Things were different back then. I would assume a lot of these were already planned before. But I think Disney has too much money invested in the park the way it is. They can't just overhall an entire park. As for the way Paradise Pier looks, it is more of a cleaner version of Coney Island/Boardwalk area even though it also represents California's bayside amusement parks.
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Will they actually get rid of Paradise Pier at DCA?
- Thread starter darthjohnny
- Start date
Things were different back then. I would assume a lot of these were already planned before. But I think Disney has too much money invested in the park the way it is. They can't just overhall an entire park. As for the way Paradise Pier looks, it is more of a cleaner version of Coney Island/Boardwalk area even though it also represents California's bayside amusement parks.
MainSt1993
New Member
I heard that most of the "off the shelf" rides were leased, with the intent of taking them out at a later point and replacing them with something more original - something more Disney.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
You might want to do some research on Disney theme park history then. DCA, as it stands in 2006, has much less corporate sponsorship than Disney parks did 20 or 40 years ago.
Look at Tomorrowland circa 2006, where barely anything has a sponsor anymore;
Innoventions - An odd mish-mash of HP, Pioneer, Honda and St. Josephs Hospital
HISTA - Kodak
Autopia - Chevron
Now go back to Tomorrowland 1967, after Walt had made Disneyland a roaring success but still sought out a sponsor for every show, restaurant and attraction because he was such a big believer in the wonderful American Free Enterprise system;
Autopia - Richfield Oil
Submarine Voyage - General Dynamics
Disneyland Monorail - Santa Fe Railroad
Carousel of Progress - General Electric
Tomorrowland Terrace - Coca-Cola
Flight To The Moon - McDonnel Douglas
PeopleMover - Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Adventure Thru Inner Space - Monsanto
CircleVision - Bell System
And that was just in one land. There were sponsors everywhere under Walt's watch. Heck, they even had Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola at the same time at Disneyland in the 50's, 60's and 70's. The Golden Horseshoe had a big Pepsi-Cola logo hanging from the stage, but Refreshment Corner down on Main Street served Coca-Cola. It just depended which restaurant you were at which soft drink they served. Then there was the Casa de Fritos, serving... Fritos with every meal! Or the Aunt Jemima Pancake House. Or the Sunkist I Presume juice stand in Adventureland. But if you were in Fantasyland you got a drink at the Welches Grape Juice Bar near the Snow White ride. Over at the Tiki Room in the 1960's you were greeted by a big sign reminding you that United Airlines was the Extra Care Airline with direct jet service to Hawaii.
I could go on and on and on, bringing up all the corporate sponsors that were just in Disneyland during Walt's day, but I think you get the point.
Sponsorship has always been a part of Disney theme parks, and Walt was very proud to showcase American industry in his park. There still is sponsorship today, but it's at a dramatically reduced level than what it was just 20 years ago. As Disney theme parks have become a bit less special and less unique, many corporate sponsors have left Disney and gone their own way in presenting their product to American consumers.
I wish we had more sponsors back in Disney theme parks, especially DCA. There are so many wonderful California companies that are noticeably absent from DCA. See's Candy, Ghiradelli Chocolate, Apple Computer, Boeing, practically any major automaker with big design studios in Southern California, the lumber industry, any number of surfboard or skateboard equipment and clothing companies, etc., etc.
How is that possible? They "leased" the rides? I think everthing Disney does is there own, whether they created from scratch or at least aided in the creative process with another company that helped build the ride.
That is true. But look at the Autopia line. There a like 4 animated sequences with the talking Chevron cars, a huge opportunity for Chevron (with Techron:lol: ) to advertise. As for other sponsors, I think it would be great by the wharf area if they did come out with a Ghiradelli Chocolate. They do have one in Downtown Disney in WDW!
DisneyRoxMySox
Well-Known Member
scorp111
Well-Known Member
Personally?
We enjoyed DCA. Maybe our expectations were lower than some? I don't know. True there isn't a whole lot for the really younger set, less than 3. But my DD, who was 2 at the time loved Bugs Land. She was just fine with riding the same rides again, probably even moreso than we were with riding with her!
Paradise Pier to me, had a nice feel, and is very picturesque in both daylight and night time.
Just my opininon, and I hope it stays largely the same.
We enjoyed DCA. Maybe our expectations were lower than some? I don't know. True there isn't a whole lot for the really younger set, less than 3. But my DD, who was 2 at the time loved Bugs Land. She was just fine with riding the same rides again, probably even moreso than we were with riding with her!
Paradise Pier to me, had a nice feel, and is very picturesque in both daylight and night time.
Just my opininon, and I hope it stays largely the same.
MainSt1993
New Member
I couldn't agree more, TP2000. You captured possibly my biggest dissappointment with DCA - what does this "California Adventure" park have to do with CA? You get the notion that California has diverse terrain. And if you are one of the lucky 5 people to see Golden Dreams each day and you hadn't already noticed, you'll learn that it's a diverse state. But it's missing that California spirit that launched DLR in the first place. I think if they made it more of a showcase of everything that is great about CA, it would do a lot better.
