets, Superstar Limo. It's kinda like walking through Epcot's Future World these days, only with Spider-Man randomly present.

 

[mickEblu]

Sorry. I realize now you were mixing two different things. You mention Walt back in the day, but you're mostly comparing things to present day Fantasyland.

I agree with you that the current combo of the teacups with adjacent Alice (and lights, landscaping, music) is pretty cool. Walt's teacups were perhaps better themed than any spinning cup ride at the time, but quickly became lost in the mix of spinning sombreros (Knott's) and spinning barrels (Magic Mountain) and even the current spinning Bionicle ride (Legoland). (Note, If I recall, the Magic Mountain ride had the extra dimension of a tilting turntable.)

No worries I was jumping around without realizing it so I could see how that was confusing.

I've never been on any of the examples you mention. Are the surrounding atmospheres and theming even close to what you get at Disneyland? That's what I'm getting at. We all know they are simple flats but it's the atmosphere/ theming that takes them to the next level. You know, the kind of thing that separates Casey Junior from the Westfield Mall train.

 

[Phroobar]

A Bugs Land is unique in theme among the Disney parks. Everyone is getting a Toy Story land which serves the same purpose as A Bugs Land and has many of the same rides. Would this area be more accepted it too was Toy Story Land?

Personally I would like to see the Chew Chew Train turned into a Bug's Life dark ride. It's already got a great opening. It just needs to make a turn at the animal crackers box.

 

[mickEblu]

A Bugs Land is unique in theme among the Disney parks. Everyone is getting a Toy Story land which serves the same purpose as A Bugs Land and has many of the same rides. Would this area be more accepted it too was Toy Story Land?

Please no TSL.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The Toy Story Land basically looks like the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground with a 40 foot Buzz Lightyear in it instead of a giant ant. One was charming and straight out of the movie, the other is gaudy and makes absolutely no sense. Why are the toys enormous? The only time they got Toy Story right in the parks is the window on Main Street.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Ok then we ll just have to agree to disagree.

I can't wait til the school carnival comes back this year so I can ride Peter Pan. Lol. Saying they were inspired by carnival rides would be fair but their is a huge divide between something like Alice or Peter Pan and whatever dark ride you can or could find at your average carnival.

I didn't say Peter Pan was a carnival ride. I'm talking about carnival rides in general. Dark rides were commonly found at carnivals. The dark rides at Disneyland are well-done, but it still doesn't take away the fact that dark rides are found at carnivals.

Ferris Wheels are also carnival rides. Mickey's Fun Wheel is a lot more fancier than the Ferris wheel one would see at a carnival, but it's still a Ferris wheel and still a typical carnival ride. I never argued that the quality of Disneyland rides can be found at carnivals.

 

[Antaundra]

How did vacationing families with little kids manage DLR before A Bug's Land?

Disneyland opened with flat slow rides that appealed to little kids. The point I was trying to make was that Bugs Land rides serve the same purpose at DCA as Dumbo, Casey Jr, etc... at Disneyland. Both parks need those kind of kiddie rides. The Bugs Land rides aren't as good as Fantasyland rides but they serve a purpose and are needed. Both parks need those kinds of rides. If Ursula makes her nervous you need to be able to run over to Heimlich's Chew Chew real quick to show her how safe and fun rides are. If mom and dad want to ride Radiator Springs Racers you need a line up of rides to take your niece where she'll feel safe and not cry for her parents. Ive only ever needed the rides in Bugs Land on one trip with one niece but on that trip when I needed them they were a life saver.

 

[Antaundra]

As a weird 6 year old kid who would watch movies like the original Child's play, Alone down stairs at my grandmas house, my opinion here is probably not valid. But I'd say a little scare never hurt anyone. Now of course u want to balance that out with what you re saying above.

On that same trip we were able to get her on all the Fantasyland dark rides and even Pirates, but they would make her nervous so we would then have to run her back over to a ride she felt safe on.

