Disney face-lift to remove California Adventure scars
Disney’s California Adventure Reimagined: Third in a series
Walt Disney would turn over in his grave — long rumored to be under Sleeping Beauty’s Castle — if he could see the piece of theme park trash they slapped his name on in Anaheim across the esplanade from his namesake landmark.
By all honest accounts, Disney’s California Adventure is nothing more than a cheap strip mall knock-off of everything the theme park innovator invented back in 1955. But it’s nothing a billion dollars can’t fix. Or so the Disney suits hope.
For anyone who’s ever stepped foot into California Adventure (and the attendance numbers bear out that few have), the initial and resonating universal response is almost always the same: The place has no soul.
It starts at the front door. Ten-foot-tall postcard letters spell out C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A. A pair of monolithic tile murals depict undecipherable scenes from the Golden State. A broad swath of cement leads under a dwarfed Golden Gate Bridge to a giant tinfoil-esque sun icon. There’s nary a Disney reference in sight.
In a few short months, work should begin on the scar that is California Adventure’s welcome mat. In its place, sometime around the time of the theme park’s 10th anniversary in 2011, visitors will find an extension of Disneyland’s Main Street USA representing the 1920s Los Angeles the young animator encountered upon arriving in California to launch his storied career.
At the head of the Mission- and Art Deco-style shopping promenade (which will be detailed in a forthcoming blog post), a replica of Los Angeles’ historic Carthay Circle Theatre, where Snow White premiered in 1937, will feature a continuous showing of Disney’s life story. Pacific Electric Railway Red Car trolleys and period antique vehicles will traverse the main thoroughfare. A statue in the central square will depict a wiry Disney carrying a cardboard suitcase accompanied by a wide-eyed Mickey Mouse.
With no way to enter or exit the park during the massive $75-million entrance face-lift, visitors will pass through a temporary turnstile in the long-since-vacant “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” show building, according to MiceAge.
To follow the progress of all the improvements, check out MiceChat’s Project Tracker.
You can find all the blog entries in our California Adventure Reimagined series here.
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[Photos: Disney]
12 Comments on “Disney face-lift to remove California Adventure scars”
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November 9th, 2007 at 12:16 am
After visiting Florida for the first time this past summer, i’d still recommend California Adventure over the Disney “sister” parks in Florida. Could CA use some more “theming”, sure, but all in all it’s a well laid out park with a number of good & great rides.
November 9th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Apparently, the first commentator must work at Disney’s California Adventure; if not, he must be blind. The cheap facades of DCA don’t compare to the amazing architecture at EPCOT Center, the superior attractions at the Disney-MGM Studios, or the incredible detail at Animal Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom’s “sister” parks at Walt Disney World leave DCA trailing in the dust.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I can’t help but be a little bit offended at the following bit of dialogue:
“By all honest accounts, Disney’s California Adventure is nothing more than a cheap strip mall knock-off of everything the theme park innovator invented back in 1955.”
It’s not the opinion that bothers me, just the inference that I am dishonest if I say that I think California Adventure IS more than just a “cheap strip mall knock-off,” etc. Even if it is what you say, it’s still Disney, and it does FEEL like Disney. Just, you know… It feels like an extension of Downtown Disney, which actually IS a shopping mall. And a very nice one, too.
California Adventure is very flawed, and suffered very much from Suits cutting corners when they could. Next to what is, unquestionably, the most charming, honest, and anti-corporation Disney theme park of all Disney theme parks, yes - California Adventure doesn’t really live up to the well-deserved hype of the Disney name.
But I’d still take it over a non-Disney theme park any day. Is it as charming as Disneyland? No. But is it cleaner and safer than Magic Mountain? Oh god, yes.
That said, I think if it matters “what Walt would have thought” (which is kind of impossible to guess), I can only think he would be pleased with this remodel. It sort of mirrors and extends the concept of Walt’s childhood (Main Street) with a similar, but fresh concept of Walt’s young adulthood.
