Why I think DCA did not have much of a California Theme to begin with

TwilightZone

TwilightZone

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The main argument for new rides in dca, especially controversial IP based ones, is that the california theme failed. However, I don't think it was just that it was themed to california as to why it failed. I think the big problem, in terms of theme, is that DCA was VERY loosely themed to california and did not take the themeing "all the way". Let's look at some examples from @Pionmycake's guide . Bolded will be the loose ties to california, italics for the no ties.

Who Wants to Be a Millionare Play it!
Flik’s Fun Fair/Bug’s Land
Playhouse Disney Live on Stage
Disney’s Aladdin Musical Spectacular
Turtle Talk with Crush
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue
High School Music Pep Rally
Rustworthy
Orange Stinger

Now let's look at some photo examples from yesterland. None of these screams california to me.


heimlich_carrot2002tm.jpg

mullholland_umbrellas2001ah.jpg

rustworthy_entrance2001tm.jpg

chance_walking2002ww.jpg

orange_fromwheel2007ww.jpg

The main problem with dca is that it never had a true cohesive theme. It just says it's california, and then pushes out whatever it wants. If dca was actually california themed, it might have blown our minds, but instead it's only loosely california, and will be loosely california for the rest of it's life until a rebrand.
 
W

wdrive

Well-Known Member
A Bugs Land came after opening in response to lack of things to do for younger guests.
Mullholland Madness was based on Mullholland Drive, a Hollywood road.
The S.S Rustworthy was a play area themed to a boat by the sea.
The actors were actors in a Hollywood Studio.
The Orange stinger was a tribute to California's orange groves.

So discounting a Bugs Land, the only thing that doesn't 100% fit with California is the Rustworthy, it's not out of place either.
Yes they were cheap poorly done attractions but I'm lost as to how Mullholland Drive has nothing to do with California?
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
TwilightZone said:
The main argument for new rides in dca, especially controversial IP based ones, is that the california theme failed. However, I don't think it was just that it was themed to california as to why it failed. I think the big problem, in terms of theme, is that DCA was VERY loosely themed to california and did not take the themeing "all the way". Let's look at some examples from @Pionmycake's guide . Bolded will be the loose ties to california, italics for the no ties.

Who Wants to Be a Millionare Play it!
Flik’s Fun Fair/Bug’s Land
Playhouse Disney Live on Stage
Disney’s Aladdin Musical Spectacular
Turtle Talk with Crush
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue
High School Music Pep Rally
Rustworthy
Orange Stinger

Now let's look at some photo examples from yesterland. None of these screams california to me.
Click to expand...

Playhouse Disney Live on Stage was not an opening day attraction. It replaced the Soap Opera Bestro which featured soaps filmed in LA.
Disney's Aladdin Musical Spectacular was an replacement for Power of Blast and Steps in Time which was a tribute to Disney musicals.
Turtle Talk with Crush replaced a Walt Disney tribute movie.
Monsters Inc replaced Super Star Limo which was about Hollywood.
Orange Stinger had a giant orange which California grows.
Millionare and HS Musical were marketing crap.
Mulholand Madness was a trip down the famous road just above the SF valley.
 
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Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
A Bug’s Land was considered an expansion of neighboring Bountiful Valley Farm, which was meant to teach about how farming is done in California. ITTBAB was already in Bountiful Valley.
SS Rustworthy was a boat and there was a body of water near it. It may not be a California pun, but it does make sense why there would be a boat near water.
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Mr. Johnson said:
A Bug’s Land was considered an expansion of neighboring Bountiful Valley Farm, which was meant to teach about how farming is done in California. ITTBAB was already in Bountiful Valley.
SS Rustworthy was a boat and there was a body of water near it. It may not be a California pun, but it does make sense why there would be a boat near water.
Click to expand...
The SS Rustworthly was also a tribute to the first McDonalds Playland that opened in 1973 in Chula Vista, California.
 
D

DanielBB8

Well-Known Member
TwilightZone said:
The main argument for new rides in dca, especially controversial IP based ones, is that the california theme failed. However, I don't think it was just that it was themed to california as to why it failed. I think the big problem, in terms of theme, is that DCA was VERY loosely themed to california and did not take the themeing "all the way". Let's look at some examples
Who Wants to Be a Millionare Play it!
Flik’s Fun Fair/Bug’s Land
Playhouse Disney Live on Stage
Disney’s Aladdin Musical Spectacular
Turtle Talk with Crush
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue
High School Music Pep Rally
Rustworthy
Orange Stinger
Click to expand...
Orange Stinger was the only original opening day attraction on this list FYI.
 
westie

westie

Well-Known Member
Let's not forget the gigantic CALIFORNIA you had to walk through to get to the front gates which had the Golden Gate Bridge across it.
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
westie said:
Let's not forget the gigantic CALIFORNIA you had to walk through to get to the front gates which had the Golden Gate Bridge across it.
Click to expand...
That's correct. They were listed as an attraction. So was the Sunshine Plaza with the giant hubcap.
 
