DLP Guide Forum - The Disneyland Paris magicforum community

This is an interesting read:

"DCA is about to undergo a massive redressing and retheming of most areas of the Park. The improvements and updates they just did to the Hollywood section in anticipation of Monsters Inc. opening are a small scale test of that stuff, and it all went very well. First the main entrance will be changed, with the Golden Gate bridge removed from the monorail beam and the entire entrance area rethemed with California Craftsman architecture like the Grand Californian Hotel. The whole "stepping into a postcard" at the main entrance thing is going away. Giant redwood trees and a lot more vegetation are being planted in that area too, to help with the Craftsman architecture. That all starts in February, and should be done by the start of summer.

Then, in September, the Sun Plaza area gets redone too. The sun icon and wave fountain is going to be removed and sent to the junk heap. The entire area is going to be redone with more Craftsman architecture and the modern look to the area is going away. An old fashioned train station structure is going to be built where the small hill behind the sun icon is now. They will move the Golden Dreams show to a new, smaller theater in that building. The incoherent and jumbled architecture styles currently in that plaza area will be redone and all rethemed to period-specific Craftsman architecture, and a trolley system will be installed throughout the park. The trolleys will leave from the "station" in this area, and the new entry plaza will be a "transportation hub" for the trolleys going to the rest of the park.

Then, likely in winter '07, the Condor Flats area will be rethemed. The high desert airfield theme will go away, and the redwood forest theme of Grizzly Peak will be extended into this area. More redwoods and forest vegetation will be installed, and the sparse desert landscaping will go away. The hangars will remain, but the area will be rethemed to a forest airstrip rather than a high desert airfield. (For those not from the Far West, the high deserts of California and Oregon are rather sparse places, and I don't think a theme park version was really what the paying public was clamoring for. Apparently WDI now feels the same way.) Soarin' stays, but the area just becomes themed to the forest rather than the desert, with small changes to existing buildings and structures and big changes to area landscaping and props.

Then a new E Ticket ride themed to The Incredibles opens in the area currently used as The Farm. The whole farm theme goes away, and The Incredibles will extend the theme of the adjacent Pacific Wharf area instead. The new ride opens around '08, and it's said to be a "family thrill ride", a robotic arm with seats attached to a roller coaster track is heavily rumored to be the ride system used.

During the '07-'08 period, the Paradise Pier area also gets rethemed and reworked. Instead of the modern day look, they'll retheme the area to the 1920's jazz age. The same types of changes that happened to Condor Flats and The Farm will happen here; buildings will be heavily remade and redressed. Facades will be changed, and area accesories will be replaced with ones themed to the 1920's. The Route 66 area is rumored to disappear completely, and since the Golden Dreams theater will be empty with the show now playing in the theater at the park entrance, that's a big chunk of land. The San Francisco area, one of DCA's weakest, will be extended into Route 66. Since the Golden Gate bridge is being torn down in February, San Fran will be beefed up with a new ride and larger area to represent California's second largest city."

posted by Grandmath on Disney Central Plaza

Project Placemaking continues at Disney's California Adventure park.
The new Craftsman-style they're talking about, is a bit similar to the WDS Frontlot style and DCA Tower of Terror.

From Miceage:

The DCA Placemaking project, which had its proverbial pause button pressed when major executive shakeups swept through Imagineering (WDI) and Burbank a few months ago, is now back on track. They've finally come to a decision about how to make over most of the DCA main entrance and entry plaza.

As we noted before the Golden Gate Bridge is out and set to be torn down, and design work on a Craftsman-style bridge to hide the monorail beam is still ongoing. The entire Sun Plaza area will be remade into a 1920's California Craftsman/Mission "village," and any facade in that area that doesn't currently have a Mission or Craftsman feel to it will be ripped down and replaced.

The plain, metal shade structures over the entrance turnstiles (above) will be rebuilt, and Craftsman style wood trellises are planned to be constructed in that area with flowering vines growing over the trellises.

The Greetings From California store and the EnginEars Toys store will be rebuilt and remade into the new Craftsman style. Most of the current train station area will remain, including the streamliner train, although the Santa Fe Station styled information booth that Guest Relations currently staffs will be bulldozed.

The hubcap sun fountain will be torn out, and in its place another new Craftsman structure will be constructed to house the new, smaller Golden Dreams theater that we'd told you about last year. In front of the Golden Dreams theater will be a new "transportation hub" themed as a 1930's Mission style bus depot. It's from this new building that DCA's new fleet of vehicles will arrive and depart, and currently they have plans for jazzy 1930's tour buses and open-top convertible limousines to shuttle visitors up and down the DCA parade route. The functions of the Guest Relations booth that was over near the train will take up residence in this new bus stop building.

The entire look of this new entry plaza area is supposed to look more traditional, more charming, and more literally themed to a specific time period, rather than the abstract and modern "hip" look that DCA opened with. Instead of throwing several different architectural styles and references in to the area, all clustered around a rather bland cement plaza with one of Disney's most unattractive pieces of artwork, the new DCA entrance is meant to evoke a return to California when Walt first arrived here and made a name for himself in the late 1920's and early 1930's. They are even designing in a specific location for DCA's own Christmas tree that would greet arriving holiday visitors front and center each year, much like the Town Square location Disneyland has for its famous Christmas tree.

This next round of Placemaking, on a much bigger scale than what was accomplished back in the Hollywood section before Monsters Inc. opened, will all get underway in the Fall.

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al032106b.htm (http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al032106b.htm)

This could maybe have a topic of its own - MiceAge article mentions a new  dark ride for Paradise Pier, apparently featuring Pixar characters in a shooting gallery-style ride.  Seems an odd choice with Buzz across the esplanade and Monsters in the same park, but Al Lutz says it's green-lighted already...

Quote from: "MiceAge"Buh-Bye Burritos

Meanwhile that DCA Placemaking project continues down its rather unglamorous path, and Burbank and TDA are trying to figure out exactly how to package this unflattering concept for the media. While the 30 Million dollar budget this project has initially been given continues to see its influence shrink, there are folks both in WDI and TDA that are trying to get as much bang for the buck as they can. It's no secret amongst the Internet crowd that DCA has been troubled from its inception, and has struggled in the marketplace since it opened to yawns. Even Bob Iger admitted as such when he told the audience assembled for this years Shareholders Meeting that in regards to DCA "In the spirit of candor, we have been challenged". But such a massive makeover of a young theme park is unprecedented in Disney theme park history, and usually five year old theme parks just get new rides instead of dramatic remodeling and totally re-themed lands. It's going to require Disney to eat a bit of crow however they announce it, and Burbank wants to make sure it's handled just right. (Of course the fact that most major media outlets that cover Disneyland also read websites such as this apparently sends Burbank and TDA suits into a state of denial).

Up until now the Placemaking concepts have revolved around simply re-themeing and re-branding existing areas of the Park, such as the plan to turn the contemporary themed entrance area into a time-period specific section themed to the late 1920's and the era when Walt first arrived in California. But there are also plans for the later phases of Placemaking that will add new attractions to the park. When Placemaking makes its way over to Paradise Pier in a few years, and replaces all of that strip mall cheap stucco and bland vinyl signage, they'll also open a new attraction to kick it all off. The current working title for this new ride is "Midway Mania", and it's planned to be a shooting gallery dark ride featuring Pixar characters (who else?).

(//http://miceage.skyfirehosting.com/al041806pics/al041806p.jpg)
We won't miss the bean burritos.

What's interesting is that they'll be carving the entrance to this attraction out of the current location of the defunct Maliburitos restaurant (shown above). Maliburitos was closed in late August, 2001 after DCA's first disastrous summer. The Foods department refused to give up the space however, and they've been using it as storage as well as cannibalizing the kitchen for appliances and parts for other DCA kitchens over the years. But now, five years after DCA opened, they realize they still have too many restaurants than they know what to do with and they are willing to give up the location for good.

There were several key people in WDI who tried to ring the alarm bell in the late '90s that DCA was being overbuilt on the stores and restaurants, and underbuilt on the attractions, but they were pooh-poohed by the senior leadership of the time. Some of the most notable casualties in this huge error were Hollywood & Dine and Soap Opera Bistro. But five years later they still have to swallow some pride and turn restaurants into attractions. But at least now they have recognized the huge errors initially made with this park.

With the restaurant gutted and turned into the attraction entrance, the attraction ride track itself will be winding around through the support structure for California Screamin' behind the restaurant. Chalk up the popularity of the Monsters Inc. ride as another reason this Paradise Pier dark ride was recently given the green light, as it seems that little dark ride in the corner of Hollywood has had more impact on DCA than some of the recent bigger budget additions like Tower of Terror or the Block Party show.

And to think just two years ago Matt Ouimet was still planning on re-opening Superstar Limo for the summer of 2004.

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al041806c.htm (http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al041806c.htm)

Well the placemaking project below was postponed whilst Disney kinda "took a step back" and looked at what DCA *really* needed to improve, and here's some new info about the current Lasseter-ized project:

Quote from: "Al Lutz at MiceAge.com"That last item on the list mentioned previously, expansion of California Adventure (DCA), is the one that offers up the most hope and will likely be the first to get off the ground. Previous to John Lasseter taking over the design direction for WDI's plans for Anaheim, the conventional wisdom held that DCA needed to be rebranded and redesigned to make it more exotic and fanciful. This was the original thought behind the famous "Placemaking" projects that were initially slated to get started earlier this year in and around the main entrance of the park. But Lasseter has decided that the original Placemaking plans didn't quite go far enough, and they've all been shelved for now.

Instead, Lasster and pretty much everyone in WDI has lined up behind the idea that DCA needs to ditch the contemporary reality-based theme it opened with in 2001 and go for fantasy based themes and concepts throughout the park. The last idea for Placemaking was already headed in that direction with the main entrance proposal to transform the area into a 1920's themed transportation hub as a stepping off point for the rest of the park. With the exception of moving Golden Dreams into a smaller theater at the park entrance, and adding 1920's tour buses that would drive around the park, none of the old Placemaking plans really added any new rides or attractions. It was all about fixing the mistakes made by Paul Pressler's team that left the park feeling uninspired and not up to Disney standards. But now Lasseter wants to focus first on the back of the park first and give people a reason to buy a ticket to DCA in the first place.

First up is the new Midway Mania ride in Paradise Pier, an attraction that has yet to be formally acknowledged by Disney but is already under construction and on track to open in Anaheim in less than two years. But the big stuff is planned for the 2008-10 timeframe when pretty much everything from the Orange Stinger to Golden Dreams is torn out and replaced with a new San Francisco concept. At the same time the remnants of Paradise Pier located within the footprint of California Screamin' get the full Pixar treatment with the characters of Toy Story taking over the boardwalk.

