Honestly... I don't think DCA is that bad. No, it's not Disneyland, but to be fair ANYTHING in the space across from Disneyland would be a disappointment. I admit that there were (quite a few) design choices made in the park's construction, but it's nothing that can't be fixed. I don't think "tear it all down" is even partially an option, so the Imagineers have to work with what's there, either by removing small parts (e.g. Midway Madness' location) or overlaying and changing existing parts of the park.
I'm kind of biased because I've been an AP holder since DCA has been open, and as such I use it as a way to get out of DL's crowds during the middle of the day. There are a number of things I really like about DCA. TOT, Soarin', California Screamin', Aladdin, the Ferris Wheel, and Grizzly River Run are all amazing attractions, and with Midway Madness opening eventually that list will most likely be +1. Grizzly River area is beautiful, and I kind of like Paradise Pier as well. Hollywood is well-themed (though small) and so is A Bug's Land. There are definitely theme problems, though, but it's nothing that couldn't be fixed.
A big problem is the lack of dark rides. Monster's Inc. was severely disappointing, and it's still the park's only traditional dark ride. I still haven't been on a few of the rides at Paradise Pier because they're not interesting in the least, and a Bug's Land, while pretty, is almost entirely for little kids. A good start would be a ride like Pirates or the Haunted Mansion, a slow E-ticket with maybe a drop or two, but an emphasis on story. California's history would make a covered wagon cowboy type ride possible, but I'm afraid they've all but given up on the California theme at this point.
Really, I don't know where DCA is headed. I don't believe they'll ever make it "free," but it certainly does need more than an E-ticket every 3 years to get up to speed. A complete re-theme seems, unfortunately, like the best chance the park has, but I feel like cheaper and less effective alternatives will be tried over and over without much result.
Just don't close the tortilla factory.
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