CALIFORNIA letters to be taken out...

[DaynaTheDisneyDork]

A friend told me that her friend's dad works at the gate of the park, and his supervisor was talking about the fact that the large CALIFORNIA letters infront of the park are to be taken out, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge to be replaced with simple trees.

The reason is that Disney wishes to stick the park into more Northern California rather then Central or Southern.

Any more news on this?

[RollingBoulder]

Yeah, there have been rumors of totally retheming sections of the park. I've heard something like that, about making the entrance more of a craftsman theme. Although, I don't think their intent is to make the WHOLE park reflect Northern California.

[Wendell]

Uh, shouldn't this be in the rumor mill guys?:icon_conf

Well anyway, I found this article on micecage. Maybe someone else posted it I don't know. Well anyway, here it is.

<http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al110805b.htm>

It mentions retheming the entrance area but doesn't give much detail, but after all, it is a few months old.

[superman436]

If they were rethemeing to more northern california, then it would still be california and there would be no reason to take out the letters. I don't see a reason for them to take them out; they are not a crowd control issue, they are correctly themed for now, and people really like them for photos and such.
I would definitely call this an unlikely rumor... unless some proof can be manifested.

[AlexLoup]

Okay why just northern? i think the central needs some pick me up. And why would they remove the letters people like to take pics of them. And sit in the C.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

A friend told me that her friend's dad works at the gate of the park, and his supervisor was talking about the fact that the large CALIFORNIA letters infront of the park are to be taken out, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge to be replaced with simple trees.

The reason is that Disney wishes to stick the park into more Northern California rather then Central or Southern.

Any more news on this?

So...in the process of making it more themed to Northern CA, they remove the Golden Gate Bridge? How's that work?

Many rumors on possible changes coming to DCA have been batted around. A while back I quoted Lutz telling of a possible re-naming of DCA in coming years. And yes, one vote for taking this one to The Rumor Mill.

-- Peoplemover "Showing biase toward one part of the state or another would be a very bad PR move :icon_conf " Matt

[sorcerormickey]

as well as the Golden Gate Bridge to be replaced with simple trees.

Doesn't the Monorail run through the Golden Gate Bridge...... Last Time I checked it did butI could be wrong. So if they remove the Golden Gate Bridge wouldn't they have to change the monorail track layout ???

[linklewtt]

ya, this is probably a really big rumor and it doesn't even make that much sense, not to mention the big question: why?

Al Lutz...ya we all know how his little predictions are coming along...

[ryguy222]

if they got rid of the bridge then they'd have to put one of those big supports right in the middle of the whole thing. Talk about crowd control!

[Pinocchio85]

According to Marcie at mouseinfo.com during the planning of DCA's entrance makeover the letters were gone, then saved, gone, then saved again. Currently they are not planning to take them out. She did say they are planning on removing the bridge and are putting some dumb trees in it's place. Personally, I think it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. It looks so great with the Monorail passing through it. The Monorail is going to look awful going through trees and having it's beam exposed. Also, it's California's most recognizable icon and serves as the perfect introduction to DCA. When people see it they automatically think of California. I think this is the dumbest idea ever.

[xfkirsten]

Moving this one to the Rumor Mill...

[RollingBoulder]

I wouldn't mind if they did get rid of the letters. Right now, they kind of add a gaudy, carnival feeling to the front of the park, IMO. Anything to add some class to the entrance area is good in my book.

I hope they go with a more area specific theme for the Sun Plaza also. I've always been fond of a 1950s small-town street to serve as the "Main Street" of DCA. The craftsman idea sounds okay also. I just don't know how that would work with an area like that (GPRA) already in the park.

