The (Many) Problems With Pixar Pier

[@songormonk6400]

My theory is that the entire point of this change to the land was to just promote Incredibles 2

[@themeparknerd643]

this is a really great point, I should have brought that up in the video

[@maxtheblackbear8072]

That's what I thought too. Now, Disney is celebrating Pixar Fest. I have a feeling the reason they are celebrating Pixar Fest is because of Inside Out 2, I'm excited about that movie.

[@PixelWolv]

​@@maxtheblackbear8072thats unironically it. They last did Pixar fest in like 2019 or sumn right after they made these changes if im not mistaken

[@JonathanGaeta]

@@PixelWolvthe last Pixar Fest was in 2018. The same year Pixar Pier opened

[@PixelWolv]

@@JonathanGaeta oh damn literally RIGHT AFTER they made the changes and as soon as they opened it? Thats crazy this is the first time its happened since. Ive heard good things about it in DCA but that the cross-themeing into disneyland look kitchy and out of place

[@Theme_parchive]

Never forget before the ride opened when they claimed “we have a 40 foot animatronic Mrs. Incredible” only for it to be a fiberglass prop.

[@idkany293]

HER NAME IS NOT MRS. INCREDIBLE IT'S EITHER HELEN, HELEN PARR, MRS. PARR OR ELASTGIRL

[@DylansTheatreCorner]

@@idkany293why is bro so pressed

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

@@DylansTheatreCornerHis waifu

[@MarkHeathcliff-bf2im]

This is probably a good thing in hindsight. People are to thirsty

[@liamcollinson5695]

I am sick of Disney's empty promises and blue sky shenanigans

[@davidnevolo4402]

To be fair the designers of pixar pier had the impossible task of implementing a horrible idea cooked up by a marketing executive

[@themeparknerd643]

that’s a great point, I probably should have discussed that more. It did feel like a corporate mandate.

[@dayoldbread1696]

@@themeparknerd643it was originally going to be re themed to a villains pier with a good budget. Theres even official concept art floating around. Unfortunately it was cancelled in favor of the way cheaper and lazier Pixar pier

[@AaronAlterman]

I really miss the big CALIFORNIA stone letters in front of the entrance :(

[@kolonarulez5222]

Yes! One of my favorite family photos is standing in front of those giant letters!

[@chie5747]

The letters still exist and now are at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

[@averyl6]

You articulated exactly how I felt about this change ESPECIALLY Screamin' to Incredicoaster. It was my first real coaster as a kid and got me into it, not it feels like a soulless cash grab. I feel similarly about Tower of Terror.

[@hazeldavis3176]

One of the biggest problems I have with modern Disney execs irt the theme park direction is that they don't understand making something 'more Disney' has very little to do with Disney IPs. Disney parks' magic was in attention to detail, high quality construction, depth of theming, free included *Plus* at every park. Now we have cheap rides, plastic statues passing as immersion and that Plus experience is now behind giant paywalls. As a Disney Parks fan, I would give SO MUCH to have a creative back in the CEO seat.

[@sk8tslide]

To add on to your point about the re-theme being rushed, Jessie’s Critter Carousel and the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind didn’t open until a year after the land officially turned into Pixar Pier. You’d think those would have been there from the start if this re-theme was truly a passion project.

[@Mistardmuster]

When I started going to California Adventure as an older kid I was really into the Edwardian era and I loved the fact that Paradise Pier was modeled after that kind of old-timey amusement park. The whole old-fashioned California vibes of the park back then were really great and it's sad that they had to swap out a cool, pretty unique theme with blatant Disney properties to make it marketable.

[@lonesoul663]

I never understood why they fixed up Paradise Pier only to transform it into Pixar Pier not too long after. Same way they changed the San Francisco area to Big Hero 6. Dumb IP inclusion crap.

[@kaydub0623]

You didn't even mention my least favorite part about the transition from Screamin' to Incredicoaster, and it's that the launch spiels are all the same now. The old ones were so charming. "Second thoughts? Too late! Head back, face forward, and hold on like you mean it!"

