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MeganPierce
04-24-2004, 03:09 AM
I am going to DL for my first time next month. I have been to WDW a couple of times. I am just wondering why I have read a lot of negative comments about DCA and am wondering why. Based on what I have read it seems like there are some nice rides in the park. Is it the way the park is layed out, the food and shopping or just in general the lack of Disney feel? Thanks.

Darren
04-24-2004, 06:32 AM
While I do enjoy spending time at DCA, I understand those who don't like it. to me, the easiest way to say it is this... The theming is either lame or non-existent in many areas. I enjoy Malibbomer, but there is no theming at all. Same with Screaming and many others. some rides have nice theming, TOT(I've heard) and Grizzley River Run. Soaring is nice but again I find the theming lacking.


In a word theming.

Mickeyslittlehelper
04-24-2004, 08:58 AM
When I first went, in 2002, I enjoyed it very much. I would look forward to going to DCA. I still hope to go. I think the people that are upset with it dont realize that it was built on a parking lot. I think the theming is good, and with the addition of the ToT, this is one of the best parks. But... you cannot compare anything to DL!

ralfrick
04-24-2004, 09:07 AM
If you use the search function on these boards, you will find more opinions about DCA than you could possibly read in only a month.

dlazechk
04-24-2004, 10:05 AM
1. because it is not disneyland and there are many romantics here.
2. the ride experiences are good but due to the lack of 'disney theming' the rides are not memory long lasting. i talked to a girl who had been to dca once and was going back. the only ride she remembered as being good was screamin'. i mentioned other rides and she remembered soaring and the smell of lemons, grizzly - wonderful water ride, mulholland - great and so on. it turned out that she thought there were at least 8 wonderul rides at dca but she only remembered screamin'. this contributes to the dislike of dca which is unfounded in my opinion.

Not Afraid
04-24-2004, 10:16 AM
Because it's hot - too much cement and not enough trees.

Because it gets old very easily.

It doesn't have much charm.

It doesn't have much imagination.

I don't "hate" DCA, I just don't go there very often - and when I do, it's usually to eat. It's gets beoring rather quickly. That never happens to DL. They could've done so much better.

cemeinke
04-24-2004, 10:22 AM
Becasue they promised us Westcot (http://members.tripod.com/~savehorizons/westcot1.htm) and instead we got a theme park about California in California :rolleyes:

Disney Vault
04-24-2004, 10:31 AM
why didnt they end up building westcot?

And my thoughts on DCA- it doesnt have the same feel of other disney theme parks. However i like DCA more than universal studios in CA or any six flags park. Some people wont agree but DCA still has a little disney feel with a little magic while other parks have none so that puts it ahead in my book.

Kevy Baby
04-24-2004, 10:35 AM
I think the people that are upset with it dont realize that it was built on a parking lot.DL was built on orange groves and WDW was built on a swamp. What it was built ON has nothing to do with it.

The complete lack of imagination, theming and wonder is why DCA is disliked. It is not at all an immersive experience that allws one to get lost in a fantasy. Yes, there are "rides" to go on (and I do like Screamin', Soarin', ToT and others), but with the exception of ToT, these are simply things to do - moments if you will. Disney was not about moments, but about experiences. DCA is not an experience.

When I am in Disneyland, it doesn't matter to me if I actually *do* anything. Just simply being there is magic enough. I am transported to another plane, another consciousness. Being able to experience an attraction is just icing on the cake. Its not about "thrill rides". Think about it: the singulary most popular attractions, HM, PotC, iasw, et. al. are not all that thrilling of rides. Its all about the experience, from before you even get in line to after you exit. Space Mountain would be a marginal roller coaster if you put it outdoors and without its theming.

So to the OP (and any other infrequent visitors), take some time to go to DCA. It is worth checking out (especially ToT - that atraction rocks!!!). But I would plan on DCA being only a 1/3 - 1/4 of your time at DLR.

adriennek
04-24-2004, 11:36 AM
Because it's not as friendly for my family. My children can't ride many of the rides because they're too small. Some of the rides they're able to ride are often shut down. The attractions geared towards kids are inefficient loaders so their lines tend to be long.

This is on-top of other points made by others (too much cement, not enough trees or shade, not as much imagination, etc.)

There's a lot more for us to do at Disneyland.

And yet they charge the same admission price.