The focus for all of this is squarely on the family market, with the intense Maliboomer space shot type of ride even being turned into a much tamer parachute drop similar to the one Knott's Berry Farm had for many years, except this one would be themed to the Green Army Men from Toy Story. With the Orange Stinger, Golden Zephyr, Jumpin' Jellyfish and Mulholland Madness all removed, there would be room for Lasseters big-budget family E-Ticket based on the movie Cars and themed to San Francisco, including cars zipping down a remade Lombard Street. The folks at WDI were impressed with all of the attention John Lasseter has been giving to the Submarine Voyage, and they're even more impressed with the bigger budgets John is able to get from Jay Rasulo simply due to the political clout he has with Bob Iger.

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al091206b.htm (http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al091206b.htm)

So... more Pixar for DCA?  Maybe the jokes about "Pixarland" next to "Disneyland" weren't jokes?  At least they're *finally* doing Toy Story attractions, though. :D

There's a new article at MiceAge about the "beefed up" placemkaing project, which now aparrently has a budget of $650m! That's more than WDS cost to build!

Quote from: "MiceAge.com"This was a classic example of Lasseter taking the blueprints home with him for the weekend, and coming back on Monday with a much bigger and better idea. The end result was that the 30 Million dollars that had been budgeted for the 2006 Sunshine Plaza redo was kept in the bank and the backhoes and painting crews were called off. Over the course of the spring and early summer John sat in on several key planning meetings and was part of the planning group created to tackle what is now called "The DCA Problem."

The end result, after much work and even some bickering amongst the WDI divas, is a broader DCA master plan that dwarfs the phased Placemaking plan. The budget John Lasseter has now shepherded through the WDI design process has swelled north of 650 million, to be spent over the course of just over five years. For those keeping score at home, that figure is almost as much as the entire park cost when it opened to underwhelming results in early '01!

That's not to say many of the original Placemaking ideas aren't still slated for DCA. They've just been beefed up and tied together in a much more cohesive package. The Sunshine Plaza would still become a late 1920's salute to Los Angeles, as Walt would have found it when he arrived from Kansas City. Antique tour buses, open limousines and trolley cars would leave from this "hub" on routes that would deposit riders in various areas of the newly re-themed park. The 1950's streamliner train and many of the store fronts would be changed. But the area would take on a streetscape look, which was always a problem for the original Placemaking budget.

More: http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al100306b.htm (http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al100306b.htm)

It's funny how plans have changed since this topic began! The news of the rumoured $1 billion budget for DCA's makeover has hit a much bigger audience today:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119257768823361264.html (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119257768823361264.html)

It provides a very good summary of all the rumours. Some quotes:

QuoteJust as Main Street harks back to Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Mo., in the early 1900s, California Adventure's new entrance will trace the footsteps of Walt Disney from when he arrived in Los Angeles in the 1920s, these people say. Similar to Disneyland's iconic castle, the redesigned park will feature a replica of Hollywood's former Carthay Circle theater, where Walt Disney premiered the movie "Snow White" in 1937.

The new-look park also will be expanded by around 12 acres and will bulk up its attractions, with a heavy emphasis on animated movies created by Pixar, including "Cars" and "Toy Story."

QuoteThis summer, Disney hired theme-park consultant Bob Weis to oversee the new project. The remake is a complex undertaking, according to people familiar with the situation. Disney plans to keep California Adventure open during the five-year project, a plan that will require visitors to navigate construction zones and initially go in through a temporary entrance. Disney has no plans to discount ticket prices during that period, they say. Though prices vary, an adult ticket for a day at either park now costs $66, while a combined ticket is $91.

Mr. Weis will add a new area called Cars Land, which will re-create the fictional town of Radiator Springs from the 2006 Pixar movie "Cars," say people familiar with the plans. The centerpiece will be a cutting-edge attraction in the style of Disneyland's popular "Indiana Jones" ride.

Addressing criticism of Paradise Pier, Mr. Weis plans to add a flagship ride based on the 1989 animated movie "The Little Mermaid" and another on the 1995 feature "Toy Story," the people say. The Mulholland Madness ride, which re-creates a careening drive along a famous Los Angeles street, will be rethemed featuring Disney characters. Others, like the Maliboomer thrill ride, are likely to be axed.

It is still unclear what will happen to the name, as the company sees appeal in the words "Disney," "California" and "Adventure," these people say. But there is a big risk in leaving it the same. That said, some unusual relics will be left untouched for now, including the tortilla-making factory and a bread-baking demonstration. A person familiar with the plan says the Golden State area isn't considered as thematically out-of-place as others in the new plan and won't be changed in the near-term.

And... Discuss! :shock:

$1 Billion  :shock: whooo I really dont see the point in completly redesigning the park its fine as it is! yea it could do with some new attractions but i like the current themes of the lands/areas at DCA and dont get why they're re-doing them

Quote from: "Dlrpfan"$1 Billion  :shock: whooo I really dont see the point in completly redesigning the park its fine as it is! yea it could do with some new attractions but i like the current themes of the lands/areas at DCA and dont get why they're re-doing them

I like the look of DCA too, I'd quite like to visit. But if I'd lived in California all my life, it might not seem quite so interesting or magical. It'd be like a Disney's Cornwall Adventure to us.

Obviously the CA theme is staying, but making it time specific (1920s, etc), wrapping it together with backstories, more detailing theming,etc. sounds like it'll really up the "magic" factor.

I wonder how they can tie in The Little Mermaid with California?  But I won't complain, since it's a step closer for us to get it?!

Quote from: "raptor1982"I wonder how they can tie in The Little Mermaid with California?  But I won't complain, since it's a step closer for us to get it?!

Offtopic but, how does it mean a step closer for us ?

Im a bit dumb  :P

Quote from: "Owain"

Quote from: "raptor1982"I wonder how they can tie in The Little Mermaid with California?  But I won't complain, since it's a step closer for us to get it?!

Offtopic but, how does it mean a step closer for us ?

Im a bit dumb  :P

The blueprints would be in existance, therefore would push down the construction costs.  As there would be less of a need for Imagineers to design a specific show building for Paris alone :wink: .  It would already be in existence in another park.

Though on the note of how Little mermaid fits into DCA, I don't get it either, perhaps they thought the idea of the mermaid worked in TDS therefore it can be placed in DCA :lol: .  Or the more logical idea, as some famous Imagineer's say "Idea's never die at Walt Disney Imagineering" :wink: .

Cynical again, but it will take more than a few Disney Characters to make Mullholand Drive a Disney Park quality attraction! Its a simple wild mouse ride, out doors. So even a Crushes Coaster type overlay is not possible!

The article has some errors! It's California Screaming which would received Disney characters not Mulhland Madness which WILL GO.

Didn't the Lutzer write some time ago about a possible Villains make-over for  California Screaming?

Quote from: "raptor1982"Didn't the Lutzer write some time ago about a possible Villains make-over for  California Screaming?

Yes indeed! This would be quite a nice idea really - at long last bringing that "Villain Mountain" rumour to reality.

Paradise Pier should logically be the "Fantasyland" of the park, sort of a "Disney does fairground", with their quality and characters. So yes, I really do hope Kinoo is right and Mulholland gets the chop.

The 1920s "Walt arrives in California" street to open the park is an excellent idea. I agree The Little Mermaid might not fit, depending on how it looks - if it's part of Paradise Pier it would logically fit with the water/fairground.

Carsland I really hope isn't called Carsland. Radiator Springs would fit much more logically along with Golden State and Paradise Pier.

WOOOW

(//http://www.disneylandnews.com/graphics/10_07_WDI_9004_lowres.jpg)

WALT'S CALIFORNIA -- A new visual icon in the tradition of California's great entertainment palaces will draw guests into the heart of Disney's California Adventure. Inspired by the Carthay Circle Theatre where Walt Disney premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, this new facility will house a next-generation "Walt Disney Story" featuring an interactive tribute to Walt's California experiences, and his entertainment legacy that continues worldwide today.


(//http://www.disneylandnews.com/graphics/10_07_WDI_9001_lowres.jpg)

PART OF YOUR WORLD -- The first major ride based on Disney's classic The Little Mermaid comes to Disney's California Adventure with leading edge animation and special effects. Guests will dive into the magnificent scenes and magical songs from the movie.


(//http://www.disneylandnews.com/graphics/10_07_WDI_9002_lowres.jpg)

KA-CHOW! -- As part of an all-new 12-acre area called Cars Land, Radiator Springs Racers will be a major new "E-ticket" attraction at Disney's California Adventure. Guests will take a trip into the world of Mater, Lightning McQueen and the gang from the Disney·Pixar film Cars, and race around hairpin turns and steep banks.


Edit: it looks like TLM got a budget cut  :(   Instead of using suspended vehicles as originally planned, the concept art shows an omni-mover system similar to Phantom Manor.

And here's the full press release:

Disney Announces Significant Expansion Plan For The Disneyland Resort

Multi-Year Build-out Plan Includes Major Attractions and a
New "Cars Land" at Disney's California Adventure

GLENDALE, Calif., October 17, 2007 -- The Walt Disney Company today unveiled a significant multi-year expansion plan for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim that continues its growth as a multi-day, world-class tourist destination.
Announced by Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo at a press conference at Walt Disney Imagineering's Glendale headquarters, the expansion will bring new entertainment and major familyoriented attractions to Disney's California Adventure, including an entirely new Cars Land inspired by the hit Disney•Pixar animated film Cars.
"The success of the Disneyland Resort over the past few years provides us with both the opportunity and the need to invest for growth, to enhance and expand the experience for our guests and attract new visitors, while at the same time delivering attractive returns on the investment," said Iger. "This plan is a reflection of our belief in the bright future of the Disneyland Resort and our continuing commitment to grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world class tourist destination."

Disney Imagineers will be bringing more of Walt Disney into Disney's California Adventure, celebrating the hope and optimism of California that attracted Walt to this land of opportunity in the 1920s. Guests entering the new Plaza will be instantly immersed in the world that inspired Walt during his early days as an animation pioneer. The new, interactive Walt Disney Story attraction will set the stage for the unfolding story of Walt that will permeate the park.

The expansive program reaches throughout Disney's California Adventure, with an amazing Little Mermaid attraction, a groundbreaking, signature nighttime spectacular and new viewing area for 9,000, and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land featuring the world of Radiator Springs with three new attractions. Extensive landscaping, new retail and dining will create an even richer environment throughout the park in ways that reinforce Guests' connection with Walt.

"Our Disneyland Guests have a deep emotional connection with Walt Disney, whose life story really captures the pioneering spirit of California in the 1920s," said Rasulo. "The creative evolution of Disney's California Adventure will connect guests to Walt's own California adventure and reflect the place that he found when he first arrived with a cardboard suitcase in his hand and a head full of dreams."

The expansion is part of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts' overall growth strategy of continuing to invest in its core business of existing parks and resorts around the world, while exploring new opportunities to capture more of the growing family vacation market.
This announcement follows Disney's ground-breaking last month for a 250-room expansion of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, including 50 rooms dedicated to the West Coast debut of Disney Vacation Club, the company's growing time share business.


