Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
I feel the same way, which is unfortunate given what the park and its potential was like between 2012-2016
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
The Miscellaneous Thought Thread
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
I feel the same way, which is unfortunate given what the park and its potential was like between 2012-2016
coffeefan
Well-Known Member
I'd add the Monsters Inc ride for people that grew up with it. Guardians MBO is also great. I think the issue with DCA is that it doesn't gel together well. Hopefully that improves after Coco/Avatar are complete.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
To each their own. Guardians is fun, but I've gotten stuck in that boiler room in a slow, barely moving line a few too many times. Seems like they're ALWAYS sending me to whichever set of elevators is running under capacity, and usually the one upstairs to boot.
I don't care for Monsters Inc. Going on the Tokyo one first did the DCA ride no favors, and now, with the ride on LL, it's really killed the ride for me, as it is neither worth a long wait, nor something I feel is worth a LL.
Cohesion is absolutely a problem, as is the park's wacky layout. I'm sure the new rides will help, but I'm not sure anything can really give DCA the permanent fix it needs, especially because Disney seems to actively erase things about the park that do work.
Last edited:
waltography
Well-Known Member
Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but the billboards by Hyperion Theater received some new artwork featuring areas of the park. Of particular note:
Framing DCA as "a celebration of The Walt Disney Company" is certainly a choice, although I guess that's really the only way to make sense of the park now. Shame they never saw the "California that never was" concept to fruition.
Framing DCA as "a celebration of The Walt Disney Company" is certainly a choice, although I guess that's really the only way to make sense of the park now. Shame they never saw the "California that never was" concept to fruition.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
It’s not really new idea. It’s why Buena Vista Street was always in line with the franchise mandate.
DLR92
Well-Known Member
If DCA theme is a celebration of the Walt
Disney Company. It makes me feel Avatar has no place in the park. Avatar is not of Disney creation. It is a bought intellectual property.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
In fairness, so is anything Pixar, including Cars Land.
Clearly their attitude is "if it doesn't fit, we'll make it fit, consequences be darned!"
Rich T
Well-Known Member
I don’t mind Pixar, as people from Disney Animation had reportedly been involved in giving them script advice starting with Toy Story. But I will never consider Marvel, The Muppets, Star Wars or Avatar to be anything besides other people’s creations that Disney bought. Same with the Simpsons, Anastasia and Alien. Each IP purchase further dilutes the company’s core identity.
Last edited:
Rich T
Well-Known Member
I have the exact same issue with Marvel and Star Wars. But if Disney wants DCA to be a home for purchased IPs… Eh… They can always just rename the park, “Disney’s Look What We Bought.”
D.Silentu
Well-Known Member
As long as we're on the topic it is a bit odd, to me at least, that they decided to put up a billboard for the park you are standing in. Are you telling me that I am supposed to be in Hollywoodland or a Disney park? Or am I in Hollywoodland and you're telling me, presumably with a wink, that I should visit a Disney park? I don't care much for such self referential theming.
Last edited:
coffeefan
Well-Known Member
I think they're just committing to the bit while the theme remains. But you could be right.
Last edited:
coffeefan
Well-Known Member
I've never had bad experiences with Guardians (or ToT back then), so I can't relate.
For Monsters Inc. that's fine too, but most people haven't been to TDL. And holding wait times against an attractions is something I don't do. With a few exceptions, I only go on rides with lines shorter than 20 or 30 mins. So those critiques seem like external issues, but to each their own.
I don't disagree on the park having major flaws. I've been critical of its layout as well, but I guess I appreciate its few brighter spots more.
Too Many Hats
Well-Known Member
Oh man. It's brutal. The preshow gets you so excited for the ride, and then... the most unexciting, tedious ride loading experience. By the time you board the elevator, it feels anti-climactic; like all the storytelling setup has evaporated. There should at least be another preshow film that plays in the boiler room, or something/anything.
DLR92
Well-Known Member
It should be redone from scratch with new technology. It after all a quick fix bandaid.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
You must be incredibly lucky.
