Monday, June 1, 2009

DCA Park Name Changes

There's been talks of renaming and/or rethemeing Disney's California Adventure. The idea now is to envision the park as "Walt Disney's California Adventure". It's a good step and a reflection of what the park should have been at opening: to talk guests back in time to what made California the state it is today and remind people what and who made it.

There is an odd issue of how everything in the park will now have to be themed to the 1920s according to when Walt arrived in California. That's a great backstory for the Walt Disney Plaza. But I don't think it should reflect the rest of the park necessarily.

Here is what I feel could be a good solution to name changes for the whole park and its lands:

1) From "Disney's California Adventure" to "Disney's Grand Adventure". A reflection of the "Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa" and the closed "MGM Grand Adventure" theme park from Las Vegas. MGM did have a name at "Disney-MGM Studios". I think this would make a nice little nod and appropiate theme tie to the rest of the park.

Each official land will have sub-lands. Kind of what is right now. But the current lands seem to mix and match a lot.

2) "Hollywoodland" to consist of "Walt Disney Plaza" formerly Sunshine Plaza, "Hollywood Pictures Backlot", and "Hollywood Studios Centre/Square" sublands. I haven't decided which I like better "Centre" or "Square" for this area of Muppets, Monsters, and Hollywood Backlot Stage. I like the idea of continuing the main entrance's theme into a whole land.

3) "Golden State" will be separated into main lands. "Grizzly Peak Recreation Area", "Bountiful Valley Farm", and "Discovery Wharf".

4) "Grizzly Peak Recreation Area" will be what it is now and "Condor Flats" rethemed to reflect the change. I will have a separate post about "Country Bear Jamboree".

5) The returned name of "Bountiful Valley Farm" will consist of "Flik's Fun Fair", "Golden Vine Winery" sub-lands. There will also be a post about a "Corn Maize Maze" and "Barney Stormin's Flying Circus".

6) "Discovery Wharf" is the current "Pacific Wharf" plus Treasures in Paradise store and Ariel's Grotto. It would be good to connect this smaller land to the lagoon. This land will be inspired by the "Discovery Bay" and Disneyland Paris' "Discoveryland" concepts.

7) "Paradise Pier" locations will be the same. The areas between CA Screamin' to Maliboomer (essentially the same length as the roller coaster's presence) would be a "Boardwalk Funland" sub-land reflecting the early 20th century as depicted from the miniature model in Blue Sky Cellar and concept art. From Pizza Oom Mow Mow to "Mulholland Madness" would be "Beach Party Bash" reflecting the mid 20th century and the emergence of "Beach Party" films in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. "The Bay Area" from the San Francisco restrooms to "Souvenir 66" soon to be renamed "Seaside Souvenirs" and Golden Zephyr will reflect the late 18th century seaside entertainment.

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