Rumors, Facts, and Lies....Al 5/9/06

[Maxdad]

Actually, I like the non-attraction areas. Disneyland has them too. They serve as nice buffer areas, where you can get away from the throng.

It's like white space in an ad. It makes the attraction more of an attraction.

[jonvn]

But, really, what does that matter if the park as a whole has plenty?

Because what happens is that it creates areas that are kind of dead. And if you have dead areas in the park, it affects the whole thing.

If they had built the original place smaller, with the same number of attractions, but with lesser themed areas, it would have seemed a lot more full and busy.

Actually, I like the non-attraction areas. Disneyland has them too. They serve as nice buffer areas, where you can get away from the throng.

This is true, but these areas are relatively small compared to what is around them. Say, like the old Motorboat load area. That's a nice place to hang out, but it's not like there is an entire area that really just has no reason to be.

[Maxdad]

Originally Posted by jonvn

This is true, but these areas are relatively small compared to what is around them. Say, like the old Motorboat load area. That's a nice place to hang out, but it's not like there is an entire area that really just has no reason to be.

When you exit Thunder Mountain, and walk toward Fantasyland, that entire area to the left that used to be part of the Natures Wonderland train now just sits, without development. And I hope it sits for some time like that, because it's a beautiful buffer area... but it certainly could be developed. The land area is huge.

The DCA areas are similar, in that they are large areas dedicated to attractions that didn't attract... such as the bountiful farm education area, or the trail behind GRR. So now, they just sit, abandoned and looking pretty. I guess people no longer find education amusing.... and if the posters on these threads are any indication, if it don't thrill, then the park is no good.

But I like DCA the way it is: with some rides, some open areas, some thrills, some kid stuff, and a very laid back atmosphere. To me, the California theme is perfect. Laid Back and fun.

[disneyfreak62]

My concern about The Incredibles, if it uses this "Robo-Coaster" system, is it might exclude many guests. Similar to, but not as extreme as Mission Space, the movements might scare off many people. I'm also sure it''ll have a larger height requirement, excluding many children. Test Track, only has a height requirement of "40. From the looks of this sysytem, it might go as high as "44. Now, I think an Incredibles ride would be great, but would DCA be better served by an attraction that was more inclusionary.

[KNRG]

I would sure as hell hope that the problems with M:S trickled up the stream and back to the designers. Concept-wise it wasn't a bad idea at all, the problem being the concept and execution varied greatly in their guest inclusion.

As far as attraction-less space, it simply needs some sort of purpose. Epcot sustains an area the size of a normal theme park (world showcase) on 2 rides, 3 movies, 1 animatronic show, and lots of restaurants and live entertainment.

I know too much about DCA's "dead space" but I do know at Epcot each pavilion features some sort of entertainment - a show, a museum, shopping - something. Italy is really nothing more than a series of shops featuring food stuffs and Gucci/Versace, a restautant, and a cart that sells espresso. But look at the poll on this website - it's the favorite of the World Showcase foodwise.

[disneyfreak62]

Originally Posted by KNRG

...the problem being the concept and execution varied greatly in their guest inclusion....

This is my concern. Especially with an attraction based on The Incredibles, which children LOVE. Be a shame if many kids couldn't ride due to an elevated height requirement.

[MagicWDI]

Originally Posted by disneyfreak62

My concern about The Incredibles, if it uses this "Robo-Coaster" system, is it might exclude many guests. Similar to, but not as extreme as Mission Space, the movements might scare off many people. I'm also sure it''ll have a larger height requirement, excluding many children. Test Track, only has a height requirement of "40. From the looks of this sysytem, it might go as high as "44. Now, I think an Incredibles ride would be great, but would DCA be better served by an attraction that was more inclusionary.

