My Paradise Pier Featuring a Theme for Screamin'

[TrevorD]

When I think of Paradise Pier, especially the curved "Pier" near the Screamin' launch with its billboards and tall wooden wall, it really ruins the feeling of the boardwalk. As a whole, the pier seems cluttered unfinished, and it is my strong opinion that with some place making, a back story and some minor/major projects, the area could become as rich as DisneySea. I should state that in my mind, I don't just picture the changes I spell out, but also the upgrades to all of the little things in the area such as sight lines and detail which are sorely lacking at present. It truly is these details that can make the Pier an elaborate victory.

While many say that Walt hated amusement parks and built Disneyland as the complete opposite to these places, I think Disney made a decent decision in cleaning up what Walt disapproved of and making it fun for the whole family. The Victorian pier is truly a staple of America and although the real ones are dying out, a properly updated one here will continue to pay homage to the ideal of Paradise Pier in the best way possible for guests.

Here are my ideas for Paradise Pier including some VERY quick drawing that I sketched to show what I think could be done to create a fully believable back-story for the pier based on Mr Tinkershmidt (Disney's new PP owner in their new back-story for the pier), that works into Screamin’ and the length of the pier nicely. (I am no artist or photo editor so don't hate on the paint edited drawings!)


The Old Route 66/Burger Invasion area
As far as I see it, the Little Mermaid attraction is more situated in the Paradise Park area of DCA then it is in Paradise Pier, so my idea unfortunately sees this amazing ride not classified as being in Paradise Pier. I also think that the park should be considered a park in the bay of San Fransisco seeing as it is on the end of the San Fran street. Furthermore due to its sensitivities, I don’t think that The Zephyr or Jumpin’ Jellyfish will last either.


Instead this area would be decorated as the entrance to Mr Tinkershmidt’s property. The new food area would become the edge of land with the entrance to the real Pier just after it near Screamin's West Helix (maliboomer area). The food court could even be made to appear as though it is on or near the beach and the ocean runs under a bridge near the SSS and the pier is out on the water.


The New PP Entrance and Western Pier
To welcome you to Tinkershmidt’s Pier, a sign would be erected welcoming you to the Pier right between the Zephyr and Seaside Souvenirs, or possibly on the bridge by the SSS


Ignore all the pretty colours on the picture aside from the brown and light blue (excluding the light blue line that goes under the red). This would be where the water would run which makes the dining area seem to be on the water. The yellow, which would actually be a queue building explained later would appear to be on piles like Ariel's Grotto (not the ride, the restaurant).

Paradise Flume Ride
Behind the Western Helix of Screamin' lies the parade access road and what was once a publicly used road from the parking lot to Disneyland Drive. Now that the lot is gone, this area could be used to create a switchback style Flume ride who's supports could effectively block out views of the PP Hotel with strategically placed drops and lifts. Here is an overview of the area.


Light Green: Parade Road
Blue: Ground level restaurant footprints
Yellow: Dark ride queue/loading/showroom
Red: Flume ride footprint with queue and loading where MM/GSS is currently.
Dark Green: Carousel

The West Screamin’ Helix
Here is where the heart of the Pier begins. The pathway into the helix has a large “Paradise Pier” Logo to match the one above the loop. You walk under the roller coaster tracks and there in the beautiful tree and bench lined flat courtyard is King Triton's Carousel. Old band organ Carousel songs float through the air as people sit in the shade of the green trees.


The Maliboomer area would be leveled to create a courtyard.
Orange: Carousel (possibly double decker?)




MFW, Midway Mania the Shops and the Games
The first thing you notice in this area is that it is cleaned up and there is now boards under your feet all the way down the boardwalk (Actually stamped concrete to look like boards however) Here is where the back-story takes shape. The Shops to the right are in a Victorian building that Tinkershmidt has re purposed for his seaside park. Sight lines are now clearer so the pier seems less cluttered including the pipes and Screamin supports which are tidied up.

To the left is MFW whose pit has been redone to look as though it was actually designed during the period the Pier represents. A Wrap around boardwalk wont fit but the concrete has been covered with ornate paneling true to the period. Midway Mania and the stores give way to the games which are just as they are now, with entrances to bathrooms now in line with them at the end of the row where the area which housed the Carousel used to be.(They aren't moved but they are now in a straight line with the other pier buildings). Flags, banners, a second story and lifelike details give the pier a more real and lived in feeling.

There is the possibility to have the entrance to another dark ride near where the carousel currently resides, but the tracks for Screamin' are low here and might make that difficult.

Screamin'
For the details on Screamin' go here.

