Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

[MasterGracey]

LA Times staff writer, Brady MacDonald has started a candidly honest series of blog postings based on DCA's makeover. In his latest, Brady pulls no punches when it comes to being blunt about the DCA Problem:

By all honest accounts, Disney’s California Adventure is nothing more than a cheap strip mall knock-off of everything the theme park innovator invented back in 1955.

....

For anyone who’s ever stepped foot into California Adventure (and the attendance numbers bear out that few have), the initial and resonating universal response is almost always the same: The place has no soul.

....

a giant tinfoil-esque sun icon

The blog doesn't really deal out any new information, at least for all of us here, but what's exciting is that it plugs MiceAge, and MiceChat - specifically the DCA Project Tracker thread.

[aashee]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

Nice. Getting the good word out is never a bad thing.

[Quacky4Donald]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

I'm glad to see your DCA tracker thread is getting the props. it deserves, MG!

As for the article, nothing too new. It seems to be pretty much a rehash of the same thing that's been printed before.

...Joe...

[Rex Dopey24]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

wow poor dca it dosen't get respect.

[Datameister]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

wow poor dca it dosen't get respect.

Respect should be shown to everyone and everything, even when the respect isn't earned. I think the best thing we can do to respect DCA is to honestly acknowledge its problems. Not overstate them, not ignore them. The former would disrespect DCA and the hard work of the Imagineers; the latter would disrespect the far more formidable Disneyland and the amazing work of the original Imagineers.

The remarks in the article are true. DCA, as conceived by mid-90s WDI and the stifling financial climate of the company back then, really was a retail-focused carnival with better-than-average theming and a couple of fun rides. Does the place have a soul? I've yet to experience it. And the sun thingie does look like tinfoil.

I don't hate DCA. It just comes as a severe disappointment to me, and one that I'm hoping will become worth the cost of admission within the next few years.

[Mac Daddy]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

I'm glad to see your DCA tracker thread is getting the props. it deserves, MG!

I would second this! How very cool MG! Also cool is the fact that an LA Times blogger is visiting Micechat.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

Yeah, 6+ million people per year is nobody.

[techskip]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

Wow.... cheap strip mall... and people jumped all over me for being hard on DCA!

[roxystar68]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

Although I have quite a few issues with DCA (quite a few is putting it nicely), I enjoy going there...I'd rather be at Disneyland of course, but when I'm going to the DLR, I make sure to get a Parkhopper, because I enjoy it. Although I might not be able to spend all day there without going to DL, I love going on Soarin', and taking the animation academy classes...I think DCA definitely deserves more respect, especially considering its makeover.

[MollyTrolly]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

That is so cool he put a link to the project tracker, its a great thread with all the info in one place. MG, you should be very proud!

[Junthor]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

"cheap strip mall" seems kinda harsh..... Allthough I agree in principal

[sediment]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

Yeah, 6+ million people per year is nobody.

6+ million people paying nearly nothing to get in, and spending most of their day at DL, is nothing, in terms of ROI.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

...what's exciting is that it plugs MiceAge, and MiceChat - specifically the DCA Project Tracker thread.

Long Live the DCA Project Tracker thread!

[ravencroft]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

Disneyland had the advantage that it was first. Prior to Disneyland, there was nothing like it in Southern California. Disneyland had nothing to compare. Forty five years later, DCA is placed literally next to Disneyland and the differences are obvious. Disney should have spent far more money on DCA to make it comparable to Disneyland.

A well known company cuts corners by cutting costs to build a new theme park. Is this news ? Why are we surprised? The budget battles were reported on while DCA was being planned and built!

In the end, Disney is going to fix it anyways. In the course of the events, they have tarnished the Disney brand, once known for being first rate in every way measurable.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

6+ million people paying nearly nothing to get in, and spending most of their day at DL, is nothing, in terms of ROI.

Have some facts to back that up?

If your talking about AP's, well, as much as alot of people with AP's go to DL, they are paying next to nothing for DL as well.

And remember, when it comes to DCA those numbers for AP's and park-hoppers don't count those that go into Disneyland FIRST in the day. And with Disneyland ALWAYS opening up earlier than DCA when you hop to DCA your attendance doesn't count for DCA on that day.

So when you think of it in terms of that, there most likely were more than 6 million visitors, they just went into Disneyland first on any particular day.

[MrLiver]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

nothing more than a cheap strip mall knock-off of everything the theme park innovator invented back in 1955.....

