Happy 5th Birthday, DCA!



The much-maligned younger sibling of Disneyland is celebrating its fifth anniversary today. For some, this is just another day to lament the park's opening. But for me, it represents an interesting point of reflection on the first Disney theme park that I've been able to see open and grow.

I've been a vocal supporter of Disney's California Adventure since January 2001. That's when I first climbed an outside staircase at the Grand Californian Hotel to take pictures of the new park. It was a preview day for Disney cast members and I could hear the happy screams of patrons enjoying themselves. I'd visit White Water Snacks and eat lunch on the patio where I could see into the park itself and wish that I could be among the day's visitors. I'd have my chance early the next month while attending an Annual Passholder preview.

It was a neat feeling stepping into a new theme park where once a parking lot lay. It was neat to have seen the landscape change and structures erected whenever I'd visit Disneyland prior to DCA's opening. I visited Disney's Animal Kingdom about 15 months after it opened but here I was visiting the latest Disney theme park even prior to its official opening. Kathy and I even made our way down there on opening day after work only to find a nearly deserted place.

Since its opening, DCA has battled attendance problems and bad word of mouth, primarily among locals who felt that it didn't measure up to Disneyland a couple hundreds yards away. Its hip-and-edgy theme didn't feel Disney enough. And the thought of a park about California in California wasn't easily understood. But despite all of its faults and shortcomings, I still really enjoyed my time at DCA.

I liked taking family and friends to DCA for their very first time. I liked pointing out some of the little details that I had discovered on previous visits. Kathy liked taking them to Soap Opera Bistro. The whole place had that new car smell to it. And while we personally liked the place for what it was and what it offered, part of its charm was the newness factor.

So how does DCA stack up 5 years later?

I must admit I don't care for it nearly as much as it first opened. It isn't quite as fresh and new. There are too many film-based attractions that can only be viewed so often. Too many empty buildings and eating facilities for such a young theme park. The park's California theme is stretched a bit thin. Too many quick fixes. We miss eating at Soap Opera Bistro. We miss riding Superstar Limo.

There's still fun to be had at DCA. Grizzly Peak is an appealing icon to me and I love that it can be seen from just about anywhere in the park. Paradise Pier is beautiful, especially when lit up at night. The lobby of the Animation Building is a real treat to immerse yourself in for 20 to 30 minutes during the day. Soarin' Over California, Grizzly River Run, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and California Screamin' are all great attractions. The food choices are still better at DCA than Disneyland.

There's also a lot of promise to such a young park. Things will continue to be reworked and tweaked. There's still room for expansion. New ideas and new technologies will provide new opportunities to wow us. Closures of old favorites, like Superstar Limo, will allow for the opening of new favorites, like Monsters, Inc. - Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! Perhaps we'll receive a nighttime spectacular on Paradise Bay ala the Bellagio water show. Who knows? But that's the excitement of visiting a Disney theme park, especially one only 5 years old.

I believe in the power of dreams. And I believe that as long as there is imagination in the world, DCA will never be complete.