Catch a Flave and Curved Boardwalk area.
The current curved area of the boardwalk is pretty unimpressive. To spruce it up, I would retouch the buildings opposite the Screamin’ launch to make them seem more built out on the water. I would also make the pier stand on wooden posts around these buildings. That pier would then go straight across the water, connecting roughly to where it does now instead of curving. Water would run under it still and form a secluded pool on the other side. Instead of the wooden wall and billboards that currently act as a vision block for the Parade building behind, I suggest that the facade of a mansion on a beach is built on the opposite shore right up against the parade building. The beach could be rocks with a little dock coming out into the small lagoon with boats tied to it. Instead of a wooden wall, this area would become visually interesting with a cool facade, trees and a quiet pool to look at without losing any usable space. This area would also be visible on Screamin’ as you make the first left turn into the launch area.

To incorporate the back story, the pictures in the queue for Screamin’ (see the Screamin' thread) could state that a wealthy millionaire used to live in this mansion, and operate the ship shop and yard, before selling it to Tinkershmidt.

Between Orange Lines: New Pier
Blue Shaded area: Extended water.
Yellow: Mansion Facade on rocky shore



Notice that there would be only one mansion on the opposite shore now.

Ariel's Grotto (restaurant)

Personally, I am not a fan of the theme of this area. I would retouch it so that it is more rustic looking and serves as a softer transition toward the wharf. The area could also consist of buildings which predate PP and have been adapted to souvenir shops and a restaurant to cater to the new crowds in the area.

NOTE - This Original Thread has been updated and may no longer correlate with all of the following posts.

[Sir Didymus]

^ Gustav Tinkershmidt is the name you were thinking.

And I love both of these ideas!

[LittleImagineer]

Wow! Wonderful drawing. Great ideas too!

[TrevorD]

Thanks, I could have done a bit more detail but It was 2am and I worked at 8. haha

I can picture some other parts in my mind and might sketch them tonight. We will see.

[WDITrent]

To tie it even more together, why not make the houses mid/late 19th century, and tie it in with the Gold rush, very subtly? That way maybe Gustav Tinkerschmidt could have struck it rich and built a seaside amusement park. Also, the houses that are visible from Pacific Wharf would make the transition seamless, but still keep both areas' identities.

[TrevorD]

Originally Posted by WDITrent

To tie it even more together, why not make the houses mid/late 19th century, and tie it in with the Gold rush, very subtly? That way maybe Gustav Tinkerschmidt could have struck it rich and built a seaside amusement park. Also, the houses that are visible from Pacific Wharf would make the transition seamless, but still keep both areas' identities.

I was going for the more seaside feel in the area. I don't think some vauge refrence to the gold rush would work in this part of the ride. However, that would fit in nicely over near GRR with the new coaster they are building. To BTMRR though maybe.

The area between the screamin bridge and the bay bridge would be transformed into either another victorian mansion or an extension to the wharf. (Darkride anybody?)

[ICe101]

I dread, absolutely hate the idea of building those houses, but the new Screamin' theme is excellent.

[TrevorD]

Originally Posted by ICe101

I dread, absolutely hate the idea of building those houses, but the new Screamin' theme is excellent.

Elaborate?

As I develop the idea, I also consider the idea of building this mansion where Ariels grotto (If thats what its called is between the bridges over screamin' and the bay, and have trees and a small dock with boats where the two houses are in the original drawing. Imagine a mansion all lit up glimmering over the waters edge.

[k_peek_2000]

I agree, I LOVE that theme idea of making screamin's station into a boat house. That would be incredible.

[ICe101]

Houses, on an actual pier? That area truly looks like it is a boardwalk on the water, and adding the houses, would blow up that entire feel. I am actually fine with just those current billboards.

[TrevorD]

I think the boat hull hanging from the ceiling is a great play on the spaceship in Space Mountain.

[TrevorD]

Originally Posted by ICe101

Houses, on an actual pier? That area truly looks like it is a boardwalk on the water, and adding the houses, would blow up that entire feel. I am actually fine with just those current billboards.

At least WDI didn't do this anywhere else I can think of, right now, off the top of my head, called TSMM.

And, it doesn't really look like a convincing pier at all. It looks like a wierd curved pier mysteriously curving over the end of a pond of water toward a tourist trap. The houses would not be on the pier, but neighboring it. They would have paths down to the water, and be non acessable to guests, just showpieces on the opposite bank. I'd take lush scenery over a wooden wall with billboards any day.

[Rob™]

Interesting idea.

Not so sure about the
housing buildings though.

[TrevorD]

Haha I think this needs to different threads so that I can seperate the criticism from the support

I think the idea is changing again though. The house would not go well where Ariel's is because it would be wierd to walk through/around a house and onto a pier. Instead only one mansion would be built in the background and ariels area would be retheamed to a period correct entrance to the pier.

[Rob™]

Question:

How would a mansion make sense next
to the Ariel's UnderSea Adventure attraction?