I do not want to sort of derail this any further but not sure there would be much value in a new dedicated thread, as it would seem to have already been of much discussion here. But...
What do I think it would take to get California Adventure closer to the caliber of Disneyland? Not in any particular order, and definitely not complete:
- overall, the main issue is the rides (the signature ones included) do not reach the same caliber as those in the park next door and so far apart from each other in walking distance.
- needs dark rides of every size. golden vine winery. cars land. pixar pier.
- demolish hollywoodland. space is too valuable and is redundant now as we now have buena vista street.
- bugs land should be also go. space is valuable and pixar pier should be looked at as similar to fastasyland.
- eliminate views of outside the park.
- upgrade anywhere cheap remains.
- soarin' needs to revert back to original, far superior, over california film.
- grizzly river run needs wildlife audio-animatronics.
- etc.
My answer will include a bit of what we know they are planning, think they might be planning and what I would want to see.
1. Extend BVS all the way to Hyperion and get rid of Hollywoodland in the process, making BVS a “real” land with more substance. Just the name Hollywoodland sounds cheesy anyway. So now you have BVS quality facades all the way to the Hyperion.
2. Get rid of the “backlot” concept and Put the Mickey ride there but give the attraction showbuiling a nice theatre facade and a properly themed Q. I would like this but being that Mickey is rumored to go into Toontown then how about moving Roger Rabbit here (since they ll probably need the room in Toontown anyway) and add an Ink n Paint club. With that said, I don’t see them going thru this trouble for the Roger Franchise so my biggest hope is that Marvel land doesn’t claim this area too.
3. Reroute the Red Car so it makes a left at Sunset and goes through the now backlot instead of past GOTG.
4. Hyperion- I’m torn here and I know that it’s good for the park but if I were in charge I’d probably opt for an E ticket here- but given its proximity to Marvel land - no thanks. We ll already have 3 Marvel rides with out using the Hyperion. So the Hyperion stays but get rid of that fake sky and put a real weenie there and maybe somehow add a nice theatre lobby.
5. The Animation Building - Also torn here as it is a huge piece of real estate but I love the lobby. With Turtle Talk most likely moving to Pixar Pier, it really only leaves the animation academy as the draw. I don’t think many people (especially non APs) do the sorcerers workshop. So all this to say I wouldn’t mind an original D or E ticket being placed here if there is the space. With that said, who knows if they use this Space for the Spider-Man ride or Marvel land in general.
6. Bugs Land- so we know Marvel land is taking over. I just hope that they keep some of the lush theming and not raze all the greenery and erect big city building facades (boring). Specifically, I hope they pay attention to the lands entrance off the main pathway through the park. I don’t think the big city vibe would work there next to the Cars Land entrance and Grizzly Peak/ the winery. Whatever big city vibe the land gets will probably be further back to where Fliks Fun Fair is now or maybe even further into the expansion pad behind GOTG.
7. Marvel Land - Put the proposed Spider-Man ride where ITBAB is now and into current Fliks Fun fair as the space will probably be needed. Put the Avengers coaster in the expansion of behind GOTG.
8.Pixar Pier- put an Inside Out or Coco dark ride somewhere using backstage space. Inside Out would make more sense eventhough I enjoyed Coco more and think it could make for a better ride.
9. Paradise Park- This is a tough one. Not sure how much room there is to do anything and it was really only renamed because they decided not to renovate all of Pixar Pier. Maybe they eventually extend Pixar Pier all the way to Mermaid and “move” Mermaid to Pacific Wharf. Possibly use the Grizzly Challenge trail space for a new Pixar Pier / Paradise Park ride with an entrance between Mermaid / golden Zephyr. *** If this Space isn’t used for another Grizzly Peak ride.
10. Grizzly Peak:
Soarin- bring back Soarin Over California, at least in one theatre.
Grizzly River Run - Add good quality AAs. No ROA mannequins.
Challenge Trail - New dark ride- No brainer. Preferably something original. Something like Mystic Manor would great. Or Maybe something where we go digging for Gold and the mines start collapsing... But that’s too much like BTM and Indy. Or a Rethemed Seven Dwarfs coaster but rethemed to the Country Bears.
11. Expansion pad at the current Bus Transportation area- If the Mickey ride (or any new BVS/ Hollywoodland attraction) can fit into the current backlot and Marvel land and included attractions can fit into the expansion pad behind GOTG that leaves room for a new land here. This doesn’t seem very practical though. And who knows many years until hey decide to utilize this area?
12. Simba lot- scrap whatever dumb plans they have here and expand DCA into this lot with a themed bridge over Disney way to get into the land. Then insert my suspended Aladdin E ticket and another “adventure land” type attraction. I’m seeing a volcano anchor this land.
13. Bring back Tower of Terror.