You don't have attractions that you feel aren't worth waiting above ______ minutes? Or attractions that you're not interested in no matter how short the wait is?
I don’t view it as quite the same. This mural reads more like Disney’s impact on California and the world as opposed to DCA 2.0 which was a shift from a park themed to California to a Disney Adventure park located in California with a little Walt nostalgia at the entrance. If I’m reading the tea leaves correctly, Im seeing see this as a sort of new thesis to make sense of all the random IP in the park. Where DCA 2.0 just kind of went half way and still tried to keep the lands somewhat California themed even if you had some outliers like Bugs Land/ Cars Land that took some mental gymnastics. Now you have alien fortresses and soon you’ll have Pandora.
Last edited:
This seems reminiscent of a post I wrote a few months ago about how they can make sense of some of the newer IP based non California lands and attractions without changing the parks name.
brb1006
Well-Known Member
What ever happened to the Disney+ exclusive docuseries that covered the Ink and Paint Department of Disney called "Ink & Paint"? Disney first announced the series in Fall 2018 and planned to launch with the streaming service the following year. However the series has remained radio silent for 7 years.
deadline.com
It was planned to run for 8 episodes and was based on a book by animation historian Mindy Johnson's book "Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney's Animation". The trailer for the book for those curious. I'm sure @TP2000 would get a kick out of this.
As somebody who enjoyed "The Imagineering Story", I would have watched the series in a heartbeat! Highly recommend seeking out the book for now
ABC Studios Ramps Up Alternative Division, Sets Cooking Pilot At ABC & Series ‘Ink & Paint’ At Disney OTT Service
Following its expansion into the cable/streaming arena with such series as SMILF, Marvel’s Runaways and Godfather of Harlem, ABC Studios has entered the unscripted space with a new Alternative Division led by Fernando Hernandez, former head of Universal TV Alternative Studios and EVP of...
deadline.com
It was planned to run for 8 episodes and was based on a book by animation historian Mindy Johnson's book "Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney's Animation". The trailer for the book for those curious. I'm sure @TP2000 would get a kick out of this.
As somebody who enjoyed "The Imagineering Story", I would have watched the series in a heartbeat! Highly recommend seeking out the book for now
Last edited:
JohnD
Well-Known Member
So I got back last week. Here are my random thoughts I posted on another thread:
I was thinking earlier in the year I wanted to go to DLR. I was initially planning to fly out on 5/12 after visiting Mom for Mother's Day. But then I heard about the 70th anniversary starting 5/16. So I built in a trip to WDW first before flying round trip out of Orlando. Then I also heard about Epic previews so decided to do that on 5/13.
As for DLR, I loved it. Here's some things off the top of my head in no particular order. You asked for it and I probably still haven't thought of everything:
Disneyland
I was thinking earlier in the year I wanted to go to DLR. I was initially planning to fly out on 5/12 after visiting Mom for Mother's Day. But then I heard about the 70th anniversary starting 5/16. So I built in a trip to WDW first before flying round trip out of Orlando. Then I also heard about Epic previews so decided to do that on 5/13.
As for DLR, I loved it. Here's some things off the top of my head in no particular order. You asked for it and I probably still haven't thought of everything:
Disneyland
- Security is the old fashioned put your loose items/backpack in a container then walk through the scanner compared to the scan everything system WDW has.
- Entrance is not the tap/scan finger system. It's just scan your ticket the first time then use whatever media you have next time (e.g. MB).
- I was surprised that Frontierland and Adventureland were literally almost on top of each other.
- Jungle Cruise is smaller but about the same.
- I got a taste for what the new Indy attraction will be like in AK as I rode the DL version which essentially has the same track as DINOSAUR. More lighting so that you can see things. The queue space (not the people in it) was very long because the show building is way outside the park.
- Obviously, PoTC is much better than the MK version because longer with more "skeleton" scenes before the pirate ship and one additional scene at the end.
