Originally Posted By belle42 If it is going to be near Bug's Land, why not connect the sections in the park. One main problem with DCA is the lack of connectedness. If a person could cut through Bug's Land to get to TOT, they might be less miffed at the lack of lines. The park is HUGE and has NO public transit to help disperse people throughout the park. Connecting the lands would at least partially alleviate this problem.
Originally Posted By SFH It doesn't matter if there are people inside DCA if they are the same people who would have visited the Resort just for Disneyland Park and aren't spending any more money than they would have if it was just Disneyland Park at the Resort. Ideally, when you add a new park to a Resort, you are getting *new* people to visit the Resort and people who would have visited anyway are staying longer and spending more money. Also, foreign tourists tend to spend more than people visiting from within the country, who tend to spend more than the locals who are within "day trip" distance. So, the more foreign tourists you can get there, the better, even if the overall number of guests stays steady. It will be harder and harder to get foreign tourists to make the trip if they have the same attractions at a closer theme park. As for spicing up DCA with a E-Ticket on the level of Pirates... DCA neads a San Francisco/Chinatown on the magnitude of New Orleans Square, and there would be plenty of possibilities with that. SFH Can you imagine the Castro District? That would be great during Halloween Treat.
Originally Posted By gadzuux The five million number (if they even hit it) is still nothing to crow about. A certain percentage of DLRs annual tally are guests who come for extended stays and purchase multi-day 'hopper' tickets. DCA is included on those and it would be foolish for people to not go into the park and enjoy it's offerings. But it's unfair to compare that with other parks in the area and then say that DCA is a "success" because it's attendance is higher than theirs. So turnstile clicks are not a valid measurement for the popularity of DCA - just because guests go in there doesn't mean that they're saying it's a great park, or has a "worth" of x amount of dollars to them. The current phenomena of guests popping over to watch BPB and then immediately turning around and heading back to DL is a prime example. From what I hear there are hundreds of people who do this every day. These folks apparently have little interest in the park's other offerings, and wouldn't set foot in the park if it weren't already included in their hopper or their AP. Yet they're probably included in the "5 million" number. The people that go to knotts or legoland or USH or floundertown are choosing to go to that park, buy tickets and then spend the day enjoying the attractions. The people that go to DCA are choosing to go to disneyland, and getting a bundled package that includes DCA with DL. Apples and oranges.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "What might seem like a huge bust to many on this site may still be viewed as a success among the corporate suits." Exactly, which is what I've been saying all along.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "The people that go to knotts or legoland or USH or floundertown are choosing to go to that park, buy tickets and then spend the day enjoying the attractions. The people that go to DCA are choosing to go to disneyland, and getting a bundled package that includes DCA with DL." Bingo. It is very probable that DLR management is far less concerned with the head count at DCA than they would be if it were a free standing park. DCA is intrinsically tied to and dependant upon DL Park and the rest of the DLR as a whole. It was never meant to be a draw on its own or compete directly with Disneyland.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney "What might seem like a huge bust to many on this site may still be viewed as a success among the corporate suits." <<Exactly, which is what I've been saying all along.>> Yeah, but what most are arguing is that that may not be the case though. And NO, I don't know, so let's not go down that road. It just seems like common sense when you have a park that is performing below expectations, especially when it sits so close to one that outsells it 3-to-1 on any given day, it's probably NOT something to feel that can be seen as a 'sucess' by many, 5 mil. or not.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<Can you imagine the Castro District? That would be great during Halloween Treat.>> Oh YEAH!!! That would be fun . I remember doing halloween in the Castro back in '99.....there are still images that come back to me in the middle of the night I thought I buried for good ;D.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Sorry, it's an 'infamous' area in San Francisco and is basically the major gay/lesbian area of the city that the entire world seems to associate everything with San Francisco for some reason. Great place, very clean, friendly people and had a really nice Safeway there when I lived in S.F. .
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<So Castro District in SF = West Hollywood?>> Pretty much, just not so conservative lol.