Which, being a young adult, I have to say I think it’s pretty cool.
November 14th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I have to agree with part of the comment left by James regarding the Disney parks in Florida. I was in Disney World for four days earlier this year and was able to visit 3 of the 4 parks. With the exception of Animal Kingdom the parks were a major disappointment. The Magic Kingdom lacks the “magic”. There are almost no large trees and shrubs used to shield the visitor from the outside world. During our ride on the Tomorrow Land Transit Authority (their version of the People Mover) we had a full view of the parking lot. That simply does not happen on a Disney ride. I’d take Disneyland over any of those parks any day.
That said, I do believe that California Adventure needs to be razed and rebuilt (with the exception of a few rides). The park lacks any sort of Disney spirit. The park would be great attraction if it was not affiliated with Disney. It has some beautiful areas (the winery section especially) but is not a Disney park. It would be great to have in Irvine, perhaps at the old Lion Country Safari site.
May 18th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I love California Adventure. Could it use improvements? Certainly. I love the things I’ve been reading about. Micky and Walt Disney at the front sounds great. My favorite ride of both CA parks is Soarin’, and DCA is such a pleasant place to walk around. Bugsland is great for kids, especially if you don’t want to wait in line for over an hour for the Peter Pan ride in Fantasyland. And Scremin’ is a great rollercoaster. It’s different, not worse, and I look forward to see what the Imagineers come up with.
May 19th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
First off, I think DCA should be re-built. I have no idea what Disney officials were thinking when they thought of it. Why didn’t they expand Disneyland in that area? Here’s some ideas: instead of the “wine area” pay homage to what the site of Disneyland was before.. an Orange Grove, or build an outdoor theater like the one in Fantasyland where shows of Pocahontas and Hunchback of Notredame once played. It would certainly alleviate the crowds inside Disneyland. I love Disneyland but can’t stand the crowds of people.
There have been officials working for Disneyland since the mid 90’s who said they didn’t care what Walt would have thought. They are all about making money. What happened to the happiness of the guests?????
I can’t wait to see the new and improved DCA. The way it is now is boring. I personally have more fun in Disneyland. Maybe the Disney company should ask the opinion of it’s guests on what to do with DCA. There’s a thought.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
This is one family that loves DCA. Soarin’ is my wife’s all-time favorite ride. The kids can spend hours in Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. And, for good or bad, the smaller crowds make it a much more enjoyable park to visit. Many of the criticisms are justified, but the general tone of the article is over the top negative. The changes that are planned sound wonderful with the best parts of the park remaining intact and will hopefully bring the park closer to the depth of Disneyland, but we will really miss the huge CALIFORNIA letters that remind us of the state we love.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
What baffles me is why they deciding to build a subpar park next to the “original” master of all theme parks.
And then have the odacity to charge the exact same admission price.
I’m personally looking forward to the changes. My next visit will definitely be in 2011.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
The Whoopi Goldberg show seemed like a political correct thing to have; However, it’s about the fantasy STUPID. I think they have too may decorators in the mail room coming up with half-ass ideas and no one has the guts to stand up and say that sucks! Get away from the “amusement part” attractions… hire new ideas!
May 29th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Yippppieee its neato yeah yeah yeah cant be more excited
June 12th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
One thing I don’t understand is why Disney planners have abandoned the wonderful layout Walt invented for the Disneyland and Magic Kingdom parks. DCA is full of dead ends as is the Studios in Florida. It makes the parks feel like the flow of energy is interupted. If only that were changed, it would be a big improvement. I hate to back-track in a theme park!
The originla park’s layout is pure genius….why mess with a winner?
October 26th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I must say, I’m excited to see how they’re planning on re-modeling. They screwed up before, but I’m excited about some of the progress I’ve seen. For one, the light show in the ‘bay’ sounds like it’s gonna be be spectacular.