- HM is not necessarily better or worse but different. Portrait chamber goes down and portrait gallery is just a walkway to go under the railroad tracks. No endless staircase. Hatbox ghost is just beyond the attic. The latest version of the bride is an eerie version which doesn't talk. More like a more modern version of the "beating heart version." Probably will make its way to WDW at some point.
- Loved riding BTMRR twice while you currently can't in WDW. I liked the special effects in the tunnels. Hope those are added to the WDW version.
- Many of the rides in Fantasyland were on a track, different theme. Wash, rinse, repeat. (Snow White, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad).
- Peter Pan was much nicer. The Indians/Native Americans are still politically incorrect.
- I liked the facade of IASW. The original has nice nods to Disney characters, the most recent being Miguel and Dante.
- The queue to MMRR is cool with Mickey memorabilia throughout.
- Space Mountain is much better. More room in the two by two cars. Music during the ride. And much smoother.
- By contrast whether Splash or Tiana, I hate the single file boats. They flood easily and are a tight squeeze. The Tiana story is the same. Meh.
- Back to Tomorrowland, Submarine Voyage brought back memories of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea even if different style sub and themed to Nemo.
- I was able to ride in the front of the monorail. That brings back memories also. I did it round trip.
- SWGE is an exact duplicate. Once I entered I knew exactly where I was going. I half expected to exit either into TSL or Grand Avenue. It did have a cool Skywalker projection show which I hope they bring over to WDW.
- I saw Fantasmic. I understand no dragon. Beyond that, I still like the DHS version better. I have a separate post about it.
- I had a good breakfast at Carnation Cafe. I managed to snag a 9:40pm reservation for Blue Bayou on my second night (I had already seen the fireworks, Fantasmic, parade on the first night.) I got the ribye prix fixe meal. I was good but not as good as I was expecting. Also $$$.
- Mickey's Philarmagic is shown in a theatre formerly used for MuppetVision 3D. I could tell because of the balcony seats to either side of the main screen. And I could have sworn Donald's torso was attached to cannon!
- GOTG: Mission Breakout ride structure isn't exactly like TOT. In the WDW version, you go up a little bit, move forward into the shaft, then go up and down. Not so Breakout. As soon as the doors close, off you go! The Guardians were clever. Not sure there was a clear storyline. But the same type of ride, so I liked it.
- Mater is just like Alien Swirling Saucers. They only have one side and are building a second side for more capacity.
- I enjoyed Racers. It looks larger but is very much like Test Track with an inside portion then an outside speedier section. I'd say this is better than TT because the outside section is longer and has two tracks.
- I didn't ride Incredicoaster. Not a fan of loops, even if just one.
- Shorter queue line for TSMM. It has cute "70"s superimposed on various score items throughout.
- Speaking of TSMM, Web Slingers is a variation on theme except you sit with multiple people and flick your wrist to destroy things. I sat with a pro wizard who knew how to flick his wrist and got a very high score. I scored something but not like him.
- Grizzly River Run is far superior to Kali River Rapids.
- Soarin is smaller in terms of capacity. Just one concourse. It's the Soarin Around the World version with the Disneyland tag at the end.
- Much better than WDW 50th, by far.
- Lines were mostly for turning Keys in various key portals rather than for merch. I believe you got pins at each location. Nice to see. I didn't do that because of space reasons for the large key on a flight.
- There is a good merch, though, including a Tuxedo Mickey popcorn bucket. Again, didn't get it because of space.
- I did make use of a Magic Band scanner which produces tickets around the parks and some cute screen shows.
- Because I saw Fantasmic, I was able to watch Wonderous Journeys from the same spot. I was expecting the fireworks. What I didn't expect was the same projections shown against the castle would be shown against the water that is used in Fantasmic as well as the Tom Sawyer hut. So I felt I didn't really miss seeing it from the castle. (You can also experience a Star Wars version from SWGE which I didn't see.)
- I liked Paint the Night with its catchy main tune combined with a more modern version of Baroque Hoedown from the Main Street Electrical Parade. I really liked the floats but they were too separated in several areas.
- World of Color didn't do much for me. It's mostly based on Inside Out which I could never get into. I liked the Muppets prologue, though!