News Pacific Wharf to be Reimagined into San Fransokyo

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I can’t help but wonder how much more it would have cost to tear down the old bridge and start from scratch, with the new concrete footers so close together it looks like it would have been simple to remove the old bridge and make one supported from the bottom without all the side supports.

Spending all this money on an overlay no one asked for but cutting corners at the same time, the end result is going to look cheap, why do it if it’s not going to look better in the end? I just don’t get it.

 

[Consumer]

I can’t help but wonder how much more it would have cost to tear down the old bridge and start from scratch, with the new concrete footers so close together it looks like it would have been simple to remove the old bridge and make one supported from the bottom without all the side supports.

Spending all this money on an overlay no one asked for but cutting corners at the same time, the end result is going to look cheap, why do it if it’s not going to look better in the end? I just don’t get it.

Sure, but what's funny about that? At least with this we can laugh at Disney's cheapness.

 

[Californian Elitist]

When is this supposed to be completed by again?

 

[Too Many Hats]

Saw it in person yesterday. It’s notable that the new Golden Gate Bridge (or whatever) obstructs the iconic view of the pier as you approach it from the park’s main midway (Cars Land entrance on your left, facing forward). I’ve never really cared for the pier so this doesn’t particularly bother me, but it’s interesting.

Overall San Fransokyo looks alright. I certainly never cared for Pacific Wharf, so for me this is a minor plus-up. At least it’s creating something of a fantasy environment. Glad they kept the Karl Strauss stand.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Saw it in person yesterday. It’s notable that the new Golden Gate Bridge (or whatever) obstructs the iconic view of the pier as you approach it from the park’s main midway (Cars Land entrance on your left, facing forward). I’ve never really cared for the pier so this doesn’t particularly bother me, but it’s interesting.

Overall San Fransokyo looks alright. I certainly never cared for Pacific Wharf, so for me this is a minor plus-up. At least it’s creating something of a fantasy environment. Glad they kept the Karl Strauss stand.

I’m indifferent to the theme also, I just wish they’d use their money on areas that truly need to be changed, like the backlot area, rather than redoing things like Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier, and to a l’essor extent the Soarin area (although I love the results in that one).

They’ve redone 3 areas that were fine as they were, meanwhile the area around monsters inc is still primarily big, empty, square buildings.

 

[Consumer]

I’m indifferent to the theme also, I just wish they’d use their money on areas that truly need to be changed, like the backlot area, rather than redoing things like Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier, and to a l’essor extent the Soarin area (although I love the results in that one).

They’ve redone 3 areas that were fine as they were, meanwhile the area around monsters inc is still primarily big, empty, square buildings.

To be fair to Grizzly Peak Airfield, redoing Condor Flats was the intention for quite a while, as you can see in this concept art published in The Disney Mountains: Imagineering At Its Peak, published in 2007. The retheme in this area, while maybe not necessary as Condor Flats wasn't abysmal, was planned for the new DCA. Mission Breakout, Pixar Pier, and San Fransokyo were all deviations from what was already seen as fixed by Disney as of 2015.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I’m indifferent to the theme also, I just wish they’d use their money on areas that truly need to be changed, like the backlot area, rather than redoing things like Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier, and to a l’essor extent the Soarin area (although I love the results in that one).

They’ve redone 3 areas that were fine as they were, meanwhile the area around monsters inc is still primarily big, empty, square buildings.

IMO Grizzly Peak is a gigantic plus-up (despite being a pretty minor project, relatively speaking) that enhances the aesthetic beauty of the area around Soarin' while strengthening the thematic cohesion of the park overall. It's evidence that a little theming goes a long way. Excellent use of money.

But I agree wholeheartedly about Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier. Pixar Pier in particular is such a lateral move, it feels like every dollar spent on that project was wasted.

Obviously Hollywood and the backlot will require significant investment, and that's one reason they haven't been addressed yet. In the meantime, that corner of the park remains embarrassing.

 

[mickEblu]

IMO Grizzly Peak is a gigantic plus-up (despite being a pretty minor project, relatively speaking) that enhances the aesthetic beauty of the area around Soarin' while strengthening the thematic cohesion of the park overall. It's evidence that a little theming goes a long way. Excellent use of money.

But I agree wholeheartedly about Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier. Pixar Pier in particular is such a lateral move, it feels like every dollar spent on that project was wasted.

Obviously Hollywood and the backlot will require significant investment, and that's one reason they haven't been addressed yet. In the meantime, that corner of the park remains embarrassing.

Yup. Completely agree on Grizzly Peak Airfield. If there is anything positive to take from them not doing anything with the Hollywood Backlot and Tomorrowland it’s that it’s a clear indication they have bigger plans for those areas. Of course, Hell just might freeze over first.

 

[TP2000]

New photo backdrop street art mural added over the garage door next to the Ghirardelli.

View attachment 736960

Yay. Graffiti.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

IMO Grizzly Peak is a gigantic plus-up (despite being a pretty minor project, relatively speaking) that enhances the aesthetic beauty of the area around Soarin' while strengthening the thematic cohesion of the park overall. It's evidence that a little theming goes a long way. Excellent use of money.

But I agree wholeheartedly about Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier. Pixar Pier in particular is such a lateral move, it feels like every dollar spent on that project was wasted.

Obviously Hollywood and the backlot will require significant investment, and that's one reason they haven't been addressed yet. In the meantime, that corner of the park remains embarrassing.

This was why I hesitated to even mention Grizzly Peak, Condor flats was fine and didn’t “need” to be changed but I love the results so at least the money spent resulted in an improvement. Technically I don’t dislike the other changes either but since they are laterals rather than improvements it really does feel like wasted money.

 

[TP2000]

The only thing that I can think of looking at this is that nobody wanted this. Nobody was asking for this.

