Will $ 1 Billion save DCA???

Originally Posted By ImgineerBob

That seems to be wishful thinking TP2000. I mean DCA has yet to have any ride with that kind of return, even little mermaid; still in its first summer is only garning 20 minute waits. While Carsland may be popular at the begining, it's real test will be long term success which I doubt it will have. Plus it's the kind of thinking you have for carsland that Disney had for DCA from the start, they thought they would have to turn people away and it would be jam packed. But this never happened. With DCA it's always wait and see, as they don't have sure fire hits. plus imagine all the parents who will be mad when a ride that was designed towards kids turns them away because they don't meet the height requirement.

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

But there was nothing on the scale or scope of Carsland built in DCA to start with. And while I loathed DCA when it opened and I am not a huge fan of the Cars movies, I do think that Carsland will be a HUGE hit. Seriously, if TSMM can get the numbers it gets, I am confident RSR will be very popular.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

Carsland will have 3 rides. AFAIK, the littlest ones who can't ride RSR will be able to ride the other two and the height limit on RSR won't be all that high if it's like Test Track.

What kind of lines will be there will depend on quality and throughput. Soarin still generates long waits 10 years later because it's high quality and not tremendously high capacity. LM is an omnimover, a very efficient system.

My guess is that RSR will be very popular for a long while, as it looks like a quality attraction. But it wouldn't surprise me if Luigi's ended up with the longest average waits, in the same way that Dumbo is often a longer wait than Pirates.

 

Originally Posted By ImgineerBob

agreed Dabob, I just hope they change the name, carsland just sounds awful. I'm not opposed to carsland as a whole, it's more of, if i had to pick between it or a San Fran area I would pick the San Fran area, and since this will probably be DCA's final expansion its sad to see this is what it will be.

 

Originally Posted By disneywatcher

>> do you think it will never be as great of a park as they had hoped?? <<

In the title of your thread you mention "$1 billion." Forget that or any reference to the size of the budget in general. Of course, that comment has to come with the modifier of "within reason." What I mean is that even the most skilled, talented, savvy people will hit a roadblock if the amount of money they're given to play with is too modest.

But that never really was the main problem with DCA 1.0. The real issue was that too many of the people in charge of the park would make decisions similar to what, as one example, is pointed out today at miceage.com. I'm referring to this photo and the brief comment under it about the Condor Flats sign:

<a href="http://tiny.cc/hjne0" target="_blank">http://tiny.cc/hjne0</a>

>>>>> It's too bad that this sore-thumb of a sign couldn't get a makeover that would complement Buena Vista Street when it opens in 2012. <<<<<

So instead of SAVING money by tearing down a silly, tacky sign -- which should never have been approved and built to begin with -- DisCo planners have ended up WASTING money by retaining and refurbishing the Condor Flats sign. A sign that has always been reminiscent to me of something one would see in a so-so, rather second-rate theme park.

Add up all of these various little miscues, combine them with the big blunders, multiple them a few times over for full effect, and you end up with the story of DCA 2001---and, in some ways, even DCA 2011.

 

Originally Posted By disneywatcher

>> if i had to pick between it or a San Fran area I would pick the San Fran area <<

People in that city have always fancied themselves as rather sophisticated, so I'd think they're actually relieved that DCA's connections to "Frisco" have been lessened over the recent past, starting with the removal of the clunky looking, fake Golden Gate Bridge. Moreover, I've never believed that the "Golden State" -- or, for that matter, any of the other states of the US -- deserved a Disney park themed to it. So the fewer allusions to this West Coast state, the better.

My main concern about Cars Land is that it's themed to the desert, and a major complaint about DCA from the beginning has been a lack of enough shade throughout the park. There isn't too much shade in the actual desert, and I don't see how DisCo planners can get around that fact without dreaming up some major thematic contrivances.

 

Originally Posted By ImgineerBob

I like the condor flats sign, what is wrong with it??

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

"I mean DCA has yet to have any ride with that kind of return, even little mermaid; still in its first summer is only garning 20 minute waits."

Mermaid has the same or similar capacity as HM, which has daily waits during the summer of the same length. These are two attractions that are able to turn over roughly 2600 people per hour. The fact that it has a wait at all tells me that Mermaid is a big draw for DCA.

 

Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt

>> if i had to pick between it or a San Fran area I would pick the San Fran area <<

"People in that city have always fancied themselves as rather sophisticated, so I'd think they're actually relieved that DCA's connections to "Frisco" have been lessened over the recent past, starting with the removal of the clunky looking, fake Golden Gate Bridge."