[@eatatjoes6751]

Oh my God, that does sound better. Especially on a “rollercoaster wimp” perspective, because it feels like the ride is playfully negging you.

[@JonathanGaeta]

I’m glad I rode Screamin on the last day. I even got a Fastpass on that last day. Now I have that Fastpass ticket up in pin board

[@lizggil123]

“Not ready? Too bad! Head back, face forward, and hold on like you mean it!”

[@acefist5502]

They also made dash’s spiel the most basic and flattest lines ever. It’s almost like arm down head back and hold on from top thrill dragster (rip). If they added some more personally to dash’s lien that matched his character it would be a little better even though nothing with ever beat NPH. Imagine if it was “I catch Jack Jack! I’m a track star! Head back face forward and hold on like ya mean it! SPRINTING IN 5 4 3 2 1! That has much more of dash’s personally in it

[@kaydub0623]

@@acefist5502 exactly. And like I said in my comment, they have no variation. It's the same audio every launch. The old ones would mix and match the audio spiels

[@ducksfan_1149]

California Screamin music was so good 🙁

[@JonathanGaeta]

Good thing I have the soundtrack downloaded to my music playlist

[@acefist5502]

I’m determined to learn that song on guitar to perseve the legacy and love that I had for the coaster

[@davemccage7918]

“The Torture (Sun) Wheel” is legitimately the most terrifying ride in existence. I’ve been on many rollercoasters that are in top 10 list for most intense rides on earth, but that damn swinging wheel is the only ride to ever make me cry from sheer dread. That ride broke me… 😰

[@redtiger7268]

@@davemccage7918 I went on it a long time ago because I made it a point to go on every new ride after 2000. It is one of the few rides I absolutely hate.

[@santafe1507]

​@@acefist5502😅

[@TimiTayoLOL]

i am 13 years old and my first ever rollercoaster was the Incredicoaster, it was so rough that i didn’t want to do any coasters at disneyland but luckily my dad forced me to go on Big Thunder and showed me what a real coaster is, it perfectly proves your point about how rough the incredicoaster is and how many people ride it and i just wish i got to ride something like california screamin which at least had more cohesion.

[@themeparknerd643]

@@TimiTayoLOL I’m glad to hear! Keep riding coasters :)

[@JSXSProductions]

I know I'm getting old, but it still shocks me when I hear a grown man's voice say he was born in the 2000s. 💀

[@taylor-th5je]

I don’t think this guy is a grown man at all actually 😂

[@davemccage7918]

I remember being in prison 6 years ago and seeing an inmate’s ID card with a 7/18/2000 birth date on it. I was shocked to see, what to me was a baby, already advancing his criminal career.

[@kolonarulez5222]

Me too! I was reeling from that then he says he doesn't remember the giant orange. I was there dude, I feel ancient.

[@KyraHogue]

Same! I remember going to DCA when it first opened. I was about 10-12 years old. I have fond memories of OG DCA

[@ChrisMeadows92]

@@davemccage7918 That was actually an interesting anecdote. How are things going these days?

[@kolonarulez5222]

RIP Orange Stinger. It was the most alluring building in all the park to 2007 me. 🍊

[@hikawagetsbitches]

same, i miss seeing that big orange

[@scarlett453]

I want to live in a world where the movie's name is actually 'It's tough to be a bug', incredible

[@davidnevolo4402]

Paradise pier as a name combines an aspirational emotion with a location. Tells you where you are and how to feel about ut. Brilliant. Pixar pier tries to elicit the same response and experience but cuts the emotion out of the name and falsely credits pixar with why you should feel good.

