Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>>EPCOT, The Studios and DAK all have Disney characters. I didn't see any Disney characters in DCA.<<< That surprises me as when we were there in 2002, we met Goofy, Max, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Cruella, Mulan, Flick and Atta. Ariel hosts a character meal. There's the Pixar Street Party, the Cars, and I remember reading about the Brother Bear characters being there. Personally, I'd like to see less rubber heads and more immersive experiences. For me the visitation of the Jungle, the Old West, and the Future always held far more fascination than a bunch of rubberheads, even when I was 5.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Dalma- Oh, can't be bothered . LOL, I love you guys, I just read SOME of the last 330 posts since I been away from this thread and ALWAYS entertaining ;D. Well, I was back at DCA with the family just two days ago (all day, i.e. 6 hours, that's a record at that place for me ;D). Here's the verdict: My mother (who actually likes DCA the most): 'There ain't nuthin here, just Aladdin, but it's the same ole, same ole, but the park is a little pretty. (and she is the only one that LIKES it) My uncle (second time there in 6 years, been to DL about 7 times in the same amout of time): 'Corny, I see why nobody ain't here.' Funny thing, he said the exact same thing about Monster's Inc ride, but just rephrased it to 'I see why nobody was in line.' His wife (first time there): 'Its alright, but they need some rides. Where's the rides?' For the record though, she liked it much more when she hit Soarin. My brother: He was suppose to meet us there, but changed his mind when he realized we were only staying at DCA for the day and going into DL....you got an idea of his opinion of the place. Mine: Eh....it was okay, about the same last time I was there and its ALWAYS fun taking a newbie on Soarin and TOT (my uncle TOT and his wife, Soarin) but yeah, as ALWAYS, I just ready to go after a few hours. Even the newbie I was with didn't seem all that jazzed about it, but did like parts of it like Soarin and the Bugs Life movie, but just not enough of those moments. That's what I LOVE when you take someone new to DL, there faces are always in awe in so many area's of the park. DCA, just another theme park when you take away 2 rides, Anamation, Aladdin and two of the 3D films. So much of it just felt like another day at Knotts Berry Farm for most of my family, only prettier, but more expensive . Honestly, start spending that Beeelion as soon as you can Disney. You lost my family since 2001 and if you want to keep them (I'll be around though lol), get something in there besides 4 attractions that makes them go 'Wow'. It don't have to be TDS, but man, it has to better than this. And I agree with the argument about the crappy character thing. Oddly, DCA's most popular attractions: TOT, Screaming, Soarin and GRR have NO characters in them!!!! Shouldn't that be telling these morons something??? Monsters Inc was a 10 minute walk on all freaking day and let's not talk about Pooh in DL, so put two and two together!!!!! Not every attraction is a failure without them OR a sucess with them, why can't they see that??? Yes, its easier to market a known brand, but it easy to market ANY attraction that's GOOD, period! That what's make word of mouth so great, the fans do it FOR you when its something good! But yeah, its DCA, I wouldn't expect anyone to know what they are doing, they haven't since it opened, so why start now ;D. Seriously, don't waste time, spend that billion as fast as possible so I don't have to listen to my uncle say 'Corny' everytime he pass another half-@$$ approach to something next time I'm there!!
Originally Posted By jonvn Apparently everything is now supposed to have some kind of character tie in. Lame, isn't it.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<That surprises me as when we were there in 2002, we met Goofy, Max, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Cruella, Mulan, Flick and Atta.>> They were all surpisingly absent during my visit in July. <<Ariel hosts a character meal.>> Althought I did go downstairs to use the bathroom at that venue, I did not see Ariel. Perhaps she was there, I really wasn't looking around for her. <<There's the Pixar Street Party, the Cars, and I remember reading about the Brother Bear characters being there.>> I don't believe any of this was going on during my visit. What was going on was the High School Musical which I did not even know was Disney till I saw it at DCA.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Apparently everything is now supposed to have some kind of character tie in. Lame, isn't it.>> jonvn, I don't recall anyone stating that position in this thread. Considering that Disney is all about merchandising, I find the lack of Disney characters remarkably apparent at DCA. Speaking for myself, I'm just pointing out the obvious, that DCA is an empty, disjointed, badly themed park unworthy of the Disney name. There is nothing in that park what would inspire me to actually see those parts of California that the various areas within that park are suppose to represent. Fortunately, I have been on the Golden Gate bridge, Cannery Row and other areas within California. I found the real thing better than the recreations that "Disney" built in Anaheim. Disney could have done so much more with those 55 acres. The real arguement here is what a huge waste Disney did with those 55 acres. This is like argueing the existance of the Disney Institute. Did it have beds, sure. Does DCA have rides and attractions, sure. Was the Disney Institute well themed in a way that was pure "Disney", inspiration and created a lot of enthusiasm for someone to come back to for a return visit, no not really. Is DCA well themed in a way that was pure "Disney", inspiration and creates a lot of enthusiasm for someone to come back to for a return visit, no not real. Was the Disney Institute the dullest Disney Resort ever, you bet! Is DCA Disney's dullest theme ( and I use that term very loosely ) park ever, you bet!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Was the Disney Institute the dullest Disney Resort ever, you bet!>> To be somewhat fair, the lodging for the Disney institute existed long before the idea of the Institute ever came up. <<I'm just pointing out the obvious, that DCA is an empty, disjointed, badly themed park unworthy of the Disney name>> It may be unworthy of the Disney name as a whole, but I think it has been demonstrated that there are some elements that are Disney quality, or at least unmistakably Disney.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I also liked the Disney Institute - the classes were great. My love of Disney came from great theming and edutainment. Sadly that is being dulled down to synergistic character licences. No wonder my excitement for Disney now also diminishes. How depressing for this Disney obsessive compulsive!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Disney inspired me to read and learn once upon a time. I would ride ATIS and be interested in molecular science. PotC inspired me to read text, after text as a boy on piracy, privateers, buccaneers, and corsairs. Primeval World awakened an interest in paleontology. The Jungle Cruise inspired me to learn more about our natural world. America the beautiful made me want to travel. And I swear I couldn't get that damn song out of my head that lead to my BSc in International Relations, what was it again??? Oh ya, It's a Small World. Epcot inspired me to want to travel across the country (or half way around the world) - MGM did not. Sadly, in the last 10 years, not many Disney creations have truly inspired me like old school Disney - Millenium Celebrations at Epcot, Soarin', Golden Dreams, DAK. That's it though. Rubber heads never did much for me at 5, 10 or now at 32. My wife and kids like them, but I am sure they will outgrow them. It's a shame that to deliver inspiration in the Disney mantle, the opportunity diminishes, and a part of me grows more bitter.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I was watching some show on one of those Discovery channels, "Really Big Things," or something like that. The host went to Dubai to check out the new Burj Dubai, and also the world's largest indoor ski slope. Anyway, I thought it was interesting to see how the Burj tower is just part of an entire urban project. It reminded me quite a bit of Walt's Epcot, with his tower in the middle. All the Burj project needs is a monorail and some peoplemovers. Too bad I don't think any of the designers have thought about those.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I am excited about Dubai. I was amazed with the place when we were there a few years ago. I understand Monorails were considered, but there was a concern about how they would deal with the intense heat of the summer. Then again, they still built one in Vegas.