Multi-day, World-Class Tourist Destination
Today's announced expansion builds upon the transformation of the Disneyland park into a multi-day destination resort that began in 2001 with the creation of the Disneyland Resort and the opening of Disney's California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.  Since then, the Disneyland Resort has continued to grow with the addition of popular attractions and shows, including: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror,
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, Block Party Bash, High School Musical 2: Schools Out!, Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, and Jedi Training Academy, along with the re-Imagineering of Space Mountain and enhancements to Pirates of the Caribbean.

"This expansion builds on a commitment we made more than a decade ago to create and grow the Anaheim Resort Area as a world-class tourist destination where guests would want to stay for more than one day," said Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier.

"That investment has become a success for Disney, the Anaheim community and for the economy of Southern California."

According to the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau,
Anaheim is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the country, enjoying some of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the nation and attracting millions of visitors each year who spend billions of dollars.


Coming to Disney's California Adventure Over the Next Several Years
In addition to the new themeing and attractions, Disney's California Adventure will receive new restaurant and retail innovations, landscaping to enrich the placemaking, facade and graphics enhancements, and an extensive menu of entertainment and events.
Disney's California Adventure is already home to some of the Disneyland Resort's highest-rated attractions and shows, including: Soarin' Over California, California Screamin', The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Broadway-caliber show, Disney's Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular.


Cars Land
The expansion will culminate with an entirely new, 12-acre addition: Cars Land, immersing guests into a world inspired by the hit Disney•Pixar movie, Cars, playing to America's love affair with automobiles.
Radiator Springs Racers, a major "E-ticket" attraction, places guests right in the middle of the amazingly detailed, dimensional Cars world of Mater, Lightning McQueen, Doc and Sally. Guests get a quick race briefing from Doc and Lightning, and suddenly find themselves in the midst of a race around hairpin turns and steep banks.
Cars Land increases capacity to the park with two additional immersive family rides, featuring Luigi and Mater from the movie. Cars Land represents an unprecedented level of collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Imagineering to create this extensive new area. The new land will substantially extend the total area of Disney's
California Adventure park.


Paradise Pier
Paradise Pier will host major new attractions beginning next summer with the opening of Toy Story Mania!, a ride-through, interactive adventure where Guests ride into a high-energy 4-D carnival midway hosted by Toy Story characters. Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Hamm and the gang come to life in amazing ways, immersing guests in the rich stories of the Pixar blockbuster Toy Story films.

A major ride based on Disney's classic The Little Mermaid comes to the park's Paradise Pier with leading-edge animation and special effects. Guests will dive into the magnificent scenes and magical songs from the movie. A Mermaid Grotto area with a fountain and sand castle will offer new play experiences for children.


Unique Nighttime Spectacular
The dramatic and unique Disney's World of Color will bring new nighttime
excitement to Paradise Pier. This nightly panorama of spectacular water effects, colorful lighting and music will bring Disney animation to life with an entirely new creative and technical approach. The 9,000 person viewing area offers prime waterside viewing of the show – and provides a site for live entertainment, music festivals, and outdoor film premieres.


Entry Plaza and Gateway
The totally new gateway to Disney's California Adventure welcomes guests into an immersive world of historic California streets as Walt experienced them as a young artist arriving with big dreams.
A new visual icon in the tradition of Los Angeles, California's great entertainment palaces will draw guests into the heart of the attractions. This new facility, which was inspired by Los Angeles' historic Carthay Circle Theatre that premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, will house a next generation Walt Disney Story featuring an interactive tribute to Walt's California experiences, and his entertainment legacy that
continues world-wide today. Red Car trolleys reminiscent of the old Pacific Electric Railway will travel up and down the main street.
New dining and shopping experiences and a slate of unique, live entertainment will bring energy to the Walt Disney Plaza.


Hollywood Pictures Backlot
Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be a new home for a slate of special ticketed events and chances to hear first hand from innovative directors, writers and animators. An update of the popular family show "Playhouse Disney" will provide an experience for younger children.


Golden State
The "Golden State" area of the park will see the addition of numerous new dining opportunities tied to the incredible bounty of California's farmland and its rich ethnically diverse food heritage. Food and wine festivals that celebrate the seasons, tastes and cultures of the dynamic communities of the Golden State will entertain guests, bringing unique one-of-a-kind experiences.


Preview Center
A Preview Center located on San Francisco Street in the Golden State region of the park will feature models, Imagineering concepts – giving park guests a sneak peek at the excitement that lies ahead.
The Preview Center is scheduled to open in late 2008.

wow looks and sounds absolutely great! Fantastic addition to the Resort, I think they can do with something like this...

Quote from: "raptor1982"This new facility, which was inspired by Los Angeles' historic Carthay Circle Theatre that premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, will house a next generation Walt Disney Story featuring an interactive tribute to Walt's California experiences, and his entertainment legacy that
continues world-wide today. Red Car trolleys reminiscent of the old Pacific Electric Railway will travel up and down the main street.

*Baloo faints*

I'm going to have to read the rest later, it's too exciting... Brilliant that it's all absolutely true though, I can hardly believe it! :shock:

Little Mermaid: Think the Omnimover was mainly a capacity issue, not sure of the cost difference between that and a suspended ride.

Wow, that sound and looks fantastic! :o

It is quite annoying that they are going to get the Little Mermaid ride designed for Paris, but perhaps this is the first step towards the Little Mermaid ride finally being made in its initial home here at DLP :)

I'm wondering, perhaps I glanced over it, but has anything been said as to when they plan to complete this? As in, in how many years time... Because I'll need to be planning a holiday by then.  :D

QuoteLittle Mermaid: Think the Omnimover was mainly a capacity issue, not sure of the cost difference between that and a suspended ride.

I don't think they can take the ride where it was supposed to be with an omnimover system.  The original version was to take you up and below the water, putting you in the scenes, while from what I can judge, you will now pass by the scenes.  

If you put on the TLM dvd extra feature, you'll see that this particular scene had your shell rise up from the water next to the boat, while in this one the shell clearly just moves around it.  

But I won't judge of course lol, the ride is far from finished and probably still being designed.  It's still pretty amazing they've dusted off the old Euro Disney plans.  8)

Wow im really impressed and cant wait for the updates now! i like the whole new look paridise pier ideas and Walts california. Does anyone know when the target completion date is?

Even more details and concept art on Miceage!  :shock:

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al101807a.htm (http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al101807a.htm)

*continues reading*

*finished reading*

Wow, I wish Euro Disney SCA could get a billion euro's for WDS.  :(

I read that the Villans make over of California Screamin' was dropped because of the speed the ride goes at. It was felt that the propsed changes would be wasted beacuse riders wouldnt get a full impact because the cars obviously move to fast to get any real theming because it it out side as opposed to Space Mountain for example.

Quote from: "raptor1982"Wow, I wish Euro Disney SCA could get a billion euro's for WDS.  :(

Yeah, it certainly makes the €200m spent on WDS pale into insignificance.

One line has stood out to me already:

QuoteThe current broad expanse of cement known as the Sun Plaza is universally derided amongst Imagineers for having no curbs and no welcoming feature that invites people to stop and sit.

Please, please let them be thinking this about the streets of WDS too...

The Carthay Circle Theatre is interesting. It seems like it'll sit almost like a Castle on one corner of the main plaza, with the Walt Disney Story inside. If they were looking for something to use as the centre of an expanded WDS in the very distant future, this might be a perfect template...

Theming the starbust of the Sun Wheel to the opening of the old Mickey Mouse cartoons! Such a great idea!

Quotethe existing Mulholland Madness coaster will be rethemed as Goofy's Flying Academy

Wow, not a Pixar theme? A ride based on a Disney VIP character? Whatever next?! :shock:

QuoteA full-sized moving, talking and dancing Tow Mater will be the disc jockey at a spinner ride that will have passengers being whipped around the desert floor in truck trailers.

...etc

Ladies and gentlemen, Cars Quatre Roues Rallye is officially about to be blown out of the water. :(

Bob Iger's reported visit to WDS recently gives us a little hope anyway. EDSCA may have hardly any money, but some of the developments here might eventually filter down in the direction of Paris. Lutz says a lot of this was made possible because of the strong 50th... from a DLRP perspective we've just got to hope the 15th brings another Paris-sized boost in a few years the keep things at WDS rolling forward.

A video report from ABC news, including Bob, Jay and some more concepts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff-Qie7L8Fc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff-Qie7L8Fc)

It reminds me of all the stuff they showed at the EuroDisney grand opening, except this is actually happening. :shock:

And a great LA Times map posted by MouseTimes.com:

(//http://www.mousetimes.com/joomla/iboard/uploads/1191890893/gallery_8_2_106905.jpg)

And another nice map: click here (//http://www.mousetimes.com/joomla/iboard/uploads/1191890893/gallery_8_2_111090.gif).

Heres a list from kraxleRIDAH on theme park review of all things coming to DCA;

QuoteNew Park Entrance Complex by 2011

- New Art Deco turnstiles pushed out to the current California letters
- Pacific Electric Red Cars from Walt Disney Plaza to future Cars Land entry
- Antique vehicles to Hollywood
- Carthay Circle Theater with new Walt Disney Story
- Walt Disney Plaza
- New "Partners" statue: A youthful Walt and an old-school looking Mickey
- 1920's Los Angeles architecture and facades complete with street curbs and furnishings

Paradise Pier Remake 2008-2011

- Toy Story - Midway Mania! in 2008
- DCA Preview Center in 2008
- Disney's World of Color Spectacular in 2009 with new amphitheater
- 100$ million dollar The Little Mermaid attraction and sea-grotto play area
- Goofy's Flying Academy (retheme and renaming of Mulholland Madness)
- Beer Garden
- High-tech LED lighting system for Sun Wheel / Sun Wheel renamed and redecorated
- Victorian architecture and themeing throughout
- Disney-Pixar character overlay to California-themed midway games
- Mickey head on California Screamin' replaced with Victorian-era billboard

Cars Land expansion 2012

- 12 acre expansion into the existing Timon Lot
- $200+ million dollar Radiator Springs Racers E-Ticket
- Luigi's Bumper Tires C-Ticket (Walt's Flying Saucers)
- Mater's Spinner C-Ticket
- Drive-In Movie Restaurant
- Radiator Springs area development, stores, quick serve dining
- Realigned parade route

And i here that there getting rid of the mickey head on california screamin'  :P

Edit: It's going to be replaced with a Victorian-era billboard. :lol:

As shown below ;

(//http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/navaj/dca1.jpg)

LOL! No more billboards!!!!!!!
I personally think they should leave CS and the Sunwheel alone as  they look great allready

^ I agree.

If they're making it more Disney...you think they would want to keep the mickey head on CS.
Plus, what I dont understand is...why would they want to move (or build a new one?) sun wheel over to CS loading area and put a mickey face on there? I really like the mickey head on CS near the loop. It looks great!

