Originally Posted By Park Hopper Sorry, berol, I was talking about physical area like Paradise Pier, Route 66, etc., in other words an area they could wall off, impliment all the changes on their survey list in that area, and then move on to the next physical area.
Originally Posted By Park Hopper Okay, I feel pretty goofy. I just reread the initial post and apparently Disney did offer all of the above as an option. Sorry for the unjustified rant.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan #3 More Family Rides Adding family rides (that is, rides that interest all members of the family like POTC, Mansion, Small World) would also address issues of lack of themeing, etc. A few solid, leave 'em humming the tune family rides would drastically alter the park for the better. #17 Longer Operating Hours DCA looks best at night, and with some life and activity added there, it could be a real nighttime draw. Earlier closing tells people 'Not as much to do here even though it's the same price as Disneyland.' Closing early says 'the party is over.' #15 Change the Name of the Park It's a clumsy mouthful, and you hear people calling it everything from "Californialand" to "That California Place" because the name is too much. In conjunction with a brand new area and/or a new bunch of rides, a new name and a fresh start is what the park really needs.
Originally Posted By jzach Ok, here is the problem with this survey. Almost everybody on here replied with "More family rides". I hope you all realize that means more cookie cutter, cardboard cutout dark rides, like Monsters Ink. Does anybody actually think they're going to get more creative than that? How many more rides like that do we need? Doesn't DL have plenty? I though this park was supposed to give people something different, and more 'adventure'. Don't get me wrong, I like dark rides, but considering the current situation and trend at Disneyland... be careful what you ask for. Its really hard to narrow it down to just 3 for me: 1. More Thrill Rides (I gotta do something to balance out all the family ride votes) 4. More or Better Themeing on existing Rides and Attractions. (Have you ever noticed how many unthemed structures there are??) I'd also like to add different music to that. 17. Longer Operating Hours (The park is so much better at night, especially the Pier area, and when it closes DL often becomes SO crowded at that point) Honarable Mentions go to: 21. More Places to buy Food, Beverages and Merchandise. (I agree with an earlier post, about some good sit down restaurants, MGM at WDW had a lot of great choices and it's be nice to have some of those at DCA) 22. Transporation within the Park (I personally think every park should have some type of transportation... trains, monorails, etc.) And reading such questions as these is really scary, and hints at their total lack of any clue: 15. Change the Name of the Park 16. Change the "California" theme of the Park And to thos that say their isn't enough stuff fo their kids to do, again, let's count the family friendy attractions at DCA... -Its Tough to be a Bug -MuppetVision -Hyperion Theatre -Monsters, Inc. -King Triton's Carousel -Jumpin Jellyfish -All the kids rides in Flik's Fun Fair (altough, I think they're a cheap joke) -Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and several other play areas -The Interactive things in the Disney Animation Attraction -Golden Zephyr (IMHO) -Orange Stinger (IMHO) -Sun Wheel (IMHO) -Grizzley River Run (IMHO) -Soarin' (IMHO)
Originally Posted By Park Hopper Family attractions doesn't mean just for the kiddies. There has to be something on them to entertain the adults as well. What you are listing are the kiddie friendly rides at DCA not family friendly. For instance, adults would ride Soarin wheather on not they had a kid with them. I seriously doubt the same could be said for King Triton's Carousel.
Originally Posted By jzach >>While such a survey is useful to some extent, it's not the only answer. The problem is that especially with a place like a Disney park, the guest may not be aware of what makes the place special.<< I completely agree with SuperDry, who hit the nail right on the head. Although feedback and surveys are always good... but they can be dangerous, because most of the time guests and customers usually don't really realize what they want, or what would give them the experience they want. Perhaps because they can't think as creatively or from beyond their experience. I really hope the dont use this survey as and attemp at a quick and easy 'fix'.
Originally Posted By Park Hopper Sorry, some of what you are listing are kiddie attractions. An edit feature would be nice.
Originally Posted By jzach I was including those for people that said there are not enough things for their younger kids to do. Overall, I dont think DCA is THAT bad. I'm more afraid of what they do to try to improve it, will just create a bigger mess. You can add a bunch of same 'ol same 'ol dark rides, and slap pixar characters all over everything to make it better. Just because something didn't work, doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad concept or idea... more likely it was just poorly excuted and half-assed.
Originally Posted By woody >>Ok, here is the problem with this survey. Almost everybody on here replied with "More family rides". I hope you all realize that means more cookie cutter, cardboard cutout dark rides, like Monsters Ink. Does anybody actually think they're going to get more creative than that?<< You know what. I think this part of the survey is the most misleading since Disney haven't created anything comparable to the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribean ride for ages. I think Family Rides means really really good rides that the family can enjoy as an major E-Ticket. That's the shame. Monsters ride is actually quite disappointing. I don't like it. It didn't offer anything remotely interesting. It is the problem with DCA. Rides that have no lasting impression.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Since they gave us a choice between "Rides for young children" and "family rides", I'd say family rides does not mean cookie cutter, no-interest-for-adults rides. But that's my interpretation. As for Monsters Inc., I, and everyone I know love it!