[brunetteTinkerbell1955]

in my opinion i dont think that they should take them out if they are. its kinda like the castle at disneyland. but instead of a castle its letters. thats what i always expect to see when i go to DCA. so it would look really empty in front too

[RankoAnime]

Yeah, if they got rid of the letters, I doubt they would replace them with anything. Then the whole entrance to DCA would look really plain! Besides, I really like sitting in the letter A! :tongue:

I'd be REALLY mad if they got rid of the Golden Gate Bridge. That is such an icon of California. Why remove it? Besides, they have a ton of photographers standing around DCA's entrance to take pictures of guests with the GGB in the back. I doubt they'd be taking peoples' pictures with *trees* behind them. :icon_conf That would only hurt the park, IMO.

[NCTJoe]

I think its just too soon to be able to conclude anything.

I've heard rumors that the plaza would resemble more northern california (like the grand californian), and I've also heard rumors the plaza would look more like a mission-city (incorporating the train station archetecture around the whole area).

I personally like the mission idea more than northern california, just because I dont know if that side of California is well represented in the park yet, and I think enough of the resort is already devoted to the arts and crafts movement.

[linklewtt]

i like the letters and their original intention a lot. I don't know how many know this, but the entrance was intended to look like a California postcard (hence the letters, the bridge, and the colorful paintings on the sides of the bathrooms). that idea is great and they should keep it that way. brunettetinkerbell was right in saying that the letters are like a trademark of DCA.

[superman436]

^^
Wow, I never knew that it was supposed to look like a postcard... but now that you say it, I can totally see it and it all makes sense! Where did you hear that? I have never read it before...

[Robert Fuller]

in my opinion i dont think that they should take them out if they are. its kinda like the castle at disneyland. but instead of a castle its letters. thats what i always expect to see when i go to DCA. so it would look really empty in front too
I've always considered Grizzly Peak to be the "castle" of DCA. Every park as that one iconic structure -- Epcot has the big ball, MGM has the big hat, Animal Kingdom has the big tree -- and DCA has the big bear.:tongue:

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Funny thing is it's basically impossible not to see those icons at the other parks...but how many times have you to been to DCA & completely missed Grizzly Peak?

-- Peoplemover "Remove 'California' from the front & 20% lose any idea they're in a CA-themed park :tongue:" Matt

[nemo88]

Ive never missed Grizzly Mnt,the thing is huge.

[Disneylandrocks1955]

Many people that havn't been to the DL resort in a few years may be confused about it not being there (since it was in so many commercials). But that's okay, change is very good for DCA, I don't think they could "mess it up."

[linklewtt]

^^
Wow, I never knew that it was supposed to look like a postcard... but now that you say it, I can totally see it and it all makes sense! Where did you hear that? I have never read it before...
back in 2000 my dad got his employee newsletter or whatever and it featured concepts and sneak peeks at things for DCA. it described the entrance as "Guests will enter DCA as if they are entering a giant postcard of California itself" or something like that. I really like that idea a lot. So next time you go stand over at Disneyland, towards the center gate, and look behind you and see the biggest California postcard ever.

And as for people missing Grizzly Peak, i found that strange as well. I knew right away that Grizzly Peak (being the largest structure in DCA at its opening) was DCA's "castle". Usually the icons of the parks are structures you can see on the park's main path. Here's a list for anyone who doesn't know:

1)Disneyland: Main Street USA - Sleeping Beauty Castle
2)DCA: Sunshine Plaza - Grizzly Peak
3)Magic Kingdom: Main Street USA - Cinderella Castle
4)MGM Studios: Hollywood Boulevard - Sorceror Hat
5)Animal Kingdom: Oasis/Discovery Island - Tree of Life
6)Epcot: Leave a Legacy/Future World - Spaceship Earth (aka Big Golf Ball)
7)Blizzard Beach: Summit Plummet
8)Typhoon Lagoon: SS Miss Tilly

Also you can usually tell the icon of a park because the icon is featured as the park's logo. Like on any Disneyland Resort merchandise, on the tage is a picture of Sleeping Beauty Castle and Grizzly Peak (the only exception I know of is MGM Studios which sometimes uses the Mickey Water Tower as its logo).