Well, I'll be there in March of 08 but nothing will be completed by then.
I can take pictures if anybody wants some...then in the future we can compare what currently is there to what was there :)

I saw Mullholland was being re-themed to a Goofy's Old Flying School (similar to the concept at WDW?)

-DPF

Was there two weeks ago , loads construction work in and around California screaming up to the Wheel and the boardwalk but not sure if this is connected...

Quote from: "ightenhill"Was there two weeks ago , loads construction work in and around California screaming up to the Wheel and the boardwalk but not sure if this is connected...

Yeah thats for Toy Story Mania !  :)

//http://www.photosmagiques.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=799&start=0

I have never been there. Is it true that the parc has financial problems?

Quote from: "Baloo"A video report from ABC news, including Bob, Jay and some more concepts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff-Qie7L8Fc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff-Qie7L8Fc)

It reminds me of all the stuff they showed at the EuroDisney grand opening, except this is actually happening. :shock:

And a great LA Times map posted by MouseTimes.com:

(//http://www.mousetimes.com/joomla/iboard/uploads/1191890893/gallery_8_2_106905.jpg)

And another nice map: click here (//http://www.mousetimes.com/joomla/iboard/uploads/1191890893/gallery_8_2_111090.gif).

Baloo,
       I have been watching this story develop on other sites and have just come across this here, i have to say this is by far the best plan, detail and update i have seen.

Quote from: "WaltDisneyFanBoy"I have never been there. Is it true that the parc has financial problems?

 I am sorry to answer in such a negative tone, but they, "Disney" are spending $1.1 BILLION dollars, i hope that answers the questions.

 In terms of a park it has not taken off for a number of reasons of which they are putting right, please read Baloo's last post.

Is it just me or does anybody else think that the entrance is a bit cheap because it's just the same one like DHS? Why are they also copying entrances now? It just feels a bit like RCT were every park just has the same entrance bit different letters on it :S

But the rest looks great!

I will be looking forward to our trip next month.  I shall miss a few things from the old DCA, and I'll be taking a ton of pictures before the major work starts.  I really liked DCA when we went in 2002, and I am really looking forward to our upcoming trip.

Yeah, davewasbaloo.  We're going to California in April (for the first time), so I'm looking forward as well to see how it was and go back a few years later to see the newly imagineered DCA.

Cool Raptor.  If you have any questions, let me know.

I sure do hope the park looks good as we have a view over DCA in April!  :wink:  I'm so curious how it will be, all these changes sound so good... and so major!  :o  will be good to finally see everything in real life, be it before the major revamp but that's just as well 8)

New information from dlfreak on the MouseInfo.com forums (//http://www.mouseinfo.com):

QuoteWe just got back from our DVC member event right now and boy are we tired. We had a blast and are ready to drop dead in bed but I thought I'd share some of the new info we got about the upcoming DCA stuff straight from the proverbial horses' mouths!

We were kindly asked not to photograph or video unfortunately and being the good little Disneyland citizen that I am, I did not snap a photo or video a single bit. There was not a whole lot of new stuff we saw anyway, nothing very revealing except for a stylized painting of the entire park which looked awesome. It was obviously a bit older as it had a parachute drop ride in place of Maliboomer and there was a giant Mickey atop Muppets 3D. That was the only thing I could really make out in the map aside from the obvious additions that we already know about.

First off, the recently closed Seasons of the Vine will soon be turned into the Blue Sky Cellar and will be the new DCA Expansion Preview center to find all the new concept art and models for the upcoming expansion. This should be opening in August.

The Walt Disney Plaza and the entrance remodel is supposed to be completed just in time for DCA's 10th Anniversary in 2011. At this time, the Blue Sky Cellar will close as the Preview center and the displays will be moved into the more spacious Carthay Circle Theater to continue highlighting the remaining changes to Paradise Pier and the new Carsland.

By all accounts the Red Car seemed to be a 100% greenlit and approved attraction coming to the park, they showed models and concept art of it and spent a good deal of time talking about it.

Now up until this point I understood that the new parade route would be routed through the new Carsland and back down to the Pier that way. However, during during the Expo/mingle I overheard a group of people talking about it. Again, these could be completely uninformed people, but the little snippet I heard from their conversation was about entertainment being upset about the parade route having to navigate under the HPB archway and that Pixar Play parade wouldn't fit underneath it. Again, this conflicts what seems to be the going word that the parade will no longer travel through the front of the park so I'm taking that one with a grain of salt. Still something interesting, I thought, if it's true.

They talked a bit about Carsland. They mentioned the new Radiator Springs Racers attraction which by all accounts sounds like a phenomenal undertaking for DCA. One thing I didn't hear mentioned before was that at the end of the ride, Luigi and Guido would flag down the end of the race and then the two racing commentators would be there commenting on your race and looking over at the monitor looking at your photo-finish crossing the finish line. It kinda seemed like it would be interactive like Roz although there was no indication of that based on what they said.

Also, although there were a few brief glimpses of the Drive-in among the concept art, it was never mentioned once. They showed a few concept art pieces of Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and that the theme was that Mater gathered up some of the baby tractors to have a hootin' good time square dancing in the junkyard and Mater's there hootin' and hollerin' in the center of it all. They also showed a few pieces of art for the new Luigi's Roamin' Tires, nothing I don't think we haven't seen already. They also specifically mentioned Flo's Diner and showed a guy munching on a giant hamburger and they showed Lizzie's Curio shop, as well.

Read the thread here (//http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86655).

Sounds great, thanks Remco.

I'm so thrilled it looks like the Red Car tram is actually happening. That's just one of those attractions the Imagineers plan again and again but never get to see become a reality. If it does finally happen here, DCA will suddenly be very special.

Another update;

QuoteThe next placemaking of Paradise Pier should normally begin by the end of the year. Pending the initial work, here's a concept art of what awaits us after work. The whole area will be transformed into a Victorian style and in particular the Sun Wheel Ferris wheel and games stalls. Speaking of the latter, they are on "Toy Story

//http://www.disneytheque.com/phototheque/disneyland_resort/placemaking/080725/001.jpg

Source; Disneytheque.com

Wow. :shock:

If it turns out as good-looking as that, get me on the next plane to California.

Some new concept art has been leaked online:

 :arrow: http://www.originald.com/rumor-dca-concept-art/ (http://www.originald.com/rumor-dca-concept-art/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Looks pretty good if you ask me :wink:

Micechat has posted a very good article with many pictures of the DCA Makeover.

The article is about the "WDI Blue Sky Cellar":
http://micechat.com/disneyland-news/cal ... nture-fix/ (http://micechat.com/disneyland-news/california-adventure-fix/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Wow, there's some amazing concept art there. If it all goes to plan, this new DCA is going to be amazing! :o  :shock:

Simply astonishing. Like most people not native to the area I always found the concept of Disney's California Adventure so exciting, and now with these ideas they're finally making it live up to that.

Few points:

- The Muppets are staying (for now)! That's good.
- They're having a parachute drap *and* keeping the Jumpin Jellyfish? Interesting. I wonder which of those two might be used for our Toy Storyland then?
- Removing the cheap-looking Mickey silhouette from Screamin' and replacing it with "Paradise Pier" is great. The Mickey Sunburst on the wheel is beautiful. Beautiful! I'm saying that about Paradise Pier!
- I really, really wish they'd rename Cars Land to Radiator Springs. It doesn't seem to match the other land names like Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Golden State the park has.

Finally, how exactly is the Red Car Trolley going to work? Has anyone read any more about it? The concept art shows it has an overhead wire, but surely they wouldn't allow that within Disneyland? Might they just have a "fake" wire and then run the trolley cars with batteries that charge up at each station or something?  Think about the cut in balloon sales!

Quote from: "Anthony"- They're having a parachute drap *and* keeping the Jumpin Jellyfish? Interesting. I wonder which of those two might be used for our Toy Storyland then?

I´ve read somewhere that they wanna change the position of the jumpin jellyfish. Maybe they simply take the malibooomer out and the jumpin jellyfish in.

Quote from: "Anthony"Finally, how exactly is the Red Car Trolley going to work? Has anyone read any more about it? The concept art shows it has an overhead wire, but surely they wouldn't allow that within Disneyland? Might they just have a "fake" wire and then run the trolley cars with batteries that charge up at each station or something?  Think about the cut in balloon sales!

They had some problems with the red car trolley. They couldn´t use the original "real" concept of the car trolley cause of the high voltage overhead wire. One of the problems was indeed this balloon sale thing. They couldn´t garanted that some little child lost a balloon which getting grilled by the red car trolley wire. The developement and construction of this new "fake" red car trolley was getting more expansive then they expect and that´s one of the causes why they´ve cancel the Walt Disney story thing at the Carthay circle theater. They build now just the box without something in (But it´s a place for a future addition :D/ )
But I don´t know which engergy thing they use for the trolley.

Work has started on the make over, and the first ride to be changed is...

The Sun Wheel !

(//http://www.disneytheque.com/phototheque/disneyland_resort/rehab_dca/081020/001.jpg)

Most gondolas have been taken down

//http://www.disneytheque.com/index.php?/archives/105-Lactu-de-Disneys-California-Adventure-en-2008.html

More progress;

QuoteWhile the lagoon is finally drained, work begins on Sun Wheel by painting. It turns from white to red. Side stands games, again the assembly of metallic structures is continuing.

(//http://www.disneytheque.com/phototheque/disneyland_resort/placemaking/081215/001.jpg)

(//http://www.disneytheque.com/phototheque/disneyland_resort/placemaking/081215/002.jpg)

(//http://www.disneytheque.com/phototheque/disneyland_resort/placemaking/081215/003.jpg)

(//http://www.disneytheque.com/phototheque/disneyland_resort/placemaking/081215/004.jpg)

Source; //http://www.disneytheque.com/index.php?/archives/20-Projet-Placemaking-DCA.html

Well DCA sure has changed quite a bit.  Nearly the entire Paradise Pier area is walled up.  Atleast the walls are now covered with some art.  But lots of scaffolding and construction for the water show, Wonderful World of Color is in full force.


http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/739 ... szP#P-4-24 (http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/7399561_ziszP#P-4-24)

I know the same can be said about DLRP being a filed 20 years ago, but every time I look at photos of DCA, im amazed to think that it used to be the car park for Disneyland!

I remember parking in it, and to see all the greenery, and different levels, water etc, it just is amazing.

As evryone says, there is a long way to go until it is a true Disney park, but looking at these photos, it still looks miles ahead of our WDS im afraid to say

The new Paradise Pier sign has gone up!

(//http://www.imgdash.com/uploads/e89a4_parapier.jpg)

Sooo much better than the ugly modern Mickey ears cut-out!

Photo is from the awesome Mattercam: http://webcam.hojoanaheim.com/home/homeS.html (http://webcam.hojoanaheim.com/home/homeS.html) Wait a while and it'll eventually zoom in. You can even watch the California Screamin' trains being launched. The weather in Anaheim looks gorgeous this evening. :(

Wow! Who would've thought a simple sign could make so much of an improvement? :lol:

I thought the circle was getting a re-design though, to make it look more Victorian. Or was that cancelled?

