This has been rumored for a while, but on October 17, 2007 the Disney
Company finally made it official, and announced a “significant
multi-year expansion plan” for the Disneyland Resort – most of
which looks to involve major changes to Disney’s California Adventure.

You can read the full press release HERE, but
here are some of the points that I find most interesting.

1. Disney will be bringing more of “Walt Disney” to DCA, and at least
at the entrance to the park, the theme will reflect the 1920s California to which Walt came as a young man,
with a new park icon modeled after the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los
Angeles. Inside the theater will be an interactive “Walt Disney Story”.
The entry plaza itself will be completely revamped into more of a 1920s
California main street environment, complete with Red Car trolleys
traveling the street. Bye-bye Golden Gate Bridge!

2. Pixar and more Pixar…in addition to Toy Story Mania, inspired by
the characters from Toy Story and scheduled to open the summer of 2008,
there will be a new “Cars Land” area, featuring the world of Radiator
Springs, three new attractions, and new restaurants and shops. “The new land will substantially extend the total area of Disney’s California Adventure park” – guess that means the Timon parking lot (the last remnant of the original Disneyland parking lot) is finally going away.

3. FINALLY DCA will be getting a “signature nighttime spectacular”,
with waterside viewing alongside Paradise Bay for 9,000 people. Disney’s
World of Color will include water effects, animation, lighting,
and music. (This has been on my “wish list” since the park opened!)

4. Paradise Pier will host the new state-of-the-art Little Mermaid
attraction, as well as a Mermaid Grotto play area for kids. Nice to see the classic-style Disney animated movies getting a little bit of attention!

5. The Hollywood Pictures Backlot will be getting some “special
ticketed events and chances to hear first hand from innovative
directors, writers, and animators” – whatever that means. Maybe
they will finally use the gorgeous Hyperion Theater for full-length
shows – though they’ll need to put restrooms in first!

6. No timetable in the press release, other than “over the next
several years”, but since the Preview Center isn’t scheduled to
open until late 2008, I suppose it’ll be at least a year or two or
three beyond that.

7. I find it interesting that Disney did not put a dollar figure in their press
release, though other sources have put the cost at 1.1 billion, which is
just about the original cost of building DCA.

Well, I’m excited…I’ve always liked DCA even as it is now, though I
freely admit that it could use something more. Everything looks good
on paper…I hope the Imagineers will get free reign to bring us new attractions that are of that Disney quality that has been
a bit elusive at DCA, and that they don’t get dumbed down
because of budget issues.