Originally Posted By bean The new street would be start on the west side of TOT. That path is not as narrow as some might think. It is also possible to reconfigure some of the area and gardening on the west side of TOT. The area in between TOT and bugs is currently used as a backstage road. That is something that is still being determined how it could be preserved and still be used for public walkways. that area is actually large enough fr another attraction if needed for bugs. Bugs land also has another large gate on the south side near the heimlich and bumper cars that could be used for future connections or development or just basic backstage access. Basically the road south and west of bugs are needed for backstage access but many possibilties could be done to achieve public access during park hours and backstage access only if and when the parade will continue the same route. remember the parade could always start from paradise pier and return in a second showing in the evenings or just stay backstage behind animation until closing. Similiar to what is done for Disneyland. Someone asked about why would disney use up such large property for suh a massive footprint if they built a testrack in timon. Well basically just because the technology is the same it does not mean that the layout would be. Test track in epcot uses the very long outside track behind the building because it adds to the storyline of the attraction. Without giving information that i am not allowed to give, this new atraction could very well have the outside sections wrap around the highly themed building. It is also possible to extend the track towards the west side of TOT and over some backstage area if needed without useing valuable real estate. Use your imagination. As for DCA, it sholding its own very well wethere the attendnace levels hit 5 million or 10 million only a small fraction of the attendance is needed to breakeven. The park has actually had higher attendance numbers than previously published but that will always e up for discussions. DCA is not doing as bad as some may want it to be. The park has its flaws and with the first phase of HPB re-enhancing programs which are being directed from glendale (and not just for DCA but also for Disney studios Paris, and TDS) some areas will be dealt with and then other areas will continue. This is something that is done to any theme park disney builts after its first few years of operation. the new parks are annalized and see areas that need changing. This is handled primarily by glendale. There are a few other surprises for other enhancements of DCA either being discussed or in the approval stages.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney So Bean, Are you saying that attraction is a go or is it just speculation on what COULD happen. Little confused . <<The park has its flaws and with the first phase of HPB re-enhancing programs which are being directed from glendale (and not just for DCA but also for Disney studios Paris, and TDS)>> TDS?? DCA and WDSP, OBVIOUS no brainers . But TDS? Where does it possibly need some theme enhancing? I was there just 6 weeks ago and that park looked as solid as it did its first 6 weeks of operation maintenence wise. I would be curious to see what they think needs enhancing.....just as long as they don't make it worse . Wow, where does TDS needs improvement in terms of theme enhancing??
Originally Posted By Nemo88 Bean, I really hope this Cars attraction actually makes it to DCA,it sounds like it could really be the big unique hit ride taht DCA needs right now.It also sounds like it would make connectivity better for the park,Im keepin my fingers crossed on this one.Thanks for the info.
Originally Posted By bean The attraction is not yet a go. There is a change of management coming and the project needs budget approval. There is a big push by Matt though for one attraction more than the other. As for the other question concrning TDS, the park is very highly themed but there are parts of the park that not necessarily need more theming but better design layout. The park has had great reviews when it comes to the beauty of the park but there are sections of the park that need refining or just did not work the way they were intended. They could be very simple changes that would help configurations in pathways or better configurations that might help management achieve things more efficiently. Other additions could be the integration of more DISNEY fantasy based references in the park. I agree with you TDS is visually does not need anymore work the only complains that the park has recieved has been its repeat factor because of the lack of attractions. In order to correct these problems two attractions were pushed forward from its original construction time. They are of course TOT and the new coaster. the second reason has been the lack of Disney related references. Japanese love Disney characters and the park had been designed to have no characters in it. Just before the park opened it was decided to integrated them into the park it has mostly been done by entertainment based ideas. Lets hope it stays that way and that only small references thruout the park are added and that the attractions continue to be like the orginal park started. The one park that needs the beautification work done is actually Tokyo Disneyland which is really nothing spectacular. Not sure if you noticed on your trip but it is interesting that most people do not talk about the siteline intrusions inside this park both while you are inside and out of the parks. Some of its lands also need updating including its fantasyland and its now mismatched tomorrowland which will be the future home of monsters inc. (figure that one out monsters in a future based land) guess it would work if they looked like the ugly creatures in Star Wars but not cute fluffy pink, blue and green cartoonish creatures. I doubt this would be a problem to the people in Tokyo they just love anything disney.
Originally Posted By woody DCA needs more heart, as well as better detailed theming. I'm not sure if another incarnation of Test Track will do the trick. Test Track is fun, but it lacks repeatability. It's no better than DCA's version of Tower of Terror, which is a shame because WDW's Tower of Terror is more repeatable. TDS looks great. I'm sure it needs work, but not at the same level as DCA. DCA needs work in all it's sections. I wonder how long it will take to work their way around the entire park, which adding new attractions and getting rid of the tacky parking lot carnival.