[@goodmemesinmyjeans9715]

“Feels like something six flags would do” “Feels like something universal would do” Meanwhile, in the last 10 years both universal and six flags outdoing Disney at almost every turn, especially considering resource management and budget. AND tickets aren’t 600 dollars a piece 🤡

[@dayoldbread1696]

Exactly 😂

[@MagicMonkey96]

Disney is still better than six flags imo, will give the W to universal though they’re killing it

[@TheFoolishSamurai]

Having just been to Magic Mountain, Six Flags is still bottom-of-the-barrel in terms of themed rides. That place was an overpriced ghost town just about

[@dayoldbread1696]

@@TheFoolishSamurai Pixar pier felt like I’d see it at magic mountain. I wish they would have put something better in that space instead of them just doing a cheap lazy re theme

[@TheFoolishSamurai]

@@dayoldbread1696 Yeah. The pier either needs to go back to the more general theming, or double-down and actually put in the work to make a Pixar Pier

[@AwsamNick]

I don't know it it's just because I was a kid when I went on the California Screamin', but I feel that the open tubes added to the ride experience. You could see all the way out to Disneyland. Most notably, the openness and the ability to see how high you were added to the suspense of the drop, I would actully get air time on the drop, and now, with the closed tubes, it feels shorter and I get no feeling. It's all quite unfortunate.

[@JeremyBX]

I still think about the California Screamin' music to this day. The way the music syncs to your adventure leaves you feeling things i can't put into words other than: "totally ascended"

[@SlushysSecret]

They really should've continued adding to the california theme rather than completely destroy it all with IP's, they should've added more to paradise pier such as retheme tritons carousel to a Victorian carousel with a toy story IP that isn't directly in your face like midway mania did, they could've also done something like that to the paradise pier boardwalk games, and they could've added a classic parachute ride where the maliboomer used to be, which they originally where going to add but didn't add for some reason, but there's still a lot of ways they could've completely fixed the california theme of the land and have a disney take of california itself to guests rather than just a complete slap of things you can see in califronia or a slap of poorly executed IP's

[@JStryker47]

His name is actually Triton. A Trident is what his weapon is called. But yeah.

[@SlushysSecret]

@@JStryker47 ahh I see, thanks for the correction

[@JonathanGaeta]

They were supposed to build a parachute drop ride where Maliboomer stood when the 2007-2012 renovation started. But when they dismantled the Maliboomer they just put a smoking area and now we have another spinner ride. Both replacements were not an upgrade

[@dayoldbread1696]

@@JonathanGaetathey should have put that green army men parachute ride there instead

[@dayoldbread1696]

They were actually going to, the next thing after cars land and buena vista street was making the pier a high budget villains pier. But sadly it was cancelled due to Disney being cheap and lazy. The Pixar pier re theme was way cheaper so that’s why it was chosen over the villains pier idea

[@just1bite128]

My biggest issue with Pixar Pier is the random Little Mermaid ride tucked in the corner of the side entrance. It’s so out of place. At least when it was Paradise Pier you had Ariel's Grotto at the bridge main entrance set in a classic pier scape. With this re theme Little Mermaid is just jarring. Especially since you enter on that side you start seeing Pixar characters before it opens to Pixar Pier and then BAM Little Mermaid to your right. 😂

[@claraporch_]

Agree! They should get rid of it as soon as possible 🙌🏻 Or replace to somewhere else in the other park.

[@4glencoco611]

Im watching this after the D23 expo they said they're adding a Coco ride to DCA so my best guess is that's where they'll put it.

[@justynwolf3462]

This was such a good overview of DCAs current state!!

[@karsonbollinger8412]

A big problem of Pixar pier is it stops before it gets to symphony swings. Leaving that, goofy’s sky school, the zepler and jelly fish all feel out of place

[@wespauls9020]

I hate what Disney did to California Adventure. With the updates they did, like Buena Vista Street and making everything around Grizzly Peak be a national park in the 40's, Hollywoodland being Hollywood in the 30's, etc, the park was on the right track. It basically was turning into a celebration of California's golden years: a nostalgic, romanticized take of CA from the 20's-50's. Then they ruined everything. They shoehorned Guardians of the Galaxy into the Tower of Terror, replaced Soain over California with Soarin Around the World, Paradise Pier became Pixar Pier, and they're still going. I genuinely think that California Adventure would have become Disney's most romantic, interesting and well-crafted park had they kept on the trajectory. It's dead now. The park the California Adventure was set to become is gone and will never see the light of day. It's buried six feet under Pixar, IP cheap garbage and I hate it. What a waste of potential.