Indeed we are. Mostly because the icons used in the park were pretty weak. On another note, we also dislike it when people call our city Frisco or San Fran. Ugh.

As a Disney fan it's inexcusable to me that Disney would operate a theme park called California adventure and ignore San Francisco altogether. I guess we'll have to wait until Pixar makes an animated movie with characters and situations based here.

"I like the condor flats sign, what is wrong with it??"

Me too. A lot of people dislike it (I think) because the design used on the sign have a "pop" contemporary look that was used all over the park on opening day. The signage on Engineer's Toys and Burger Invasion are good examples of what I'm talking about. Does anyone know if it still turns? The last time I was there it just sat there.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

"As a Disney fan it's inexcusable to me that Disney would operate a theme park called California adventure and ignore San Francisco altogether. I guess we'll have to wait until Pixar makes an animated movie with characters and situations based here."

They can call it: "Frisco's totally excellent San Fran Adventures!"

 

Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1

"It is still 5 top "wow" attractions from being as first class as next store."

Actually, I think the abundance of "stores" was what hurt DCA originally - too MANY stores!


Unless you meant next "door"?

 

Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1

""I want a park that is immersive and has cannot be seen elsewhere experiences, but to me that does not mean slapping a Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or Pixar character on it.
"

Every picture I've ever seen of you Dave, you've had characters "slapped" on you from head to toe."

Sorry Constance but that feels a bit rude and out of character for you.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

>>>. To not like the Disney characters is to not like Disney.<<<

I am not really a Disney fan in the traditional way, I am a Disney park/Walt Disney commissioner fan.

 

Originally Posted By ImgineerBob

"I am a Disney park/Walt Disney commissioner fan."
Me too.
"Actually, I think the abundance of "stores" was what hurt DCA originally - too MANY stores!"
Also too many resturants and not enough rides as well as too many shows.

 

Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct

<<<<< We can geekfest all we want about whether a movie that "only" pulled in 400 Million in its first month is a flop or not, >>>>>

Good point.

I just want to say I loved Cars 2. I can't imagine how anyone could say it was bad. I love the whole James Bond vibe. It was impressive how global and inclusive of other cultures this film ended up to be. I laughed my ass off at the japanese bathroom sequence. The italian village scene was adorable too. The queen's palace in London, the interpretation of Monaco and so on. and it all tied back to small town Radiator Springs. Good message. You can be anyone from anywhere and make an impact in our big world while maintaining friendships and family. And be just who YOU are - even "average intelligence" ))

I loved cars and I cannot wait to be in that space at DCA in person to *feel* it first hand. How incredible that Disney built some impossible place. The fact that Radiator Springs will be brought to REAL life is so tickling.

Now add Lake Buena Vista Street and gorgeous Paradise Pier structures and icing - oh my god I just peed myself again. What they are doing is so exciting.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

"People in that city have always fancied themselves as rather sophisticated, so I'd think they're actually relieved that DCA's connections to "Frisco" have been lessened over the recent past,"

What most SF'ans here have said is they want to see more SF, but done better. A proper SF section, ie DCA's answer to NOS, would be terrific.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Yes it would Dabob, but I fear that is very unlikely unless they create some toons set there. Sadly Herbie is not relevent enough for them.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

To go back to the original topic of discussion. "Will $ 1 Billion save DCA" it all depends on what expectations you have in mind for the place. DCA is never going to be Disneyland. And will always be viewed as second. So will a billion make the park as good as Disneyland, no.

That being said if you put it in comparrison to all the other theme parks in Sunny California. I feel its got a good chance of coming out ahead of the rest. Its got a great selection of attractions including Soarin, Toy Story Mania and Tower of Terror already at the park. World of Colour and Little Mermaid have been very well recieved. And I have high hopes Cars Land and Buena Vista Street are going to recieve just as much praise going forward. The only thing I can see going forward which may steal some of Disney's thunder is Transformers at Universal. Apart from this I see no reason why DCA can't become a very suscessful themepark in the future. One that will be viewed just as warmly as Disneyland next door.

 

Originally Posted By Malin

In regards to the Toon debate. Its a minor issue. But certainly not something that would put me off visiting. What concerns me more is dropping unique park ideas for cheap Carnival Rides as a quick fix. DCA as a Park is one of the most guilty for this concept. Although I do admire the work done of Flik's Fun Fair.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

I think you assentuated my point Malin, they still have carnival rides, just with toons plastered on them. I suppose it could be worse, it could be Toystory Playland.