The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (129 page)

Cars Land
(2012)
– At 12 acres, this extensive new land replaced the
Timon Lot
, which was the last remnant of
Disneyland
’s original massive parking lot. 
Cars Land
masterfully replicates the town of
Radiator Springs
from the
Disney-Pixar
film
Cars
,
and contains three
Cars
-themed attractions as well as
Cars
-themed shops and eateries. 
Radiator Springs
is fictional, of course, but based on the myriad small towns that flourished along famous Route 66 that linked Chicago with L.A. 
Cars Land
highlights an important part of California’s history in a fun, exciting way via
Disney-Pixar Characters
and themes. 
Walt Trivia:
 
Walt
traveled to California by train, but had he preferred, he could have arrived just as easily via Route 66.  Known as “the mother road,” before the great interstates were constructed Route 66 was the winding path that most Midwesterners followed when they drove from the country’s heartland to the promise and excitement—even salvation—of the west coast.  Once constructed, the great interstates were the doom of Route 66 and many tiny communities along it. 
Cars
celebrates Route 66 and the spirit of small-town America;
Walt
would probably have loved it.  When
Cars Land
was under construction, my niece echoed the pervasive Guest anticipation:  “I think it is going to be a hit with children of all ages.  I am
very
excited about it!”  And from the sneak previews, to the grand opening, to its present routine operation,
Cars Land
is a
very
big hit indeed.

Golden State (Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak, Pacific Wharf – 2012)
– In the main,
Golden State
remained status quo, including its
E-ticket
masterpieces
Soarin’ Over California
and
Grizzly River Run
, but it was split into three separate lands.  The content didn’t change much–just the nomenclature. 
Golden State
was divided into
Condor Flats
(the
Soarin’
area),
Grizzly Peak
(the
Grizzly River Run
area), and
Pacific Wharf
(the
Pacific Wharf
and
Golden Vine Winery
area). Aside from the removal of the jet bursting out of the
Taste Pilots’ Grill
, and the removal of
Condor Flats
’ dinosaur fossils, little has changed in these areas.
Walt
loved California’s rugged and serene wilderness, so this is a district that already has strong ties to him.  In 2008,
Seasons of the Vine
closed and
Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar
opened in its place.  The
Blue Sky Cellar
showcases notes, sketches, and models of upcoming
Disney Resort
attractions, fascinating not only in and of themselves but because of the window they provide into the
Imagineering
process.  A brief, frequently updated film that runs continuously shows
Disney
execs and
Imagineers
describing new attractions, those under construction and those still on the drawing board.  Interactive computer quizzes allow Guests to test their knowledge of
Walt
and
Disney
history. An exciting eatery was added to
Pacific Wharf
in 2012: 
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
.  San Francisco-themed sundaes (hot fudge, peanut butter, dark chocolate–you name it!), thick frappes, and massive bags of chocolates–
Ghirardelli
is a chocolate lover’s gold mine!  The one change that I regret is the removal of
Golden Dreams
, an award-winning 2001 film hosted by
Whoopi Goldberg
that succinctly and entertainingly summarized the history of California. 
Golden Dreams
was closed to make room for the new
Little Mermaid
attraction between the
Bay Area
and
Paradise Pier
.  Although the
Little Mermaid
attraction is more directly relevant to the
Disney
canon than
Golden Dreams
, and Golden Dreams’ attendance had thinned over the years, the film is missed. 
Walt Trivia:
 
Walt
loved northern as well as southern California, and would probably have been enchanted by
GRR
and
Soarin’
and their celebration of California’s natural beauty and majesty.  In the 1960’s, not long before his death,
Walt
launched a plan to build
Mineral King
, an imaginative, year-round hiking and ski resort in northern California. His last public appearance was a
Mineral King
press conference.  In the years following
Walt
’s passing the area was folded into the Sequoia National Park, and the resort was never built.

Hollywood Land
(2012)
–
Hollywood Pictures Backlot
was re-named
Hollywood Land
.  Although popular existing attractions remained, some were refreshed, and the area was re-themed to more closely resemble classic Hollywood of the 1920’s and 1930’s. In other words, the kitschier elements were removed. 
Toy Story-The Musical
was supposed to replace
Disney’s Aladdin
at the
Hyperion
, but
Aladdin
remained.
Red Car Trolleys
that originate on
Buena Vista Street
carry Guests through
Hollywood Land
, all the way to the
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
at the district’s termination.  The
Tower
was originally located in a
cul-de-sac
, which was eliminated in February 2010; Guests now stroll directly into
Flik’s Fun Fair
from
Hollywood Land
, and thence to
Cars Land
,
Pacific Wharf
,
and
Paradise Pier
. The elimination of the
cul-de-sac
vastly improved pedestrian flow in the park.
Hollywood Land
is an evocative slice of 1920’s & ‘30’s Hollywood as
Walt
knew it in his early years on the west coast. And at night, the backlot goes a little mad, becoming the
Alice In Wonderland
-themed
Mad T Party
, a
Disneyesque
rave complete with
Alice
and the
Mad Hatter
.  The Sunset Strip was never this family friendly!
Walt Trivia:
  Most everyone on the planet has seen the famous “Hollywood” sign in photos or movies, if not in person.  The sign, with its 50-foot tall letters, debuted in 1923, the very same year that
Walt
moved to Southern California.  As an advertisement for a nearby housing complex, the sign originally read “Hollywoodland,” and that’s how it would have read when
Walt
saw it.  The Hollywood sign has seen some drama in its day, and the drama continues.  In 2010, donations from celebrities, government officials, and private citizens saved the land surrounding the sign from real estate developers.