Quote from: "RnRCj"Wow! Who would've thought a simple sign could make so much of an improvement? :lol:

I thought the circle was getting a re-design though, to make it look more Victorian. Or was that cancelled?

The Circle is going to become a sun, and the Mickey now goes on the Sun wheel. Although the Paradise Pier section needs help, I never had a big problem with the Screamin' and SunWheel. It is the Route66 area that I feel needs prioritisation, and they have not addresses that yet (and the plans do not fully do that either). And they have ripped out two of my fav but modest attractions in the park, for very little reason so far.

It lights up too :wink: :

(//http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r66/Dave_Startup/pp.jpg)

 :P

I'm really excited about the improvements being made to DCA at the moment, and looking forward to future improvements! I think Paradise Pier is looking amazing, the theming going into the Boardwalk section looks great already!

The new 'Games of the Boardwalk' have now opened on Paradise Pier...

Video by MintCrocodile:
[youtube:fy6c644n]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAgfS5ztSpg&feature=channel_page[/youtube:fy6c644n]
Pictures by MiceAge:
http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in-the ... dates.html (http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in-the-parks/1057-first-look-new-version-games-boardwalk-some-quick-updates.html)

DCA is on the mend folks! :mrgreen:

Put this in Disney Village!!!

Forget the video arcades, these are the really fun games that people will line up and pay to play.

The difference in quality between these and the old games is staggering.

(//http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/photos/CA_games.jpg)

I actually quite like these games. It would have been better without the toons, but at least they're fairly subtle. I agree with Ant - something like this for Disney Village would be awesome!

The sun on Cali Screamin' is taking shape now:
(//http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii33/jacoaster/cali.jpg)

Flashy nighttime lighting on the Fun Wheel:

http://www.wdwntube.com/archives/43 (http://www.wdwntube.com/archives/43)

That lightshow looks really great. The new Fun Wheel looks so much better than the old one!!

I've read a lot of critisism about the Paradise Pier improvements, so far.

I dont know how these people can complain, the park is already vastly improved and construction is nowhere near over.

Have you seen the scale of World of Colour? Its unbelievable. Its going to be the best Disney night-time show yet.
It should be built on Lake Disney.  :wink:

QuoteThat lightshow looks really great. The new Fun Wheel looks so much better than the old one!!

i argee the new LED light look really great...

QuoteI've read a lot of critisism about the Paradise Pier improvements, so far.

I dont know how these people can complain, the park is already vastly improved and construction is nowhere near over.

Have you seen the scale of World of Colour? Its unbelievable. Its going to be the best Disney night-time show yet.
It should be built on Lake Disney.

they don´t moan about the whole paradise pier, if you look at the facades of the new games of the boardwalk and toystory mania it looks really good, and the concept art of the wheel and the shop opposide the wheel wont get the victorian stile anymore. i can understand why they moan about that. but what disney did with the wheel is great too just the quee is the old ugly thing.

yeah i cant wait to see the first video of the world of color show, its really a huge stage and i think the show will be stunning. the mist screens will 100ft tall and almost 400ft wide if have it correctly in mind.
i think lake disney is the wrong place for this show, we need it in the studios that this little park have some night entertainment too...  :D

Quote from: "Anthony"Flashy nighttime lighting on the Fun Wheel:

http://www.wdwntube.com/archives/43 (http://www.wdwntube.com/archives/43)

Love it! :P Such an improvement to the original wheel in my opinion. I like how they've even taken the classic character shorts look for it, rather than plastering it with Buzz lightyear :P

Here are a few more shots of the wheel;

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/05-11-09/IMG_5155.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/05-11-09/IMG_5162.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/05-11-09/IMG_5627.jpg)

And for DCA fans;

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/05-11-09/IMG_5548.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/05-11-09/IMG_5105.jpg)

More at:
http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateli ... -more.html (http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateline-disneyland/1094-mickeys-fun-wheel-opens-up-pre-parade-dca-construction-tomorrowland-refurbs-more.html)

I only thought Lake Disney would be good for the show due to the scale of it and it would add some nightlife back to the village.
I'd rather see Fantasmic! in the studios.

QuoteI only thought Lake Disney would be good for the show due to the scale of it and it would add some nightlife back to the village.
I'd rather see Fantasmic! in the studios.

okay i think you right here, fantasmic would be better but then a new and better version,
with this new dragon ect.
i don´t know if lake disney is big enough!

Quote from: "lil-shawn"

QuoteI only thought Lake Disney would be good for the show due to the scale of it and it would add some nightlife back to the village.
I'd rather see Fantasmic! in the studios.

okay i think you right here, fantasmic would be better but then a new and better version,
with this new dragon ect.
i don´t know if lake disney is big enough!

More than enough (according to Google Earth). With a removal of panaramagique and replacing that area with a viewing point, the show would fit perfectly onto the lake.

Only problem would be the lack of Mickey's Fun-Wheel, which I think will have a big part in the show. After all, they did just put all those amazing LEDs onto the wheel.

just to show wha i understand all the moaning about the quee of the wheel...

concept art
(//http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/paradise_pier_concept_art-300x173.jpg)

modell in blue sky cellar
(//http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2969033639_9e679672bd.jpg?v=0)

finished product
(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/05-11-09/IMG_5155.jpg)

QuoteMore than enough (according to Google Earth). With a removal of panaramagique and replacing that area with a viewing point, the show would fit perfectly onto the lake.

Only problem would be the lack of Mickey's Fun-Wheel, which I think will have a big part in the show. After all, they did just put all those amazing LEDs onto the wheel.

or maybe they just have to expand the lake into the are for a future hotel, i don´t think to remove the panoramamagiqque after just (3 years?) would be cool...

yeah i think the fun wheel is a big part of the show, but we don´t know!

A new construction update showing off the World of Color lagoon area has been posted to Westcoaster this week. Boy that platform out there is getting incredibly crowded with stuff. They also had one last look at at the big Dinosaur figure which is now coming down, with what's left covered by a tarp.

http://www.westcoaster.net/updates.php? ... 909&page=5 (http://www.westcoaster.net/updates.php?updateCD=062909&page=5)

The Blue Sky Cellar re-opens with a brand new exhibit today...

//[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/07-13-09/IMG_1111.jpg[/img]
http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateli ... -more.html (http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateline-disneyland/1159-summer-construction-round-up-world-color-little-mermaid-cars-land-more.html)

Hopefully we'll get to see the new concepts later today/tomorrow?

Some reports are saying this new structure is for the Red Car Trolleys:

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/07-13-09/IMG_1355.jpg)

Seriously, I can't believe WDI are actually finally getting to build those. Disney + Trams? It's too much.

And of course, the Orange Stinger has gone to Yesterland...

http://yesterland.com/orange.html (http://yesterland.com/orange.html)

It's only recently that I realised how truly, truly hideous this thing is/was.

Quote from: "Anthony"Hopefully we'll get to see the new concepts later today/tomorrow?

Here's a sneak peek that was released yesterday :wink: :

(//http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz352/loaloauk/Disneys-California-Adventure-World-.jpg)

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-bl ... isne-4902/ (http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/world-of-color-disne-4902/)

I completely forgot there was talk of this happening...

The Blue Sky Cellar is now online! www.DisneysCaliforniaAdventure.com (http://www.disneyscaliforniaadventure.com)

It has a red car trolley as the loading bar...! :shock:

why cant we get something nice like this than the Toy Story land they may be building in DLP?

Maybe we could have this as a start of our "3rd Gate"

Fishbulb @ MiceChat has pictures of the re-opened Blue Sky Cellar.

Click Me (//http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/119892-blue-sky-cellar-reopens-featuring-world-color.html)

World of Colour looks epic!

Wow, come 2012 this park will be amazing, a complete transformation. World of colour looks exciting too, the scale of it looks massive.

That concept art really does make Disney's World of Colour look absolutely sensational! If I had to choose for either Fantasmic of World of Colour to come to the Walt Disney Studios in the future, without a doubt it'd have to be World of Colour now :)

on disney and more is a great report of the new
world of color show. and i think this will be one of the
best nighttime shows disney ever created.

here is the link.. //http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2009/07/world-of-color-pictures-artwork-and.html

MouseTimes has a new pictorial showing the progress on the Lagoon, the Red Car barn and the removal of the Golden Dreams building:
http://mousetimes.smugmug.com/gallery/9 ... 5263_kkpxW (http://mousetimes.smugmug.com/gallery/9098267_ZNWw8#606205263_kkpxW)

WestCoaster has new updates, nothing much new, the Orange Stinger is more or less demolished though:

http://www.westcoaster.net/updates.php?updateCD=081109 (http://www.westcoaster.net/updates.php?updateCD=081109)

The latest Dateline Disneyland has a particularly large amount of photos from DCA: http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateli ... -more.html (http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/dateline-disneyland/1279-california-adventure-construction-fort-wilderness-graveyard-stroller-central-more.html)

Looks like the jumping fountains are going in:

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/10-19-09/IMG_5063.jpg)

The walkway around Paradise Park looks really nice with its green railings and coloured stonework:

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/10-19-09/IMG_4989.jpg)

Can you even begin to imagine setting up and programming a show like World of Color? All those cables, pipes, fountains and lights... Crazy.

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2009/10-19-09/IMG_4934.jpg)

The refill has begun!

(//http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a146/redjag/CIMG4967.jpg)
Picture posted by somone on Micechat who I can't remember the name of.

Crazy!

(//http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Theme-Parks/Disneyland-Resort-111909/DSCF3261/718483678_q97Qa-M-1.jpg)

http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in-the ... -more.html (http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in-the-parks/1307-pouring-worlds-largest-guinness-dca-becomes-more-maze-land-much-more.html)

I'm looking forward to Cars Land. Don't get me wrong, it looks spectacular. BUT the thing is, does anyone else find it strange that they're investing so much money (estimated $200 million), and using up so much space (12 acres), on Pixar's worst film? It's a lot of effort and energy focused on re-creating a 6-year-old film that no one ever really loved.

See, I never really liked the film Cars. The characters are weird disembodied heads and the environments leave me with little desire to visit them. I guess it's too based in reality; not enough fantasy. Looking at statistics, Cars only got 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, and grossed far less Worldwide than Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E and Up.

Perhaps Cars was chosen simply because John Lasseter directed it, and he's the Principal Creative Advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering. So if he wants to spend $200 million building a ride based on one of his four Pixar films, he can.

What do you guys think?

No it was chosen because of merchandise sales. Its one of the most profitable films from that point and hasn't died off....

and Cars 2 is on its way :D/  :D/

^ But that is not confirmed jet...  :-"

Quote from: "JelleP"^ But that is not confirmed jet...  :-"

Cars 2 has been confirmed, it was announced around the same time as Toy Story 3, Newt and Bear and the Bow if i remember correctly ;)

Disney put a video about the DCA expansion on the official Disney Parks Blog:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... ture-park/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/01/video-preview-what%E2%80%99s-coming-up-at-disney%E2%80%99s-california-adventure-park/)

Maybe we should place bets on how the park will be renamed. Whoever's closest gets... Well, nothing, but that shouldn't matter.

