C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

[Club 33]

Since I moved to LA in 1999 and started visiting Disneyland on a regular basis, I've been collecting maps. It started by just bringing home and saving the maps I used during the day; now I always get a stack of fresh ones on the way out.

I've done the same on my trips to WDW, and I also collect the various pamphlets and booklets. I have a few maps from DLRP as well.

I keep them all in map holders like so:

I've been working, slowly, on digitizing my map collection, both so they are preserved and so that I can share them. My eventual hope is to create an online museum of Disneyland Resort maps. It just takes a long time to scan all of the parts of the map and stitch them together.

What I'd like to share with you all today, though, is a map from back in 2001. August of 2001 to be exact. It's from my first trip to Disney's California Adventure.

In light of all of the heated discussion about the changes that will be coming to Disney's California Adventure, we must remember how much has already changed in the past 6 1/2 years.

Disney's Electrical Parade had just opened. Tower of Terror did not exist. Disney's Steps in Time was playing at the Hyperion Theater. Eureka! - A California Parade rolled through the streets of DCA every day. There was no A Bug's Land. Superstar Limo and ABC Soap Opera Bistro were still open. Robert Mondavi and Wolfgang Puck were proud sponsors.

Lights! Camera! Chaos, on the other hand, had already been replaced.

Here is the map. Clicking on the image will bring you to a much larger one:

It's interesting to note how many of the entertainment offerings have since vanished without a trace. I for one still remember Chance to Shine and Minnie Mouse doing meet-and-greets in front of the plane in Condor Flats.

While it's not listed on here, Seasons of the Vine not only played continously (and drew a crowd) but offered free wine samples (perhaps that is what is needed to bring the audiences back? ).

What are your thoughts on how DCA has changed since opening? What memories do you have of the 2001-era DCA?



Also, if you would like to see more DLR maps from the last 8 years, let me know and I might do some more of these threads.

[AlexValve]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

^ Very Awesome Collection you have!
-Alex

[MasterGracey]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Amazing! Thank you for this!

[GoldenBoySC99]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

I remember the Soap Opera Diner with fondness. That was a truly unique experience and was truly "Disney" in that it took you to a new world for that hour you had lunch. Its a shame that didn't last more than a few months. It also fit into the Backlot theme very well... much better than playhouse disney.

The Eureka parade was also very under rated... and once again... fit into the california theme a heck of a lot better than Block Party Bash.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Very fun thread and it nice to a fellow map collector. Let me know when the online museum opens or if you need help, because I would definitely be interested.

On Topic: My wife and I miss the D.U.H. shows in HPB. I thought the cast did a fantastic job and it was guaranteed to give me a good laugh. The shows were so unique that we would actually sit and watch performance after performance.

[RumRunner31]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

I didn't go a lot before I got hired, so I only have vague memories, but I seem to remember some pretty cool street performers in the Backlot area near the Shmoozies shop.

And I got to be (kinda) some of the early entertainment - my high school choir was only the 2nd group to perform on the Backlot Stage for Magic Music Days. So my vote goes to the Kaiser High School Madrigals as the group I miss most from DCA

[tiggerfan]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Great collection.

I do remember the early DCA days. I was there when you could dine in Pucks all by yourself and walk through sections without seeing anybody but your group.

As a side note, I bought the first (or one of the very first) Park Hopper AP's when they came out.

[Club 33]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Another thing I remember is Hollywood in Dine, which is where we had lunch. What's interesting is that it's still there, just sitting there closed.

And GoldenBoy, I wholeheartedly agree about SOB. I ate there and despite not at all being a fan of soap operas had a great time.

I do understand though that DCA just had too many restaurants when it opened and not enough rides., which is why both of these are closed. I do wonder if the Soap Opera Bistro concept could ever be brought back at a different location in DCA (or perhaps Dowtown Disney), since it was a concept that made sense and also had the synergy of the ABC soaps (the Super Soap weekends are still popular at MGM after all). But perhaps giving the retheming of DCA that is taking place that will no longer make sense.

[DisneylandFan1997]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Thats so funny! I have the same amount of maps, probably more that you have! I started collecting in 2001 when DCA first opened, and i have lots of maps all the way up to the current ones. My family always looks at me funny because when i leave the park i get a Stack of them, but i know that the park is going to chance so its nice to have a way to look back and see what the parks looked liked of that year. I just finished completing my Disneyland Anniversary Map Collection, i have maps from the 10th, 25,30th,40,45th,and 50th. Those are my most prized maps! Ill try to put a picture on here soon.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Thats so funny! I have the same amount of maps, probably more that you have! I started collecting in 2001 when DCA first opened, and i have lots of maps all the way up to the current ones. My family always looks at me funny because when i leave the park i get a Stack of them, but i know that the park is going to chance so its nice to have a way to look back and see what the parks looked liked of that year. I just finished completing my Disneyland Anniversary Map Collection, i have maps from the 10th, 25,30th,40,45th,and 50th. Those are my most prized maps! Ill try to put a picture on here soon.