[@wespauls9020]

@24kgoldplatedvermeil Respectfully I disagree, I think that they were adding the right pieces and they just needed to keep heading the direction they were. But then Iger showed up and liked money and that was it. The second they changed Tower of Terror and started cramming IP's where they weren't needed is when everything was doomed.

[@YoMike91]

A couple ride ideas that are Pixar that I would like for Disney to create: -Incredibles ride with a Kuka arm so it makes it feel like your flying around -A Toy Story Mystic Manor style ride that is themed to Andy and Sids homes

[@phillinsogood]

Oooh these are good ideas 🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@Mike__B]

I think you may be being a bit too harsh, but I get where you're coming from, and nostalgia can be a powerful emotion, just look at people's reaction for Splash Mountain -> Tiana's. I would see the whole Paradise Pier as a cheap way to make a "land" for DCA in general, with the only real ride that felt like it was something "Disney" was Toy Story, everything else was generic amusement park stuff with very little useful theming other than the generic "CALIFORNIA!" theme, and ironically the way they fixed it is with a generic new coat of paint and calling it "Pixar!" But overall I don't feel like the land got worse, because for me it never was that good to begin with, it had that stink of Iger doing the least amount possible with a general park theme that really felt misplaced, with things like people paying money to visit a "farm" or the Boudin factory which really wasn't a factory it was a single room talking about a process, etc. Who's feeling nostalgia about that? For me Cars Land really shows that the park could have been, instead of what we got, now sure Cars didn't exist when the park opened but the idea of a well themed area that really brings a movie to life or something, and other than maybe the Grizzly/Redwood area none of what was original to DCA had any feel of being special.

[@rashrasha921]

you earned a fan here! i’m so excited to see what you make

[@josf9616]

Oh my goodness, jack jack on a stick is the WORST

[@BRUnruhe]

During the "revamping" to Incredicoaster, I really thought the Jack Jack on Sticks was a quick fix for a more permanent solution. I couldn't believe that was the final option.

[@ThemeParkDaze]

I feel like the 2012 update was the best version. It kept the paradise pier theme but added more “magic” and made it look not as cheaply made as the original version. Pixar Pier made it look cheap again.

[@lightning_skyyy]

i agree 100% with this video. i’ve always thought that pixar pier was really tacky and nowhere near the level that paradise pier was. and it sucks too bc i like pixar a lot but the pier didn’t need changing and i hate the way disney does pixar themed stuff, it’s so overly reliant on the pixar ball colors and its ugly. i also completely agree about the incredicoaster points too. the ride would be way better if they didn’t shove a premise into it and all the figures of the characters into the tunnels. i also think it would be way better if the ride only had the incredibles score and not the characters screaming in your ear the whole time lol. i do love going on the ride bc the track is the same but california screamin will always be superior. and i definitely will try and play the music for screamin on my earbuds next time i go bc god i miss it so much

[@stephenfreitas8546]

It’s easy to fix. 1. Upgrade the show elements in Incredicoaster (make everything screen based inside the tunnels and remove the Jack-Jacks on a stick). 2. Move Mosters, Inc. to the pier. 3. Rename the other Paradise Pier attractions with Pixar IPs.

[@ktm6612]

And now that monsters inc is no longer kn Hollywood, we can use that space to build a spiritual succesor for the great movie ride and bring new life to the hollywood mini area

[@themaddiecommittee]

I'm also nostalgic for the original CA park so I appreciate this perspective. I will cherish my childhood memories of Paradise Pier.

