The Upside of Guardians of the Galaxy at California Adventure

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of the modern masterpieces of Disney Imagineering. The storyline mystical, the engineering a marvel (particularly in Florida), the attention to detail incredible- the end result, amazing! The attraction packs them in at Disney's Hollywood Studios. There's less crowds to be found in Paris or Anaheim, but even there, it is still a very popular attraction. 

All this makes Twilight Zone Tower of Terror the perfect Disney classic- to be remade into something else. Really? No, of course not. The move is just the latest and fastest way to bring Marvel based attractions into the Disney theme parks. Starting stateside in California.

Photo from Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix of MousePlanet.

The rebirth of California Adventure clearly captured the hearts and dollars of the picky Disneyland fan, making the second property a solid success. The sparkling, retro based Buena Vista Street sets the perfect stage for new explorations, with its very stunning Red Car Trolley line taking guests from the entrance of the park to the front of an old abandoned Hollywood hotel. 

Imagineer Joe Rohde has been tasked with transforming a beloved attraction into something Marvel worthy and shoe-horning it into a place it truly doesn't belong- just step one toward a full Marvel superhero land in a Golden State themed park. Tarps up and change happening- the old hotel becomes a weird sci-fi warehouse power plant. Good luck, Joe!

In the midst of realizing it is a done deal, and trying to make the best of it, I had an eye opening revelation: Much like the unique and popular version of the ride found in Tokyo DisneySea, giving California's a Guardians of the Galaxy makeover may be a pretty smart move. Look at Tokyo. Their Shiriki Utundu mesmerizes, bringing a sharp and fresh story to the popular ride mechanism. It fully fits into the area in which its placed. 

These two photos copyright Disney.

Now, that will be a problem for a Guardians attraction as it stands, but rest assured, a full Marvel land is on the way to California (and France, and Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and Shanghai). Can it come soon enough? No- not now that they have made this travesty of a building, a scar on the successful California Adventure remake. But perhaps the plans for the new land are so incredible, so marvelous, so mind-blowing, that when everything is open, the new revised Tower and it's unique story will fit like a superhero glove. Maybe. Here's hoping.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Design Detail: The Red Car Trolley

The magnificent Cars Land was not the only success when the second Anaheim park, California Adventure transformed from the proverbial ugly duckling into a gracious and much desired swan. The entire entrance finally conveyed a sense of time and place with the lovely Buena Vista Street setting the stage for experiences to come. Ugly, hip, and edgy structures became warm, elegant, and timeless- something the Imagineers do extremely well. The public responded to the transformation in droves.

I love this "interior" look at the Red Car Trolley as it is temporarily stationed in Hollywoodland next to the iconic and wonderfully frightening Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The dashboard as it were shows a clean design approach even in the midst of being saddled with the necessity of 21st Century engineering "under the hood". Lesser parks and lesser design teams would overlook the need to keep it all consistent, but not at Disney. Take a look at what frames that beautiful California sign: era appropriate black iron work, wood finishes, gauges and pulleys all that are part of the show.

These design details and so much more like them are what make guests enveloped in the story behind the lands and attractions of Disneyland and all the company parks that came afterwards. With the initial flop heard 'round the world when California Adventure debuted in 2001 (and the Walt Disney Studios Paris, to a lesser degree), I think the suits have finally learned a hard lesson: Give the customers high quality and good design and you will always bring them in the front door.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Racing to the Finish

Two months and counting to the opening day of the brand new Disney California Adventure! Can you picture it? I sure can!

Thanks to the likes of Mint Crocodile and many others, I anxiously await every new photo update. But it won't be long until we are walking down Buena Vista Street, riding the Red Car Trolleys, and eating in its restaurants, shopping in its stores.

As beautiful as it will be, it's Cars Land I am most excited about. Was Cars or Cars 2 my Pixar favorite films? Far from it. But I will not be able to resist Radiator Springs Racers! Along with Soarin' Over California, this gem of an attraction will be a must-ride every time I visit the resort.

And soon, I will be! If you are reading this, a visit to the revamped, re-Imagineered park, is probably on your to do list as well!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

California Adventure's Stepsister Park

The Matterhorn Bobsleds will have to wait. So will seeing the Jolly Holiday Bakery and any other parade or special event. My next trip to the Disneyland Resort will be dedicated solely to the reborn California Adventure. And let me be this honest about it: I think at least for a few years, I will skip Disneyland in favor of the newer park. Yes, my beloved Disneyland will- at least for the near future- become the stepsister to California Adventure as the main attraction.

Usually my visits to the resort are for one day plus an afternoon wandering around Downtown Disney. Since I anticipate no change in this pattern for awhile, its Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers over Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Indiana Jones Adventure. I'll be taking in Buena Vista Street over Main Street and the Golden State over Adventureland and Frontierland.

This also means my money will go to the restaurant at the Carthay Circle Theater instead of the Blue Bayou, and I'll skip a Dole Whip in favor of a treat over at Clarabelle's.

In jumping from Disneyland across the Esplanade to California Adventure, my expectations will also change parks. I'll be banking on being wowed again by World of Color, being thrilled by California Screamin', and fully expect Ariel's Undersea Adventure to fill the gap left by Peter Pan's Flight.

In short, the magic needs to be there- and I'm betting with my money that it will. So is The Walt Disney Company and the Imagineering division in particular. All $1Billion plus of it!

California Adventure's Retro Cool Attraction Posters

Every little step of the California Adventure makeover continues to make me hopeful this park will be worthy of the Disney name!

The newest attraction posters for Soarin' Over California, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and especially the Red Car Trolleys just scream class. Retro class, retro cool. I cannot wait for the transformation to be complete. Buena Vista Street, here I come!

(Art copyright the Walt Disney Company)