News Red Car Trolley to close February 8, 2025

[CaptinEO]

Are the Main Street vehicles and horses going away next? This such a bad move.

We all have to accept any ride that doesn't sell "Lightning Lane" passes will get axed. This is what happened to Rivers of America in Florida and will likely happen to anything not making direct profit.

At what point do we realize that Josh D'amaro, even with his runner's physique and winning smile and tight pants, has generally been bad for the Parks division during his tenure as Chairman?

Are we there yet? Or do we need to see one or two more crappy and cheap decisions from him?

I don't get the hype around him at all. He's not as dimwitted or inpersonal as Chapek but he still has made so many bad choices including playing catch up over in Florida.

 

[Too Many Hats]

The more California they take out of this park, the better this park will be. The caught between two worlds thing is not doing the park any favors. It’s gotta be one or the other.

I find Buena Vista Street (trolley and all) incredibly charming. The postwar CA national park aesthetic of Grizzly Peak is delightful as well. Alongside Cars Land, these seem to be the most coherent, tasteful, and immersive areas of the park. Given DCA’s many shortcomings, why mess with lands that "work"? Would DCA really be more cohesive with (choose any IP you please) Avatar in place of Grizzly Peak and Mickey Ave in place of BVS?

 

[Too Many Hats]

At what point do we realize that Josh D'amaro, even with his runner's physique and winning smile and tight pants, has generally been bad for the Parks division during his tenure as Chairman?

Every time I stumble upon a clip of D’Amaro these days, the first thing I notice is the tightness of his pants. This is 100% attributable to your posts on the matter. Every single time.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I find Buena Vista Street (trolley and all) incredibly charming. The postwar CA national park aesthetic of Grizzly Peak is delightful as well. Alongside Cars Land, these seem to be the most coherent, tasteful, and immersive areas of the park. Given DCA’s many shortcomings, why mess with lands that "work"? Would DCA really be more cohesive with (choose any IP you please) Avatar in place of Grizzly Peak and Mickey Ave in place of BVS?

I think what I’m saying is getting lost in the poor way I worded it.

I don’t think that losing the Trolley is a wonderful thing and I definitely think that making DCA a better version of the park it started as would be the better option. However, that’s not what they’ve done.

they have essentially turned the park into Hollywood Studios West. However, they have not done this to the whole park. It exists in this weird limbo state where it’s caught between two very different identities that don’t mesh as well together as some try to make it seem. Sure you can explain how a lot of these lands can fit into the California landscape, but they are IP centric first, California centric second.

I’m not saying that is the best option, but it is nonetheless the option they have chosen and the existence of the original park’s bones alongside these new goals absolutely hurts it. I don’t want to see the California stuff go, but at this point it’s better for the park that it does because everything around it is quickly moving in a very different direction.

It’s evident that they’re strategy for DCA these days is the same one they’re using for DHS and WDS. The only way that can work is if they let that be the park’s complete identity. Do I think that’s a better park than a California themed park? No. But it’s too far gone for a California themed park to come out of this when they’re speed running the DHS model.

It’s sad to see it go, but it is indeed better for the park that it all fits under the same umbrella rather than awkwardly trying to walk down two very different paths at the same time. It isn’t the best version of the park, but I’d much rather have a DCA that’s fully all on the same page than one that’s trying to speak out of both sides of it’s mouth.

At this point, we gotta accept DCA will never be cohesive again. But we’d be a hell of a lot closer to cohesive if they went all in on The Movie Park rather than 2/3 The Movie Park, 1/3 California Postcard.

That’s why I say get rid of the California stuff. Clearly they’ve given up on it and inevitably it will disappear eventually, so why not just do it now and give this park a fighting chance at landing on its own two feet when they’re done tinkering with it’s core thesis?

To answer your question, yes it would be more cohesive to make this an IP park than what they’re doing now. Most of the cohesiveness you all see in these lands now is not really as sturdy as it appears on the surface. Cars Land, Pixar Pier, Avengers Campus, soon Avatar (which likely will replace one of the few remaining California sections) it all sticks out and only “fits in” because of the mental gymnastics Disney and fans have done to make it fit when you squint.

 

[britain]

I think what I’m saying is getting lost in the poor way I worded it.

I don’t think that losing the Trolley is a wonderful thing and I definitely think that making DCA a better version of the park it started as would be the better option. However, that’s not what they’ve done.

they have essentially turned the park into Hollywood Studios West. However, they have not done this to the whole park. It exists in this weird limbo state where it’s caught between two very different identities that don’t mesh as well together as some try to make it seem. Sure you can explain how a lot of these lands can fit into the California landscape, but they are IP centric first, California centric second.

I’m not saying that is the best option, but it is nonetheless the option they have chosen and the existence of the original park’s bones alongside these new goals absolutely hurts it. I don’t want to see the California stuff go, but at this point it’s better for the park that it does because everything around it is quickly moving in a very different direction.

It’s evident that they’re strategy for DCA these days is the same one they’re using for DHS and WDS. The only way that can work is if they let that be the park’s complete identity. Do I think that’s a better park than a California themed park? No. But it’s too far gone for a California themed park to come out of this when they’re speed running the DHS model.

