That was our recent evening as well. The vibe near Buena Vista Street is pure awesome. Quite the change it needed from the old Sunshine Plaza. For once, I actually don't miss the old parking lot. :)

I for one will miss the hubcap, I always liked it. But that is the ONLY thing I'll miss from Sunshine Plaza (where you could travel in any direction BUT straight..what a fvcking train wreck that was), and am thus far happy with what I've seen of the replacement.

I more or less agree with iSm that, for whatever reason, DCA has always felt more...thoroughfare-like. Though I suspect it has less to do with the specifics of the topology and more to do with how much of the surrounds actually catches one's interest and motivates one to switch from "get from point-A to point-B" mode to "Meander and enjoy the sites" mode.

Well, Alex is quite right about the Dead-Ends. I hate that about Disneyland, and DCA wins in that department. I think dead ends are a layout fail. (I would have long ago continued the path from critter country big thunder around the long way, and from the autopia to small world, again the long way.)


But, yeah, I see DCA as a much bigger hang-out place now. I remember, though, long ago, when we liked a bunch of the entertainment (Blast! in the Hyperion Theater, and the original Eureka parade), we would spend most summer days primarily in DCA!!


(And the AP Lounge being adjacent didn't hurt either.) ;)

I hated the hubcap, and the reflectors- I was temporarily blinded by one of them that had broken and was aimed improperly. It was not cool going to first aid, and essentially being laughed at because I couldn't see.

You forgot those fab summer concerts they did one year. I went to see the Village People! :)

Hahaha, we were at Village People, too. I think that was my favorite one! What a blast!

The Bangles with Brad - say, where is that boy?

As much as I don't want to help perpetuate iSm's curmudgeonliness, I have to agree with the corridors effect: there are far more long pathways to "get somewhere."

And of course, I for one will never forgive the lack of berms. At least the Cadilac Range made it so you can't see the Anahiem convention center from inside the park. And the tree growth is helping. Again, at least it's improving, but not totally fixed.

Well, I broke down and bought myself a ticket for tomorrow night's AP preview event. Thought I was going to hold out until the 15th, but, the other night when I was in DCA, a castmember preview was taking place. I got a gander at Cars Land through the open doors at Pacific Wharf, aka the place near the free chocolate, and holy cow! It was like the scene in Wizard of Oz when Dorothy opens her front door after landing in Munchkinland. Sure, I've seen the big rock archway over the construction wall for what seems like years now, but, ground level, with nighttime lighting, just amazing. I'm still not happy about the cost, coming so quickly on the heels of the outrageous AP hike, and the faux connection between the preview event money and Disney's CHOC donation, but, I'm weak and easily swayed. Ooh, pretty colors through a doorway!

In answer to the OP, yes. I think what they've done, and will continue to do, brings DCA up to the level of a worthy second gate. Red car trolleys, atmosphere performers, musicians, these are the things that will transport me from Anaheim 2012, to Buena Vista Street, circa 193040something. To quote Liz Lemon, I want to go to there.