The Dawn of a New Era for Disneyland

[fctiger]

Yet Tomorrowland is still broken. AA figures in older attractions don't move anymore. Newly installed AA figures die in the rain. Macaroni is glued to a building that was themed appropriate for the area. Super babies are stuck on sticks with fifty pounds of glitter. Paint the Night is MIA. Rocks still block the entrance to Tomorrowland. Goofy's bounce house doesn't bounce.

Hopefully the AAs will get fixed but this is all pretty minor at the end of the day. PTN may be missing (which I want back too) but look at all the entertainment we have now. Everyone who has gone in the last week says the park is looking better than ever. It doesn't mean its going to all be perfect obviously but the future looks exciting!

I've gone to over 30 theme parks around the world including every Disney resort and DLR is probably still one of the best maintained resorts out of all of them maybe barring TDR. It has done quite a turnaround in the last decade or so.

 

[Rich T]

... its only going to get people more excited for the park who are big SW fans and never had a real interest in going to DL until now.

Just what Disneyland needed: more people.

 

[Snapper Bean]

Doesn't Disneyland approach legal capacity limits many many days? I am going the last week of June and plan to skip Galaxys Edge and just hope that that section takes keeps the crowds away from the traditional areas (and DCA in general). Perhaps I am being overly optimistic.

 

[Rich T]

F*** Star Wars Land, Galaxy’s Edge, and/or any other name it goes by.

This will alter the park in ways in which I’m in no favor of and it makes me sick. You guys and gals enjoy.

Give me the petting zoo back.

It could be worse. Back in the 80's the parks could have been sold off as a result of hostile takeover. It could have been Six Flags CartoonLand by now.

Star Wars could eventually run its course, especially if Disney keeps driving it into the ground. Discovery Bay coming in 2030!

 

[Rich T]

I share everybody’s concerns with placing the park in DL but I’m at least glad that it’s at the back of the park, pretty well hidden from view. You will be able to go to DL and completely avoid SWL in a very natural fashion if you want. Much like how you can enjoy the Star Wars films while completely ignoring the sequel trilogy.

... and also ignoring the prequel trilogy. And everything else that came along except the cartoon series Droids, which was fairly awesome.

 

[Rich T]

Still feel sorry for the horses. But I agree that, for a huge, honkin', disruptive, out-of-place, shoehorned-in, money-grab pile of destruction and non-Disneyishness... This was done cleverly and with as much care as possible. It's a pity, though, they went the smarty-pants show-off route with the main ride instead of using a more reliable design that might actually have been ready and safe to run by the land's opening day.

 

[britain]

It’s a shame for only a few months. Then it will matter as much as Splash Mt was targeted for Jan 89, but opened July 89.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Doesn't Disneyland approach legal capacity limits many many days? I am going the last week of June and plan to skip Galaxys Edge and just hope that that section takes keeps the crowds away from the traditional areas (and DCA in general). Perhaps I am being overly optimistic.

One of many reasons SW:GE was added is that it expanded the size of the park, and therefore capacity. (And Project Stardust has also helped). I don't know of publicly released numbers, so lets just say 15,000 ish, but with turnover, maybe 30 to 40 more thousand persons a day can now attend (starting Friday).

This is why the Eastern Gateway is so important for DCA, taking over the current transportation plaza can add 5 to 8 thousand to the parks capacity (depending on the amount of land and what is placed there).

Many days in the last few years, Disney has somehow limited ticket sales (including comps and sign ins), this costs the park money, which doesn't make Disney, the City, and the resort area happy. (A Comp person still spends money inside the parks).

 

[DanielBB8]

I would think they would be tightly monitoring attendance at Galaxy Edge so it won't disproportionately carry too much of the crowd away from the rest of Disneyland especially if the park reaches capacity. So Disneyland wouldn't necessarily feel less crowded. It'll be just as crowded as it is now. Crowds have a way of self-correcting. DCA will be just as crowded if people find out there are sparse crowds due to Galaxy Edge and they'll compensate by going to DCA.

 

[britain]

One of many reasons SW:GE was added is that it expanded the size of the park, and therefore capacity. (And Project Stardust has also helped). I don't know of publicly released numbers, so lets just say 15,000 ish, but with turnover, maybe 30 to 40 more thousand persons a day can now attend (starting Friday).

This is why the Eastern Gateway is so important for DCA, taking over the current transportation plaza can add 5 to 8 thousand to the parks capacity (depending on the amount of land and what is placed there).

Many days in the last few years, Disney has somehow limited ticket sales (including comps and sign ins), this costs the park money, which doesn't make Disney, the City, and the resort area happy. (A Comp person still spends money inside the parks).

Hey, how nice to live in an era of expansion attractions and not just replacement attractions, am I right?

 

[mickEblu]

That's another good way to look at it.

