Tasman goes to Disneyland - first time in 25 years!

[tasman]

Originally Posted by Kristine30

Wait, never mind, I found the post I am really excited about that part of our upcoming trip!

Yup, the food is quite good, if you don't mind splurging a bit.

[tasman]

Finally, DCA! But I had a little trouble getting in...I wasn't familiar with hand-stamp policy, and I thought I needed one only if was going to return to DL the same day. I did ask the lady at the gate on the way out, but she was more concerned with the fact that I was trying to exit (unintentionally) through a handicap exit, and didn't answer the question (I don't think she heard me). Anyway...I crossed the plaza to DCA (very different from park hopping at WDW)...and of course they asked me to stand to one side, with the thought maybe I was trying to sneak into the park. I was able to produce my credit card receit from the morning, and was let in after being offered some words of wisdom. Because of all this going on I forgot to get a park map and times guide...which did highlight one problem with the murals, because the services and stores located under them are a little difficult to figure out...whereas City Hall across the way is easily located. The equivalent at DCA is tucked (or should I say hidden?) away at one corner of murals...and sadly but somewhat predictably the two ladies there were sitting there with absolutely no guests to attend to.




Now, I expected that the murals flanking the entrance would be pretty nice, based on what others have written on the forum...and indeed they are. In fact, I think they make a perfectly acceptable entrance to the park...though Buena Vista street may well be much better. The problem as I see it is that everything around the murals is so barren...with more complimentary details and lanscaping, I think the "postcard" idea might actually have worked. Another essential component that is lacking is that the entranceway does not lead a proper visual climax. I have always liked this piece of concept art:



...and I think if they had arranged the park in that manner, that it would have been quite nice. But let's get back to reality...

I went over to get a fast-pass for Soarin for later in the afternoon, and had a reasonably good chicken sandwhich at the Taste Pilots' grill. I was also glad to be able to have a salad instead of fries. After that, I thought I would make my way to the Blue Sky Cellar. En route, I took a stroll around Grizzly Peak. The area is nicely themed, but honestly I didn't spend enough time there to decide how it compares in terms of detail to an equivalent land like Frontierland. I had planned on riding Grizzly River Run...but after having gotten wet on Splash once...and having no more spare clothes...I decided to give it a pass till next time.

[mark]

For the first time today, I read your trip report. Very well written and fun to read. Just a thought regarding the Fantasylands. IMHO, although DL's is beautiful, the additional elements of water and the hedge maze in Paris- along with its amazing castle- make this my favorite Fantasyland of all. (For the record, their Frontierland rocks, too!) Can't wait to hear your views on DCA.

[Coheteboy]

Great TR!

Oogie, you are correct about WDW's Splash Mountain. It IS a superior version of the ride. What I'm most happy about when saying that is that it came later than Disneyland's, so it definitely SHOULD be better. I'm not a fan of cloning a lesser version if you haven't gotten that perception yet.

WDW Splash has a more fleshed out story while also using fewer animatronics. Where our opinions differ though is that I do prefer the way Disneyland's Splash looks visually. It just looks creepier. I like it. I also prefer the single aisle seating at disneyland as I can look to the left and the right without anyone in the way. But that's just me. WDW's splash is a solid upgrade.


Regarding your remarks about DCA, it's exactly what I thought when I first went there as well. Why ISN'T GRR in the center of the park? It would have been the best type of weenie for a park in California! A bear mountain! Certainly it shouldn't be a building since we're already IN CA, but something natural.

My guess is that they wanted the GRR closer to the Grand Californian Hotel to tie that whole theme together.

I also heard from someone that the layout wasn't thought out at all. Things were just placed where it fit. I wish I could find that interview where I saw that.

[Mel-]

Still one of the best I've ever read! I can't wait for more of DCA, but at the same time admit I don't want the report to end either!

[tasman]

^^ Thanks!

