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Why I think DCA did not have much of a California Theme to begin with
- Thread starter TwilightZone
- Start date
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
Yellowstone is not in California. Try Yosemite instead.
Besides, this discussion about DCA's theme is stupid. It's been going on for almost twenty years.
The name alone has more to do with California than Goofy's Sky School.
It was, and still is an awful ride, but that isn't the point of this discussion as far as I'm aware. It's the parks relevancy to its theme of California.
I agree it was a terrible park. But just about everything in it was relateable and in-theme to California.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
I didn't say it was an awful ride (I actually enjoy it as a coaster). I said it was off-the-shelf, tacky, and a cheap, lousy way of trying to shoehorn a Wild Mouse into the California theme. Again, the California theme failed because of the cynical, budget-cutting, insincere way Disney approached it. The park felt like a con job from day one, and Mulholand's terrible, insulting attempt to represent a part of LA that never should have been considered as an "attraction" (because people have actually died on that road--really insensitive idea for a coaster) didn't help. In the end, it doesn't matter how many attractions at DCA were/are related to California if the themed items don't work in the first place. Shaping trash cans like cable cars or calling a Scrambler "L.A. Freeway Craziness" does not make the park more California-themed, despite how low an opinion the park's designers apparently had of the public's collective I.Q. and taste. And that attitude lives on in Pixar Pier.
BD-Anaheim
Well-Known Member
You’ve clearly never been to Florida if you think that it’s nothing but swamps.
Ironically, Disney seems to be doubling down on the Florida element these days rather than its previous obsession with California (see Disney Springs, for instance).
LOL meant Yosemite! Have no idea what I was thinking there.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
Actually, if you want to experience pure, real California culture AND still be swept away by the thrills of a great, safe, clean park...go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. It’s the real deal. No pretending or simulating a CA environment required; you’re actually IN a real, historic, beachside California amusement park! 
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Disney Irish
Premium Member
Actually, if you want to experience pure, real California culture AND still be swept away by the thrills of a great, safe, clean park...go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. It’s the real deal. No pretending or simulating a CA environment required; you’re actually IN a real, historic, beachside California amusement park!
Just watch out for the drunk beach bums as you get close to dusk....
Rich T
Well-Known Member
Like I said, “Pure, real, California culture.”
Actually, though, the security at the Boardwalk is pretty great. The management takes the park’s good safety/family-friendly rep seriously as one of their biggest assets. Do use the official parking lots, though.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
California is a setting. The park lacked a strong theme, the messages it was seeking to convey that related to that setting.
I agree entirely. But my point was that whatever way you put it, Mullholland Madness had more to do with California than Goofy's Sky School.
It was bad yes, I'm not trying to say Mullholland Madness was some masterpiece attraction. It just fit the California theme better (certainly nowhere near perfectly) more than Goofy's Sky School.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
Like I said, “Pure, real, California culture.”
If you mean great, as in they just push the drunk beach bums out of the boardwalk and onto the beach, sure.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
The sharks do the rest.
Hey, as long Boozy McBoozehound isn't in line with me for the Giant Dipper, I'm good. Seriously, though, for a place that sells beer in gigantic cans, the SCBB doesn't seem to have a big issue with drunks. I don't think they've yet had the DCA moment of a raving, inebriated guest plunging off an elevated queue railing.And, again, seriously, in all the times I've been to the SCBB, I've never felt unsafe or uncomfortable (except when a ride's lap bar has an issue with my belly). It truly is a well-patrolled family park. If you go on a summer night when, say, Blue Oyster Cult is playing on the beach stage... maybe things might get a little more rowdy...But nothing beyond what you'd see at any average ball game.
(EDIT) ...and those vampire rumors are waaaaay blown out of proportion.
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Phroobar
Well-Known Member
The sharks do the rest.
And, again, seriously, in all the times I've been to the SCBB, I've never felt unsafe or uncomfortable (except when a ride's lap bar has an issue with my belly). It truly is a well-patrolled family park. If you go on a summer night when, say, Blue Oyster Cult is playing on the beach stage... maybe things might get a little more rowdy...But nothing beyond what you'd see at any average ball game.
(EDIT) ...and those vampire rumors are waaaaay blown out of proportion.
One thing about living in Santa Cruz I never could stomach; all the damn vampires.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
Robbiem
Well-Known Member
California Adventure could have been a better park if it had gone for the dream of California rather than the reality. The park was mostly conceived as a way to try and stop people visitng other California landmarks like Hollywood and the beach and to spend more time at Disneyland in the same way that MGM and Animal Kingdom were designed to stop people going to Universal and Bush Gardens. The problem with this idea was that in Florida you are dealing with escapism vs real life in California. Tourists dont want to visit a replica of Hollywood they want to see the real thing and to locals seeing a replica of whats up the road isnt really a great draw, especially at Disney prices. What’s interesting is that when disney planned magic Kingdom they followed this exact path and replaced new orleans square with liberty square as they thought Orlando was too close to New Orleans for the theme to be exciting.
The opening attractions didnt help either with a lot being basic carnival rides or copies from other disney parks.
If the park had gone for the California which never was and presented lands based on idealised views of history and the future it could have been a better draw. 30s LA, Barbary Coast San Francisco, Gold Rush wild west, pre spanish native culture or mexican California and a futuristic world from silicon valley would all have been interesting starting points for a park.
I still think a more general theme like Disneysea makes for a better gate as you have more diversity in theme
The opening attractions didnt help either with a lot being basic carnival rides or copies from other disney parks.
If the park had gone for the California which never was and presented lands based on idealised views of history and the future it could have been a better draw. 30s LA, Barbary Coast San Francisco, Gold Rush wild west, pre spanish native culture or mexican California and a futuristic world from silicon valley would all have been interesting starting points for a park.
I still think a more general theme like Disneysea makes for a better gate as you have more diversity in theme
EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
"If the park had gone for the California which never was and presented lands based on idealised views of history and the future it could have been a better draw. 30s LA, Barbary Coast San Francisco, Gold Rush wild west, pre spanish native culture or mexican California and a futuristic world from silicon valley would all have been interesting starting points for a park."
I'd love THAT park!
I'd love THAT park!
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
We are getting the California that never was. We have a California Pier populated by giant living toys. We have a desert town populated by living cars. We have an oil refinery populated by aliens and talking racoons. How much California that never was do we really need?