This week at the D23 Expo in California many changes were announced for the Disneyland Resort. I'll give them a quick going over and then we can get down to business.
The biggest change by a country mile is the re-theme of Paradise Pier to be "Pixar Pier". So the pier will keep its style, but not its theme of, "Fun in the sun for everyone!" They also gave Star Wars Land a name at the Expo, they call it "Star Wars - Galaxy's Edge" rather than just Star Wars Land. The "Hollywood Studios" land of DCA will get its piece of the retheme pie with its Marvel expansions and experiences. (but that's no big deal since we kind of expected that anyway) The new "Fantasmic" was opened to the public this weekend and, much to the approval of everyone, the "Paint the Night" Parade was announced to be returning to the park. The new Guardians of the Galaxy ride opened a few months ago, and is running well, and is already a crowd favorite. "The Season of the Force" is finally dead as "Space Mountain" is reopened as its good old self. And on top of all this, Disneyland hit its 62nd Birthday. Happy Birthday Disneyland.
Yes sir. Disneyland is going through its cycle of changes once again. But before you throw your computer across the room and say "WHY DISNEY?! WHHYYYYY?" lets remember what it is we are talking about.
Disneyland is a place for families to have fun together, a place where imagination can roam free and be more creative than ever. It's always had a certain feel to it, like Walt was watching the park and the happy faces in it. The fact that Walt Disney was in the park and designed some of the park we love today, makes it that much more special.
Now, I'm not going to lie, the changes they are making as of late are pretty terrible. But DCA is taking the brunt of this new "Just make another movie themed ride" trend, which I am happy about. Its sad to see such a beautiful park such as DCA get re-done to basically be Hollywood Studios, especially since they just got the whole park re-done in 2011-2012. The balance it had was perfect, it was all California themed and it had thrilling attractions to go with it. Even Cars Land fit right in. Now however, things are going to change big time. Say goodbye to that California theme and wave hello to the new DCA. The Pixar and Marvel expansions are only the beginning, mark my words. But who knows? Cars Land is one of the best lands in the park, and it's a movie themed land. So maybe Pixar Pier will be ok. Might even be, dare I say it, better. Only time will tell on this one.
So there is a lot happening at Disneyland now-a-dayz, not all of it good, not all of it bad. Disnerds and normal people everywhere can take comfort in the fact that this is Disney who is making the changes. And they are pretty skilled at what they do. They are good at making the magic real and amazing, and with a few years of fine tuning they could make a park we love just as much as the old one. They certainly have a good foundation to work off of with DCA and Disneyland. I am still a bit sceptical to all these changes, but we shall see. I personally hope they barely touch the Disneyland we all love and cherish. Disneyland is such an amazing place, there is no need to change it all up. But no matter what form Disneyland is in, it will still be magical and full of fun, which is what Walt would want.
So Happy 62nd Anniversary Disneyland. Thank you for your good times and memories. Thanks for the empty mornings, and late nights. Thanks for the magic and wonder you fill all of us with. Thanks for the mickey shaped food, and pin trading culture. Thanks for the Splash Mountain rides on hot days, and the train rides on the tired ones. Thanks for having a ghost follow me home and shooting me into space on a rollercoaster. Thanks for the walks down main street and for the cruise down the Autopia motorways. Thanks for everything Disneyland, and here is to the next 62 years. May they be full of magic and laughter.