It just doesn't belong. It's a little 'seven year old's first Spencer Gifts art' for my taste.

That is a hysterically brilliant line.

And here's a scary thought. Once this sketchy food court remodel is completed in September, there will be nothing new under construction at DCA. No new ride or facility or restaurant. No new show at the Hyperion. No new parade (will DCA ever get a parade again?). Nothing.

Next door at Disneyland, all they are doing is reskinning Splash Mountain into an employee-owned cooperative, and reopening the French Market with new decor and smokestacks on the roof.

This is a rather bleak time for the Disneyland Resort. Nothing announced, nothing in the pipeline, not a bulldozer in sight.

Although, on the bright side, perhaps that is for the best if all WDI and TDA are capable of doing creatively now is adding graffiti to food courts and applying employee-owned cooperative backstories to existing log rides?

 

[Too Many Hats]

Yup. Completely agree on Grizzly Peak Airfield. If there is anything positive to take from them not doing anything with the Hollywood Backlot and Tomorrowland it’s that it’s a clear indication they have bigger plans for those areas. Of course, Hell just might freeze over first.

Exactly. At this point I'll be so bummed if either land receives a mere light thematic overlay. Both need real work. Fortunately it would seem WDI agrees.

I only hope I live long enough to see a Tomorrowland renovation.

This was why I hesitated to even mention Grizzly Peak, Condor flats was fine and didn’t “need” to be changed but I love the results so at least the money spent resulted in an improvement. Technically I don’t dislike the other changes either but since they are laterals rather than improvements it really does feel like wasted money.

Totally, I hear ya. I might argue that Condor Flats would seem dated today if never updated, but to your point, it was certainly fine (and DCA had other, more urgent issues).

The crazy thing about Pixar Pier is that it doesn't even address several issues in that corner of the park (lack of shade; empty space in the Incredicoaster helix; the ease of seeing buildings/hotels outside the park; the blandness and lack of theming in the stretch from Little Mermaid to Goofy). It achieves the "Synergy" mandate but nothing else. Ugh.

 

[Too Many Hats]

And here's a scary thought. Once this sketchy food court remodel is completed in September, there will be nothing new under construction at DCA. No new ride or facility or restaurant. No new show at the Hyperion. No new parade (will DCA ever get a parade again?). Nothing.

Surely Disney is breaking ground on the Avengers Campus E-ticket any day now!

Although, on the bright side, perhaps that is for the best if all WDI and TDA are capable of doing creatively now is adding graffiti to food courts and applying employee-owned cooperative backstories to existing log rides?

Yeah, since Avengers and Avatar seem to be our only potential forthcoming attractions, I agree it might be best if WDI and TDA take a beat, sober up, and revisit their expansion plans with fresh eyes sometime in the near future. Maybe continue fixing that pipe in Adventureland, but otherwise just let the parks breathe for a minute before misguidedly cramming in more of "the latest" IP.

 

[D.Silentu]

Yeah, since Avengers and Avatar seem to be our only potential forthcoming attractions...

My quick predictions on those delays: I think they're waiting for Tokyo's Peter Pan attraction team to finish up in Japan, seeing as Avengers is rumored to use that ride system. As for Avatar, I don't think we'll see it until we have a new Tomorrowland, so they can debut the refreshed land with a brand new ride.

 

[mickEblu]

This could just as easily be some back alley in North Hollywood and I'd have no way of distinguishing it. Who pays $100+ to go to DCA just to have this be the kind of environment they're welcomed with?

And very reminiscent of Avengers Campus just a couple lands over.

 

[mickEblu]

Yay. Graffiti.

So Edgy. So Disney.

 

[CaptinEO]

That is a hysterically brilliant line.

And here's a scary thought. Once this sketchy food court remodel is completed in September, there will be nothing new under construction at DCA. No new ride or facility or restaurant. No new show at the Hyperion. No new parade (will DCA ever get a parade again?). Nothing.

Next door at Disneyland, all they are doing is reskinning Splash Mountain into an employee-owned cooperative, and reopening the French Market with new decor and smokestacks on the roof.

This is a rather bleak time for the Disneyland Resort. Nothing announced, nothing in the pipeline, not a bulldozer in sight.

Although, on the bright side, perhaps that is for the best if all WDI and TDA are capable of doing creatively now is adding graffiti to food courts and applying employee-owned cooperative backstories to existing log rides?

Honestly I actually think they've been making too many additions/changes to the parks ever since 2017 and on. Time for a well needed break.

That being said they should finish that embarassing half finished Tommorowland entrance redo they abandoned in 2020. Last I went they had concept art up on the wall and stray wires around the fixtures.

 

[Surferboy567]

That is a hysterically brilliant line.

And here's a scary thought. Once this sketchy food court remodel is completed in September, there will be nothing new under construction at DCA. No new ride or facility or restaurant. No new show at the Hyperion. No new parade (will DCA ever get a parade again?). Nothing.

Next door at Disneyland, all they are doing is reskinning Splash Mountain into an employee-owned cooperative, and reopening the French Market with new decor and smokestacks on the roof.

This is a rather bleak time for the Disneyland Resort. Nothing announced, nothing in the pipeline, not a bulldozer in sight.

Although, on the bright side, perhaps that is for the best if all WDI and TDA are capable of doing creatively now is adding graffiti to food courts and applying employee-owned cooperative backstories to existing log rides?

WDW also has that same problem once Tiana's opens. Destination D23 and (hopefully) D23 Expo is approaching though.

 

[chadwpalm]

When is this supposed to be completed by again?

August 31st.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disney-california-adventure/san-fransokyo/

 

[Californian Elitist]

August 31st.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disney-california-adventure/san-fransokyo/

Thank you. I knew it was sometime this month. May as well just say September.