DCA version 2.0 - Will It Be Enough?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by RStar

When I first visited Hollywood as an adult in the 80's, I was shocked. It was not what I had in mind. Then I went to USH, and found it a lot more fun (Hollywood is in a lot better shape now, BYW).

That's not really a fair analogy. "Hollywood" isn't Hollywood, "Hollywood" IS Universal Studios (or the studios in Burbank, or Vasquez Rocks, or countless other areas around SoCal that are not in the 90028 zip code). The actual city of Hollywood at it's BEST is a symbolic tourist trap. By visiting Universal you visited a legitimate, authentic experience of Hollywood not replicable anywhere else in the world (yes, the theme park is replicated, and surpassed, in Florida, but they will NEVER have the true Hollywood history that's up on that hill).

No one visits the Golden Gate Bridge then shows up at DCA and says, "Geez, why did I waste my time THERE?!"

By visiting Hollywood Pictures Backlot you are visiting a pale imitation of something real and historical that's accessible with little to no extra effort. By visiting Redwood Creek you are visiting an underwhelming imitation of spectacular nature that's entirely accessible with little to no extra effort.

No, it's not impossible to achieve a Disney-worthy feat of fantasy and "transport you to another time and place" within the confines of the California-in-California theme. But by inviting comparison to truly wonderful REAL places that are practically visible by peeking your head over the lack-of-berm, Disney started with one foot in a crater. To pull that off, the result has to be at least as amazing, if not more amazing, than the real deal. Even at Disney's best that's a tall order. And where DCA has succeeded (ToT, World of Color, Little Mermaid....um....) it's with stuff that has gotten away from that theme, avoiding the uphill battle against expectations.

[RStar]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

That's not really a fair analogy. "Hollywood" isn't Hollywood, "Hollywood" IS Universal Studios (or the studios in Burbank, or Vasquez Rocks, or countless other areas around SoCal that are not in the 90028 zip code). The actual city of Hollywood at it's BEST is a symbolic tourist trap. By visiting Universal you visited a legitimate, authentic experience of Hollywood not replicable anywhere else in the world (yes, the theme park is replicated, and surpassed, in Florida, but they will NEVER have the true Hollywood history that's up on that hill).

That's very true GD, but do visiters realize that? I have heard dissapointment from visiters from out of state or out of the country. But you are right, that was a bad analogy. The Hollywood that people know is what they see on their screens, which comes from the studios, not the city it's self. That's not to say there aren't parts of the city that are important landmarks, but those are little more than tourist attractions now. And seeing replicas of landmarks like the Golden Gate is never a replacement for seeing the real thing. I don't think anyone expected it to be. It's the ambiance or character of the place that people can enjoy. For instance, now you will be able to enjoy feeling what it would be like to go back to Los Angeles in the 1920's.

And I agree, ISM, that the annoying puns and cartoonish look of parts of the park made a mochery of the state. I'm glad it's being removed for the most part.

The point is, will it be enough? I think if they hadn't fixed it's flaws, the park would have been closed as a seperate gate, or razed completly with in 5 years. Now it has a chance, and I feel it will continue to improve, to stay as a stand alone park. Will the California theme stay? Only time will tell.