Setting up for the Third gate

[Athlonacon]

I think the question people need to ask before all others is "Why does Disneyland need another gate?" That's not supposed to be taken to mean it doesn't need one, it's just a question that I think a lot of people don't consider. Most people question what kind of park is needed or what it should be like, but if you take a step back there's a more important question.

Disneyland was built because Walt wanted a park that adults could enjoy with their kids. There was a reason and a need for that park at the time. But California Adventure has shown us what a theme park looks like when it's opened for no other reason than to make money. Few (if any) people looked at Disneyland's old parking lot and mentioned, "Hey, you know what would go good here...". In other words, everyone seemed content with Disneyland by itself and no one seemed to want anything more outside the park. California Adventure is an answer to the question no one asked and it was motivated by nothing more than money.

There is no need for another gate on Disneyland property because people don't leave Disneyland begging to go to another park. Walt Disney World was built from the ground up to be a destination resort so the parks are built accordingly: huge and not very intimate. Disneyland on the other hand has the unique honor of being built mostly by Walt Disney and feels a lot smaller and more special. It's not a place leaving you wanting more when you leave the gate.

I think ultimately the "resort" mentality will kill Disneyland's uniqueness. Because the resort mentality is so new, Disneyland has not had a chance to be fully effected by it yet. But as the years and decades pass, and Disneyland starts to evolve into a pseudo-resort, the focus of the park will become different. If you look at Disney World in 1972, what did you think of back then? The Magic Kingdom...but now if you mention Disney World, you think of all 4 theme parks together. In time, Disneyland will mesh with California Adventure (or whatever it is called in the future) and will no longer have its own unique identity. Personally, I feel the *worst* thing we could do is open a 3rd gate next to the park.

[Jspider]

I think the question people need to ask before all others is "Why does Disneyland need another gate?" That's not supposed to be taken to mean it doesn't need one, it's just a question that I think a lot of people don't consider. Most people question what kind of park is needed or what it should be like, but if you take a step back there's a more important question.

Disneyland was built because Walt wanted a park that adults could enjoy with their kids. There was a reason and a need for that park at the time. But California Adventure has shown us what a theme park looks like when it's opened for no other reason than to make money. Few (if any) people looked at Disneyland's old parking lot and mentioned, "Hey, you know what would go good here...". In other words, everyone seemed content with Disneyland by itself and no one seemed to want anything more outside the park. California Adventure is an answer to the question no one asked and it was motivated by nothing more than money.

There is no need for another gate on Disneyland property because people don't leave Disneyland begging to go to another park. Walt Disney World was built from the ground up to be a destination resort so the parks are built accordingly: huge and not very intimate. Disneyland on the other hand has the unique honor of being built mostly by Walt Disney and feels a lot smaller and more special. It's not a place leaving you wanting more when you leave the gate.

I think ultimately the "resort" mentality will kill Disneyland's uniqueness. Because the resort mentality is so new, Disneyland has not had a chance to be fully effected by it yet. But as the years and decades pass, and Disneyland starts to evolve into a pseudo-resort, the focus of the park will become different. If you look at Disney World in 1972, what did you think of back then? The Magic Kingdom...but now if you mention Disney World, you think of all 4 theme parks together. In time, Disneyland will mesh with California Adventure (or whatever it is called in the future) and will no longer have its own unique identity. Personally, I feel the *worst* thing we could do is open a 3rd gate next to the park.

people didn't look at the parking lot and wonder what would go three but people have ALWAYS wondered what the next big adventure might be

people may have not left Disneyland begging to go to another park but they did leave begging for another day at the magic kingdom people always want more they want another ride or a longer stay

I dissagree if people didn't leave Disneyland wanting more then why would they ever come back? the whole reason I return again and again is because I DO want more because it's great and it's something you can't get anywere else

yes Disneyland has more intricate detail and I want more of that too DCA has a largue group of themes specificaly for that it needs to accomplish in a single area things that WDW parks accomplish with a huge expanse of space in time DCA will grow just as smushed together as Disneyland is

a third gate is the last gate we'll ever get and it's the last large expanse for the whole park for a while (well at least as long as an earthquake or some other sort of appocalipse doesn't whipe out all the urban developement around the park but somehow manages to miss the Parks themselves o_o)

Disneyland will never be WDW it will be a different kind of resort experience and since the park itself is still going to be called "Disneyland" and not "the Magic Kingdom" I don't see how people will get confused Disneyland will always be Disneyland to them

their is a desire for this especialy since not everyone can afford to travel accross the entire United States to go to WDW that often it's more practical for people from say Washington (like myself) to visit Disneyland once a year for our vacations and many would love to stay a couple more days at DIsneyland while experiencing all of California

the consumers have been desireing a longer stay for a while I don't see why it should be denied they just need to do a better job in balancing out park offerings and developing a good system

Disneyland will always have a on season and an off season

Summers are for the Tourists and possibly a small bit of Christmas is too but Fall and Spring are deffinatly times when it's a locals park

this allows it to keep itself up with high maintenance and gives us the benifits of both tourists parks and locals parks

[Ride Warrior]

DCA is fastly becoming a joining of Disney and Pixar-based attractions. Even though it still goes by the name Disney's California Adventure, it is gradually becoming Disney-Pixar Studios. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they formally title it as such in the future.

