Since I live in Southern California, that will be my focus, though I am planning to fly to Orlando a couple times between now and next spring to look in at the Central Florida theme parks, too. This week, I'm starting with a look at Walt Disney Imagineering's "Blue Sky Cellar" at Disney's California Adventure.
This is the new "preview center" for WDI's rehab of Disneyland's second gate, detailing the plans that have been known to Internet readers for more than a year. I'll forgive the curious name for the center ("sky" and "cellar" - huh?), which appropriately reflects the conundrums that have plagued this park since before it opened. (A themed look, or a contemporary one? Family friendly, or adult oriented? Disney quality, or off-the-shelf carny rides?)
The Blue Sky Cellar stands in the old Seasons of the Vine building behind Grizzly Peak, just up the path from DCA's entrance.
Walk inside, and you'll find a cozy display of concept art, scale models and a looped film detailing the planned changes and additions to California Adventure.
Cast members mingle, offering to answer your questions, giving this location what I'm guessing is the largest current cast member-to-guest ratio for any attraction at any Disney theme park. ;-) Hey, that's a good thing. Kudos to Disney for staffing this place right.
Here's the concept board for the retheming of Paradise Pier, already underway with this summer's debut of Toy Story Midway Mania. The sketches here show the revamp of the Orange Stinger wave swinger as "Silly Symphony Swings," complete with Conductor Mickey on top.
Here's the scale model for the new look Paradise Pier, complete with Mickey replacing the Sun Wheel:
Compare that to the same view, in real life, that I snapped this morning:
One problem with DCA that Disney's Imagineers won't be able to fix is the park's orientation. Entering the park from the north, opposite of Disneyland - where you enter from the south, leaves you shooting into the sunlight when taking pictures of many DCA sights.
In addition to the Paradise Pier changes, Disney will retheme Mulholland Madness as Goofy's Flight School, evoking the Goofy Barnstormer coaster at Florida's Magic Kingdom, though the DCA ride will retain its current Wild Mouse track. Disney's also tearing down the Maliboomer space shot and replacing the Golden Dreams theater with a Little Mermaid dark ride. (Previously discussed here and here.)
But my son was drawn immediately to the concept art for Cars Land, debuting (in his opinion) in way-too-far-off 2012.
The image that interested me though, was this one of the planned new DCA entrance:
Hmmm... does that, um, look familiar?
Disney reps said that the new design for the front entrance of California Adventure isn't final (indeed, no concept art ever is... until the final blueprints are drawn up). But the use of the Disney's Hollywood Studios main gate design further demonstrates that the concepts of these two parks are converging: 1920s Hollywood meets today's Pixar animation with a few themed thrills mixed in.
Take a look at the "new" DCA map, as shown on the Screening Room wall at the Blue Sky Cellar:
... and compare it with today's DCA guidemap:
Will these changes and additions work? I hope so. Cars Land looks like a blast. You won't find a bigger fan of historic L.A. than me, either. (Heck, I'd love for Disney to find a way to fit a Philippe's in here somewhere.) As Los Angeles is tearing down its past, I find a smidgen of comfort in being able to see a bit of the "old" L.A. down the road in Anaheim.
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Not to hijack the thread, but I am taking requests for the Tuesday features, so lemme know what else in SoCal (or Orlando) you'd like to see profiled. The farther from these areas you live, the higher priority your request gets. ;-)
It looks exciting!
As for the Blue Sky Cellar, I think it is an excellent exhibition for Disney fans (especially those who are just casual fans not loonies like us) to keep current on all the construction going on at DLR. It has to be a bit frustrating for the local DLR travler to have to wade through all the work being done, so at least now they can have a complete picture of the concept being put forth. It should minimize the pain a bit for weary park goers who have to live through all the work.
Definitely keep an eye on the Blue Sky Cellar - it should be updated from time to time as construction progresses at DCA.
If they have a suggestion box in the Cellar, you might print out some of our DCA discussion threads and drop them off for park managers...... ;)
One of my favorite things in any park is a history section. Disneyland's room featuring the history of the park, rooms featuring concept art over the Pirates of the Carribean, etc. Now the Blue Sky Cellar. Perfect. :-) I'm going to DCA in about 10 days. I have to stop by and see this.
Thanks Robert.
I expect DCA to be very well done in this aspect...The trolley car, the new Partners statue, the new shops, and the Carthay Circle Theater will be welcome additions, instead of the cheesy sun fountain and giant postcards...and the new DHS-style gates better fits that theme
What bothers me the most about this park is the wasted space, espcailly considering the park's smallish size. Empty buildings (Golden Dreams Theater), curiously boring attractions (Animation building, bakery, and torilla factory---they are great for a free bite to eat though), and numerous clones/carny rides (Muppetvision, Bug's Life, Orange Stinger, Mullholand Madness, Jumping Jellyfish, and Maliboomer). There's still a lot to like about this park, but unfortunately Disney's attempt to merge MGM, EPCOT, and Tokyo Sea Disney into one park just didn't work. I'm not even sure the modification will make a huge difference, but it's certainly improved since my first visit to the park 5 years ago.
Personally, it looks to me that the current plan is to swap out the current DCA entrance and plaza with the entrance and a modified version of Hollywood Boulevard from Disney's Hollywood Studios. Construction costs on other DCA changes, park revenue and economic conditions will affect the resources available for the rest of the project, though, including the front plaza.
BTW, the exhibit space above Pirates is gone now, replaced with the Year of Million Dreams apartment.
I have read nothing about the Bug's Life Theater getting replaced. However, if it comes with a complete refurb of Bug's Land, then I am okay with the sacrifice. Based on the pictures so far, Bug's Land appears to be left intact. Ugh.
Mater's Junkyad Jamboree I believe will involve spinning cars as well as some singing from Mater, aka Larry the Cable Guy....I love Mater, and this could be a funny little ride
I think Im most looking forward to the atmosphere I expect WDI to bring to the land....I think they will do a very good job of transporting you to Radiator Springs, and it looks like they are going to have the Cozy Cone Motel, Flo's Cafe, Luigi's Tire Shop, and the Thunder Mountain-like mountains to really help put you in the movie
I could do without Flik's Fun Fair, but I reallly hope they dont get rid of Its Tough to Be a Bug....that is the best 3D/4D show in the industry IMO!
Found a link that describes the new Tow Mater ride as the "Mad Tea Party" on a track. I am not much of a Mad Tea Party fan, but this variation on a theme sounds kind of interesting.
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Cars Land looks like it will be very well themed and will really put you into Radiator Springs...the only other actual land Disney has built themed to just one film is a Bugs Land and that isnt that well done, so it will be interesting to see what WDI does with Cars Land...it should compete if not surpass Harry Potter from a themed enviornment standpoint alone