It’s sad to see it go, but it is indeed better for the park that it all fits under the same umbrella rather than awkwardly trying to walk down two very different paths at the same time. It isn’t the best version of the park, but I’d much rather have a DCA that’s fully all on the same page than one that’s trying to speak out of both sides of it’s mouth.

At this point, we gotta accept DCA will never be cohesive again. But we’d be a hell of a lot closer to cohesive if they went all in on The Movie Park rather than 2/3 The Movie Park, 1/3 California Postcard.

That’s why I say get rid of the California stuff. Clearly they’ve given up on it and inevitably it will disappear eventually, so why not just do it now and give this park a fighting chance at landing on its own two feet when they’re done tinkering with it’s core thesis?

To answer your question, yes it would be more cohesive to make this an IP park than what they’re doing now. Most of the cohesiveness you all see in these lands now is not really as sturdy as it appears on the surface. Cars Land, Pixar Pier, Avengers Campus, soon Avatar (which likely will replace one of the few remaining California sections) it all sticks out and only “fits in” because of the mental gymnastics Disney and fans have done to make it fit when you squint.

I hear what you’re saying, and I pretty much agree. Except this is like getting rid of the horse-drawn trolley on Main Street at Disneyland. It’s a subtraction that’s hurting a land, even if I agree with the overall direction of the park’s theme.

 

[Disney Irish]

While I have no illusions that once its closed it may stay permanently gone, but it has not been confirmed that is indeed what is happening. All we know, and confirmed by Disney, is that its closing starting Feb 8th during construction of the 2 new AC attractions.

The fact that they will park one on BVS is at least a potential for its return in the future. So we'll have to watch and see what happens as construction progresses and completes, we'll know either way over the next year or so I'm sure.

 

[chadwpalm]

Every time I stumble upon a clip of D’Amaro these days, the first thing I notice is the tightness of his pants. This is 100% attributable to your posts on the matter. Every single time.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

While I have no illusions that once its closed it may stay permanently gone, but it has not been confirmed that is indeed what is happening. All we know, and confirmed by Disney, is that its closing starting Feb 8th during construction of the 2 new AC attractions.

The fact that they will park one on BVS is at least a potential for its return in the future. So we'll have to watch and see what happens as construction progresses and completes, we'll know either way over the next year or so I'm sure.

I think whether or not the Red Car Trolley returns depends on what's going to happen to the stretch of HL the extends towards the Hyperion.

Avatar so far is rumored to just take over the backlot portion of HL, which leaves open the possibility the stretch that contains Disney Junior, the Animation building, and finally the Hyperion could be fully folded into Avengers Campus. If thats the case, the RTC won't return.

 

[Disney Irish]

I think whether or not the Red Car Trolley returns depends on what's going to happen to the stretch of HL the extends towards the Hyperion.

Avatar so far is rumored to just take over the backlot portion of HL, which leaves open the possibility the stretch that contains Disney Junior, the Animation building, and finally the Hyperion could be fully folded into Avengers Campus. If thats the case, the RTC won't return.

I don't think its that simple. As has been discussed in this thread, they could always retrack it to take a different route, like for example just go down BVS and around Carthay Fountain and return down BVS instead of going down Hollywood Blvd.

I think the real factor is if they can find space to move the trolley barn, which as has also been discussed in this thread, has several spots it could go if they wanted to relocate it.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

I don't think its that simple. As has been discussed in this thread, they could always retrack it to take a different route, like for example just go down BVS and around Carthay Fountain and return down BVS instead of going down Hollywood Blvd.

I think the real factor is if they can find space to move the trolley barn, which as has also been discussed in this thread, has several spots it could go if they wanted to relocate it.

Wasn't one of the spots behind Soarin?

 

[mickEblu]

I don't think its that simple. As has been discussed in this thread, they could always retrack it to take a different route, like for example just go down BVS and around Carthay Fountain and return down BVS instead of going down Hollywood Blvd.

I think the real factor is if they can find space to move the trolley barn, which as has also been discussed in this thread, has several spots it could go if they wanted to relocate it.

I think the real real factor is if they WANT to find/make the space for a new trolley barn. I’m guessing they don’t so between that and all other factors I’d say February 25 is the last time we’ll ever see the Red Car Trolley running.

 

[Disney Irish]

Wasn't one of the spots behind Soarin?

Yes, another was on the other side of MB next to Hyperion. Plus others on different spots in DCA I'm sure. Only thing is willingness on Disney's part.

 

[Disney Irish]

I think the real real factor is if they WANT to find/make the space for a new trolley barn. I’m guessing they don’t so between that and all other factors I’d say February 25 is the last time we’ll ever see the Red Car Trolley running.

Yes, that is basically what I was getting at without being so pessimistic about it.

I'm not completely sold on them permanently closing it, but I can see it happen.