[@davidalan6701]

If it were me, I would’ve kept Mickey in the wheel, but I would’ve asked the Pixar team to do a 3D redesign to make him as Pixar as it’s possible to be. That way, he’s still the icon, as he should be, but he’s within the theme. The current Mickey is just not contemporary enough. He’s not even based on the new Mickey shirts/runaway railway retro modern design. It doesn’t feel classic, which would still be the wrong aesthetic even if it did, it just feels kind of out of touch.

[@dennisthebrony2022]

21:45 Well, thank god my first introductions to inversions was Silver Bullet at Knott’s Berry Farm, and I have to say, it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be!! It was pretty smooth, and I didn’t have the feeling I was gonna fall off the ride when going upside down.

[@hazelleblanc8969]

California Screamin had already suffered downgrades long before it became the Incredicoaster. At first, there was no countdown, which was a blast because you didn't know when you were going to take off. Then, taking out Mickey's head - more fun to go around that than the sun. Still, so long as they don't bring back Superstar Limo, I'm good.

[@mattd.8945]

The old time California aesthetic of Paradise Pier was so good. It was something you don't see anywhere else and it was wonderfully put together. It made California Adventure feel much more enriched because it it was themed around real culture not just pop culture

[@samusmp1_4]

My main issue with the Incredicoaster is that there's no cohesion between the theme and the physical ride. The California Screamin' was built to emulate the look and feel of a mid-twentieth century California boardwalk wooden roller coaster. The Incredibles has nothing to do with that. They changed the theme without changing the ride. Disney could've replaced Screamin' with any Pixar IP and it wouldn't have made a difference. Make it the WALL•E Coaster and the story is you're flying with EVE to find WALL•E and the plant. That doesn't make any less or more sense than the Incredicoaster. If this roller coaster were originally built with the idea to theme it after the Incredibles, the Incredicoaster is not what Disney would have built. They just glued the Incredibles on top of an existing ride because it was faster and cheaper.

[@c63655]

I will always prefer classic DCA to modern DCA. It was supposed to be a celebration and experience of all things california when it opened in 2001. But now, with GOTG, Avengers Campus, and now Screaming (I absolutely refuse to say it's current name) It now feels like instead of CALIFORNIA adventure, it's now SUPERHERO adventure, with some pixar thrown in here and there and the absolute tiniest shred of california left off in the corner alone and forgotten. I remember the days of muppet vision 3D, the aladdin show, Paradise Pier of course, Bug's land, soaring over california, and tower of terror. I ride I really liked. Hell, I remember forcing my mother to go on that all the time and even the fun wheel one time even though she was scared of heights. And I remember when I took my friend on screaming for the first time, as soon as we launched, I heard him screaming with a high pitched voice next to me. Hell, I even remember attending the opening of cars land back in 2012 for pete's sake. Now the whole land is nothing more than a hollow shell of what it once was to me. I know realistically it'll never happen, but I hope that disney brings DCA back to it's former glory someday. Maybe then I'd actually stop and visit the area

[@gamingwithdoublea]

All I can say is THANK YOU. You perfectly articulated why this change broke my heart and I truly despise it. I definitely have nostalgia bias, but I’ve also loved Paradise Pier for so long and that only grew when I worked in that area for 3 years, operating Midway Mania and Goofy’s Sky School. Pixar Pier is so … lifeless. Devoid of personality. Paradise Pier was beautiful and it just had character. Pixar Pier really illustrates my larger fear with DCA in that it’s becoming just an IP park. Pixar Pier, Carsland (which I actually loved an attended the opening back in the day), Avengers Campus … it all just feels like the quirky personality DCA had from 2001 is being sucked out. I pretty much only go in the park to eat now … I can’t really bear the rides anymore as the magic feels gone for me. I will also say that you are very right about the roughness on Incredicoaster - I kept attributing it to “getting old” but I cannot ride that ride without feeling sick now. And I haven’t experienced that on any other coaster in Disneyland. Anyways, thank you again for this video. May our beloved Paradise Pier live on somehow. (And yes, OG WoC is the best one hands down)

[@dayoldbread1696]

