Laura's Disney Lines

This has been rumored for a while, but on October 17, 2007 the Disney Company finally made it official, and announced a "significant multi-year expansion plan" for the Disneyland Resort - most of which looks to involve major changes to Disney's California Adventure.

You can read the full press release HERE, but here are some of the points that I find most interesting.

1. Disney will be bringing more of "Walt Disney" to DCA, and at least at the entrance to the park, the theme will reflect the 1920s California to which Walt came as a young man, with a new park icon modeled after the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. Inside the theater will be an interactive "Walt Disney Story". The entry plaza itself will be completely revamped into more of a 1920s California main street environment, complete with Red Car trolleys traveling the street. Bye-bye Golden Gate Bridge!

2. Pixar and more Pixar...in addition to Toy Story Mania, inspired by the characters from Toy Story and scheduled to open the summer of 2008, there will be a new "Cars Land" area, featuring the world of Radiator Springs, three new attractions, and new restaurants and shops. "The new land will substantially extend the total area of Disney’s California Adventure park" - guess that means the Timon parking lot (the last remnant of the original Disneyland parking lot) is finally going away.

3. FINALLY DCA will be getting a "signature nighttime spectacular", with waterside viewing alongside Paradise Bay for 9,000 people. Disney's World of Color will include water effects, animation, lighting, and music. (This has been on my "wish list" since the park opened!)

4. Paradise Pier will host the new state-of-the-art Little Mermaid attraction, as well as a Mermaid Grotto play area for kids. Nice to see the classic-style Disney animated movies getting a little bit of attention!

5. The Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be getting some "special ticketed events and chances to hear first hand from innovative directors, writers, and animators" - whatever that means. Maybe they will finally use the gorgeous Hyperion Theater for full-length shows - though they'll need to put restrooms in first!

6. No timetable in the press release, other than "over the next several years", but since the Preview Center isn't scheduled to open until late 2008, I suppose it'll be at least a year or two or three beyond that.

7. I find it interesting that Disney did not put a dollar figure in their press release, though other sources have put the cost at 1.1 billion, which is just about the original cost of building DCA.

Well, I'm excited...I've always liked DCA even as it is now, though I freely admit that it could use something more. Everything looks good on paper...I hope the Imagineers will get free reign to bring us new attractions that are of that Disney quality that has been a bit elusive at DCA, and that they don't get dumbed down because of budget issues.