I don't think that Disney will rename the park, because they didn't change the theme of the park. In my opinion all new additions and attractions fit into the California theme.

Well, they've already confirmed that they're considering it. The current name is either suspiciously absent from or hastily Photoshopped into the concept art for the new entrance. And while most of the $1bn project additions could indeed fit within the California theme in one way or another, that's probably because even that billion dollars won't buy them a complete new park. (Although it would buy them one and a half Walt Disney Studioses.) They have to build on what's already there.

But most importantly, it seems to me, the current name is clearly tainted — gee, does that ring a bell? — and not up to the task of communicating what they want the park to become: Disneyland 2.

You could be right... But I think they'll rename it.

Quote from: "pussinboots"Well, they've already confirmed that they're considering it. The current name is either suspiciously absent from or hastily Photoshopped into the concept art for the new entrance. And while most of the $1bn project additions could indeed fit within the California theme in one way or another, that's probably because even that billion dollars won't buy them a complete new park. (Although it would buy them one and a half Walt Disney Studioses.) They have to build on what's already there.

But most importantly, it seems to me, the current name is clearly tainted — gee, does that ring a bell? — and not up to the task of communicating what they want the park to become: Disneyland 2.

You could be right... But I think they'll rename it.

What name would you choose for the park? I'm not very creative in finding park names, so I don't know which name I would choose.

It depends if the "California" needs to be ditched entirely, or if it's just the combination of Calfornia and Adventure that has become toxic.

Walt Disney's California would make a lot of sense. Although I'm not sure how that'd fit in with their need to add "park" to the end. Walt Disney's California park doesn't sound right. Perhaps it could coincide with Disneyland park losing it's "park" and just becoming Disneyland.

But yeah, with the Carthay Circle and Buena Vista Street with the new statue, DCA should soon be offering up more of a tribute to the man himself, allowing his own park across the way not to become too saddled down with its own history.

"Disney's California Adventure park" doesn't sound like much, either, but there you go...

Just looking at other people's suggestions: Walt Disney's California(n) Adventure, Walt Disney's California, Disney's Golden Dreams, PixarLand, Buena Vista, 2 Billion Dollar Park. That's no good, is it.

But yes, the general prediction is that they'd want to turn the spotlight on Walt nostalgia. Kind of like how "Walt Disney World" got its "Walt."

It's not really the most adventurous of parks, though, is it. Adventure implies exotic locales where anything could happen, not a quaint recreation of a rather habitable state. Perhaps it's that word that needs to go and not "California."

I would choose "Walt Disney's California Park" from your suggestions.

Quote from: "pussinboots"It's not really the most adventurous of parks, though, is it. Adventure implies exotic locales where anything could happen, not a quaint recreation of a rather habitable state. Perhaps it's that word that needs to go and not "California."

Walt Disney's California Adventure might be nice, in the sense that the new statue shows him arriving in the state and then it all spawns from there, but it's probably too long to be marketable. I wouldn't actually be surprised if they did keep Disney's California Adventure for that reason. It might make a bit more sense in a few years.

Disney's Californialand?

Perhaps, rather than playing Scrabble with the existing name, as the Mensa set over at MiceChat have been doing for three years now, it's worth thinking about the essence of the makeover. Surely, considering the cost and breadth of the project, and considering that incoherence has been one of the park's core problems, we can safely assume that people have been sitting in a room trying to answer the question of "what is the park about in a sentence?" But looking at the plans, it's still a battle between Walt worship, the state of California and the pu pu platter it's always been. The concisest statement you could make about the park is that it's a collection of rides and areas that mostly take place in California for some reason. But if they're no longer willing to acknowledge this, having shot down most of the Mali-Burritos-style puns and all of the "golden" adjectives, what's the point in calling it "California Adventure?" Just because it's the best they've got? I don't get it.

Silly Symphony Swings, photo from D23:

(//http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs293.ash1/22072_310404245041_78185605041_5135287_4450023_n.jpg)

I didn't want to open a new topic so I'm going to post it here.

I did some research on Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on Wikipedia and then I read this phrase:
In December 2009, Disney officially announced that the Disneyland Resort will add a new E ticket attraction in Frontierland that will be built upon the grounds of the new "Mickey's Bar-B-Que"

You will find it here: (You have to scroll down to FUTURE PROPERTIES - American Projects):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disne ... n_projects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Parks_and_Resorts#Asian_.26_European_projects%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Did I miss something or is just a stupid joke. Usually I don't trust Wikipedia since everybody can edit the articles, but I thought I will ask here if it is true.

I believe that's just a rumour. Nothing has been officially announced yet.

Quote from: "dagobert"I didn't want to open a new topic so I'm going to post it here.

I did some research on Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on Wikipedia and then I read this phrase:
In December 2009, Disney officially announced that the Disneyland Resort will add a new E ticket attraction in Frontierland that will be built upon the grounds of the new "Mickey's Bar-B-Que"

You will find it here: (You have to scroll down to FUTURE PROPERTIES - American Projects):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disne ... n_projects (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Parks_and_Resorts#Asian_.26_European_projects%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Did I miss something or is just a stupid joke. Usually I don't trust Wikipedia since everybody can edit the articles, but I thought I will ask here if it is true.

Yeah, that is just a rumor at this point and nothing has been officially announced yet. MiceAge.com has reported that two new E-Tickets are rumored for DL's upcoming 60th birthday. One would be located at the Festival Arena in Frontierland, and the other would replace Innoventions in Tomorrowland.

Thanks for the answers. I already thought that the attractions are just a rumour.

Silly Symphony Swings is almost near completion. It opens up pretty soon! Workers are now adding the finishing touches..

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7121.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7194.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7308.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7212.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7363.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7371.jpg)

new lampposts feature classic Donald and music note decorations

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7387.jpg)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7388.jpg)

at night, the new structure really sparkles!

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/875840576_Jycer-O.png)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/875840363_crmAB-O.png)

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/875840453_zb3cB-O-1.png)
- Dateline Disneyland

Looks great!

I'm really impressed! This single attraction is better themed than the whole TSPL. Maybe SSS costs the same amount of money like TSPL :lol: .

It looks really good! I think it would look better with more vibrant colours on the structure around it - it all seems a bit pale and faded. But it's still a million times better than Orange Stinger!

This looks so stylish and beautiful - very impressive and it fits so much better to the Pier theme than the Orange Stinger from before.

A great example of wrapping a simple "carnival ride" into great themening fitting to the area can make it Disney!

the entrance signs were installed yesterday

(//http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/nonob88/105885679-bf2b5c3fbfd9f166a8ee7fdda.jpg?t=1274825819)
- Twitter @TheDLGazette

(//http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/nonob88/105356532-92532b69a6efd0d31ce9f7930.jpg)
- Twitter @artimus

Take a look at the new "Disney California Adventure" logo:

(//http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/DCALogo462199LARGE.jpg)

Here you can see it again and there is also the new TV spot of WoC:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... 9-tv-spot/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/first-look-new-%E2%80%98world-of-color%E2%80%99-tv-spot/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Isn't it a bit similar to;
(//http://i.pbase.com/v3/95/556095/2/45145438.DLMickeysToontownSign5.jpg)

It does look a bit toony doesn't it... would prefer something a bit classier.

I love the work that has gone into Silly Symphony Swings. YouTube user Mint Crocodile has posted a video of the attraction.
[youtube:r0ojb5js]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRJDpr6JsiU&playnext_from=TL&videos=yiQbSh7zLFs&feature=sub[/youtube:r0ojb5js]

As for the new logo its alright but not sure about removing the 's from Disney. May need to change the title of this thread.

O0o0o the ride looks really amazing classical and classy maybe if were lucky something like this would make its way into fantasyland i reckon it would fit perfectly

Looks amazing, but the time you're actually on the ride is not more that just one minute! :O

Diisney finally announce officially why the name change!
From D23!

QuoteDisney or Disney's?
A big topic on people's minds was the park name change from Disney's California Adventure to Disney California Adventure, which Disneyland President George Kalogridis eloquently explained to D23. "I don't know that it's a lot of science. In the transformation process, we believe it's better to talk about California as more of a state of mind. So California Adventure is an ongoing adventure, and it's presented by Disney. That's why it's not possessive in terms of 'this is our interpretation of California.' It's more [than that]. We are presenting a story about the adventure of life in California, which is ever-evolving, as is Disneyland. Which is why Disneyland is called Disneyland, not Disney's Land."

Quote from: "dagobert"Take a look at the new "Disney California Adventure" logo:

(//http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/DCALogo462199LARGE.jpg)

Here you can see it again and there is also the new TV spot of WoC:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... 9-tv-spot/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/first-look-new-%E2%80%98world-of-color%E2%80%99-tv-spot/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

I know it's a bit late but I've been away so I'm still catching up.

I agree with RnRCj the new logo does look a bit too cartoony for me.  Here's a little photoshop I just did with Mr. Basic Times New Roman, I think something like this would be been nicer and more classy.
(//http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4982/dca.jpg) (//http://img96.imageshack.us/i/dca.jpg/)

It might look cartoony because it's based on the logo from the old cartoons

QuoteWith the park taking on early 20th century themes, the new logo makes sense for the park's new direction. The new logo borrows from early Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck cartoon title cards, which fits with the time period and the new infusion of Disney characters at California Adventure.

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-31-10/cartoontitles.jpg)

I think it looks great actually. Here it is in the new guide maps, the first map to feature the new logo:

(//http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/nonob88/img033-1.jpg)

Did anyone notice? Google updated their Maps satellite imagery for Anaheim. You can now see the World of Color stage and the construction of Cars Land.

(//http://www.imgdash.com/uploads/8de99fc4fd.png)

Carsland is really big. God to see that they updated the Anaheim site. Now it's time for Paris to see the finished ToT.

Being a California resident and passholder, I'm looking forward to the changes to the California Adventure (is it officially DISNEY California Adventure yet?)  However, I am disappointed they're changing the look of the entrance.  Many (including myself) love the signature "CALIFORNIA" letters and the feeling of stepping into a postcard.  

I've known about these changes for awhile now and completely believe that Disney will make every effort to make the changes wonderful.  But, I've seen the early concept images of what the entrance will look like and it seems to be a copycat of Hollywood Studios, FL.  Such a shame to be trading something wonderful and unique for something that's already been done.

Walls are now up for the upcoming Paradise Garden dining complex - it will feature an expanded outdoor dining courtyard in a lush garden setting and two new restaurants.

