SimpTwister
12-21-2001, 12:22 PM
Besides the Farm, Paradise Pier is the area of DCA that gets the most criticism.
Many people are against the whole idea of a re-creation of a carnival in a Disney park. I disagree.
I think the problem with Paradise Pier lies not in the core concept, but in the fact that the themeing wasn't taken far enough.
'A Seaside Amusement Park' is hardly a theme at all. The whole place is about as interesting as the Santa Monica Pier, except that Santa Monica has a real ocean.
Take that theme one step further, however, and the possibilities start to come to light. For example:
A Seaside Amusement Park...
...in 1910
...in 1928
...in 1940
...that is old and decrepit... and HAUNTED!
...that has been closed for a decade. It has only recently reopened. Some rides and structures are run-down, some are shiny and new. A few are in a (permanent) state of transition.
If they had so much as set a time period for PP to re-create, this area would be twice as interesting (and by extension, so would DCA).
They may have been going for 'timeless', but what they got was 'generic'.
To summarize: I personally see nothing inherently wrong with California Screamin', the Sun Wheel, King Triton's Carousel, and Golden Zephyr in DCA. The problem is, that's ALL they are: rides. No interesting setting, no theme, no story.
In the future, if PP is at the very least given an authentic 1920's treatment, with suitably intricate architecture, period costumes, and Disney-ized versions of classic rides (Dark Rides, Shoot-the-Chutes), DCA will be a much better park.
Many people are against the whole idea of a re-creation of a carnival in a Disney park. I disagree.
I think the problem with Paradise Pier lies not in the core concept, but in the fact that the themeing wasn't taken far enough.
'A Seaside Amusement Park' is hardly a theme at all. The whole place is about as interesting as the Santa Monica Pier, except that Santa Monica has a real ocean.
Take that theme one step further, however, and the possibilities start to come to light. For example:
A Seaside Amusement Park...
...in 1910
...in 1928
...in 1940
...that is old and decrepit... and HAUNTED!
...that has been closed for a decade. It has only recently reopened. Some rides and structures are run-down, some are shiny and new. A few are in a (permanent) state of transition.
If they had so much as set a time period for PP to re-create, this area would be twice as interesting (and by extension, so would DCA).
They may have been going for 'timeless', but what they got was 'generic'.
To summarize: I personally see nothing inherently wrong with California Screamin', the Sun Wheel, King Triton's Carousel, and Golden Zephyr in DCA. The problem is, that's ALL they are: rides. No interesting setting, no theme, no story.
In the future, if PP is at the very least given an authentic 1920's treatment, with suitably intricate architecture, period costumes, and Disney-ized versions of classic rides (Dark Rides, Shoot-the-Chutes), DCA will be a much better park.