Originally Posted By disneywatcher >> They are uncomfortable with the financial commitment that is necessary to get DCA on track. It seams to me that by surveying the guests they are desperately looking for any excuse not to do what needs to be done. << The survey does have a design-by-committee quality about it, reminiscent of the corporate weekend conference in Aspen where DCA was first developed, and the kind of thing dreamt up by bean counters. I have a sense that if creatively strong and inspired people truly had major influence in the DisCo, particularly in the theme-park division, the idea of setting up this survey on DCA would have been laughed at as unnecessary and an embarrassment. Or sort of like the way that a questionnaire asking people "Do you consider McDonald's to be a fine restaurant, and is the sun hot or cold?" would be judged. However, I will say that a lot depends on the financial statistics surrounding the park----something no one in the public has been privy to, one way or the other, since 2001. For example, if DCA actually is doing surprisingly well in bringing in revenue for the DisCo, then I have to admit that even I -- who thinks the park is a major dud -- would judge current and future plans in a different light. In other words, I'd have to give greater consideration to the accountants. On the other hand, if the park actually is doing worse in profit-and-loss than even some of its biggest critics theorize to be true, then the current survey really would look like a major, pathetic joke to me.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "I think Family Rides means really really good rides that the family can enjoy as an major E-Ticket." Amen brother. Had they included at least one or two traditional Disney "E" ticket type attractions (ie: Pirates, Horizons) I think the park wouldn't have been panned so harshly by the critics. The fact that they didn't include anything of this nature has been the single biggest problem with the park's attraction lineup in my opinion.
Originally Posted By markedward 3. More Family Rides - definately my top choice. Hard to prioritize after this. I am absolutely of the camp that fear how this will be interpreted. I'm not asking for a couple more attractions of the Monsters or Pooh caliber. OK. I am. But that's not enough. DCA needs something of a Pirates level. And I believe Disney can do it. The same people that gave us Pooh and Monsters gave us Astro Blasters, Soarin, and Expedition Everest. 16. Change the "California" theme of the Park - I understand that this is a risky, style over substance choice. But the "theme" is SO limiting. 4. More or Better Themeing on existing Rides and Attractions/11. Better Atmosphere - I'm cheating and putting these two together, since they are part of the same problem. But watch out for the "World Showcase" syndrome. Oh, what a beautiful German city square. Next. Seriously, why does the Bay Area exist? Is it storage? A CM break room? And honorable mention: 5. More Stage Shows 7. More Disney Characters 9. Different Music 17. Longer Operating Hours 21. More Places to buy Food, Beverages and Merchandise 22. Transporation within the Park And my official least favorite choice: 10. More Benches/Places to Sit - if I want to sit at Disneyland, I get an old west comedy show, an audioanimatronic tiki show, ragtime piano music, a sundae from an old time fountain, or ducks on a country river with my seat. Disney can set the bar a little higher than "You're over the age of six and you don't care for thrill rides. You say you've already done Soarin twice. And Turtle Talk. Can I interest you in this nice bench?"
Originally Posted By Sweeper >>The survey does have a design-by-committee quality about it, reminiscent of the corporate weekend conference in Aspen where DCA was first developed, and the kind of thing dreamt up by bean counters.<< I agree. And a jackass is a horse created by a committee. Now that committee is gathering a committee of APs to respond to a committee-approved list of committee fixes? You all know what they will say at the end of this survey. Midway Mania is the family ride, Cars will be the next thrill ride, San Francisco will be the added theme, ALL on the drawing boards already. So what's left? Benches, parades, and shade anyone? How about another show? Still waiting for the revolution. Oh Roy! Where is the real leadership? Can Steve Jobs please kick a few butts please? This is so sad and predictable.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Oh Roy! What's he gonna do? He's about as ineffective as they come. After all, he was on the board when the plans for DCA were being drawn up, and stood in the wings as the park was constructed. "Where is the real leadership?" Good question. "Can Steve Jobs please kick a few butts please?" Huh? Isn't he the one responsible for the inclusion of the new Monsters, Inc. themed comedy club attraction in Tomorrowland at WDW? If any butts need to be kicked it should be his for constantly pushing the Pixar characters into virtually every major new project coming out of WDI these days.
Originally Posted By alexbook 12 - Landscaping 19 - Lower prices for food & merchandise (yeah, like that's ever going to happen) 22 - Transportation within the park - Well, I'm really using that as a placeholder for my "other" complaint, which is that I find DCA confusing to navigate. I'm not somebody who usually gets turned around easily, but DCA does it to me. Maybe some sort of shuttle or skyway(?!) could help pull the place together. Actually, #19 is my biggest complaint.
Originally Posted By alexbook A couple of thoughts on previous comments: - I'm surprised how few people here mentioned price, especially considering how much carping there is in the DL Trip Planning section about the cost of everything. Did people just ignore those choices, or figure it was too unlikely that anything would come down? - The suggestion that Disney could find out what people want by reading the message boards is laughable. LP and all the other boards combined amount to a tiny fraction of Disney's customers. - I hadn't really thought about the "longer hours" choice, but that does sound nice now that you mention it. (I gave my answers before reading the whole thread. So shoot me.)
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I don't think Disney is over priced. Ever go bowling all day? How about going to the State Fair and paying for all the carnival rides? Sure you could take the kids to the neighborhood park for free. But are they going to be entertained from 8 am to midnight? I don't think the food is really overpriced either. Check out the menu at a decent coffee shop sometime. The prices are in line. Also, the people in vacation planning are a small fraction of even the LP community. The majority of them don't go to the parks very often, are frequently coming from a long distance, and most have families. So, they are trying to stretch their dollar. If you don't travel or eat out much, it's hard to wrap your mind around the fact that it's hard to get a decent hotel for under $100/night. And paying for an entire family to eat out for several days is just plain old expensive, no matter what.