Paradise Pier
(2009 – 2012)
– This most problematic of
DCA
districts received one of the most dramatic makeovers in the park. 
Toy Story Midway Mania!
opened in 2008.  Improved
Games of the Boardwalk
re-opened in 2009.  The gracious Victorian architecture, wholesome feel, and
Disney
-theming of both attractions signalled where
Paradise Pier
was headed; instead of looking like a generic pier park, it was layered with
Disney
imagery and attractions, and its overall tone was heightened, so that it now resembles an elegant seaside resort rather than a seedy fun park.  In 2009, the
Sun Wheel
Ferris wheel was changed to
Mickey’s Fun Wheel
, painted in
Mickey
’s palette of black, red, and yellow, and decorated with a giant circa-1930’s
Mickey
face that you can’t miss even from far across
Paradise Bay
. 
Paradise Bay
was drained for months, crawling with construction equipment, vehicles, and hard-hatted workers, engineers and
Imagineers
installing the mechanical and electronic works for
World of Color
, an astonishing water-and-light show that debuted on June 11, 2010, the opening night of 2010’s
Summer Nightastic!
  The extravaganza gives
DCA
a night show as stunning and crowd-pleasing as
Disneyland
’s
Fantasmic!
  Also in June of 2010, the
Orange Stinger
swings, which were dismantled and cocooned in 2009, re-emerged as the
Silly Symphony Swings
, themed to the 1935
Disney
cartoon
The Band Concert
; just as in the animated short, Guests are whirled into a simulated tornado as
Mickey
conducts his
‘toon
orchestra. 
Mulholland Madness
,
Paradise Pier
’s tiny roller coaster, was recreated in summer 2011 as
Goofy’s Sky School
.  One of the most elaborate of the district’s new attractions opened on June 3, 2011;
The Little Mermaid:  Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
is a massive dark ride that replaces
Golden Dreams
and occupies substantial real estate between
Goofy’s Sky School
and
Pacific Wharf
’s
Bay Area
.  Boasting technology that makes Guests feel as if they’re underwater while remaining bone dry,
Little Mermaid
was eagerly anticipated; the sum fails to live up to the promise of its parts, but it is popular with children and
Little Mermaid
fans.  During summer 2012,
World of Color
added a dazzling technological innovation: 
Glow with the Show Ear Hats
that illuminate in synch with the show. In sum, by the 2013 and 2014 seasons,
Paradise Pier
had evolved from the park’s incongruous eyesore to one of its crowning jewels. 
Walt Trivia:
 
Walt
famously had an aversion to parks that were unimaginative and not geared toward families.  He admired the clean, interesting Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, for example.  It’s safe to surmise that he might’ve been displeased with
DCA
’s original
Paradise Pier
. 
Walt
had nothing against midways and midway attractions in concept, but wanted them imaginatively and beautifully executed. 
Paradise Pier
’s new format, focused on
Disney
themes and characters and reviving the wholesome elegance of the best turn-of-the-20
th
-century boardwalks, is finally in keeping with
Walt
’s standards and vision.

* * *

With so many changes on deck, from 2009 – 2012
DCA
had a palpable air of excitement, anticipation, and benevolent chaos.  Large portions of the park were blockaded by fencing or draped in enormous tarp cocoons, like caterpillars preparing to become butterflies. 
Disney
being
Disney
, the fencing was as attractive as fencing can be, and featured
Disney
characters and signs advertising attractions under construction, asking Guests to “Pardon Our Pixie Dust” and promising that exciting new experiences were “Just A Dream Away.”

Given th
e park’s widespread change and disruption, 2009 – 2012 visits to
DCA
were both frustrating and enthralling for Guests.  Both camps–Guests who enjoyed
DCA
even in its early versions, and those who were most critical–were all champing at the bit to see the final
magical
improvements as they were revealed over time.  Visits to the
Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar
to view the blueprints, artists’ renderings, and models were musts.