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

Oogie, you are correct about WDW's Splash Mountain

Me no Oogie ( ) ! ... But thanks for the comments, Cohete...I still remember your last TR from WDW as one of the best I have read on Micechat since joining in 2006...and hope I will get your perspective on the overseas parks some day.

Moving on...I stopped by the Blue Sky Cellar, which was really a treat for me...even having seen so many photos on the internet....because being an armchair imagineer is one of my favorite aspects of being a Disney fan.

Of course the centerpiece is that wonderful Paradise Pier model...every element of this model that they have translated to reality thus far has looked terrific...and it's sad that they decided not to go whole hog and instead skimp on the proposed changes to the Carousel and the base of the Fun Wheel. I sincerely hope that these improvements are made at some point in the future...but I wonder about the likelihood of that happening once current enthusiasm in expanding the park has passed. I hold out hope at least the Maliboomer is replaced with something akin to what we see in the model...and would also be delighted if refinements are made to Ariel's Grotto restaurant. One element of the latter that has always bothered me are the plain, square, bright blue windows which scream "modern" as opposed to "Victorian"...and indeed if you look closely at the model (not visible in my pics)...someone was thinking along the same lines...and we see window designs that are more detailed and more reminiscent of yesteryear. I hope these changes come to fruition.





Also hoping that Silly Symphony Swings has no major changes on the journey to reality... Also - while I didn't take a picture of it, I loved the concept art of the ride themed to Gepetto holding puppet strings!



In summary...I predictably loved the Cellar as it represents much of what I like best about Disney. I am not planning to return to DCA untill 2011...but if the next set of displays in the Cellar are tempting enough, who knows?

[Coheteboy]

LOL, sorry for calling you, Oogie! I read his WDW TR right before yours and I guess my brain didn't make the switch when I replied.

And thanks for your kind words on my TR! I too hope to do one of overseas... now if I can just stop buying these really expensive transformers.

You're doing just fine. Looking forward for more.

[Sgt. Tibs]

awesome TR tasman, i'm loving all the detail. the little personal experiences of a TR are what makes them for me.

and having never been to either american park it's like two TR's in one for me :-)

[tasman]

^^ Thanks Sgt Tibs...more after I get home from work today.

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

And thanks for your kind words on my TR! I too hope to do one of overseas... now if I can just stop buying these really expensive transformers.

Ha ha...I went through my ebay phase a few years ago...with some major splurging...including transformers...I love the Takara collectors boxes!

[tasman]

Next, I headed off to Hollywood...or least, Hollywood's backlot...

Now there are elements of the views below, which I dislike...but, compared to Hollywood Blvd at DHS...I actually like it better...because it doesn't have a giant, tacky Hat ruining the vista. Which is truly a shame...because IMO the vista at DHS...in its original conception...was among the most inspired that WDI have created.




Now, as to what I dislike about the DCA version...are the many cheap, garish modern signs and kindred elements sticking out like hideous moles on the elegant art deco buildings. They are in the same spirit of the Hat, but thankfully not as big or as obstrusive. I also dislike the plethora of false facades, including those on the north side of the street and of the Hyperion itself. Compared to the fully fleshed buildings at its counterpart at DHS, they feel flimsy and empty (yes, I know they are supposed to represent a "backlot" as opposed to real buildings, but we all know that was just an excuse to save money). Most of us have seen the pieces of concept art that show what a possible makeover of this street will look like...with removal of the intrusive modern elements, a new 3-D facade for the Hyperion, and red cars rolling down the middle. All Disneyphiles can hope that the "Phase 2" of DCA's makeover actually comes to fruition, and that the mistakes of 2001 are erased.

A major, major disappointment for me was to find that Alladin was not showing. The show was one of my main objectives in visiting the park, especially since it is supposed to be replaced soon. But it was only running from Thursday through Sunday. No love for us Wednesday patrons. I went over to the Tower of Terror (more on that later), and found the standby to be about an hour long, so collected a fast-pass...which though could not be redeemed until 7 pm.