I don't believe WDI has the intent in utilizing this system in the same manner the original designers had in mind when creating this system. I believe WDI is more interested in the arm mechanics more so than the idea of using a coaster track, which leads me to believe the track system will be vastly different than what is shown in that system concept art. I think WDI is using this tech among sets and scenes so the arm will most likely have to stop or travel in slow controlled speeds, something that is more or less unlikely with a coaster track. I would hope WDI is smarter than creating a hybrid version of the Mummy ride.

Of course that is what I have come to believe.

[ismael flores]

The worst cuplrit in DCA is the long strech from the entrance to the pier area. Yes i know that Bugsland is half way thru that path but they made the mistake of building the entrance of FFF so far back that it defeated the purpouse and now you have a large garden area with little to do or see now. At least before the gardens actually had interesting things growing.

I think that is why Incredibles needs to get approved quickly. If from what i understand the atraction would use some of the existing farm area near including the farmers market.

This would definately give that area more traffic.

[Dodds]

Originally Posted by doppio

Seeing the glass half full...........like saying I can only see half of the powerline poles. LOL. Flippin' ugly.

Original plans for a second gate did call for the powerlines to either be buried or pushed back further, but due to budget cuts......well you know.

Excuse....."Since it's a park about California, who cares if you can see the real California."
What a load of crap.

Like the song says...."only in California"

Originally Posted by doppio

Not true. Wynn was able to block the strip from view in the middle of Las Vegas. Just takes some money and imagination. DCA wasn't built under these principles. Imagination costs too much.

I think you hit the nail right on the dot there. It is completely possible to block out the outside world. I can see no excuse why DCA has all these sight line problems and the only conclusion I can come to is the plans where fairly incompetently created.

Why wasn’t a berm built like the kind disneyland had when it opened? Does it cost too much to pile some dirt and plant tree’s on top of it? Yes it is possible to see the outside world when in disneyland but for one, it wasn’t that way when it was first opened, unlike DCA which has had these problems from day one, and two, you have to go out of your way to see these spots which isn’t required in DCA.

[TP2000]

Originally Posted by KNRG

As far as attraction-less space, it simply needs some sort of purpose. Epcot sustains an area the size of a normal theme park (world showcase) on 2 rides, 3 movies, 1 animatronic show, and lots of restaurants and live entertainment.

Very good point KNRG! World Showcase is a popular part of the WDW experience, and everyone who goes walks around the lagoon at least once.

I think part of the reason why World Showcase succeeds on such a feeble attractions roster, and why DCA stumbles with the same type of attraction lineup, or lack therof, is the design and theme you are experiencing when you are just wandering.

The "dead" areas at DCA aren't ugly, but they aren't unique or spectacular in any way. Maybe 25 years ago, before themed design really took off and became available in upscale hotels and shopping malls all over the world, the DCA dead areas would have been more succesful.

But now in the 21st century there are shopping malls within a 20 mile radius of DCA that are more heavily themed, that have more eye candy and are more attractive to look at, than broad stretches of DCA's offerings.

When you then add in the fact that they've shuttered several of the restaurants or amenities that these rather boring DCA areas were designed with in the first place, it really impacts the whole. (Mailuburitos, Farmers Market, Fortune Cookery, Hollywood & Dine, have all been closed for years and years now. They don't even put a "closed" sign in the window, they simply sit there empty and in mothballs. A few other locations only seem to operate about 30 days out of the year, and then only for about 4 hours a day. The ice cream shop on Paradise Pier and the Date Shake stand in the Farm are the worst culprits)

Plus, there's a couple of small attraction offerings that they operate in simply an amateurish way.

The Seasons of the Vine show is the WORST, as it has no dedicated CM on staff. If you want to see the movie in the faux barrel room with big closed doors, you have to know to go over to the nearby wine bar and ask a CM if you can watch the show. If they have the staffing available, they'll send a CM over to open the doors and push the start button. The average tourist from Idaho wandering by this closed building is somehow supposed to have telepathic powers to know that there is an attraction in there and they have to walk across the patio and ask the bartender to start the show. Amazing, yet true.