Perhaps a new thread is in order... "Map Collections"

[Club 33]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Thats so funny! I have the same amount of maps, probably more that you have! I started collecting in 2001 when DCA first opened, and i have lots of maps all the way up to the current ones. My family always looks at me funny because when i leave the park i get a Stack of them, but i know that the park is going to chance so its nice to have a way to look back and see what the parks looked liked of that year. I just finished completing my Disneyland Anniversary Map Collection, i have maps from the 10th, 25,30th,40,45th,and 50th. Those are my most prized maps! Ill try to put a picture on here soon.

Wow, cool! Yeah I didn't really start making sure I grabbed maps until around 2004- so most of my maps are through the 50th celebration period.

That's very cool. If I ever get my Map museum going I'll let you know. The goal will be to have as many maps as possible.

[IMAGINE]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

great picture...I never really realised how much there WASN'T in the park...we have come quite a ways for just 6 years...

[DisneylandFan1997]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

here ya go! Heres a scan of the first maps that were produced for the opening of California Adventure!, its nice to know that these maps will soon be collector items in the next ten years DCA will look different and we can all look back at these maps and see how tiny the park was and has changed,and for those who were there for the first few years of its opening in 2001.

#1 Is the map that was given to Cast Members & Their Family's who were there for the Cast Preview Day. #2 Opening Day Map!February 8th, 2001 ( I Remember this day very well, with the media and big show they did at the main gate)





Heres what the insert Read inside the map! there was a message from Cynthia Harris(former Disneyland President at that time): Entertainment! EUREKA PARADE, STEPS IN TIME, and GET A GRIP!


#3. The Annual Pass holder Map which was given out on preview days!

[mrfantasmic]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

I still have some of those original DCA maps, with the funky change of perspective that was Monorail/Goldengate/Grizzly/SunWheel/CaliScreamin'... so odd.

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Even the first maps were bad. I remember going to DCA in March of 2001. The park was almost empty. We had a blast though.

[DisneylandFan1997]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

and here are 2 other maps from DCA's early entertainment offerings:

#1.Disney's LuminAria (the christmas water/firework show that only lasted one christmas season.


2. DISNEYS ALADDIN A MUSICAL SPECTACULAR (if im correct that's DeeDee Magno she was Jasmine when the show first started)

[Club 33]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

My personal favorite (I say that with much sarcasm) was when they combined the Disneyland/DCA maps onto one big map. When you unfolded it it was like holding a newspaper in front of you; I was surprised people weren't just walking into each other all of the time holding these things.

The only time they were useful was at home, if you wanted to plan your route across the resort between the two parks.

[Thisguy74]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

Ahhh opening day at DCA- My memory is that my wife and I decided to just go check out the new place just because we could say we saw it. The media scared a lot of folks from coming so we were able to explore the new park without very long waits. We have always enjoyed DCA because of it having different rides and attractions. I wouldn't say that the theming is on par with D-land, but we still enjoy ourselves. In particular, I am a gardener and more particularly have many fruit trees in my back yard. When I go to DCA I will walk around the bountiful harvest area checking out the different trees they have and seeing how they are doing and what stage they are at in blooming or fruit production and such (I do the same in tomorrowland). On average my trees at home are about 2 or 3 weeks behind the trees at DCA in production (probably because of the amounts of direct sunlight) so it is fun to compare.

I think alot of people would be amazed at the variety of fruit (fig, pomegranate, macadamia nut [one is next to the Haunted Mansion and one in DCA] persimmon, loquat and of course the many grapes, citrus, etc...) that does grow at DCA and D-land if they knew what they were looking at. Maybe a map would be appropriate.

[Aladdin]

Re: C33's Wayback Machine: DCA 2001

great picture...I never really realised how much there WASN'T in the park...we have come quite a ways for just 6 years...

There really isn't that much more in the park, than there was when
it opened. It's just that they've gotten rid of a lot of stuff and
"experimented" even more.

The ONLY areas that were expanded were Flik's Fun Fair and ToT.
Both of those were announced at DCA's 1st Birthday, primarily because
the attendance wasn't what they expected. The rest of the park,
with the exception of the Hollywood section is relatively unchanged.

A few restaurants closed all over the park. They rushed building and
opened Millionaire, and then closed it. They Closed Superstar Limo, and
after sitting unused for several years reopened at Monsters. Steps in Time
changed to Blast and changed to Aladdin. Hollywood and Dine closed
and Blocked off, Soap Opera Bistro started offering Tours, closed, and
became Playhouse Disney. Animation Areas have changed out a few things.
MSEP was brought back to bring back DCA from the dead, Soon after
Eureka! closed. The streetmosphere acts are practically dead and gone.
They've basically cycled through some stuff and not much has stuck.

THANKFULLY, we know some LONG anticipated attractions are on the way!
And a new grander entrance is on the way, But unfortunately, with the
exception of The Little Mermaid attraction, the rest of Paradise Pier and
Route 66 is STILL going to have a sucky theme and unimaginative rides,
the kind that you can find anywhere. And that includes Midway Mania,
because despite the technology, it doesn't promise to be much more
than a couple artificial carney games purporting to be a dark ride. Sadly,
until they do an ACTUAL NEW THEME FOR PP, The Pier thing is going to
continue dragging down DCA.

I say COVER the Coaster, say FAREWELL to the Ferris Wheel, BOOM goes the Maliboomer,
and BEE glad when you can say Orange you glad the Stingers gone!