Originally Posted By jonvn "I don't recall anyone stating that position in this thread." It's been talked about for weeks now. "I'm just pointing out the obvious, that DCA is an empty, disjointed, badly themed park unworthy of the Disney name." I think you're pointing out your opinion rather than the obvious. "I found the real thing better than the recreations that "Disney" built in Anaheim." You think that somehow that what for decades was the largest suspension bridge in the world would somehow measure up to something in a theme park? With towers that are 755 tall? This is somehow going to be challenged by a recreation in a 55 acre theme park? Do you realize how silly that is? And why put Disney in quotes? Disney did in fact build the place. I thought the Disney Institute was ok. We went there for a couple of things. It didn't click. But that doesn't mean it was not a good idea. So it failed, and it's gone. But not everything has to be covered in cartoon mice and singing clown fish to be the sort of thing that goes into a Disney theme park. At least it didn't used to be. "Rubber heads never did much for me at 5, 10 or now at 32." Me neither. I don't understand the insistence that they be omnipresent wherever one walks in the parks. They never used to be.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Well, I was back at DCA with the family just two days ago (all day, i.e. 6 hours, that's a record at that place for me ;D). Here's the verdict:" For the life of me I cannot understand why people who find little or nothing to like about DCA keep going back, then post the same comments about the place here over and over. You see this here constantly. It's wierd.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Hans, did you actually READ the entire post??? I was with my FAMILY, they wanted to go, not me . I was with my mother, uncle and his wife, who NEVER been there, because guess what, my uncle hated it so much the first time around, he never wanted to go again. But she really wanted to go and see it, me and my mother had MULTI DAY passes since we were at the resort for 3 DAYS and spent about 20% of all time there in DCA and offer to take her and so she could she it for herself since my uncle couldn't be bothered to step in the place again. So, THAT'S why we went. If I had to pay full price for it or was stuck there the entire day, she would've been on her own lol. But she's family, I haven't been in LA over a year (and TOT is always worth a little time there ) and I never said I HATED DCA or anything to that effect, ever, just its not worth more than a few hours (less than 6 I realize last visit so we went. I NEVER said I never liked DCA and it wasn't worth stepping into, why do YOU keep inferring this???? End of story.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney And btw, if you READ the post, I said DCA was 'okay'. Guess what I think KBF is 'okay' and I been visiting that place nearly 30 years now. Does that mean I think its the worst place to go to since Baghdad??? No, just not worth going all that often or more than a few hours distractions, LIKE DCA. For a DISNEY park, that's a problem, a big one. Hopefully, it will only take around a billion or so to fix it though ;D.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Hans, did you actually READ the entire post???" I read most of it. Still, you have made it abundantly clear over the years that you take issue with DCA as a Disney park. Therefore, I am perplexed as to why you continue to visit (even if obligated) and then come here and repeat the same things repeatedly. Also, try to find some middle ground in your communication and tone down the exaggeration, perhaps then you will not find the need to be so defensive. No one has claimed or even suggested that you think it is the worst place to go to since Baghdad, or that you hate it.
Originally Posted By berol I think this is the 6th time that WD has explained it. *carves another notch into the wood*
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Me neither. I don't understand the insistence that they be omnipresent wherever one walks in the parks. They never used to be. >> Marketing didn't use to run the parks either.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney LOL, I think it is Berol . Hans, I won't 'tone down' anything. My opinions are mine and mine alone. I never ask you or others to 'tone down' anything you say, have I? And I said this a THOUSAND times already: I LIKE TOT, Screamin, Monster's Inc, BPB, Alladin, Soarin and a few others and because of THEM is why I go. Matter of fact, because of them is why many people bother in the first place. The PROBLEM is after we experienced our favorite attractions, the few there are, we all turn around and head back to DL and that's the problem, always been. I represent the average guest who likes DCA for the few things it has, but don't see a reason to stay more than a few hours, my last visit a perfect example and I stayed longer because I was with my family. I been saying (and doing) this for years now. According to you, either I must enjoy the entire park to enter it or simply don't bother??? Trust me, if people had to choose between this, DCA would be emptier than it is now on many days .