I agree as well! It’s sad how so many people rabidly defend the pier. Like so many Disney fans get mad when the Pixar pier re theme is criticized. The most disappointing thing is that they were originally going to do a big budget villains pier re theme. But sadly it was cancelled in favor of the way cheaper Pixar pier re theme. Also I’m still mad that Disney still hasn’t started on the avengers e ticket ride for avengers campus. It’s been 4+ years yet no construction has started

[@gamingwithdoublea]

@@dayoldbread1696 EXACTLY! I have been thinking a lot about how badly Avengers Campus is faring right now with the lack of E-ticket, there’s just no reason to stay in that area unless you’re eating at Pym’s. I find myself just crossing through to get to Hollywood and the Backlot quicker. It’s very typical to say but it’s just sad to see what Disney has become with corporate greed. It’s cheap overlays and lazily slapped on themes just to say they did something. The world has inevitably shifted in a “post-COVID” landscape but it’s a bummer that Disney didn’t use that time to re-energize their ideas for the parks, you can just feel something missing when you’re there.

[@dayoldbread1696]

@@gamingwithdoublea well said! And yeah at the end of last year they showed off the new ride vehicle (concept art) so at least it’s coming eventually. But I don’t understand why it took them this long. They also never should have cancelled the e ticket quinjet ride, it was going to be amazing. Also with them getting rid of all the shows in avengers campus too, there really won’t be anything to do in that awful land. It’s sad too how the original plans were much better but sadly were cancelled due to Disney being lazy and greedy. I wonder how much longer it’ll take them to build the lands e ticket

[@skilz230playz]

I don’t really understand why incredicoaster gets hated on. As someone who really likes it, it hurts me to see the hate it gets

[@owenzzzz235]

The reason why everyone hates it is because people miss california screamin and the static figures

[@skilz230playz]

@@owenzzzz235 I guess it makes sense on how people feel on losing California screamin but still you guys are being too harsh on incredicoaster

[@lxols_]

​@skilz230playz because it makes NO thematic sense why u should put an incredibles ride in California adventure

[@Michael-sb8jf]

1980's cedar point did a better retheming of avalanche run to disaster transport than disney did with incredacoaster

[@CaffeinatedConnor]

This is why I believe Universal to be the go to place now. ever since the new management came all they’ve been adding is cheap reskins and bad replacements.

[@dayoldbread1696]

Exactly it’s sad how far Disney has fallen. I was so disappointed when they hyped us up for avengers campus, then went opening week and realized it sucked. They haven’t even built the avengers e ticket ride yet

[@zenclaw13]

The orange stinger smelled like oranges on the inside which was cool and you always felt like you were going to hit the sides. It was so fun! I absolutely loved the maliboomer as well! It was a fun park! I don't hate the new stuff, but I feel like it needs a focused theme at this point

[@hypernova_119]

Here's what I've been saying for YEARS ever since Pixar Pier was introduced: why don't they just re-theme the entire park to become Pixarland? It's obvious California Adventure has turned into a place to just throw every idea associated with Pixar into for a long time (i.e., A Bug's Land, Cars Land, Toy Story Mania, Pixar Pier, etc.), so why don't they just rebrand the whole thing? I know it'll require a LOT of change, but I feel like it's a better idea then just hastily slapping Pixar into random areas. Like you said, California Adventure has completely lost its original identity, so I believe it needs an overhaul. (Also, is it too much to ask for a freakin' Ratatouille ride? 😭)

[@samclay2613]

i miss the paradise pier music

[@aeryn6275]

How do you not have more followers? Jeez man, I can’t believe it took me this long to find your channel. You’re really eloquent and put all of my thoughts into words perfectly, and I really like your editing style.

