So, the New Disney's California Adventure is supposed

[Anakin]

to be a celebration of the man that is Walt Disney? Don't all the Disney Parks pay homage to the same man?

I'm afraid people are going to be Disney-ed out. What with Disneyland II across the way from the original.

Everyone's excited about this new supposed Main Street. Down at Walt Disney World, out of the four theme parks there, only one has a Main Street with appropriate transportation. All the other opening layouts worked fine for Epcot Center, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

A film about Walt Disney? Again? So, we have the Opera House playing a film about Disney's dream about Disneyland. Then, we'll have another film across the way about Disney's dream about his life?

Then, you'll have a Partners II statue (in a younger state) in what is the Disneyland II's version of Town Square. Yet Town Square is going to be labeled Walt Disney Plaza? Why not actually call it the true name it was back in the day? What was the place called? Union Square? Olvera Street?

Why not just build another berm? Add a railroad? Create another hub?

That supposed Goofy's Driving Academy Coaster to replace Mulholland Madness? Doesn't that fit better in Toontown?

So, Walt Disney Company, what is this Disneyland II going to be about? Walt Disney himself? Or California? Or a Grab Bag of Disney Sorts?

Trying to evoke an "emotional connection" doesn't mean cloning from the
original.

Folks, let all the excitement settle for a while. Then, sit back and compare the two parks. There is a rush. Not a rush for quality. A rush to earn back those lost dollars.

[WSVR]

Well you know how KFC has original and extra Krispy?
Well we're going to get original and extra sappy.

[animagusurreal]

Actually, though I've never been there, I seem to remember them saying that Hollywood Boulevard at Disney's Hollywood Studios (Then Disney-MGM) was based on the "Main Street" model on a Disney Channel special about it.

As I stated in another thread, I think the theming of Walt Disney Plaza (1920's Los Angeles) looks different enough from Main Street (Turn-of-the-Century small town America) and represents the stage in his life after leaving the Midwest where he grew up, which makes it sort of connected to Main Street in an interesting way.

They said the Walt thing was going to be "interactive," so I assume it won't be just a movie. Also, he had a lot more to his life than just the dream of building Disneyland.

I'm actually glad to see them at least trying to put Walt into all this...you hardly ever see him on TV anymore, and definitely not on the Disney Channel.

In my own personal opinion, the Disneyland 50th movie was mostly about Donald Duck trying to kill Steve Martin, with a little Disneyland history on the side :P.

[Anakin]

WSVR, you are so my new best friend!!!

Jamba Juice came out of my nose, but it was so worth it!!!

Extra Sappy, with a side of Corny.

Forget TRYING TOO HARD to capture that ELUSIVE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. That connection will come in due time based on the memories and experiences shared. You can't force Guests to fall in love...

[Junthor]

Originally Posted by Anakin

That supposed Goofy's Driving Academy Coaster to replace Mulholland Madness? Doesn't that fit better in Toontown?

I would hate to see DCA be all Pixar though

Originally Posted by Anakin

So, Walt Disney Company, what is this Disneyland II going to be about? Walt Disney himself? Or California? Or a Grab Bag of Disney Sorts?

My feelings exactly.... What is the park about? Walt? California? Bugs? Pixar?

[animagusurreal]

Originally Posted by Anakin

WSVR, you are so my new best friend!!!

Jamba Juice came out of my nose, but it was so worth it!!!

Extra Sappy, with a side of Corny.

Forget TRYING TOO HARD to capture that ELUSIVE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. That connection will come in due time based on the memories and experiences shared. You can't force Guests to fall in love...

I agree it might be a kind of "See, Disney fans, Walt's involved now, so everything we do is okay..." kind of thing.

Just like how, in a press release I received, the word "immersive" is in there as many times as they usually mention the Year of a Million Dreams. (Try a thesaurus next time, Disney press release writers Synonyms are your friends... )

But at least they're trying too hard at the right things . This does at least seem to signal an about-face from the "Let's Not Be Disney Anymore" and "Nobody Cares About Immersive Theming" attitudes that were prevalent when the park was originally created.

[Anakin]

Junthor, you can be my Second Best Friend!!!

[DisneyIPresume]

Originally Posted by Junthor

What is the park about? Walt? California? Bugs? Pixar?

It is about Walt and everything that came from him during his life in California culminating in Pixar.

This park is about Walt and his contribution to society. Anything goes as long as its a part of him or came from his influence.

[Junthor]

Originally Posted by Anakin

Junthor, you can be my Second Best Friend!!!

No no no ..... Apprentice!!!

[Junthor]

Originally Posted by DisneyIPresume

It is about Walt and everything that came from him during his life in California culminating in Pixar.

This park is about Walt and his contribution to society. Anything goes as long as its a part of him or came from his influence.

That only explains half of the park though. It seems to me that half the park is Walt and the other half is still " Lets celebrate California!"

By putting everything in the "it came from Walt" Idea... at the end of the day it's gonna be Disney soup.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Come back from the dark side.

Walt was really cool. You'll like him when you get to know him better.

[Junthor]

Ironically I just watched: Walt, The Man behind the Myth last night, and I'm reading Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler right now

[JeffYardDog]

Let the crabbing, carping, and criticism begin ...

[DisneyIPresume]

But I think that there will be some parts of the park that still celebrate California and this is just as appropriate. California had a big influence on Walt so this park will not just honor what came from him but also what influenced him.

For example Disneyland doesn't touch upon the fact that the idea of Disneyland came to Walt from his visits with him and his daughters to various amusement places throughout Southern Californa. Perhaps Paradise Pier will serve this function, then.

[Tach]

Not sure I understand the reason for the venom in this thread. You guys are acting like this is a brand new theme park- when really, Imagineering is trying to shoe-horn some new, fresh ideas into what is, admittedly, an awkwardly presented park. Yes, it's disjointed, and thematically, the park as a whole lacks a cohesive story- but not every Disney park needs to be completely formulaic in it's presentation, like AK, or Epcot. Different "lands" placed side-by-side is the very essence of the Disney theme park experience.

California Adventure wasn't a very well thought out idea- as if you could pack the experience of visiting an entire stated in that small a space. But that's what you get when you design and build on the cheap. No immersion, no real story, just an amusement park. That is something the public can get anywhere. By bringing Walt into the picture, it does start to reach a level that Disney fans expect, and let's face it, deserve for the price of admission.

And the whole Main Street idea is present in EVERY Disney park in some degree. Yes, only the Magic Kingdom parks actually call that land "Main Street, USA" (excepting Tokyo's World Bazaar), but Disney/MGM, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Disney Studios, DisneySea, yes- even DCA has one. A stretch of the park at the entrance that draws the guests in, lined with shops/restaurants, usually culminating in an area that branches out to other themed "lands". However, the "picture postcard" entrance at DCA, ending with Sunshine Plaza is severely lacking any warmth, feeling, or Disney magic. The new designs look smashing to me, and I cannot wait to see them come to fruition.

I'm very excited about this new look and feeling for DCA. I'm hoping it does live up to my expectations, and will help transform the place into more than a 4 or 5 hour diversion from Disneyland.