Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

[2DieFR]

Without a doubt, Disney is the master of crowd control. Their most popular parks, the Magic Kingdoms, are ingeniously designed with lands branching outward from a central point, like the spokes of a wagon wheel.






(Photo credit: localdisneyfan)
viously, it is of benefit only to guests using M&F. If guests ignore the signs while exiting through the second gate and discover they parked in Lion King instead, they would simply take the M&F tram to the entrance plaza, cross the esplanade and take the right tram.

The second entrance might not always be open. Perhaps it (and the underground pathway) would only be used on particularly busy days, or during the evenings to allow an easy way to return to the structure.

What do you think? Is this idea too radical for traditionalists, too costly/complicated for analysts, or too unnecessary for skeptics?

[Autopia]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Oooo, I like the idea, but am kinda shunned at the idea of making it under ground. That would make it a total safety and GC NIGHTMARE to make in a narrow tunnel. It does have a lot of good ideas in it, but I think the fact that after Fan and/or R...DCT on summer nights, it would just be as bad a bottle neck at MS currently is. Yes, you could make the tunnel wide, but the end my M&F PS would be narrow unless you want to redo the tram road in the whole process too.

Oh, and it would need Strollers, WC and ECV rental/returns set up as well.

So, I see a good idea here. But I never see WDI/DLR implementing it. And it is a shame that it never will. I would LOVE to be able to just hop right into the park instead of having to be teased by backstage sights on the way in on the tram. Well, one can hope...

[Datameister]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

I love it when people think their ideas through. Thank you, 2DieFr, for restoring my faith in the public's ability to think through armchair Imagineering projects in the same way real Imagineers have to.

As far as my thoughts on the actual idea go...well, bottom line, I think I like it, with one very important exception: I think this should be an exit only. Keep Disneyland's single entrance exactly the way it is, despite the problems with foot traffic on Main Street. But open up this secondary exit on crowded days, allowing guests to escape during the fireworks and the like.

Yes, it would be far less magical. There really isn't all that much to be done with that area, and the Splash Mountain show building really would be nearly impossible to hide completely. Trees would help; perhaps murals a la the Indy show building would be implemented. Ideally, the theming that extends along that building's north wall would be extended around the west wall, too, but that might be too time-consuming and expensive. Plus it could make it harder to use the stairwell and various doors over there.

I dunno. This could work. I would really feel sorry for guests who didn't get to exit through Main Street--I mean, my very first Disneyland memory is of me as a three-year-old, tottering down Main Street, heading out to the parking lot, and realizing the fireworks were beginning behind me. Magic. Not gonna be quite the same exiting through one of DL's more secluded locations, but I guess it'd be nice to have as an option.

[Pressler69]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Rather than build the exit tunnel underground, I would put the backstage roads in a tunnel or a bridge and keep the guest exit level. It's a pretty tight squeeze back there but with a little rearranging of the furniture so to speak, it might work. I would also build a bridge over Disney way instead of a tunnel.

Great effort on your thread by the way.

[MasterGracey]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Interesting idea.

I have to agree with Datameister though. Keep it an exit only, and utilize it only when necessary.

Disneyland is not DCA, and from the moment you step through the main gate, everything is laid out purposefully, in a very specific way. I'm sure PragmaticIdealist can go into this in detail in ways that I cannot.

But Disneyland should have one entrance. DCA's second entrance is only there as a means to book more hotel rooms at the Grand Californian - its a big perk to staying there, and people love to take advantage of it. But Disneyland's main entrance should not be missed as it serves a greater purpose than DCA's main entrance.

[Datameister]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Disneyland is not DCA, and from the moment you step through the main gate, everything is laid out purposefully, in a very specific way. I'm sure PragmaticIdealist can go into this in detail in ways that I cannot.

But Disneyland should have one entrance. DCA's second entrance is only there as a means to book more hotel rooms at the Grand Californian - its a big perk to staying there, and people love to take advantage of it. But Disneyland's main entrance should not be missed as it serves a greater purpose than DCA's main entrance.

My thoughts exactly.

[mrfantasmic]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Disney and his imagineering team was insistant on there only being ONE entrance and exit to Disneyland. After exploring Knott's and other theme parks, having multiple entrances cheapened the park, by not being able to put the best foot forward one hundred percent.
Also, cutting off that section of the backstage area would be very bad. It's a major thoroughfare for CMs and supplies that go by at all hours.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Actually, I've suggested in other threads opening the Critter Country gate after "Fantasmic!", but this option is only preferable to leading guests backstage behind Main Street, U.S.A.

Opening the Critter Country gate to exiting guests is a measure that should only be used as a last resort.

The gate has been used in the past to allow for guests of Grad Nites to enter without having to use the parking-area trams.

