Originally Posted By DlandDug I certainly didn't say that history was the overarching theme of DCA. But I would say that the creators were very clear that they believed that DCA would, indeed, be a living history lesson, as well as a presentation of the "richness and diversity" of its people, as well as a "a fun new state of Disney magic." The makeover of this park will include at least one of these components with the creation of a 1920s themed entry, complete with a lost treasure of Los Angeles history, the Carthay Circle Theater.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "But I would say that the creators were very clear that they believed that DCA would, indeed, be a living history lesson, as well as a presentation of the "richness and diversity" of its people, as well as a "a fun new state of Disney magic." Maybe so, but again, that isn't the impression I got.
Originally Posted By ArchtMig The thing about the history aspect of DCA is that the majority of it was presented in the form of smallish, static window displays, plaques, and the like. Which most people never stop to spend enough time with to absorb. Most people are at the park to ride attractions. Of the attractions, Golden Dreams clearly was the most significant history telling device, and maybe Seasons of the Vine, if you want to lump "education" in with "history". To stretch that connection even further, you can add Tortilla and Breadmaking to the "education" related attractions. People did queue up to go through those attractions, and in so doing, were a bit more "forcefully" subjected to the "educational" content of the subject matter. Just a few steps away from the Tortilla and Breadmaking attractions are windows full of quiet, static exhibits detailing lots of history of California's fish canning industry. I doubt as many people spent as much time looking at and absorbing the educational content in those windows as spent time standing in line waiting for tortillas. Therefore, I dare say DCA taught more folks about how to make tortillas than it did the history of the canning industry. In that regard, the window displays and plaques at DCA get little more attention from the masses than do the cast member honoring "Windows on Main Street" at Disneyland. They're just part of the decor. I would guess that those of us regular participants of the annual Minnie's Moonlit Madness charity trivia event have spent more time absorbing the history lessons of the static displays at DCA than the rest of the park going public combined, because we are forced to derive answers to arduous trivia challenges that are based on those displays. Joe Parkgoer, on the other hand, would rather just pass the displays as quickly as possible on their way to the Maliboomer. Eisner was so enthusiastic about the Disney's America concept, and when it went bust, he tried to adapt so much of what he intended for that park into the very next one to come along, and that next one happened to be DCA. But where Disney's America would (I guess) have been at least 150 acres in size (average size for most new Disney parks of late), with plenty of room to fully develop history and education based attractions, DCA was cramped into 55 measly little acres. And easily one half of those precious acres were devoted to Paradise Pier, Paradise Bay, and a huge concrete mountain serving only one single attraction - Grizzly River Run. Not much room left over to establish a lot of bonafide history/education based attractions. So the park that was supposed to make up for the loss of Disney's America and fulfill Eisner's mission of conveying history, education, and industry (through "factory tours") was reduced to a couple of movies, tortilla and breadmaking exhibits, and lots of window displays and bronze plaques. Is it any wonder DCA failed in that aspect of its intended purpose?
Originally Posted By pitapan16 I love the new "Walt Disney Plaza!" Amazing... I think the whole concept the imagineers have come up with is spectacular and the entry is fantastic. From concept art and details I've heard, it sounds like it's going to be a place where I could just sit and admire for a long time. Something so detailed and timeless that every time you visit yu see things you've missed. The Trolley is great, awesome idea for the look, feel and synergy of the place.
Originally Posted By pwrof3 " Joe Parkgoer, on the other hand, would rather just pass the displays as quickly as possible on their way to the Maliboomer." Actually, Jay Rasulo mentioned in the announcment that Dieny realizes that most people just rush through DCA. The purpose of this expansion is to get guests to slow down.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^Yeah, one of the few things Rasulo has said . And honestly, starting with the entrance, how many people just stopped and 'soaked' it in? Lockers and bathrooms on the left and a generic souvineer shop on the right, wow, inventive . The entrance alone to get people to slow it down is a GREAT start and remind people Disney is just isn't about rides, rides, rides!! With the exception of GRR and HPB, most people don't even think to stop and smell the well trimmed roses.