(//http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/06-14-10/IMG_0038.jpg)

New walls featuring Classic Mickey were added this week

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/1001147346_keTTn-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/1001148130_AQCa7-M.jpg)

(//http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/nonob88/x3tkqe.jpg)

The Maliboomer closed for good this week. The attraction will be removed and a new Victorian-themed park will take its place. The new construction walls feature classic Mickey and pals in a lush park setting:

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/1001149684_YS4FP-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/1001150455_zrr3Z-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/1001150021_6pc7D-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/1001155229_J3hsQ-M.jpg)

^ Love this picture!

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/1001150861_xozUu-M.jpg)

"We're planning a lush new park just for you. Stroll on by in Summer 2011."

I like these themed construction walls. In Paris they just use the green ones. Finally another ugly attraction has to go.

Take a look at this Animated DCA Park Map:

[youtube:3uwarpx2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JtfvY-_Md8&feature=related[/youtube:3uwarpx2]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... mated-map/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/01/new-blue-sky-cellar-show-previews-little-mermaid-and-unveils-an-animated-map/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Quote from: "DreamDisneyVacations"Being a California resident and passholder, I'm looking forward to the changes to the California Adventure (is it officially DISNEY California Adventure yet?)  However, I am disappointed they're changing the look of the entrance.  Many (including myself) love the signature "CALIFORNIA" letters and the feeling of stepping into a postcard.  

I've known about these changes for awhile now and completely believe that Disney will make every effort to make the changes wonderful.  But, I've seen the early concept images of what the entrance will look like and it seems to be a copycat of Hollywood Studios, FL.  Such a shame to be trading something wonderful and unique for something that's already been done.

True, the new DCA entrance is a copy of DHS in Florida but that entrance is a copy of the Pan Pacific Auditorium in LA (which burned down several years ago) - a classic deco design building that is suited to DHS.  Check out the movie "Xanadu" which ultised the Pan Pacific

MintCrocodile has a full update of all the new additions at the Blue Sky Cellar, including new Buena Vista St. art, new details on the Little Mermaid attraction, and lots more:

LINK to pictures: http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2011/ ... -more.html (http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2011/01/blue-sky-cellar-little-mermaid-and-more.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

And here's the new video that's currently playing at the cellar's Screening Room

[youtube:f7jyh69c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhgdWYUbBFo[/youtube:f7jyh69c]

Woah woah woah. Hold up :-) I love Imagineering and seeing the official construction videos that Disney puts out, but my BS detector just went off. When you listen to these Imagineers speak, do you ever get the feeling that they've been given a script written by marketing? A lot of their dialogue comes across as totally fake and insincere. They use a billion words to basically say nothing, and I quote:

"What I think guests will enjoy the most about this attraction is, they are under the sea with ariel and all of her friends, and they're gonna be so up close that they're gonna feel like they're part of this environment. Our ride vehicles are beautifully coloured clam shells, and you're actually going to be part of the scene, not just watching it. So coming through this scene, as as matter of fact, you're gonna be a colourful shell, just like the colours that you see here. And I think that's going to be wonderful because you're gonna be right in it."

Colourful, shells, scene, colourful, shells, scene, colourful, shells, scene, etc :-)

I''ve still got my fingers crossed for the Walt Disney Studios makeover project.

Quote from: "Alan"Woah woah woah. Hold up :-) I love Imagineering and seeing the official construction videos that Disney puts out, but my BS detector just went off. When you listen to these Imagineers speak, do you ever get the feeling that they've been given a script written by marketing? A lot of their dialogue comes across as totally fake and insincere. They use a billion words to basically say nothing, and I quote:

"What I think guests will enjoy the most about this attraction is, they are under the sea with ariel and all of her friends, and they're gonna be so up close that they're gonna feel like they're part of this environment. Our ride vehicles are beautifully coloured clam shells, and you're actually going to be part of the scene, not just watching it. So coming through this scene, as as matter of fact, you're gonna be a colourful shell, just like the colours that you see here. And I think that's going to be wonderful because you're gonna be right in it."

Colourful, shells, scene, colourful, shells, scene, colourful, shells, scene, etc :-)

Did you know that if you work for disney you have to do a school for speach? if you listen to every imagineer, ceo ect.
all sound like the same, but that´s the disney standart. they have to talk like this. wired i know....

QuoteI''ve still got my fingers crossed for the Walt Disney Studios makeover project.

I don´t think this will hapen, just putting in more new rides to make the park more mish mash... as so many people on here say, DLP don´t have the money to something like this, and i don´t think TWDC will pay anyithing right now because of shanghai disneyland.

You are so right, I've never paid attention to their talking, but they all speak in the same way. I didn't know that they have to attend such speaking courses.

I also don't think that WDS will get a makeover. TWDC isn't interested in DLRP and now all their efforts are going into the new Shanghai DL. I would be very happy, if WDS would at least get Ratatouille and if Disney would refurbish such effects like the geysers. It seems ED SCA has to fight on their own to improve the resort. Compared to Hong Kong, Anaheim and Orlando Paris is neglected by TWDC.

Of course it is, the spending sadly is not as high, and the vast majority of guests do not realise what they are missing out on. I mean half the so called fans on this board seem to defend the walmarting, TSPL installing, toons everywhere mentality. Where is the incentive for them? If they can roll out another train of teenagers in rubber heads and it makes the DLP guests happy, they have won.

QuoteI don´t think this will hapen, just putting in more new rides to make the park more mish mash... as so many people on here say, DLP don´t have the money to something like this, and i don´t think TWDC will pay anyithing right now because of shanghai disneyland.

QuoteI also don't think that WDS will get a makeover. TWDC isn't interested in DLRP and now all their efforts are going into the new Shanghai DL. I would be very happy, if WDS would at least get Ratatouille and if Disney would refurbish such effects like the geysers. It seems ED SCA has to fight on their own to improve the resort. Compared to Hong Kong, Anaheim and Orlando Paris is neglected by TWDC.

Very true. In reality it probably will never happen, and if it does it wont be for a long time. But hey - there's always wisful thinking....  

TWDC own so much of ED SCA, so surely they have input into things that ED SCA do? No? I've never had a great understading of how things work in Paris.

I also don't really know how things work between TWDC and ED SCA. I know that TWDC owns 39.8% of Euro Disney S.C.A., but when you read the Annual Report of TWDC, it says that TWDC owns 51% of the voting or legal shares.

TWDC Annual Report also says: The Company manages and has effective ownership interests of 51% and 47%, respectively, in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

So I don't know how important the stake in ED SCA is. I also don't know if TWDC can invest money in DLRP for new attractions. Maybe they have to renagotiate the agreements withs banks and other shareholders so that TWDC is able to spend money on DLRP. I know that SM was completely funded by TWDC and not by ED SCA.

If you look on the Group Overview of DLRP, there are so mayn companys, either fully owned by TWDC or owned by ED SCA, it is really hard to figure out how everything works.
http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/co ... ndex.xhtml (http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance/index.xhtml%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Very interesting - thank you, dagobert!

Here's a better discription: Taken from TWDC Annual Report.

The Company has a 51% effective ownership interest in Disneyland Paris, a 5,510-acre development located in
Marne-la-Vallée, approximately 20 miles east of Paris, France, which has been developed pursuant to a master agreement with French governmental authorities. The Company manages and has a 40% equity interest in Euro Disney S.C.A., a publicly-traded French entity that is the holding company for Euro Disney Associés S.C.A., the primary operating company of Disneyland Paris. Euro Disney S.C.A. and its subsidiaries operate Disneyland Paris, which includes two theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park); seven themed hotels; convention centers; a shopping, dining and entertainment complex; and a 27-hole golf facility. Of the 5,510 acres comprising the site, approximately half has been developed to date, which includes the Val d'Europe development discussed below. An indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company is responsible for managing Disneyland Paris. Euro Disney S.C.A. is required to pay royalties and management fees to the Company based on the operating performance of the resort.

She may sound strange because it's an official Disney video and it may or may not be scripted. Here are two new video from the Blue Sky Cellar, featuring presentations from Imagineers. You'll notice they sound like "real" people when they're speaking to a live audience ;)

QuoteWalt Disney Imagineers Alex Grayman and Lisa Girolami spoke at the Blue Sky Cellar Refresh media event held at the Disney California Adventure Park last Thursday. Grayman is a show designer and has worked on the Monster's Inc. and Disney Animation attractions. Girolami is a director and senior show producer on The Little Mermaid -- Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction

First video is Imagineer Alex Grayman going over the new additions to the Cellar

[youtube:h0p3qnj6]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOH6r2Wez30[/youtube:h0p3qnj6]

And here's Imagineer Lisa Girolami, discussing the new Mermaid attraction

[youtube:h0p3qnj6]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm7ly4m74aM[/youtube:h0p3qnj6]

Videos are from MousePlanet: http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=812 (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=812%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

LaughingPlace.com has the best video. They've got the full 25:55 Blue Sky Cellar Presentation.

[youtube:24z6035r]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwI8Ch5KYms&feature=feedu[/youtube:24z6035r]

The official Disney Parks Blog has posted a wonderful picture of the expansion progress:

(//http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/5727081371_c21ff4a2f0_o.jpg)

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... ky-cellar/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/new-disney-california-adventure-updates-coming-to-blue-sky-cellar/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

It all looks great, doesn't it? I would really like to go back to California, it's just, the flight tickets are £700 per person alone! So that's £1400 for two adults to simply get there, before you've even booked a hotel room, bought Disney park tickets, and budgeted spending money for food!

Put another way, flying from London to Los Angeles is approximately 10x the cost of travelling from London to Paris on the Eurostar. Suddenly Disneyland Paris doesn't seem so bad :-)

You get what you pay for ;)

In all seriousness though, Disneyland is my fav resort and I am trying to get to Tokyo, but the sacrifices are just too high. Still, I would rather go to California than Florida.

But £700? When are you looking? It was only £420 when I was looking earlier this year.

I just bought some for 750 Euros per person for October (Frankfurt--> San Franscisco,  Las Vegas --> Frankfurt).

The expansion areas looks huge from above.

The official Disney Parks Blog has posted a new video of Paradise Pier:

[youtube:18p393on]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGvOiiVnVuA[/youtube:18p393on]

I still don't like Goofy's Sky School. In my opinion it doesn't look so much better than Mulholland Madness. They should have gotten rid of the whole structure.

The restaurant on the other hand looks great.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... gineering/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/behind-the-scenes-at-paradise-pier-with-walt-disney-imagineering/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Thanks for the video. Pizza OwMowMow was actually quite well themed, though the garden aspects will be very welcome. Mulholland Madness however was not a great choice (MACK ride, but really not a good choice for Disney). But this retheme is lipstick on a pig really, and is not real step up at all. What are they thinking?

Screamscape.com has posted a video of the new DCA entrance:

[youtube:xaty4gum]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVqhxR9QmSw[/youtube:xaty4gum]

http://www.screamscape.com/html/disney_ ... isneyPlaza (http://www.screamscape.com/html/disney_s_california_adventure.htm#DisneyPlaza%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

So this is what Disney realy can do. This is a Place where i could sit for Hours and eat and soak in the atmosphere.
Paradise Garden is now Open to the Puplic, Look at this Pictures...