What? Disney and Pixar are breaking up. Well, all that I see is another big money maker, "Cars", that each of them are going to bankroll. Eisnerd's practically gone. Iger, Jobs and Lassiter are warming up to eachother. There's a good chance that they will announce a new working relationship shortly after Cars is marketed.

I must confess that I would find the idea of a Disney-Lucasfilm Studios as well. DCA blows as a theme, and it's gotta go! Mark my words, Disney will keep adding to and changing this half-assed park until it becomes a full-fledged winner.

A third gate is definitely on the horizon, and they may start constructing it as early as 2009 or 2010. Why give a care?...because it's liable to be a hybrid between Epcot / Disney Sea, essentially...with plenty of unique rides and attractions as well. Walt Disney had originally planned to build WDW in the Golden State. California got greedy (no breaks on taxes, permits, regulations, etc.) and blew it. Perhaps, the Disneyland Resort will become more than what Walt could have ever hoped for.

Walt wanted Dineyland to keep growing because he realized that it would otherwise become a museum.

[nsxdrift_89]

ok, this was posted before, but why not a EPCOT/DisneySea park. My idea to theme and market the two parks would be to start making subtle changes to DCa, slowly making it into WALT DISNEY'S AMERICA (Hollywoos, Yellowstone, The Eastern Boardwalks, etc.). During these changes, which would include new C/D/E ticket rides all over the park, construction would be progressing on the new park. THese new rides and changes in DCA would keep consumers and visitors satisfied while construction was progressing. Then the new park would be unveiled as DISNEY'S INTERNATIONAL ADVANTURE. It wouls include a world showcase and future world, combined with the DisneySea theming to create an experience for all people of all ages. Thats just my modest little idea, tell me what you think.

[Baloo]

The third gate is not a dead subject. Although the first phase was pushed back from 2003, Disney continue to work on the expansion of this park. Permits have continualy been adquired and meeting with surrounding residents continued.

Before the third park does get started the plans do require that the second parking structure be built. this parking structure will be buil on Disney way which will have a direct access road from the freeway. This parking structure will be connected to the now timon tram laoding area which will eventually be removed via a peoplemover style overhead transportation device. The new parking structure will also be connected south to the third gate main entrance. Sadly the large piece of land between DCA?Disneland and the third gate is supposed to be used for gardenwalk if it ever gets built. Hopefully it never does and Disney decides once again to purchase the land fo further hotel and entertainment district. This would leave the land where the third gate will be built just for the park. Plans as of right now have the land being used for a third gate and hotel. I would not mind this if it is built similiar as Paris and TDS and the hotel is used as an entrance gate/berm.

I also expect Disney to start considering stating the gate within the next five years or so. DCA will continue to evolve during the construction of the third park and with the recovery of tourism Disney should be ready to finally fullfill its plan to fully transform the area into a resort with anothergate and third park.

[Spalding]

Re: Setting up for the Third gate

Perhaps focus on DCA and attracting a decent crowd there before a third gate. This proposed third gate area seems far more complex than DCA was to build in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I think its a great idea, but the amount of money put into a third park would be enough to give DCA the attendance it was meant for. Why put fourth such an enormous effort for another park when there already is one that just needs a little more attention?

As far as tunnels, this does not sound economically feasible.

[Tom319]

Re: Setting up for the Third gate

Disney could do so much with the land they already have. Although a waterpark doesn't seem to popular on this thread I think its essential to making the park a multi day resort, and it would fit in perfectly in zone one. Not to mention all the flat ground parking around the existing hotels. As for more parking I'm for building another parking garage next to the existing one and consolidating all restort parking in to one area. Close the resort entrance on Harbor blvd. to expand DCA. Finally when the resort is fully functioning start with the The third gate at the strawberry fields, which has more than enough space for building a world class theme park.

[Disney Vault]

Re: Setting up for the Third gate

The third gate needs all the land possible...so does anyone think the Anaheim Garden Walk land which about 19 acres even land in Disney's hands?

I wouldn't be surprised if Disney got that land. Then need to just give up on Garden Walk. Businesses don't want to build there because it just doesn't seem like a stable investment. It has been having problems for too long and that scares businesses away.

[DsnyFvr]

Re: Setting up for the Third gate

gate=park

DCA is the second gate

DCA is not a second gate..its waste of real estate !! Disney needs to build a decentsecond gate before they consider a third !!