News Paradise Pier Becoming Pixar Pier

[spacemt354]

The whole park (DHS) to me has more of a "Hollywood Land" vibe than a "Buena Vista Street" vibe. Notable exceptions include TOT, Brown Derby, Chinese Theater.


Not very inspiring gift shop, awkwardly placed right at the entrance of the park.

Very cheap looking Art Deco

Not Imagineers' best work. Sorry Gertie

I have an idea. Let's stick a giant guitar in front of a warehouse. Genius.

Speakin' of warehouses...If you're a lover of warehouse architecture, you're in luck. They are plastered all over the park!

Well at least DHS is a real working studio where the warehouses serve a functional production purpose. Oh wait...

Nothing says HOLLYWOOD, like PLANET HOLLYWOOD!

All that being said, this park is all about the shows. The secret is that they keep the shows fresh and innovative such as Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. It debuted in 1989 and is only 28 years old young!

Last, but certainly not least, is the showstopper of the park. The Maleficent Dragon in Fantasmic is certainly a sight to behold.

Didn't know this was a DHS thread...

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

That poster is obsessed with coming on this forum and putting down WDW.

Btw, you guys are forgetting the theming at Screamin':

Sand and rocks!

Waves!

Disney and their wave machines falling into disrepair.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That poster is obsessed with coming on this forum and putting down WDW.

Btw, you guys are forgetting the theming at Screamin':

Sand and rocks!

Waves!

Disney and their wave machines falling into disrepair.

There seems to be this persistent confusion between recognizing something and considering it a good choice or well executed.

 

[c-one]

This is one of those story vs. theme arguments writ large all over again. I know people have thought it silly to theme a part of an amusement park to a different amusement park. Personally I think Paradise Pier (2.0, not 1.0) did a decent job doing what Disney parks are supposed to do: transport the guest to an idealized version of another time and place. I think the classic boardwalk park is a quintessentially Californian experience. It took me a long time to figure out California Screamin in this context -- specifically "how can it be a classic woodie but also have a launch and a loop and loud music, this is confusing" -- but eventually I got over it, partially because the ride is just a lot of fun.

 

[The_Bellringer]

I actually welcome this change. While it may be more of a lateral move in theming quality then an upward one, for me the "Victorian seaside pier" re-theme and romanticism upgrade of the original Paradise Pier never really worked.

I think Paradise Pier was always the weakest land in DLR, and it boggles my mind they even greenlit that back in the late 90s.

Didn't Walt Disney want a park without the cliche attractions found at every little boardwalk and carnival he took his daughters to? Then they build stuff like the Maliboomer. So I don't think it's really a net gain or loss, but more of a lateral move and an effort to make it feel as themed as the rest of the parks.

Whether it will be successful remains to be seen.

 

[DLR92]

I actually welcome this change. While it may be more of a lateral move in theming quality then an upward one, for me the "Victorian seaside pier" re-theme and romanticism upgrade of the original Paradise Pier never really worked.

I think Paradise Pier was always the weakest land in DLR, and it boggles my mind they even greenlit that back in the late 90s.

Didn't Walt Disney want a park without the cliche attractions found at every little boardwalk and carnival he took his daughters to? Then they build stuff like the Maliboomer. So I don't think it's really a net gain or loss, but more of a lateral move and an effort to make it feel as themed as the rest of the parks.

Whether it will be successful remains to be seen.

What about Dumbo? Tea Cups? Carousel? Maybe those should be remove, those are the most cliche rides found in any amusement parks.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I actually welcome this change. While it may be more of a lateral move in theming quality then an upward one, for me the "Victorian seaside pier" re-theme and romanticism upgrade of the original Paradise Pier never really worked.

I think Paradise Pier was always the weakest land in DLR, and it boggles my mind they even greenlit that back in the late 90s.

