Disneyland Westcot

[k_peek_2000]

I saw this old diagram of what the origial expansions were for the Westcot park. It sounds interesting and I definatly would of prefered Westcot than DCA. But thats not the issue. The reason I am posting is I want to know the story behind Westcot, and why it never came to be.
Heres a link to the designs of the (origional) plans for The Disneyland Resort. (Btw, about the Timon lot being demolish (another thread) It shows a lot where the Timon lot is and its titles future expansion area, so they are going to expand there, EDIT: I just took another look and that looks to be more like the cast member parking lot for future expansion, either way they are going to expand) http://rotocat.tripod.com/westcot.htm I guess they always had the plan for a west themed park because it says the "three" new hotels that were planned were going to be themed after landmarks in the west.

-k_peek

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Just goes to show you how original plans can change from conception to reality. My Dad was telling me today how his company had bid for the contracts to do the road/sewage improvments in 1991 but lost. As much as I like some of the stuff in DCA, I'd glady throw it all away to have a recreation of EPCOT here in CA. Sure'd beat the heck out of an on-the-cheap out-of-place awkward theme and park name. Grand Californian's exterior also left much to be desired IMO.

-- Peoplemover "WESTCOT could still happen given enough creative vision, but lately we've seen the exact opposite" Matt

[lablkilz699]

yeah, never give up hope. surrounding land around the current property could be bought and made part of the resort. nothing really points to this a likely happening but it certainly could happen if they put their minds to it. then just build over the current roads that are the boundry of the resort and its like they were never there! :-D haha

I just wish the anaheim convention center wasnt where it is...it makes things difficult since u cant simply annex that city block to the resort...the "future expansion area" is at a diagnal...you would have to cross a street and leave the resort to get there? forget that.....the road needs to be re-routed or just built over if its going to become part of the resort....

even if its totally different than the rest of the resort...sayyy...a water park for example...who wants to leave the resort and walk down katella with all sorts of "pool tackle" (towels, kids crap, toys, strollers, etc)

the tram idea sort of isnt that fantastic either....you lose the "immersion effect" when you go out into the real world to get to another part of the resort....if they parking structure was bigger but had less of a footprint (taller?) you could develop the parking area.....then develop the expansion and physically connect the areas.

[lablkilz699]

is the supposed expansion area even really disney property? what is currently there? is it going to be a godly task to remove whats there and rebuilt something on the area?

[k_peek_2000]

Thats either the timon lot or the cast member lot. Either than that I dont know. But Im pretty sure it is the cast lot.

[lablkilz699]

yeah, like moving the parking lot to the expansion area and using the closer area as new devloping area would be a better idea. i could see parkign your car in a lot across the street......

[dougfisher_05]

the expansion area is a huge cast member parking area.

[k_peek_2000]

I knew it. Its a Disneyland park in desquise!

[koutesu]

It's interesting to see how different the expansion plans were. Those old plans look like they had more potential. I wonder if purchasing the old Pan Pacific Hotel (which became Disney's Pacific Hotel and finally Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel) in the '90s was a part of this plan? And then there's 4 hotels instead of 3. I like the expanded monorail idea. The track is very long. It looks like 2 of the hotels would have had stations (neo-Disneyland Hotel plus one). It doesn't look like Tomorrowland would have kept its station (it doesn't have a red mark like the other 3) and it's hard to tell if the Westcot station would have been inside or outside the park.

Well, they gave us the Disneyland Resort we have now. Let's hope it can be improved so that we get (in some form) a true multi day resort destination that will put WDW's offerings to shame.

[maul2]

Well if they bought up land across the street they could just build a giant bridge over the road, or even under it now that I think about it. Or just run a monrail track over it and have a station in the new park.

Edit:Looking again at the picture they already accounted for it. Look at point number nine
"9. Internal Circulation
Complementing a network of pedestrian walkways, this sophisticated
system of moving sidewalks, elevated people movers and an expanded
monorail system will transport guests throughout the Resort."

[k_peek_2000]

how depressing is it that they had huge plans to make the disneyland resort into somthing incredably awesome. by adding a huge walt disney world calliber park, if not better, with totally futuristic innovative trasportation methods and huge expansion areas (i know for a fact that, that is the cast member lot because i used to wait there all night for my bro) and then totally bomb it by building a half decent park with "dead/old/boring" themeing. There was so much potential.

[lablkilz699]

im still not keen on the idea of seeing the "real world" and its ugly face while attempting to submerge myself in a world of Disney.