Adrienne

SCUBAbe
04-24-2004, 11:36 AM
I like DCA. Yesm it feels different than D-Land, but I expect it to. Iy's not D-land. When I walk into DCA I feel excited and a bit energized I also love the wider walk ways. When D-land gets to crowded I head to DCA to get away from it. DCA may be crowded also, but the wide walk ways make it easier to get around the slow people.

When I walk inot disneyland I feel relaxed, like I came home kind of feeling. I love disneyland, beacuse of that. However I like both parks just as much, but for different reasons.

Also, because DCA is small it's wasy to do everything I want to do by noon on non busy days.....somethimes we go there have lunch ride a ride or two and then just stroll around....I use to love the farm area, but it seems they have given up on chaging the crops out. I use to love to see what new stuff was growing.

SCUBAbe
04-24-2004, 11:42 AM
Because it's not as friendly for my family. My children can't ride many of the rides because they're too small. Some of the rides they're able to ride are often shut down. The attractions geared towards kids are inefficient loaders so their lines tend to be long.



This may be another reason I like it. There's not as many kids. I really don't have patience for children. I only had one and realized that was not for me. She's 13 now and we can really have fun together...but when she was little she had fun when we went, but I didnt as much. Now we both do...it's so cool!

adriennek
04-24-2004, 11:45 AM
why didnt they end up building westcot?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Adrienne

The Mouse Is Back
04-24-2004, 12:16 PM
My daughter likes a few of the rides over there, and we both enjoy going on Soarin' Over California.

For me personally, the annoyance starts before I even get through the turnstile, since they apparently believe that music blaring so loudly that you can't hear yourself think, let alone hear the person next to you, is somehow a great idea. Both the music through the loudspeakers and DCA's a cappella group are TOO FRICKEN LOUD!!!!!!!!!!! It's a huge relief to get far enough away that my ears aren't being assaulted.

Also, as bad as the in-your-face merchandising is at DL, it's even worse at DCA.

And finally (at least for this post), the obvious lack of attention, poor planning and hasty construction of DCA makes me mad.



-Allegra-

KeithOfTerror
04-24-2004, 01:45 PM
Short Answer: Because it sucks.

Long Answer: It has it's small charms, notably Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the free tortillas at the Mission Tortilla Factory, and the truly great Soaring Over California. But it is simply not an experience most people need.

Two classes of people visit Disneyland: CA residents who come quite a bit and may have AP's, and tourists visiting CA from Ohio, Michigan, etc.

For CA residents, bot Disney magic and realism are missing. We (I'm from SoCal and I'm moving back, so ignore my location plaque) don't see redwoods and grizzlies and shining vineyards on a daily basis, we see crackhouses and drive-bys. So the "Magic of California" is somewhat lost on us.

For tourists, DCA is, to quote Fight Club, like watching pornography when you could be having great sex (forgive the vulgarity, but I'm going somewhere with this.) If you're visiting California, don't go to California Adventure.

GO SEE THE REAL CALIFORNIA

Go to Yosemite, Go to Seal Beach, Go to Hollywood, and live the real thing, not the plastic version of it.

After that bitter tirade I feel like I should go chop my finger off for some reason...

mrs_toad
04-24-2004, 02:30 PM
GO SEE THE REAL CALIFORNIA

Go to Yosemite, Go to Seal Beach, Go to Hollywood, and live the real thing, not the plastic version of it.

You forgot San Francisco, the Napa Valley and Monterey. But isn't that the whole idea on Eisner's part? Keep the tourists (and more importantly, their money) in Anaheim. Don't let them wander off and explore the other parts of California.

And I agree with The Mouse Is Back about the music. I'm no fuddy duddy...I love music, I blast it on my stereo at home and in my car. But going to DCA reminds me of shopping at Old Navy. It's so loud and intrusive, one can't concentrate or relax and enjoy the moment. And it's the same stuff playing over and over. I used to like some of those songs, but it's hard to listen to them now. I don't know how the CMs can stand it.

Visiting DCA reminds me too much of Paramount's Great America, an amusement park up here in NorCal. It's just cheesy and dissapointing. It's like Not Afraid said, it doesn't have much charm.

Grumpy4
04-24-2004, 02:33 PM
Why not DCA? Well, as others have said, theming and lack of budgets to make it great! Too expensive. There's not a lot to do for 50 bucks. If you drove all the way from somewhere and only had one day to spend, where would you go?

