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So, uh - where's the entrance again?</center>
Opening on 8 February, 2001 to mixed reviews, the park was adjacent to the existing Disneyland Park in Anaheim and the first major expansion of the Disneyland Resort, California.
When the park first opened, people were less than impressed. A lack of substantial rides and poor comparisons to the mighty Walt Disney World saw low attendance figures. The popular perception of DCA's attendance looks like this:
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(I should point out that I took that before opening. Then again, that would spoil the fun).</center>
However, upon my return to old Sydney town, I found myself thinking about Disneyland Resort a fair bit, and much of the memory of DCA was quite favourable.
The central problems that most people have with DCA is that it is either:
1) lacking rides/not for kids
2) lacking a cohesive theme.
At first glance, it is hard to argue with either of those things, especially in comparison to the other parks - including the one a few hundred metres next door. The latter is a harder one to muster an argument against, so I will address that later. First up, let's have a look at the rides and attractions.
Rides and Attractions - How Much is Enough?
So you've probably already been to Disneyland Park by the time you wander over to DCA, probably on your second or third day. You've squeezed in all the big exciting rides that sit on top of each other in the main park, and you are pumped for more Disney action. Instead you find a sparsely populated old-style amusement park.
DCA is divided into four main areas: Hollywood Backlot; Golden State; A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier. Between those areas, there are over 30 attractions/rides in the park, although this is admittedly a far cry from the 50+ attractions/rides in the original park, and a further cry from the WDW complex.
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Tower of Terror - Don't look down, don't argue with it.</center>
Like most people, we went straight to the Tower of Terror, possibly the biggest crowd-drawer in the park. It can be seen well beyond the borders of the park, including the window of my hotel (Radisson) on my second stay. Again, I've heard this is not as good as the Floridian one, but when you are dropping 13 floors at that speed, who really cares? This ride alone should ensure the crowds in DCA.
Soarin' Over California is an equally fun ride, with its senses-fooling trip over the fair state. It is also hard to argue that there aren't any thrills there when California Screamin'; Grizzly River Run; the Maliboomer; Mulholland Madness and the aforementioned Tower of Terror are all on the premises.
For kids, A Bug's Land is just brilliant. Whether it is Flik's Flyers (Dumbo in a box); Francis' Ladybug Boogie (teacups without the drugs) or Heimlich's Chew Chew Train. The forthcoming Mike & Sulley/Monsters Inc. ride in the Backlot is sure to draw in the little ones as well. Muppet Vision 3D and It's Tough to Be a Bug are also top-notch interactive 3D shows (well, interactive in the sense you get sprayed and prodded), up there with the equivalent 3D shows in the primary park. It is hard to argue that this isn't for kids when there is an entire section DEDICATED to the little ones. I still managed to have fun in there.
The animation building; the Aladdin musical spectacular and the 'discovery' areas of DCA should be enough to keep adults and fans happy too. Speaking of the animation building, Turtle Talk with Crush is another fine example of kiddie based entertainment.
No cohesive theme?
Another aspect of the park is that is often criticised is the lack of a "theme" holding it all together. Disneyland has a seamless transition from Fantasyland through Tomorrowland and so forth, where the wide open spaces of DCA seem to clearly demarcate the lands and make it appear to be four separate and distinct areas, rather than one cohesive whole.
California is a large and diverse state. The park represents this size and diversity. One of the aspects of DCA that is often overlooked is the sheer beauty of some parks of the park. Standing down on the Paradise Pier and looking back at the Golden State section, you'd be forgiven for swelling up at the faux beauty of it all:
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Purty, ain't it?</center>
Although the park doesn't seem to have one theme in it, nor does California. As the official sitesays: "From the gold rush to Hollywood's golden era to the timeless allure of the beach, discover the vast and diverse Golden State." The park certainly fulfils that part of the bargain.
Finally, the biggest argument that can be made for DCA is that it is one of the few Disney park where alcohol can be consumed on the premises:
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Tasty treats await. Mmm....beverage.</center>
The park is still growing, and may yet see huge attendance figures. Like California itself, it started from humble beginnings and has grown into something grand.
So that's it for my humble little tribute to an underrated theme park. Feel free to ignore, but I'd like to hear some other shout outs of love for this park. Surely I'm not the only one to think it was great?
The defence rests, your Honour.
). We've done Playhouse Disney once, but I know I couldn't sit through it again. I've seen Aladdin twice now and it's a good show, but not something I care to see again. Plus, I could never get over that one extra in the cast riding around in her electric wheelchair. I'm all for equal-oppurtunity employment and all, but the electric wheelchair in ancient Agrabah is way out of place.
jk jk)...