If only they could turn over Taste Pilot's Grill to In-N-Out...
Tim G
Well-Known Member
What the heck are you talkin' about...
Tim G
Well-Known Member
Crap! pardon me the expression...
I don't think these rides were "leased."
I was thinking, out of all the attractions in DCA, how could one attribute extreme corporate sponsoship to the Tortilla exhibit. The entire purpose is to give the history of tortillas and its influence on California culture. There is very little evidence of its sponsor, Mission Tortillas, in the entire place.
I was thinking, out of all the attractions in DCA, how could one attribute extreme corporate sponsoship to the Tortilla exhibit. The entire purpose is to give the history of tortillas and its influence on California culture. There is very little evidence of its sponsor, Mission Tortillas, in the entire place.
DisneyRoxMySox
Well-Known Member
Except for the fact..they give out free Mission Tortillas.
I didn't see FedEx giving out free mailing packages at the end of Space Mountain..or..Kodak giving out free film at the end of Mickey's Phillarmagic.
ScrapIron
Member
Actually, the reverse is true. Although Walt had a vague idea for a "train in the sky" early on, it wasn't until he saw a German monorail in 1958 that the idea solidified. Also in 1958, while in Switzerland for the filming of Third Man on the Mountain, Walt sent a postcard of the Matterhorn to imagineering with the words "Build This" on it. In 1957 imagineers Roger Broggie, Bob Gurr and Truman Woodworth were walking the Viewliner track and Woodworth said "Walt's got everything out here, but one thing he hasn't got...he hasn't got a submarine." Within about 2 days, according to Gurr, the sub project was launched.
Now the ToT was planned from the beginning for DCA, at least the rumours were there before opening day as well as for a RnRC that obviously hasn't happened. I get the feeling that Bugs Land was not planned in advance, but rather a hasty reaction to the often heard criticism of nothing there for kids.
They don't have too much money invested in DCA, that is a big part of the problem, it was done on the cheap. Paradise Pier is the poster child for that fact. Honoring California with two historic rides associated with Coney Island is just bizarre.Now, I'm not one of those nitwits that says I prefer a parking lot either. I don't hate DCA, I even have fun at 6 Flags parks and would rather spend a day at DCA than Paramount's Great America. And I've seen too many drawn out debates to want to be involved in another one. But there are a lot of flaws that seem to be finally getting addressed. The fact that DCA has consistently failed to meet expectations from a business/revenue/attendence perspective is well documented. It could be argued in length that an overhaul is critical, but I'm not motivated to spend the time making that argument.
Cheers.
Except for the fact..they give out free Mission Tortillas.
I didn't see FedEx giving out free mailing packages at the end of Space Mountain..or..Kodak giving out free film at the end of Mickey's Phillarmagic.
True, but there aren't overbearing signs surrounding you, nor do they shove it down your throat that it is Mission:Tortillas, I can only remember the little Mission Tortilla receipt card, that they don't even hand to you, you have to ask for.
Well, that is your opinion that they don't have any money invested. I on the other hand think differently. The park does not appear as if it was just slapped together, I think it is well planned and has some beautiful architecture. And again, things were more or less different back in the early days of Disneyland. It seems a little odd that Disney was able to come up with an entire mountain and roller coaster, as well as 5 other attractions that all opened in the same day with in a year from development to opening. But if you are right, Disney would not necessarily do it today. A lot more time is spent coming up with attractions, at least the major innovations anyway.
ScrapIron
Member
The source for my dates is the E Ticket magazine; a very respectable publication. The money invested is an opinion, but one shared by many (including Roy Disney) that know of earlier plans proposed for a 2nd California park, and how those budgets and plans were utterly decimated to where Westcot or a TDS type park became DCA. The cost of the DLR expansion was about $1.5 billion, but only $700,000,000 went to DCA. When one E ticket attraction can easily cost $100,000,000 (Indy cost that much over a decade ago), it's hard to conclude that $700,000,000 is enough for an entire park. It is a fact, not an opinion, that DCA has underperformed to expectations of the company regarding revenue and attendence. Again, don't hate the place, many great things there. Paradise Pier ain't one of them (although CS is a lot of fun), and that section of the park just screams cheapness.
Cheers.
DisneyRoxMySox
Well-Known Member
That is basically what I was trying to say..but I could never get to the point so quickly.
I just think they relied to heavily on sponsorship and everything was done on the cheap. Especially in Paradise Pier. :wave:
That is basically what I was trying to say..but I could never get to the point so quickly.
I just think they relied to heavily on sponsorship and everything was done on the cheap. Especially in Paradise Pier. :wave:
But Paradise Pier has virtually no sponsorship, besides the McDonald's little S.S. rustworthy and Burger Invasion. And you can't say that California Screamin' was done cheaply.
DisneyRoxMySox
Well-Known Member
Sponsorship problems are dotted all over the park. On the cheap? Carnival games and ALL rides except CS.
MainSt1993
New Member
Screamin' is apparently off the shelf as well. :-\