Originally Posted By FerretAfros Now that summer is officially over (I don't care what the Disney promotions say, summer runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day and a year has 12 months), has California Adventure finally found its identity? I venture to say that it has. While the World of Color did bring a big spectacular to the park to keep guests around in the evening (and requiring them to come earlier in the day to pick up FP's brings in added crowds too), that doesn't seem to be what made the park stand out. Instead, it was just an exciting place to be. There was just an energy in the park all summer long that made it fun. I've visited the resort 10 time since WOC premiered (including opening night), and I have to admit that a huge portion of my time has been spent in DCA. Instead of simply being the place to escape the crowds for a few hours in the afternoons, it has become the destination. In all those visits, I would guess that I didn't even make it over to DL in about half of them. And the ones were I did, I only spent about 1/3 of my time there. DCA just had too much going on for me to want to stay in DL. I know I'm not the average guest, but I can't help but imagine that there were similar experiences all summer. And I think a big part of what made it work, for me at least, was Glow Fest. It was just so unexpected, yet so well done that it made DCA the place to be. I know that if it weren't for Glow Fest specifically, I would not have made at least half of those trips, and would not have spent a boatload on drinks, in addition to meals on practically every visit. I know it's a profit center for Disney, but it's also just darn fun. They managed to push the envelope of what to expect, and made a really fun event in the process. For the first time, the event really was about the CM's and the guests, and not much else, and the CM's made it work. There's something about the presentation of an otherwise-imposing scene (basically a rave) that works at Disney and is really fun (I think a lot of it has to do with the setup, as ugly as it is, being visible during the day time and letting guests familiarize themselves with it some before it starts getting weird). They went beyond all expectations, and did something that is actually very 'hip and edgy'. They took some huge risks here, and they all seem to have paid off. I can only hope that this means that Glow Fest (and its amazing cast, who were having a blast last night for their final night!) will make a return next summer. So what do you think? Is DCA finally a destination? Or is it still 'the other park'? What pushed it past the limit for you? Or what does it still need to do to get there? No matter what, I think that summer 2010 will go down as an important time in DCA's history.
Originally Posted By Manfried DCA made a good step forward this year, in my opinion. A few more steps over the next two years and it will be there.
Originally Posted By poohbear14 I liked Glow Fest but most of my friends didn't. Now that summer is over I think DCA is turning back into "the other park". Until Tronica (or whatever it's called) starts up, I don't think there's much to keep guests in the park at night except to see WOC.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Yah, I had kind of thought about that. When we were visiting and weren't either going to WOC or GF, we just sort of stood there wondering what to do. There are some great attractions in DCA, but it's still a little short on the full-day roster. In a way, I think that's what surprised me so much, since in the spring there wasn't much to do, but come summer it's the happening place to be. It will be interesting to see if they can keep the momentum going once the crowds lighten up and the full fledged daily entertainment stops.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I wasnt a huge fan of glowfest, but i have to say during my summer visit this was the first time i spent almost a full day at DCA.
Originally Posted By avatarmickey115 Although glow fest and world of color helped enormously, I think DCA still needs more improvements to become an all day attraction. Once TLM and GSS and all the restaurants open up, it will attract more guests and have enough things to do to be an all day park. DCA isn't there quite yet, but May is just around the corner!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt It's funny because ever since DCA opened I've liked it and found that on my trips to Anaheim I spend at least half my visit at DCA. There was one trip that I took where I didn't step inside DL at all.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance While I never spent as much time there as Disneyland (mostly because I have small kids), I never thought anything bad about DCA and was actually surprised when I found this board and saw all of the negativity that people felt towards it.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt From what I can tell it's mostly the locals along with the die-hard Disney geeks that have been the biggest critics.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance The only thing I ever thought about the park was that it seemed a little smaller to me compared to Disneyland, and it didn't have as much as DL did for my small, under height restrictions, kids to ride at the time. But I always thought that the park looks very nice, and the rides that are there are really fun. I mean, I'm glad of all of the improvements going on, there is always room for improvement even at DL, but I would have been happy with it the way it was too.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I too love DCA and to state that it's a bad park is un fair to say. There are good attractions and it's a beautiful park at night time just like DL. You cant really compare a park being over 55 years to a 10 year old park. In some ways DCA doesnt have the same feel as DL but i doubt it ever will. Its a fun park and i cant wait until a few years down the road.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt To be honest, with DL becoming more and more of a place geared to kids (especially little girls), DCA is more appealing to me. There are just too many princesses and fairies at DL for me. lol.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Hans you should mix a half a teaspoon of pixie dust with your vodka. Might change your mind.
Originally Posted By LPFan22 I'm pleased with the improvements and I'm looking forward to more. I still haven't seen WOC because I was waiting for it to get dark earlier so I could see an earlier showing. Can't really afford the dining package right now and I don't feel like going out of my way for a fastpass so I'm not sure when I'll see it... but it will happen eventually.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Hans you should mix a half a teaspoon of pixie dust with your vodka. Might change your mind." I would if I could get a doggone cocktail inside DL! You have no idea how stupid I think it is that you can't even order a glass of wine inside the berm. I guess there really is a limit to Disney's greed.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I don't know Hans, I don't want Disneyland to turn into a college football game with idiots cussing and being belligerent at every turn.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt It's just wine with dinner at, say, the Blue Bayou of Cafe Oleans. What's the big deal?
Originally Posted By LPFan22 Exactly. That way, there's less of a chance for me to smell booze on the guy behind me in line for Peter Pan. Sure, that could still happen if someone walks over from DCA but it is less likely anyway.