I headed back towards Monsters Inc...which also had good wait time...about 40 mins...but I got in line. Can't say I'm too impressed with the exterior...I wonder if this would get a makeover in phase 2 as well? Personally I really like the exterior of Tokyo's new Monsters ride...and I think that it has enough of an art-deco-ish quality to it...that it would fit well in this area. The muted yellowish coloring would also help...vs the current rainbow palette.



The line progressed slowly...but I got a little bump near the end when the CMs came looking for single riders, which shortened my wait by probably more than ten minutes. As for the ride itself...I think, compared to other recent dark rides such as Roger Rabbit and Pooh, that it is the best of the bunch. I think the attraction does a very good job of condensing the story of the movie to the duration of the ride. The problems with the ride are the primitive animatronics that kind of just wobble about and set pieces which are pleasant but could easily be more detailed, or constructed of better materials. Again I wonder if, during Phase 2, whether this ride will get a makeover and emerge closer to the version that just opened in Tokyo. Certainly that would be a welcome change. Since Anaheim's standards have improved since 2005...and since Disney these days likes mostly to make rides based on their latest hit....and since a Monsters Inc sequel is rumoured to be in pipeline, in the hopes of establishing a franchise...I think such a makeover is at least plausible. One complaint I have from a purist standpoint...is that the ride really has no connection to the themes of the land - which have to do with movie-making or vintage tinseltown - and as such represents an example of Pixar being shoe-horned into places that are not quite appropriate. While I will admit...from what I read and seen on the net...that the ride is a definite improvement over the more thematically appropriate Superstar Limo, nonetheless there are other rides...particularly those designed but not built for Disney-MGM in the 1990s...which could have worked much better in this setting. Wouldn't the Great Muppet Movie Ride have been great, especially with Muppet Vision next door? Or Dick Tracy's Crimestoppers...with or without its title character? Anyway...that's just me going off on my archair imagineering tangent again.

Back out in the backlot...I skipped Muppet Vision...which I know from DHS. MV is a pleasant 3D film, but outdated. IMO Disney should either rejuvenate the Muppet franchise and update MV3D, or replace the show with Mickey's Philharmagic. I stopped by Animation, which is an excellent interactive area. Skipped Crush, which I have seen at Epcot (where it is more appriate thematically as well), and the Animation Academy (which had a line), but otherwise had a pleasant time exploring the various exhibits. I took the picture below because I wondered...if Disney ever gets round to building a Beauty and the Beast ride...would the queue look like this?

[Coheteboy]

Interesting thoughts on DCA. I agree for the most part because of the backlot theme. It's just a reason to cheap things up. Monsters Inc's facade is nearly identical to the Superstar Limo facade in cheapness. It was a quick fix, nothing more. I'd definitely like them to give it more of a quality architecture feel... even making that area a mini Monstropolis if they had to.

Muppets, though outdated... should remain Muppets. If not by changing it to a ride or something else.

[mycroft16]

I love your comments about the HPB buildings and signage. It's always been a thing that doesn't seem to work for me. And I love the Animation Academy exhibits. They are well themed and just a lot of fun to walk through.

[MouselyGrateful]

Still loving your report & pictures! I agree Hollywood backlot will look great @ DCA with the red car line! Did you get to check out more of DCA?

[JAG107]

REALLY AWESOME trip report here! I enjoyed it all, you made some very good observations.

My questions for you are:
Did you miss (or even remember) all the DL attractions that are now gone? Skyway, Peoplemover, Keel Boats, Adventure Through Inner Space, America Sings, Captain EO, etc?
What differences did you notice in quality of theming and atmosphere from this visit to your 84 trip?

Thanks for a great read! Nice photos as well!

[tasman]

^^ Thanks all.

Originally Posted by MouselyGrateful

Did you get to check out more of DCA?

Yes, there is just a little more to come...but unfortunately I have to attend things in life besides Disney...like work (yuck!)...so I'll post some more tomorrow.