I just get the sense that Star Wars Land will be just as transformative to the culture and vibe of the park, if not more so, than other transformative years.

1959 with Nixon cutting the ribbon on the opening of Matterhorn, Submarines and the Monorail. Disneyland was here to stay, and even that commie Nikita Kruschev wanted in!

The 12 months from Summer 1966 to Summer 1967 with the opening of Small World, New Orleans Square, Pirates of the Caribbean and the fabulous New Tomorrowland.

I could also throw in 1985 and Disneyland's 30th, as that was the new Eisner era when Disneyland seemed to leave its admittedly hokey mid century self behind and leap into the Go-Go 1980's and the modern age, when Disneyland suddenly became self-aware with a hip new vibe that was looking ahead instead of backwards.

And the opening of DCA, Downtown Disney and the Grand Californian in 2001 (DCA flopped hard at first, but the physical changes beyond the berm and expansion of the Resort were hugely impactful to the customer experience.) But Paul Pressler said it was going to be FABULOUS! And Paul Pressler never lies, especially when seated next to Eisner and Iger on Y2K Business Casual Day.

2019 is going to go down as a year to rival, if not surpass, those previous years when new era's began for Disneyland. This is going to be huge.

I just have this sudden realization, if not some minor melancholy, that these are the final hours of the Good Old Days.

True and we will still continue to go and trick ourselves into thinking we're having a good time.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Hey, how nice to live in an era of expansion attractions and not just replacement attractions, am I right?

Pixar Pier and DCA would like a word.

 

[Rich T]

It’s a shame for only a few months. Then it will matter as much as Splash Mt was targeted for Jan 89, but opened July 89.

Unless it turns out like the first Jaws ride at Universal Florida (I don't think it will.) But, don't forget, Splash's problems not only delayed the opening, but resulted in a ride that has never functioned quite the way it was supposed to. Riders were never supposed to fly past the show scenes so quickly, and the lift transitions are much clunkier than intended. Not saying that's the current situation--I'm actualy pretty optimistic about this one (though I'd have been just fine with a coaster ride system instead.)

 

[Darkbeer1]

Hey, how nice to live in an era of expansion attractions and not just replacement attractions, am I right?

The city is predicting an extra $250 Million + of tax revenue over the next 10 to 15 years (add the Olympics to that). So yes, Disneyland growth, Convention Center Growth, Resort Area Growth (Hotels, Restaurants, etc.) transformation of the Honda Center and Angel Stadium properties and the Platinum Triangle is key to our cities growth, General Fund Revenues, improvements to all parts of our city, keeping our public utilities prices low, and much more.

It is truly a chance to help make this city a better place. When I was born, the city formed the original Committee of 100 that made some amazing decisions. Now, I am on the next Committee of 100 sixty years later. I hope we do as good as the original did. Just Blessed that I have the opportunity, and that others have enough faith in me to place me in my current leadership roles.

 

[Happyrebster]

This is what Disneyland is about.

It is? I can see this in any one of literally thousands of open pastures across America. You really think that folks come to Disneyland - from all over the world - to see a bit of livestock on the hoof?

 

[TROR]

It is? I can see this in any one of literally thousands of open pastures across America. You really think that folks come to Disneyland - from all over the world - to see a bit of livestock on the hoof?

Yeah

 

[Darkbeer1]

It is? I can see this in any one of literally thousands of open pastures across America. You really think that folks come to Disneyland - from all over the world - to see a bit of livestock on the hoof?

In way , yes. Disneyland opened as a stylized mid-America. Main Street U.S.A., Fronteirland (Which had Horse Drawn Stagecoaches, Mule Rides and other Animals), and other lands. Wildlife such as Swans, Ducks (who decided to come to Disneyland on their own), fishing at Tom Sawyer's Island, etc.

It was all part of the Charm that made Disneyland Famous World Wide.

 

[britain]

Yeah

And to think how empty DL felt from 1955 - 1986 as visitors awaited anxiously for the opening of its crown jewel, the Big Thunder Ranch Petting Zoo.

I kid, I kid

 

[Darkbeer1]

And to think how empty DL felt from 1955 - 1986 as visitors awaited anxiously for the opening of its crown jewel, the Big Thunder Ranch Petting Zoo.

But looking back, the "mini" Circle D Ranch added atmosphere. It wasn't just goats either. It hosted some of the Presidential Pardoned Turkeys, Reindeer and much more. It also provided some less hectic places, that some folks/children need at times.

 

[britain]

But looking back, the "mini" Circle D Ranch added atmosphere. It wasn't just goats either. It hosted some of the Presidential Pardoned Turkeys, Reindeer and much more. It also provided some less hectic places, that some folks/children need at times.

What, you don't think the animals here will be just as good? And not hectic?