Didn't Walt Disney want a park without the cliche attractions found at every little boardwalk and carnival he took his daughters to? Then they build stuff like the Maliboomer. So I don't think it's really a net gain or loss, but more of a lateral move and an effort to make it feel as themed as the rest of the parks.

Whether it will be successful remains to be seen.

Except this won’t be themed experience like other lands but themed decor.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Those rides are incredibly charming and well themed for being classic amusement park staples.

The ones in DCA are atrocious. They literally just named swings after the cartoons and played music to make it seem like it's a themed attraction. It was better with the orange peel.

 

[DLR92]

Except this won’t be themed experience like other lands but themed decor.

It don't make sense with Carsland next door either.

While I agree, a pier is a weak concept that oddly a large focus of the park. But that what pier is, A boardwalk, with some staples of amusement rides. A roller Coaster, some off the shelf rides, cheap amassment park food, maybe some dine in establishments. Lots of a carnival games. Definitely some street perfumers, lacking in the land. It could be corny. But I don't think Disney had to make Pier more corny than it is. Instead of spending all that money to make it have more Pixar, just tear down Goofy Sky School for some exciting Pixar dark Ride.

But I find it sad that are suckers that are looking forward for Pixar Pier. We don't need another A bugs Land/Toy Story Land on a already bland Pier. Those are lackluster of Pixar additions.

 

[Antaundra]

I was really hopeful that this was just going to be an expansion of the Victorian theme with some Pixar characters slapped on the signs. I could live with Pixar names on the signs if this project succeeding in unifing the Victorian theme. The new concept art is much more kitschy than I expected. And it's less unified than it is now. And it makes less sense. The Incredibles building is mid century and represents the look of that movie, but the Toy Story rides are Victorian which is a style that has nothing to do with those movies. And what Pier has mid century and Victorian architecture on the same Pier? I hope this is cheap so they can justify a Paradise Pier 4.0 in the next 10 years. Or better yet I hope this fails and Disney just abandons the stupid idea of a Pier theme and they flatten the land and build something better.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Or better yet I hope this fails and Disney just abandons the stupid idea of a Pier theme and they flatten the land and build something better.

I'd be shocked if it doesn't go over with the general public. Also only a few high level details have been announced, so I'm trying to stay hopeful that there's some sweet stuff to be revealed in the final details. There has to be. Right?

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

No matter what they do to these areas of DCA, to my eyes, it just looks like the New Jersey State Fair with slimmer people.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I actually welcome this change. While it may be more of a lateral move in theming quality then an upward one, for me the "Victorian seaside pier" re-theme and romanticism upgrade of the original Paradise Pier never really worked.

I think Paradise Pier was always the weakest land in DLR, and it boggles my mind they even greenlit that back in the late 90s.

Didn't Walt Disney want a park without the cliche attractions found at every little boardwalk and carnival he took his daughters to? Then they build stuff like the Maliboomer. So I don't think it's really a net gain or loss, but more of a lateral move and an effort to make it feel as themed as the rest of the parks.

Whether it will be successful remains to be seen.

The rides found in Paradise Pier are found in actual California piers. The rides, Maliboomer included, fit the theme of the land. Surely you wouldn’t expect to find a rides like RSR, Soarin’ Over California, ToT, etc. everywhere at a California pier. Have you ever seen a California pier? I’m trying to understand why an old Pier in California didn’t work in a park called California Adventure, a park based on California history and things in general, for you all this time.

A lot of people misunderstand that Walt quote. Walt Disney wasn’t against carny rides in general. Almost all of Fanatasyland is made up of carny rides, and they’ve been there since July 17, 1955. He was watching his daughters on the merry-go-round at Griffith Park when he came up with the idea of a “better park,” Disneyland, and he still allowed for a merry-go-round/carousel to be put in his park.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

It may *technically* fit the theme, but the rides and theme basically aren't special. I mean, you go out into the desert and find inspiration for Big Thunder Mountain, for instance, but you won't find a ridiculous haunted railroad going through a dinosaur skeleton. This is the biggest issue about Paradise Pier. Been there, done that. No Disney touch, really, and their attempts to make it more "Disney" are to slap a giant Mickey head on the ferris wheel or something dodgy. It's a pile of junk.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I've been drinking excessively.