 

[mickEblu]

I didn't say Peter Pan was a carnival ride. I'm talking about carnival rides in general. Dark rides were commonly found at carnivals. The dark rides at Disneyland are well-done, but it still doesn't take away the fact that dark rides are found at carnivals.

Ferris Wheels are also carnival rides. Mickey's Fun Wheel is a lot more fancier than the Ferris wheel one would see at a carnival, but it's still a Ferris wheel and still a typical carnival ride. I never argued that the quality of Disneyland rides can be found at carnivals.

IMO saying the Disneyland dark rides are just well themed carnival rides isn't very accurate. If you said that about the FL flat rides I would agree with you. Its kind of like saying a 747 is a well themed propeller plane. For example, just take Pans ride system alone.. especially in 1955, would have been so far advanced from what you could experience at a carnival. I think it would be more accurate to say that Disney reinvented the Carnival dark ride.

 

[Californian Elitist]

IMO saying the Disneyland dark rides are just well themed carnival rides isn't very accurate. If you said that about the FL flat rides I would agree with you. Its kind of like saying a 747 is a well themed propeller plane. For example, just take Pans ride system alone.. especially in 1955, would have been so far advanced from what you could experience at a carnival. I think it would be more accurate to say that Disney reinvented the Carnival dark ride.

Sure, one can say Disney "reinvented" the dark ride, but that still doesn't take away the fact that a dark ride is a carnival ride.

Let's use another analogy. I can get a burger at a fine dining restaurant, and I can also get one at Jack-in-the-Box. Clearly one is of better quality than the other, but it doesn't take away the fact that both are burgers.

Dark rides were, and still are, found at carnivals. This has been my main point, and I'm just going to leave it at that.

 

[mickEblu]

Sure, one can say Disney "reinvented" the dark ride, but that still doesn't take away the fact that a dark ride is a carnival ride.

Let's use another analogy. I can get a burger at a fine dining restaurant, and I can also get one at Jack-in-the-Box. Clearly one is of better quality than the other, but it doesn't take away the fact that both are burgers.

Dark rides were, and still are, found at carnivals. This has been my main point, and I'm just going to leave it at that.

So what? What is the point of saying that a carnival ride is basically a Disney dark ride in its poorest and cheapest form? We come to this site to talk about the nuances and the details.

My point was that a Disneyland dark ride is so much more advanced than a carnival dark ride and that just saying it's a well themed carnival ride is not accurate. You had no response to my example of Pans ride system.

Big Thunder Mountain and Revolution are both roller coasters. King Arthur's Carrousel and King Tritons (sad) Carrousel are both Carrousels. So what ? What value does that add to the discussion and what does it have to do with my point?

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I agree that such a land is no longer necessary, but it enhances a fairly sizable group of family's park experience and that group is an important demographic to Disney's future customer base. Tower of Terror (RIP) wasn't necessary for adults to enjoy the park, but it certainly improved the experience.

That's true, assuming that whatever replaces it down the line doesn't include something that appeals to the same demographic. I'm not calling for the closure of A Bug's Land because I hate toddlers, I'd like to see it replaced because I know Disney can do better.

 

[Pam Hates Penguins]

I didn't say Peter Pan was a carnival ride. I'm talking about carnival rides in general. Dark rides were commonly found at carnivals. The dark rides at Disneyland are well-done, but it still doesn't take away the fact that dark rides are found at carnivals.

Ferris Wheels are also carnival rides. Mickey's Fun Wheel is a lot more fancier than the Ferris wheel one would see at a carnival, but it's still a Ferris wheel and still a typical carnival ride. I never argued that the quality of Disneyland rides can be found at carnivals.

You can very rarely find a teacup ride in carnivals, but they have them.

And Disneyland has a swing ride too just like most carnivals.

 

[Californian Elitist]

So what? What is the point of saying that a carnival ride is basically a Disney dark ride in its poorest and cheapest form? We come to this site to talk about the nuances and the details.

