The Walt Disney Co. announced plans to spend $1.1 billion on a redesign of its theme park next year Disney’s California Adventure after continuing floundering ticket sales in comparison with its other Southern California park, Disneyland.
The plan calls for the park to remain open during the five-year reconstruction. The entrance area will be redesigned and new attractions. Additions will include rides from Pixar’s “Cars” and “Toy Story.”
Utah residents have varying opinions about California Adventure. “It’s just not as good. I have fond memories of the old one, and when I went to California Adventure, it just felt like an amusement park,” said Julie King of Layton. Other residents agree. “It has a different feel. It’s missing Disney ‘magic’,” said Rachel Jenkins also of Layton.
That is exactly the criticism that has plagued the park since it opened. “Guests have told us that when they stand in California Adventure, they don’t have an emotional connection to it,” said Jeff Rasulo, president of the theme park division at Disney, in an interview to the Associated Press.
Questioned about what to change in California Adventure, residents’ responses were similar. “It needs more mystique. That anticipation you get we entering the other park,” King said. “Give it more of that ‘Mickey has touched it’ feel,” Jenkins said. “They need to add Test Track or Rockin’ Roller Coaster from Walt Disney World in Florida.”
The park was originally planned to be similar to Disney World’s EPOCT center, but was changed under the supervision of then CEO, Michael Eisner. Attendees have complained since California Adventure opened that it was a park built cheap with generic rides and few rides for children. The announcement by Robert Iger, current CEO of the Walt Disney Co., plans to change this negative sentiment.
Other planned additions include a “Little Mermaid” attraction and a state-of-the-art nighttime spectacular with a viewing area for 9,000 people, along with a new restaurant and other cosmetic improvements.
Investors appear to be pleased with the announcement as well, with stocks raising 37 cents to $35.38 after the announcement was made on Oct. 17.
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