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<DCA is intrinsically tied to and dependant upon DL Park and the rest of the DLR as a whole. It was never meant to be a draw on its own or compete directly with Disneyland.>> It depends on who "one" listened to back in 2001.
Originally Posted By idleHands "Sorry, it's an 'infamous' area in San Francisco and is basically the major gay/lesbian area of the city that the entire world seems to associate everything with San Francisco for some reason." I've lived in the Castro for 12 years now. I love it, and hope I never have to move away. I consider myself very fortunate indeed to live where my political and social philosophies match up beautifully with those of my community. Of course, the place is starting to gentrify even more so, but eh... whatcha gonna do? And as far as being "infamous"... yeah, that does get old after a while. You're correct, in that most people view the whole of SF as if it's all like the Castro. But one quick trip to Snob Hill pretty much puts that science fiction to rest. LOL! "Great place, very clean, friendly people and had a really nice Safeway there when I lived in S.F. ." Why thank you! ;^) Seriously, you nailed it; the people are the main reason I love it here so much. And the Safeway is even better since their refurb a year or two ago. (But Church Street is being torn up right next to it; what a nightmare.)
Originally Posted By idleHands "The attraction is not yet a go. There is a change of management coming and the project needs budget approval." Oh really? I thought the Village Idiot already took up residence. Not yet, huh? And the budget STILL needs approval? Sounds like F&J are losing their touch. Curious. "There is a big push by Matt though for one attraction more than the other." Gee... I wonder which Pixar-based attraction Matt prefers, hmmm? Such an incredible opportunity before him, too. Hmm...
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<As for the other question concrning TDS, the park is very highly themed but there are parts of the park that not necessarily need more theming but better design layout. The park has had great reviews when it comes to the beauty of the park but there are sections of the park that need refining or just did not work the way they were intended. They could be very simple changes that would help configurations in pathways or better configurations that might help management achieve things more efficiently. Other additions could be the integration of more DISNEY fantasy based references in the park.>> Thanks for that . Yeah, in terms of layout, this IS the parks biggest problem. The thing is too big and hilly for its own good lol. I been to TDS a dozen+ times since it opened and it STILL feels like a huge walk to get from Lost River Delta all the way back to the entrance. If they could make it a little more efficient, no arguments here . Also, the fact it should have more 'Disney' elements, I guess that must be a response more guests wants because why didn't they just do it from the beginning? I personnally think there is more than enough with Mermaid Lagoon being a complete Disneyfied area, but I guess the other lands doesn't represent any characters per se other than the Arabia section. Also, non of the rides are Disney based either, but it's not much difference than what was in DCA either and Epcot obviously proves this point too. But, I guess no matter how much Disney tries to get away from the cutesy character stuff, time and time again the people just keep asking for it. <<The one park that needs the beautification work done is actually Tokyo Disneyland which is really nothing spectacular. Not sure if you noticed on your trip but it is interesting that most people do not talk about the siteline intrusions inside this park both while you are inside and out of the parks. Some of its lands also need updating including its fantasyland and its now mismatched tomorrowland which will be the future home of monsters inc. >> Yeah, the 'TDL is ugly theme' is something I been noticing more and more and I been visiting that park for about 7 years now. Honestly, it never hit me that it was 'ugly' that people pointed it out to me here. Yeah, TL certainly needs the most help, but it was fine to me. So, anything to update that area will be a plus. FL is the same, not nearly as good as DL's and DLP, but okay. I have no big problem with WDW's either, so I guess that tells you something. It sounds like these are the two area's that really needs the most help. The rest of the place, Critter Country, Adventureland, Westernland, Toontwon is on par with all the other MK IMO, so I don't see anything that needs any drastic overhaul like TL and FL. Also, the sitelines can be an issue, but it doesn't seem to be a major issue to me like it is at DCA. But you can see some of the hotels (also in TDS) and a few other things, but you have to try REALLY hard to spot them. They aren't obvious. Actually I think the siteline issues are more obvious in TDS, but did a great job of covering up 90% of the area, so no major complaints from me. Monsters Inc. in TL??? Yeah, bizarre. Buzz fits nicely in of course, but Monsters WILL be pushing it.