TwilightZone

TwilightZone

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I don't think anyone got the point. Sure they reference california and are loosely based off it, but none of these really scream california. Take world showcase as an example of how to do it right. Anything in the pavilions makes me think of the country they were based off of. Why? Because they were accurate.
NOTHING in dca 1.0 is accurate to the actual california, or the california experience.
 
Rich T

Rich T

Well-Known Member
Calling Mulholand Madness (an off-the-shelf Wild Mouse) a trip down Mulholand Drive is like putting in a Tilt-a-Whirl, painting Drew Carey and Cher's faces on the cars and calling the ride "Century City Spin."

Not to mention that Mulholand Drive has been the site of many fatal crashes over the years. Theming a ride after the road's hazardous turns was one of the tackiest things Disney's ever greenlit.

DCA's California theme failed because it was presented in a smarmy, cynical, aren't-we-clever manner. There was not a single sincere or truly creative element, except for Soarin'. The whole place screamed, "Meh--good enough for you folks. Give us your money."

For a while there, with Cars Land, BV Street and the classic Mickey overlay of Paradise Pier, it looked like things were really coming together. Then Pixar Pier happened and Disney sent us all another message that they really don't care about anything except current IPs anymore. I really believe the current Suits could not care less about the park's overall theme. It's all just merchandising space to them.
 
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F

fctiger

Well-Known Member
The idea of a California theme park in California was just dumb. There is no other way to say it. Their reasoning for it was even dumber as if seeing a cheap out of scale replica of the Golden Gate Bridge would feel like a substitute for the real thing. It feels about as tacky as going to the New York hotel in Vegas and seeing their statue of liberty. Its ONE thing when you create a known geographic location the way DL does it where its suppose to capture a certain era or mood, Its another when you take contemporary settings and sell it as being there. The only area that got that right was GRR. The rest of it just felt and looked tacky or half done. SSL summed up that park perfectly IMO.

How it is today is certainly better and has captured what DL did, with especially an area like BVS. That should've been there on day one and not the concrete and stucco Sunshine Plaza which felt like a poorer version of CityWalk.

So what was there didn't represent California outside of the most superficial way possible. Puns and campy architecture is not what people think of when they see California. The only thing I will say was a big positive to the California theme outside of the already mentioned GRR was Soarin over California and Golden Dreams. Those two were great how they actually captured the spirit, culture and history of the state...and now both gone. But they should've took what they did with those two films and captured the entire park that way instead of the carnival mess it was at opening.

But I don't personally care if they renamed or rethemed the park completely, especially since they literally gotten rid of every major attraction or show that was specifically about California.
 
TROR

TROR

Well-Known Member
fctiger said:
The idea of a California theme park in California was just dumb. There is no other way to say it. Their reasoning for it was even dumber as if seeing a cheap out of scale replica of the Golden Gate Bridge would feel like a substitute for the real thing. It feels about as tacky as going to the New York hotel in Vegas and seeing their statue of liberty. Its ONE thing when you create a known geographic location the way DL does it where its suppose to capture a certain era or mood, Its another when you take contemporary settings and sell it as being there. The only area that got that right was GRR. The rest of it just felt and looked tacky or half done. SSL summed up that park perfectly IMO.

How it is today is certainly better and has captured what DL did, with especially an area like BVS. That should've been there on day one and not the concrete and stucco Sunshine Plaza which felt like a poorer version of CityWalk.

So what was there didn't represent California outside of the most superficial way possible. Puns and campy architecture is not what people think of when they see California. The only thing I will say was a big positive to the California theme outside of the already mentioned GRR was Soarin over California and Golden Dreams. Those two were great how they actually captured the spirit, culture and history of the state...and now both gone. But they should've took what they did with those two films and captured the entire park that way instead of the carnival mess it was at opening.

But I don't personally care if they renamed or rethemed the park completely, especially since they literally gotten rid of every major attraction or show that was specifically about California.
Click to expand...
What's a better place to put a theme park about California?
 

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