Even the Toy Story ride can be played at home on Wii and you don't have to stroke the thing off and get a sore hand.

That stupid Goofy ride was just stripped of tacky road sign theming that looked like Test Track built in someone's backyard in Reseda and given tacky billboards with Goofy. See? It's a Goofy ride! It's Disney!

 

[alias8703]

I'd be shocked if it doesn't go over with the general public. Also only a few high level details have been announced, so I'm trying to stay hopeful that there's some sweet stuff to be revealed in the final details. There has to be. Right?

Well in the first piece of concept art there was the Pixar Pals Theater which I am assuming is still there and just hidden behind the Mixar Fun Whell. So that would be much better than the creepy shop that's there now. Hopefully that sticks. And Bing Bongs Confectionary thing...
The idea of turtle talk moving to the pixar pals theater gives me hope that the animation building is in for a real redo or knockdown in the future. (Marvel?)
also when I was at the park last week there's a giant crane over the closed Goofy Sky School... Is this being refurbed? or fingers crossed torn down or moved?

 

[Californian Elitist]

It may *technically* fit the theme, but the rides and theme basically aren't special. I mean, you go out into the desert and find inspiration for Big Thunder Mountain, for instance, but you won't find a ridiculous haunted railroad going through a dinosaur skeleton. This is the biggest issue about Paradise Pier. Been there, done that. No Disney touch, really, and their attempts to make it more "Disney" are to slap a giant Mickey head on the ferris wheel or something dodgy. It's a pile of junk.

That’s the point. A pier isn’t anything fancy, no matter how you look at it. Paradise Pier will never be as impressive as Frontierland, New Orleans Square, etc. to me. However I’m also not expecting grandiosity when Paradise Pier or any pier for that matter comes to mind. The rides aren’t meant to be impressive.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I’m always reminded of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier whenever I’m in Paradise Pier. The rides are old and cheaply made, but it’s always fun to go there. My cousin had her baby shower there a few years ago and we had a ball on those cheap carny rides.

 

[TROR]

Paradise Pier 2.0 is probably one of the most charming lands at DCA imo. It's like Main Street USA but with rides.

 

[Antaundra]

The rides found in Paradise Pier are found in actual California piers. The rides, Maliboomer included, fit the theme of the land. Surely you wouldn’t expect to find a rides like RSR, Soarin’ Over California, ToT, etc. everywhere at a California pier. Have you ever seen a California pier? I’m trying to understand why an old Pier in California didn’t work in a park called California Adventure, a park based on California history and things in general, for you all this time.

Seaside amusement parks are not quintessentially Californian. They exist here but aren't really part of the culture or heritage of California. Most people associate the kind of Pier/Amusment park depicted in Paradise Pier with Coney Island or Atlantic City. Beach culture is part of California life and should be represented in a park about California but Paradise Pier is the least inspired, cheapest, way to represent the beach.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That’s the point. A pier isn’t anything fancy, no matter how you look at it. Paradise Pier will never be as impressive as Frontierland, New Orleans Square, etc. to me. However I’m also not expecting grandiosity when Paradise Pier or any pier for that matter comes to mind. The rides aren’t meant to be impressive.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I’m always reminded of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier whenever I’m in Paradise Pier. The rides are old and cheaply made, but it’s always fun to go there. My cousin had her baby shower there a few years ago and we had a ball on those cheap carny rides.

How seaside piers are now is really the big underlying problem with Paradise Pier. It was too literal and too contemporary. There is a romantic image of seaside piers, and while it probably skews heavily toward the east coast and Coney Island, you do see hints of such an aesthetic sensibility in things like the Snata Cruz Casino.