Why DCA? Uhh, the drinks of course! For those of us that enjoy the alcoholic beverage, this is the place to be. A cold beer on a hot day is key. I personally enjoy the Cove Bar on the weekends. Ahhh, lobster nachos. And the price is reasonable. I have been to other restaurants that charge way more for drinks. This surprises me because the D'land Resort is the place with the 4 dollar water. There are a few rides that are always worth going for-California Screamin', Soarin' Over California, and hopefully the new Tower of Terror.

To me, DCA is just something different to do with a slight Disney effect. The food is great and it can be more relaxing with fewer people. By far, Award Wieners has the best hot dogs!!

Wfoxx
04-24-2004, 04:56 PM
My hubby and I grew up in So Cal. We were at DL alot. When we move here to chicago 16 years ago, we started going to WDW. We went to DL and DCA last June for 4 days. We weren't impressed with DCA. It has none of the charm as DL. There are about 4 good rides but, we felt we were at a six flags instead of Disney, plus when we were there we had 13 ride break downs in 3 days. When you compare this park to Toyko's Disney Sea which was built at the same time as DCA. You can see how much DCA is lacking. The music is way too loud.

Disney Vault
04-24-2004, 06:07 PM
GO SEE THE REAL CALIFORNIA

Go to Yosemite, Go to Seal Beach, Go to Hollywood, and live the real thing
I guess we dont need to go to DL then when we should be going to the real New orleans or how about the real wild west or a real jungle.

Sometimes you dont want to real thing and you just want a happy plastic version. Thats what DL is and so is DCA. There just isnt enough depth for me at DCA yet but i think it will be great in a few years.

SCUBAbe
04-24-2004, 06:10 PM
For CA residents, bot Disney magic and realism are missing. We (I'm from SoCal and I'm moving back, so ignore my location plaque) don't see redwoods and grizzlies and shining vineyards on a daily basis, we see crackhouses and drive-bys. So the "Magic of California" is somewhat lost on us.


gee..I've lived in california my whole life and have never seen a crack house or a drive by...heard about them on the news, but thats in very poor areas....what part of california were you from? I can think of three cities off the top of my head, but I won't guess....I'm sorry you had to see such terrible things...I find california very magical. The nore I visit other states the more I appreciate where I'm from. There's good and bad everywhere....I've thought about moving to FL, but the humidity would be to harsh for me...

Ghoulish Delight
04-24-2004, 06:24 PM
I guess we dont need to go to DL then when we should be going to the real New orleans or how about the real wild west or a real jungle.

Sometimes you dont want to real thing and you just want a happy plastic version. Thats what DL is and so is DCA. There just isnt enough depth for me at DCA yet but i think it will be great in a few years.There's a difference. Within the scaled down re-creation of these real places at Disneyland are unique experiences. You can't go anywhere else and float through the middle of a pirate battle, you can't pick up a hitchiking ghost anywhere else, you can't help Indy escape from an angry God, you can't ride a runaway mine car train anywhere else (other Disney parks excluded, of course, but that's another discussion).

Whereas I can ride a REAL wooden coaster in many different places, I can see a REAL hollywood studio, I can go to a REAL farm, I can ride carnival rides anywhere. I can go and see REAL sequoias, not just walk around on a jungle gym. DCA offers very little in the way of unique experiences that can't be gotten outside its gates. Disneyland does.

ToT is a step in the right direction, but the park has a long way to go still.

CoasterMatt
04-24-2004, 07:04 PM
This morning on the way to work, I smelled burnt coffee beans - the first thing that sprang to mind was "It smells just like DCA" :)

Disney Vault
04-24-2004, 07:23 PM
And to who ever said they dont like DCA because there are no tree... take a look at this picture http://www.justdisney.com/images/Disneyland/aerial/aerial.jpg Disneyland didnt have many trees at first either so give it some time.

Disney Vault
04-24-2004, 07:26 PM
There's a difference. Within the scaled down re-creation of these real places at Disneyland are unique experiences.
So your saying its the ride not the lands.
And i agree DCA need a ton more rides. But i felt the same way about disney studios, disneys animal kingdom and epcot. They all needed more rides too but they are all still way better than DCA so there nust be another reason.

KeithOfTerror
04-24-2004, 07:33 PM
I guess we dont need to go to DL then when we should be going to the real New orleans or how about the real wild west or a real jungle.

Sometimes you dont want to real thing and you just want a happy plastic version. Thats what DL is and so is DCA. There just isnt enough depth for me at DCA yet but i think it will be great in a few years.

That's not at all the same thing. If Disneyland were really in New Orleans, or if it really were the old west, or if it were in the Congo, I'd say the same thing.