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ That was the old MGM 'icon' before they built that enormous hat right in front of the GMR & its Chinese Theatre facade.

-- PMM :cool:

[Robert Fuller]

Yeah, the "Earful Tower" was always supposed to be MGM's icon, so I was surprised to actually go there and find this big hat sitting there (and being used as the park's logo), while the tower was being downplayed.

[pirategurl]

I had always loved the letters except for when we went this year and that giant cone (used as a commercial for the BPB) was in the first A of California. It looked really tacky. My mom didn't even want to take a picture of the entire thing this year because of it. The only construction I want to be done is for that cone to be taken out. They should really keep the bridge the same. I remember my first time to the DLR three years ago and the first thing I saw (besides the Matterhorn since we could see it from our hotel) was the bright mural, the letters, and the bridge. Those leave memories for me.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ The cone is long gone, don't worry about it anymore. :smile:

I'm happy they want to make DCA's entrance much better than it is. I don't think any of us are going to be missing that miniature GG Bridge for very long. It sounds like they're going to actually put in the time, money, and effort to create something a lot more pleasing to the eye.

-- Peoplemover "If I was walking into a postcard, it must have been one of those cheap 3 for $1 ones that're sold on the street..." Matt

[linklewtt]

^^i can't agree with you...i think and have always thought that the entrance is very pleasing to the eye...what more do you want? and the GG bridge is very nice...it's really like the Main Street station, where you have to go under it to actually get inside Disneyland.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ Yes but I think they can do much better than what's there. When even we need it explained that DCA's entrance is supposed to be you walking into a postcard, there's something wrong.

-- PMM :cool:

[Pinocchio85]

^^i can't agree with you...i think and have always thought that the entrance is very pleasing to the eye...what more do you want? and the GG bridge is very nice...it's really like the Main Street station, where you have to go under it to actually get inside Disneyland.

I totally agree. There's nothing that can replace the bridge...nothing. The bridge is perfect because it's California's main icon. People instantly think of CA when they see it. I love how you go under it to enter DCA just as millions of immigrants traveled under it to enter CA. It's also a creative way to cover up the Monorail beam. I can't think of anything else that could cover up the beam. They really need to leave the bridge. It would fit with the Nor Cal look they are going for.

[pirategurl]

^ The cone is long gone, don't worry about it anymore. :smile:

That is very good to hear. That thing was an eyesore.

[Legend_S]

According to Marcie at mouseinfo.com during the planning of DCA's entrance makeover the letters were gone, then saved, gone, then saved again. Currently they are not planning to take them out. She did say they are planning on removing the bridge and are putting some dumb trees in it's place. Personally, I think it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. It looks so great with the Monorail passing through it. The Monorail is going to look awful going through trees and having it's beam exposed. Also, it's California's most recognizable icon and serves as the perfect introduction to DCA. When people see it they automatically think of California. I think this is the dumbest idea ever.

I know, its so stupid, what people are going to look at trees and go "Oh right, trees, im in Californiaaa." lol Why would trees help, isnt Grizzly peak and that area enough? Its not like people are going to care anyway, just us hardcores :icon_lol: , but yeah biiiiiig waste of time while they can make more progress on making a better Tomorrow for Tomorrowland.

[usa Dragon]

Yeah I like the Golden Gate Bridge better seing the monorail pass through a bunch of trees is a realy boring sight.

[tristanshoe]

i agree. i highly doubt that they'd take those two things out. the monorail track would have to be completely fixed in that area and there i sno reason to take down th large letters. those letters are a huges symbol of DCA and i really don't think disney has any desires to remove them.

[dreamscometrue555]

if they wanted to see trees , they could drive a couple hours northeast, go to yosemite, and voila! thousands of trees!!!

[nemo88]

self edit

[SoCalAl]

Okay why just northern? i think the central needs some pick me up. And why would they remove the letters people like to take pics of them. And sit in the C.

The Sierras at least where Yosemite and Sequoia are are considered Central California?