Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Painting the row houses at DCA is sort of like that scene in 'The Jerk' -- 'The new phonebooks are here, the new phonebooks are here!'
Originally Posted By Darkbeer I took some more photos yesterday... <a href="http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/1220638" target="_blank">http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/ga llery/1220638</a> Why did they remove the refurb walls when they are still doing a lot of trim work?
Originally Posted By ni_teach > Why did they remove the refurb walls when they are still doing a lot of trim work? Because watching someone paint is an attraction at the DCA!
Originally Posted By Roger55 ^^ They depict the California day laborors... just an extension of the Golden Dreams attraction! (j/k of course!)
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I just can't put my finger on it, but something about them just doesn't look real. Maybe it is because they are obviously city buildings (built up, not out) in the middle of a bunch of trees and only on one side of the walkway, or maybe it is something about the way they were made. I just can't figure it out, but maybe putting something useful in them will make them seem more realistic.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Those new 2/21 pics from Darkbeer show the additional woodwork and paint detailing very nicely. Thanks Darkbeer. These buildings were built to house the failed "California Workplace" facilities and exhibits. Remember that concept from all of the late 1990's DCA press releases and the DCA Preview Center during the 1996-2000 period? The California Workplace was going to have native California industries and artisans displaying their craft and their products. See's Candy was heavily hinted at in the Preview Center artwork, with their signature white and black tile shop design and antique motorbike with candy-carryihg sidecar parked in front. Surfboard makers, neon sign production, snowboard makers, etc., etc. were all supposed to be part of this major DCA offering. There was also supposed to be additional buildings built across the way to house all of these exhibits. The additional buildings and exhibit space was to be built in the basic location of what is now the cement "Amphitheater" along the water. When Disney couldn't get anyone, not even See's Candy or Ghiradelli, to sign on to this concept for DCA, the idea was quietly shelved. They put that amphitheater in at the last moment as the park was coming up out of the ground in '99, and that's why it looks so charmless and plain. It was literally a last minute design change once it became obvious that the whole "California Workplace" concept that had been so heavily touted in the DCA media rollout wasn't going to get off the ground. Boudin and Mission Tortilla were about all that came of the California Workplace, and they got slotted in to Pacific Wharf. You could argue that Seasons Of The Vine is another small California Workplace offering, but the Winery CM's never operate that film any more and it just sits there closed up and unstaffed every day. No tourist even knows something happens in the Seasons Of The Vine building. But originally, those San Fran buildings were supposed to have a purpose and a couple of tenants in them, in the middle of several other similar offerings in buildings that never got built.
Originally Posted By Roger55 I had heard Ghiradelli and Levi's Straus were under consideration. Never heard the See's story before.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Yeah, I remember the See's artwork from the Preview Center that stood in the Esplanade for a couple years in the late 90's. It was a "candy factory" with See's signature black and white interior design, and even little sketches of those gray haired See's ladies in white smocks with big black bow and white nurse shoes. There was the See's antique motorbike and sidecar sitting near the entrance, there was a candy counter where you could buy See's chocolates, and there was a small production line. There was a DCA media announcement where Pressler and Braverman talked about this "California Workplace" concept, and they specifically mentioned a chocolate factory where Park Guests could put on an apron and help wrap the chocolates as they came down the line, a la' that famous I Love Lucy episode. This was the late 90's and they were touting the "interactive" things that this California Adventure Park would have, and that was the hook they gave to the candy factory. Apparently See's didn't go for it, although the artwork heavily hinted at what was obviously a See's establishment.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <You could argue that Seasons Of The Vine is another small California Workplace offering, but the Winery CM's never operate that film any more and it just sits there closed up and unstaffed every day.> Unless that's a very new occurence, to say that's it's closed is not accurate. We were at Disneyland before the holidays, and saw 'Seasons of the Vine.' It was staffed, the cast member gave a great intro, he opened the big barn doors, the movie started, Jeremy Irons narrated, and it was a fun time. As always.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Living near the wine country, I was prepared to be unimpressed by Season's of the Vine. I thought they did a great job! And thank you TP2000. I totally agree with you about the increased detail being a benefit. If it had been on a building in DL, people would have raved. If the building in DL was empty, speculation about what was going in next would be rampent. But this is DCA. Those who are negative about the park rarely see anything positive there.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^I like DCA, but I have to say that I am unimpressed with those buildings in just about every way possible. Always have been. A read a lot of complaints about Paradise Pier being a cheap cop-out, but no where is the budget cutting more evident at DCA than in this gussied up block of phoney looking buildings.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<^^I like DCA, but I have to say that I am unimpressed with those buildings in just about every way possible. Always have been.>> Hey... there are restrooms in one of those buildings. That makes them an "E" ticket as far as my wife is concerned.
