Originally Posted By dshyates I just wonder what kind of Park View those lower floor are going to have looking at the backside of Mermaid and Goofy's.
Originally Posted By dshyates And I'm not sure, but I don't believe that GC will integrate as well into the Pier as the Mira Costa does.
Originally Posted By bean not familiar with the layout but i am sure the bottom floors will be similair to the lower areas of the rest of the hotel that faces into the park. They will most likely be used for eating,shop or other facilities.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt >>And those that think it's theme is that of "wilderness" do not comprehend the difference between "arts and crafts" and "wilderness"<< Maybe you've never seen this hotel: <a href="http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/yosemite_lodging_ahwahnee.htm?gclid=COyP0_m7hpUCFSQqagod1j38qA" target="_blank">http://www.nationalparkreserva...od1j38qA</a>
Originally Posted By ArchtMig Yeah yeah yeah. How'd I know it was going to be the Ahwahnee before I even clicked on the link? The Ahwahnee is the supposed inspiration for the Wilderness Lodge at WDW, and maybe the GC at the DLR. But with the GC, it's not really what they ended up with. For that, you need to find some links to post that pertain more to Pasadena, and Berkeley.
Originally Posted By dshyates The description of the Wilderness Lodge says that it was inspired by the National Park Lodges of the West, But I believe that the major influence was from Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone. What with the closed sloping front and soaring open atrium with interior log balconies. The Ahwahnee has neither: <a href="http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1T4HPIA_en___US266&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=old+faithful+Inn&spell=1" target="_blank">http://images.google.com/image...&spell=1</a> And I believe that The Grand Californian was modeled after The Gamble House in Pasadena (Go to photographs>interior, in the link below): <a href="http://www.gamblehouse.org/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.gamblehouse.org/index.html</a>
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Through the years Disney has taken great liberties with juxtaposing various architectural genres and melding them together. The Grand Californian's uniquely Californian craftsman style overlooking Condor Flats and Grizzly Peak works just fine in my opinion. More jarring to me is The Haunted Mansion butted up against Splash Mountain and odd placement of ToT.
Originally Posted By ArchtMig ^^^In the case of an actual huge hotel butted up against attractions as opposed to attractions butted up against attractions, I disagree 100%. But to each his or her own.
Originally Posted By bean i found a link to this article in another site and thought i would post it here. It discusses the impact the ex[ansion of the GCH will take on the parks view and the steps beign taken to help it blend with the lands it faces. <a href="http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=562&Itemid=1" target="_blank">http://dvcnews.com/index.php?o...Itemid=1</a> "One particular area presented a challenge for designers. The existing resort hotel is well-suited for its current role as a backdrop for the Golden State region of Disney's California Adventure. However, the south side of the expansion boarders a very different area of DCA-Paradise Pier. Designers went to great lengths to help blend the look of the Grand Californian into Paradise Pier-an area that will itself be altered somewhat in the coming years as part of Disney's $1 billion investment in the theme park. According to Imagineer Mike Montague, the south side of the expansion is specifically designed to be "reminiscent of Paradise Pier with smaller New England-style blocks." Months were spent finalizing that elevation in order to ensure that it would not disrupt the intended look of the Paradise Pier 'land' within DCA"
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "In the case of an actual huge hotel butted up against attractions as opposed to attractions butted up against attractions, I disagree 100%." You make it sound as if Disney parks are nothing but rides dismissing the other components that round out the experience - shops, restaurants, and yes hotels.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "i found a link to this article in another site and thought i would post it here." Very interesting. The slide show really explains what this expansion will look like. Clearly the facade facing PP will not be themed to the that section of the park. I guess the next question is what will that section of PP look like in 5 years.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Thanks bean! I'm actually pleasantly surprised. The expansion that faces PP is definitely different from the rest of the hotel. While not beach-themed in any way, it's a lovely structure that will clash a lot less than the look of the rest of the hotel.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Plus, as said, what is on the Pier now will be changing...the concepts of the Beer Garden for this general area will blend quite well with the resort and Goofy's sky Skool or whater it is should be a slight improvement on MM until it disappears entirely. Bean...I'm guessing the tacky dinosaur and Route 66 gift stand will go away soon too?
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I noted that the article states that a third pool is being added to the hotel.
Originally Posted By bean your welcome. the picture does answer some of the questions and concerns on this thread. The art shows that the bottom floor will face a lush green landscaped walkway on the south end and the east end will face another pool and recreation area. So non of the towers will be against the park or any attraction. The northern end of the pier will change at diferent timelines. The area between the beer garden and the mermaid attraction which Mullholland Madness, dino shack and route 66 shop will all change. the first change will be Mullholland Madness with the temporary overlay. The whole northern area will received lots of landscaping with the area being future attraction pads
Originally Posted By ArchtMig >>>the picture does answer some of the questions and concerns on this thread.<<< Thanks for the link, bean, but it only serves to reinforce my attitude about the hotel. That wing will be huge. And it will be more apparent in it's adjacency than ever before. Just looking at the shot showing Golden Zephyr with the expansion construction going on behind it, it is already apparent how much impact that wing will have. And it's not even finished going up as high as it will ultimately be! I don't buy the exterior theming line being passed off by the DVC developers. I don't think "New England" styling is appropriate harmonization for the Victorian theming of the pier. But I guess we'll all have to wait and see once the hotel AND the new pier development is fully in place in the years to come. DCA as a WDI structured theme park has, is, and will always be subservient to the demands of the development and merchandising sides of the company. Make no mistake about it, the GC hotel and it's expansion(s) are not the work of WDI. They are the product of the Disney Development Group. Two very different sides of the company that have two very different, and oftentimes opposite, goals and attitudes about things. Never forget that Eisner and Pressler originally were going to take the whole DCA project design responsiblities away from WDI and hand it over to the Development Group, who would then farm out the design and planning of the park to "outside" contractors, perhaps including WDI. Such a stink was raised by WDI that Eisner backed off of that plan and gave the park back to WDI. But with a weak team in place that would do Eisner's and Pressler's bidding. And the result is what we have to live with. This hotel expansion is only the latest example of that. WDI fought hard to get that valuable land for new attractions and park expansion. The DVC and Development arms fought hard for the huge hotel expansion. It's no surprise who won out. I won't be surprised to see a huge new hotel visibly looming over a corner of Radiator Springs some day. DCA is not a pure theme park. It is a hotel and retail development with some rides attached. Like anything out of Las Vegas. Thank God they don't allow casinos in Anaheim.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "DCA is not a pure theme park. It is a hotel and retail development with some rides attached. Like anything out of Las Vegas." I think you are talking about the entire resort complex, not just DCA.