My point was that a Disneyland dark ride is so much more advanced than a carnival dark ride and that just saying it's a well themed carnival ride is not accurate. You had no response to my example of Pans ride system.

Big Thunder Mountain and Revolution are both roller coasters. King Arthur's Carrousel and King Tritons (sad) Carrousel are both Carrousels. So what ? What value does that add to the discussion and what does it have to do with my point?

Oh, boy.

I said all that I wanted to say, and it seems everything I'm saying is going in one ear and out the other. I've stated the facts, and again, I'm going to leave it at that. Some of the things you mentioned had absolutely NOTHING to do with my point.

I actually like you, and I'm trying to stay respectful, so I'm done. You can keep responding if you want.

 

[vancee]

I always like how these big threads ALWAYS go off topic, I'm just going to leave it at that.

 

[mickEblu]

Oh, boy.

I said all that I wanted to say, and it seems everything I'm saying is going in one ear and out the other. I've stated the facts, and again, I'm going to leave it at that. Some of the things you mentioned had absolutely NOTHING to do with my point.

I actually like you, and I'm trying to stay respectful, so I'm done. You can keep responding if you want.

I like you too.

No I'm cool, I've wasted too much brain power on this already. I'm running on fumes.

EDIT: Sorry if you were offended by anything I said. I realize that "what value does that add to the discussion" probably didn't sound too nice over the web. It was just an honest question but I see how it can read badly. I'm multi tasking and watching the super bowl. If I was little more focused I probably would have deleted that comment or phrased it

 

[Practical Pig]

That's true, assuming that whatever replaces it down the line doesn't include something that appeals to the same demographic. I'm not calling for the closure of A Bug's Land because I hate toddlers, I'd like to see it replaced because I know Disney can do better.

I've felt through this that I may be coming across as defending the Bugs Land that exists, when my defense is simply of (IMO) the need for the function that it's supposed to provide, and I don't need to repeat that anymore.

For me it's just a walkway now, and I don't doubt the reviews I read here at all. If Disney razes it for something better, I'll cheer, so long as that function is preserved elsewhere. If it isn't, I'll still enjoy the new, improved land.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

What is the point of saying that a carnival ride is basically a Disney dark ride in its poorest and cheapest form? We come to this site to talk about the nuances and the details.

Not disagreeing with you, but I do think it's important to understand that the Fantasyland attractions Walt's designers concieved and built, which remained at the park for nearly 30 years, may have been state of the art at the time, but they were still pretty basic by any measure.

 

[Practical Pig]

I always like how these big threads ALWAYS go off topic, I'm just going to leave it at that.

We're just idling while we wait for something new to react to. But I guess I haven't really weighed in on it yet.

Nutshell: I'm not and won't be really upset about losing the Twilight Zone theming inside the ride unless the result turns out to be less engaging. Not being a Marvel guy, I'll be a pretty empty vessel walking in, and I'm willing to wait to see how full I get.

I hate the fact that that very strange exterior is going to be looming over the park, intruding so heavily on the theming of Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land. That's based on the concept art, and I'll try to keep an open mind at the unveiling.

These basic points have been discussed many times over here, and I'm just declaring a POV, not expecting to it to revive old discussion.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Disneyland opened with flat slow rides that appealed to little kids. The point I was trying to make was that Bugs Land rides serve the same purpose at DCA as Dumbo, Casey Jr, etc... at Disneyland.

That was true when A Bug's Land opened. Since then a good number of attractions and shows have been added to DCA that, like the Fantasyland rides, have broad appeal and are appropriate for young children.

On a side note I think A Bug's Land and Toontown are more comparable than A Bug's Land and Fantasyland.

Both parks need those kind of kiddie rides.

A Bug's Land's has the most lackluster collection of attractions, shops, and dining (are there any places to eat in there?) in the park. The elaborate decorations are cute, and It's Tough to be a Bug stands out, but the overall experience of A Bug's Land is akin to kiddie sections I've seen at a Six Flags or Cedar Fair theme park. For a park charging ~$100 for a one day admission I expect more.