DCA: What to do with the Lake in PP?

[ganggreen4jc]

Many threads about what to do with DCA, but I've yet to see anything about what I see as "wasted space" with the water/lake/lagoon or whatever it's called near Paradise Pier. There has got to be something they can do with that big area.

The thread about a Skyway from DL to DCA got me thinking that maybe a skyway, similar to those you see at traditional boardwalk areas (Santa Cruz, Atlantic City) traversing accross the lake would still be in keeping with the "boardwalk" theme and provide transportation from one area of the park to another.

However, there has got to be more they can do with the water. Maybe some of the "Sea Racers" they have in WDW or an "Aquatopia-like" attraction.

Anyways, what to do with all that water and unused space?

[imagineer boy]

Well, it wouldn't be much of a pier without any water by it now would it?

[PumpkinKing!]

All fun ideas but I beleive that "Wasted space" is there on purpose and they wont touch it... it is to add to the theme! Or lack there of you decide. I wish they would do a show there, dificult maybe but hey its Disney! I have faith. :o

[Importance]

I think it Paradise Pier would be significantly improved if they added some actual beach theming: sandy beach, wave machine, lifeguard tower, perhaps some surfers (as the Matterhorn has its climbers back). Heck, why not some aquarium type exhibits, so that you get a real flavor of the California coast. Nothing fancy, but a kelp bed, colorful fish, etc.

[PumpkinKing!]

I think it Paradise Pier would be significantly improved if they added some actual beach theming: sandy beach, wave machine, lifeguard tower, perhaps some surfers (as the Matterhorn has its climbers back). Heck, why not some aquarium type exhibits, so that you get a real flavor of the California coast. Nothing fancy, but a kelp bed, colorful fish, etc.

Man thats great... maybe not surfers but Wave Riders! They do have a wave machine but it had to be shutdown for one reason or another... there should be an article from Al Lutz on the site: Mouseplanet about that. They had issues with it when they would shut it down to carry bands from the backstage area across the lake to the concert area. Durign there Music days forgot what it was called. :confused:

[dshimel]

It is there to make the pier ook pretty all lit up at night.

And isn't that the true measure as to the succes of a theme? If it pretty from a distance when it's all lit up at night.

(Whenever someone tells me they love the theme of the pier, this is the answer I always get. "It is so pretty all lit up at night". Oh, silly me. I thought a theme should actually be fun to be in the land.... I see.... Themes are good if best when viewed from a distance at a time of day that the park is closed.)

[MckyCrzy]

yea, maybe they can do some kind of show like they do at Universal Studios. Jet ski's pirates, Nemo ...Just do something!!!!

[Cuzco-topia]

Gondalas. Not very californian, but would be very neat nonetheless, especially at night.

[aralechn]

I wish they could have like a night time watershow.

[speederscout]

That area really does look great when the wave machines are actually working... which, unfortunately, is hardly ever.

As I've said before, DCA has great potential and I can't wait to see what Matt is going to do with the park once the focus is off Disneyland's 50th.

[The Mad Hatter]

Three words....swan paddle boats!

[yensid98]

I think they should fill in the lake, demolish Paradise Pier and start again. This area of the park is exactly the kind of thing Walt was trying to avoid.

But seeing as that will probably never happen. I think the skyway idea is intersting.

[aralechn]

That area really does look great when the wave machines are actually working... which, unfortunately, is hardly ever.

As I've said before, DCA has great potential and I can't wait to see what Matt is going to do with the park once the focus is off Disneyland's 50th.

My last visit there I was surprise to see waves hitting the rocks by the launch area for Maliboomer. I didn't know that they have a wave machine all this time.

[The Mad Hatter]

I didn't know that they have a wave machine all this time.

Great! Thanks for shattering my dreams!

[cellarhound]

Once I watched this kid kick off his shoe into the lake... and didn't care untill his mom start to walk away... He started crying....

It was wonderfull really... I don't know if they actually got it out or not... but you would think they have a contingency plan for stuff like that...

To be honest, they need a fountain or Mickey statue in that center thingie that they don't use for anything...

A night show on it would be nice... doesn't have to be firework based... Just with lighting and music... and maybe some projections...

[aralechn]

Great! Thanks for shattering my dreams!

Everytime I visited there no waves were being created. The lake is so dead and dull that is why I was surprise when I saw the waves.

[XterraceEmp]

How bout drain it, fill it with coral and other salt water creatures and build an elaborate maze of under water walk ways thus turning it into an Aquarium...celebrating the sea life off the california coast. Not to mention it would be educational. Couple Dolphins would be nice....heh

[cellarhound]

Everytime I visited there no waves were being created. The lake is so dead and dull that is why I was surprise to see it.

It is more of a reflecting pool...

[Jspider]

try a nightime water show like this
http://www.micechat.com/showthread.php?t=798

I really can't see that great of an attraction going out on that lake, nothing too interesting I mean it's not like your circling an island or anything, they just have it there for atmosphere and surfers and people would ruin it

but a nightime show would be terrific

[Reaver]

The waves were shut down fairly early on, and even at the beginning, they were more like the waves in a bay than real waves. They would sometimes splash against the wall next to the launch area of Screamin, though. I got wet one of the times I rode it on the AP preview day. Not that it bothered me, but maybe that's part of the reason they shut it down...