Now that's a slam against DCA - but I think it's a fairly undeserved one. I think it's easy to tell that DCA is a lot more than just a strip mall. I've never seen a strip mall with rides.

I think though that this deserves a discussion of its own. The idea that many Disney fans have such an all out hatred of what DCA is, that they go to great lengths to knock the place down and present it as less than it actually is.

It's one thing to say you didn't like DCA because of the lack of details, the plain stucco walls, the burned out light bulbs - it's one thing to equate it with the strip mall on the corner.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

I think people not only felt as if they received poor value for their money when they entered D.C.A. They were also insulted by the place, and they were offended by the spirit behind D.C.A.'s creation.

Can you blame them?

[Pressler69]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

And with Disneyland ALWAYS opening up earlier than DCA when you hop to DCA your attendance doesn't count for DCA on that day.

6 million or 15 million DCA visitors, they still didn't pay full price for DCA.

If your talking about AP's, well, as much as alot of people with AP's go to DL, they are paying next to nothing for DL as well.

$170 for a SoCal AP, $230 if you want parking (in most cases at least one person in a group of APers is going to have parking), is not next to nothing.

Do people forget that there are blockout days and that you can't go on Saturdays, in the Summer and on Holidays? Are you afraid that people are visiting so much that they are getting in for, oh my God, 6 cents per visit and hurting poor Disney's bottom line? Most people aren't power users and even then, those power users are going to merchandise events, picking up the limited edition pins, eating at Rancho Del Zocolo every Sunday, buying Disney books and magazines, attending Disney's yard sales, er, I mean "auctions", whatever their heart desires. They probably have a premium pass too.

Disney also uses the parks to advertise their own DVDs, upcoming movies, and video games. Attraction sponsors pick up a part of the bill too. The more people in the park the more people see the sponsorships and the more they can charge for them. Disney doesn't pay for the fireworks, Honda does.

The average person with an AP just doesn't go to Disneyland as much as you think. They go enough to let it "pay for itself" so that it's cheaper than buying a 1-day pass every time they visit. Yeah, they are paying less per visit compared to paying $91 every time, but if they had to pay $91 every time they would only go once or twice a year and Disney would make less money in the long run. $91 versus $270. Sure, they go more often when they pay $270, but when there's already 15-20 thousand people in the park, it doesn't cost that much more to accommodate one more person, especially on a light weekday, and there are more opportunities for Disney to sell them crap.

[sediment]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

Have some facts to back that up?

If your talking about AP's, well, as much as alot of people with AP's go to DL, they are paying next to nothing for DL as well.

And remember, when it comes to DCA those numbers for AP's and park-hoppers don't count those that go into Disneyland FIRST in the day. And with Disneyland ALWAYS opening up earlier than DCA when you hop to DCA your attendance doesn't count for DCA on that day.

So when you think of it in terms of that, there most likely were more than 6 million visitors, they just went into Disneyland first on any particular day.

1. No facts, just observations and opinions, as always.
2. I'd like to have proof that the publicly released DL and DCA numbers are first-park-entrance-counts numbers. I've heard this, but it's hard to believe.

[Pressler69]

Re: Los Angeles Times blog: "DCA a cheap strip mall knock-off"... plus MiceChat plug

2. I'd like to have proof that the publicly released DL and DCA numbers are first-park-entrance-counts numbers. I've heard this, but it's hard to believe.

Euro Disney does this. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071108/ukth039.html?.v=7

(1) Theme parks attendance is recorded on a "first click" basis, meaning that a person visiting both parks in a single day is counted as only one visitor.

Here's what Darkbeer had to say about it in 2005:

Also, don't forget that "official attendace" is counted as the first park you entered that day, so many AP and ParkHoppers could have started the day at Disneyland, and then move over to DCA to take a break from the crowds, and grab a bite to eat. (Disney does have additional sets of numbers they keep track of, including the ParkHopping number), but that number is not used by AB/ERA. The Industry standard (which Disney created when they opened a second park in Florida) is the First Park of the Day.

And DCA is a true Business Failure if you look at the original pricing structure, and the comments the Disney execs made, and compare it to the massive discounting and AP sales (I have heard numbers, from over 40%, to 60% of DCA's attendance is AP holders). And even with all the major discounting and pricing changes, they still haven't gotten the original priojected attendance of 7 million.

Also, they did try to inflate those First Park of the Day numbers by giving away DCA for free on a second day (a day you could only go to DCA). Even that didn't seem to work.