So get those rides in before February 8th just in case.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Yes, another was on the other side of MB next to Hyperion

That would probably be the least likely spot they would use. Disney probably wants to keep their options open regarding a further Avengers Campus expansion post Infinity Defense/Stark Flight Lab and putting a new trolley barn next to the Hyperion would make further AC development harder.

 

[Disney Irish]

That would probably be the least likely spot they would use. Disney probably wants to keep their options open regarding a further Avengers Campus expansion post Infinity Defense/Stark Flight Lab and putting a new trolley barn next to the Hyperion would make further AC development harder.

There are other spots in DCA it could go also, for example they could take it all the way down and put it into a DLForward spot if needed.

 

[October82]

I think what I’m saying is getting lost in the poor way I worded it.

I don’t think that losing the Trolley is a wonderful thing and I definitely think that making DCA a better version of the park it started as would be the better option. However, that’s not what they’ve done.

they have essentially turned the park into Hollywood Studios West. However, they have not done this to the whole park. It exists in this weird limbo state where it’s caught between two very different identities that don’t mesh as well together as some try to make it seem. Sure you can explain how a lot of these lands can fit into the California landscape, but they are IP centric first, California centric second.

I’m not saying that is the best option, but it is nonetheless the option they have chosen and the existence of the original park’s bones alongside these new goals absolutely hurts it. I don’t want to see the California stuff go, but at this point it’s better for the park that it does because everything around it is quickly moving in a very different direction.

It’s evident that they’re strategy for DCA these days is the same one they’re using for DHS and WDS. The only way that can work is if they let that be the park’s complete identity. Do I think that’s a better park than a California themed park? No. But it’s too far gone for a California themed park to come out of this when they’re speed running the DHS model.

It’s sad to see it go, but it is indeed better for the park that it all fits under the same umbrella rather than awkwardly trying to walk down two very different paths at the same time. It isn’t the best version of the park, but I’d much rather have a DCA that’s fully all on the same page than one that’s trying to speak out of both sides of it’s mouth.

At this point, we gotta accept DCA will never be cohesive again. But we’d be a hell of a lot closer to cohesive if they went all in on The Movie Park rather than 2/3 The Movie Park, 1/3 California Postcard.

That’s why I say get rid of the California stuff. Clearly they’ve given up on it and inevitably it will disappear eventually, so why not just do it now and give this park a fighting chance at landing on its own two feet when they’re done tinkering with it’s core thesis?

To answer your question, yes it would be more cohesive to make this an IP park than what they’re doing now. Most of the cohesiveness you all see in these lands now is not really as sturdy as it appears on the surface. Cars Land, Pixar Pier, Avengers Campus, soon Avatar (which likely will replace one of the few remaining California sections) it all sticks out and only “fits in” because of the mental gymnastics Disney and fans have done to make it fit when you squint.

There is no coherent version of the IP driven park that DCA is becoming - it's a park of six or seven directions and this is a step towards even more commitment to that (lack of) vision. As @Too Many Hats said, many of the best parts of DCA are the remaining California elements, and it's unquestionably a negative for BVS and the park that the RCT is going away.

 

[mickEblu]

There is no coherent version of the IP driven park that DCA is becoming - it's a park of six or seven directions and this is a step towards even more commitment to that (lack of) vision. As @Too Many Hats said, many of the best parts of DCA are the remaining California elements, and it's unquestionably a negative for BVS and the park that the RCT is going away.

Agreed. So somehow San Fransokyo and Pandora are more simpatico than Grizzly Peak and Pandora because they are both based on movies? So beautiful, immersive lands should be downgraded in the name of IP consistency? Nah, I’m good. Just pretend the land is based on the Humphrey the Bear shorts since we hear Woodlores voice on GRR anyway.

 

[DavidDL]

Neither the Main Street vehicles nor the Red Car Trolley are particularly "efficient" ways of getting down the street. It's faster to walk, sure. -and management certainly must hate the fact that the vehicles don't print money for them.

But they inject a soul and life (kinetic energy) into their respective areas. They are the embodiment of the "finer details" that is supposed to set Disney apart from other theme parks. They both help to establish a sense of place for an area like Buena Vista Street or Main Street.

Anyone unironically defending Disney's decision to remove the Red Car Trolley has factually zero understanding about what makes these parks meaningful. Especially when the trade off just looks to be another Spider-Man/Transformers/Neverland clone.

I won't say those kinds of rides aren't also fun. But it's despicable that a company like Disney apparently doesn't have enough money or freaking imagination left in it to find room for a new barn behind Soarin' or Hollywoodland.

 

[mickEblu]

As long as the people in charge have even just an iota of common sense Grizzly peak should be safe for a long time…

1. It’s Connected to the Grand Californian which would also require an extensive retheme and what motivation would they have to do it as the place already prints money?

2. There an inherent value in a heavily Forested area with mature trees that’s immersive and transports you in a very organic way. You just can’t go buy those at the store. It takes years of growth. They have a lot of value sitting there in general. I have to imagine something like that GRR complex would cost at least 5x more to build today.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I imagine that the DL Main Street vehicles are largely safe because of the Walt factor, though I imagine at some point they'll get tired of the hassle/expense of bussing the horses to and from the park.