(//http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5231/5889746486_5476b0a560_z.jpg)
(//http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5889176729_c8b82bb2e5_z.jpg)
(//http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5889734454_6c956dd54b_z.jpg)
(//http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5199/5889163031_9efda8a132_z.jpg)
(//http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6049/5889159425_75d7534f79_z.jpg)

for more you can look at: //http://disneylandlive.com/2011/06/special-photo-report-paradise-garden/

Wow, that's so pretty. The restaurant looks amazing too, this makeover is really making me want to visit Cali.

Amazing! :D I'd love to be there and see it for myself!

Ok, so this entire DCA makeover project, when is it going to be finished? I read summer 2012, but is that true? Anybody know?

As i know yes... The next to open is Carsland and Buena Vista Street in 2012...
After those are open, they may beginn to start and change the Entrance to California Screamin, thats what i read...

Ok, so when in the summer is that? July 2012? August 2012?

They usually give these vague dates because they honestly don't know. It's in case any complications arise. That way, they won't have to say "we're delaying the opening for a month". :) If that were to happen, they'd get a lot of complaints because people may have booked their holidays just to go on the new rides and whatnot.

Firstly, I adore the new look area here, it's finally of a Disney standard, and reminds me a little of the area surrounding the Tree of Life at DAK, the detailing inside Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta is beautiful and I think may have taken some inspiration from the covered arcades from a certain other Disneyland Park..?

I don't have an issue with Sky School, I think they've done a good job of re-theming it, it makes no sense to remove it, you'd be hard pushed to get another ride of a similar 'thrill' level into it's area. Maybe they should just look at what they can do about the concrete slab it's on in future...

Regarding when the project finishes, there's a rumour that once it's done Phase 2 will start, with new rides/further re-themes, so the current changes are expected to end in 2012, but there's a chance they may continue. I'd expect something to turn up in Blue Sky Cellar soon..

The new DCA main entrance gates opened last week

A video tour of the new entrance

[youtube:161uneow]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCWqNNJBEw[/youtube:161uneow]

QuoteInspired by the iconic Pan Pacific Auditorium, the turnstiles will set the stage for the new Disney California Adventure park entrance. Buena Vista Street will transport guests to Los Angeles as Walt Disney found it when he first arrived in California, with buildings inspired by structures that existed during the 1920s and '30s – including the Pan Pacific Auditorium. A landmark structure in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, the auditorium was the premiere location for indoor public events until it closed after almost 40 years in 1972.

Designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm Wurdeman and Becket, the auditorium itself was a modest wooden structure with seating for only 6,000 people; however, the building's façade was hailed as one of the finest examples of Streamline Moderne architecture in the United States. The four stylized towers and flagpoles were meant to evoke upswept aircraft fins.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... ark-today/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/new-turnstiles-open-at-disney-california-adventure-park-today/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-NsZ8x3s/0/L/i-NsZ8x3s-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-xv53v3g/0/L/i-xv53v3g-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-Dp6DTrN/0/L/i-Dp6DTrN-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-8vpmHrf/0/L/i-8vpmHrf-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-VsVzcmT/0/L/i-VsVzcmT-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-8M9nLXN/0/L/i-8M9nLXN-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-GjgSkgN/0/L/i-GjgSkgN-M.jpg)

(//http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-Dgh4QL4/0/L/i-Dgh4QL4-M.jpg)

http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2011/ ... s-new.html (http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2011/07/disney-california-adventures-new.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

The Golden Gate Bridge replica will soon be replaced with a theme-appropriate bridge for the new Buena Vista Street:

Quote(//http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bvs444000SMALL.jpg)

As we mentioned on Friday, work began yesterday at Disney California Adventure park to transform the current Golden Gate Bridge at the park's entrance into a re-creation of the historic Glendale-Hyperion Bridge. The rendering above shows what the new bridge will look like when it is completed as part of the new Buena Vista Street area.

This new area will bring guests back in time to a classic era in the history of Los Angeles – when Walt Disney first arrived in California. You will practically walk in his footsteps through an environment inspired by iconic Los Angeles buildings and structures of the 1920s and '30s, like the Pan Pacific Auditorium (which served as the inspiration for the new park turnstiles that opened on Friday) and the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge.

In January 1926, Walt and Roy Disney moved the newly renamed Walt Disney Studios into its new facility – a one-story, white stucco building at 2719 Hyperion Ave. During the next few years, another Los Angeles landmark was taking shape just a few blocks down Hyperion Ave. – the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge. The bridge is a large, complex structure – still standing today and spanning Interstate 5 from Glendale, Calif., to the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles.

(//http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bvs111000SMALL.jpg)

The artist's rendering above shows the bridge as it will look next year when it is part of Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure park, with the Southern California Red Car Trolleys passing underneath and the Carthay Circle Theatre in the distance.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2 ... -landmark/ (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/historic-los-angeles-landmark-inspires-new-disney-california-adventure-park-landmark/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

Update: the Golden Zephyr has been removed from the Sunshine Plaza and donated to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum!

Quote from: "Mouseplanet"One of the often-overlooked details of Disney California Adventure was the highly detailed California Zephyr train that served as the exterior of the former Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream, Baker's Field Bakery, and Engine-Ears Toys. When the seating area and shade structure outside the complex were removed earlier this year, several MousePlanet readers remarked on how nice it was to finally be able to see the entire train, and the train station facade behind it. Unfortunately the train is not part of the new Buena Vista Street project, and the faux train cars are being removed as part of the renovation plan.

But while the train cars may have been replicas, the cab was not. Disney donated the 804-A cab, along with a collection of train memorabilia that was used as decor inside the three buildings, to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California. The cab was delivered to the museum this weekend, and we're awaiting word on when it will be put on display.

A picture from our 2008 trip to California:

(//http://imgdash.com/392b59ba.jpg)

Source (//http://www.mouseplanet.com/9709/Disneyland_Resort_Update#news2)

I love the new entrance - its the Pan Pacific Auditorium from my all-time favourate movie "Xanadu"!!

Oh, wow, the paradise gardens look amazing! So beautiful. I also love the theme of the entrance, very 50's diner feel that I get. =]  I would love something like this over here (I know we have Annettes, but a pier or something Mardi-Gras style.)  :)

Apparently Buena Vista Street, the new entrance to Disney California Adventure, is going to be completed in September 2012. That's still over a year away. I wonder exactly when in September it will open?

Not even they will know. They have to be vague in case there are any unexpected delays. :)

Quote from: alka1The new DCA main entrance gates opened last week

A video tour of the new entrance

[youtube:1mitcw8s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCWqNNJBEw[/youtube:1mitcw8s]

QuoteInspired by the iconic Pan Pacific Auditorium, the turnstiles will set the stage for the new Disney California Adventure park entrance. Buena Vista Street will transport guests to Los Angeles as Walt Disney found it when he first arrived in California, with buildings inspired by structures that existed during the 1920s and '30s – including the Pan Pacific Auditorium. A landmark structure in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, the auditorium was the premiere location for indoor public events until it closed after almost 40 years in 1972.

............and was eventually the victim of arson

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... m_fire.png (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/Pan-Pacific_Auditorium_fire.png%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)

[youtube:1swsya8r]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAjj18ey4GQ[/youtube:1swsya8r]

A Day at Disney California Adventure Park

This is a wonderful little new video tour of the park. I think it really shows the power of real, authentic, film footage and good editing to sell a real, authentic location as somewhere you actually want to visit. Yes, you know what I'm going to say: I wish Paris would do the same more often.

[youtube:1lvh1wgb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh99GSLcrLs[/youtube:1lvh1wgb]

@Anthony

Well said. That's exactly the point I was trying to make in the discussion 20th | 20th Anniversary (1st April 2012 - March 2013) when I said:

QuoteI really detest these kinds of adverts. They don't inspire you to visit, because they don't show you anything that's real. It's like Disney have no confidence in the reality of their parks.

But this California Adventure video is the exact opposite. Everything in this video is real, and exactly what you'd see if you visited the park yourself. There's no CGI fakery or weird compositing. It's 100% authentic.

Exactly what I thought, but then it's 3 times as long as the DLP TV spot of course.

What a great video! DLRP should definitely change their advertising agency. It wouldn't be a problem to shorten such a spot to use it for TV.

Quote from: "DopeyDad"Exactly what I thought, but then it's 3 times as long as the DLP TV spot of course.

yeah, and the american disney parks tv spots are not much different from ours. but the parisian resort should make more of this promotional video to broadcast online, like the disney parks blog does. to be fair, lately they did a better job in this, like that 20th anniversary featurette, and the Molly Brown rededication video. But they should do more stuff about the park itself, other than these special events. it would be pretty cheap and really effective, i think.

 Q

Here's a look at the new "Minnie's Fly Girls Charter Airlines" show at Condor Flats...

[youtube:2xhom8yh]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1S9FbUQRXo[/youtube:2xhom8yh]

Cars Lands is to open 15th June!!! :D  :D  :D .....and Buena Vista Street

Quote from: "mattboywonder"Cars Lands is to open 15th June!!! :D  :D  :D .....and Buena Vista Street

I wish I could be there on the 15th. I think it will be great  :D

And, to prepare (and give the media a sneak preview), the park will be closed June 14th.

SPOILERS!

The first few on-ride videos from Radiator Springs Racers have been appearing, and my goodness does the ride look impressive! The character AA's look incredible, and the ride seems near perfect, gives me a lot of hope for the Test Track overlay.

DON'T WATCH THIS IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE RIDE A SURPRISE!
[spoiler:3fu5xpga][youtube:3fu5xpga]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucx2wVM2cWY[/youtube:3fu5xpga][/spoiler:3fu5xpga]

Now, with only 2 Resorts without a Test Track ride base attraction, will Paris get one in the near future? We can hope!

Quote from: "Scissorsboi"SPOILERS!

The first few on-ride videos from Radiator Springs Racers have been appearing, and my goodness does the ride look impressive! The character AA's look incredible, and the ride seems near perfect, gives me a lot of hope for the Test Track overlay.

DON'T WATCH THIS IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE RIDE A SURPRISE!
[spoiler:dh5ryplo][youtube:dh5ryplo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucx2wVM2cWY[/youtube:dh5ryplo][/spoiler:dh5ryplo]

Now, with only 2 Resorts without a Test Track ride base attraction, will Paris get one in the near future? We can hope!

I do not like "Cars" so much, but this is absolutely fantastic ride! Details are amazing! I want it in DLP  =D>

Gonna try and upload my photos of the DCA grand re-opening day in the next few days - it was amazing :thumbs:

I hope the major success that DCA is having encourages them to think about duplicating some of it at WDS (e.g. Buena Vista Street, Hollywoodland, etc). I wonder if they'd consider this, or would be too keen on keeping DCA an exclusive experience at DLR.