[mrfantasmic]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Even for Fantasmic! that's a long way from the River. And the walkway back to Main Street is definitely long, and involves rickety stairs over by the Indy building.
Not the best plan either way.
I know Fan! is working on ways to better the Guest Flow.

[Duffy]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Even so, it would be too much work...

or else we have a tunnel to go from east to west side under main street

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Even for Fantasmic! that's a long way from the River. And the walkway back to Main Street is definitely long, and involves rickety stairs over by the Indy building.
Not the best plan either way.
I know Fan! is working on ways to better the Guest Flow.

The gate provides direct access from Critter Country to the Chip & Dale lot by way of the pedestrian crossing at Disneyland Drive.

[HDAlien]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

I think this would work well as an exit only idea as well. As far as the 'magic' goes, it's not much different from the times when they open the backstage area alongside Main st. during those super busy times for guest exit.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Great idea, but I agree. It should be an exit only. But it could TOTALLY work.

Speaking of exiting ... why do they hardly EVER utilize the right and left exit gates when leaving the park. They always make you go to the middle of the entrance gate structure and then back to the right. This makes no sense to me.

[zach1]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Just to throw in my two cents...

No one seems to be remembering that Disneyland has two entrances already, one through Main Street, and one via the Monorail. I can understand the concern about cheapening the experience with too many entrances, or missing the grand set up my not entering through Main Street. But I don't think that anyone here would claim that entering into TL by the Monorail is a bad experience, or hurts the park in anyway. It also works nicely to service the DL Hotel and is a fun way (in my opinion) to enter into the park's Future world on board a form of transportation from the future.

So what if they attempted the same thing here? What if they build an entrance that is theme specific to Critter Country/Frontierland? I think this was in the OP's post, but it could be either rafts or small boats of some kind that would run back and forth into and out of the park. In this case, I think that underground may work the best because it would allow for greater control of the surrounding environment. The entire run could be a long show building, dressed up very rustic and woodsy. Don't bother with turnstiles at the park, place them back where you board the raft/boat, similar to the Monorail. As for where that would be, I'm thinking that GC is probably too far away, but if one of the new hotels that are going to be built has a rustic theme to it, perhaps that's where the entrace could be, maybe right in the lobby?

Anyway, just a quick idea, without much forethought. Either way, I think that the bulk of people will still enter and exit out of Main Street, but having other options, like the Monorail, are neat and keep the experience fresh.

[2DieFR]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

[...]I think that the bulk of people will still enter and exit out of Main Street, but having other options, like the Monorail, are neat and keep the experience fresh.

Exactly. I love entering the park by monorail myself, and I know many other people do, Darkbeer included. The second entrance is not something I would use to bring first-time guests into the park, since the experience of entering Disneyland through main entrance is irreplaceable, but as an annual passholder I would use it to quickly enter and exit the park on the west side, without the bother of waiting for a tram, etc.

Oh yes. At either end of the tunnel, there would have to be security bag check.

[Moonliner]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

I can think of a few reasons the suites might balk at opeing a path out from critter country.

Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen br] Crystal Arts, China Closet
Disneyana, Disney Clothiers, Ltd., Disney Showcase, Emporium
The Mad Hatter, Market House, Main Street Magic Shop
Main Street Photo Supply Co., New Century Jewelry
New Century Timepieces, Newsstand, Penny Arcade
Silhouette Studio, 20th Century Music Company


Oh and the various tennents of Downtown Disney might have thoughts on the matter also.

[2DieFR]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

I can think of a few reasons the suites might balk at opeing a path out from critter country.

Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen br] Crystal Arts, China Closet
Disneyana, Disney Clothiers, Ltd., Disney Showcase, Emporium
The Mad Hatter, Market House, Main Street Magic Shop
Main Street Photo Supply Co., New Century Jewelry
New Century Timepieces, Newsstand, Penny Arcade
Silhouette Studio, 20th Century Music Company

Let's say that the critter country "entrance" is used only on peak days as an exit route, and in the evenings only (per popular request). If an extra announcement at the end of Fantasmic! lets guests know you can exit that way (and the folks in yellow jackets wave guests in that direction), then it's quite possible that opening up the backstage passageways on either side of Main Street will be rendered unnecessary.

And how is the critter country exit different than being detoured past all those shops you mentioned (minus DtD), as is the case when guests are herded backstage? Frankly, when it's that crowded, I'm more worried about not getting crunched and finding my way to my car as soon as possible. If I want to go shopping, I wouldn't be so stupid as to do it immediately after R...DCT.

[PhotoMatt]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

A second exit through Critter Country is a BRILLIANT idea! Way to go 2DieFR. It would make things SO much easier on super busy days. Thanks for sharing your idea.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Here's the posting in the thread, entitled "Comforts and Conveniences":

http://www.micechat.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1855252&postcount=29

[mrfantasmic]

Re: Here You Leave the Crowds... with a Second Entrance to DL

Well... it would drive more visitors to Pooh.