[@themeparknerd643]

@@aeryn6275 thank you so much!! :)

[@vuurkip2491]

Also the Inside out spinner ride looks way cheaper than the original concept art. Where it was surrounded by those glowing orbs instead of just the helix. Dont know why they didnt just do the entire land toy story and had the parachute tower from Disneyland paris in the helix as maliboomer tribute. you could easily turn screamin' into a k'nex coaster even if it would look kinda ugly

[@bryguytyguy]

Honestly the idea of being in the tubes with those things is frightening enough, I don't need them moving around and possibly grazing me 🤣

[@whosjwlz]

I just visited DCA for the first time recently, and I had no idea about what it was like before the Pixar theming. The one thing that did disappoint me in Pixar pier was that it didn’t feel as immersive as other areas of Disney. It felt like just a bunch of rides and experiences that had the Pixar theme slapped on, and now knowing it used to be a totally different area it makes more sense to me now. I did really love Incredicoaster as a ride, but the theming was not the best, like you mentioned the static figures weren’t very interesting and Disney is known for their amazing animatronics, definitely a missed opportunity. As someone who doesn’t have the nostalgia for the old paradise pier, I do feel a lot of the complaints you have for Pixar pier. I still loved my experience at DCA but definitely some things that could be improved!

[@padawen]

Personally I’ve never went to the Paradise Pier. But to be fair from all the videos I’ve saw the wider audience, locals and tourists didn’t like it a bit. The park was literally a random themed Californian carnival. It didn’t appeal globally. Also if it wasn’t for attractions like Toy Story Mania, this part of the park would cease to exist long ago. Or at least rethemed. So even though this Pixar transition was made probably because The Incredibles II was coming soon onto the theatres. It was necessary for a crowd and audience standpoint. I totally respect your opinion and liked the footage I could saw of the more « brownish » Pier. There is now new generations of people and fans who love this Part of the Park. This video isn’t biased it’s taking a shot at what Disney New Imageeniering is looking for the next few years (Avengers Campus just wtf happened Disney).

[@Yeat602]

I grew up going to dca to and paradise pier and I loved it. I remember being scard to go on all the rides but got over my fear. But Pixar pier is a lot better. They just made everything Pixar and it’s a lot better l, also Toy Story midway mania was already there so it made sense. Also it looks so good at night with the colors. You only like it because of nostalgia

[@karsonbollinger8412]

I will defend Pixar pier despite the few issues, I do love Pixar, I love the energy and characters. And the incredcoaster ngl. I think it should’ve been all the way to little mermaid.

[@DarthLiam-gd1wc]

Yes but then zephyr and jellyfish wouldve gone with it

[@twistedthrills]

I've said it before and I'll say it again! Long live California Screamin'! Bring back Paradise Pier!

[@cydneyadamson1858]

i laughed so hard at this video i subscribed halfway through! please keep doing this long form content it’s amazing and your blunt delivery is hilarious.

[@Shiki100Hyaku]

I wish they brought back Maliboomer or made a ride like it again, because then that space where the inside out ride is at now would actually have more than 2 people.

[@jamesklatt]

As a former imagineer said: personally I prefered the old parking lot.

[@powerpup97]

I totally agree with the fact that they only re-themed half of Paradise Pier making it completely incoherent. Why didn't they just re-theme all the other rides there if they were going to do it?

[@dwightdeisenhower929]

I agree with the complaints about disney rollercoasters being too audio-heavy. It doesn't help that it seems most ride audio systems are very poor quality or at least poorly maintained. I went on jungle cruise when I was at disney last a few years ago and couldn't understand what the captain was saying at all. Dark ride dialogue is about 50% missed for me. I've been on the incredicoaster a few times and absolutely cannot understand a single word said the whole time. I thought it was just me until I went on some rides at Universal that featured dialogue and they made perfect sense the first time around. Another symptom of Disney's recent decline in overall quality Imho

[@CC-sv9fs]

I agree i feel like Pixar Pier was a downgrade since going to both versions multiple times and it does seem like some people are defending the land because i heard somewhere that Disney KZbinrs defend it and i don’t understand why. However i understand why Disney went with the change because Pixar might be more appealing to the guest. Regardless thats why i think Disney should keep giving it updates keep adding new rides rather than letting it sit for 20 years or so.

[@mr.x6313]

What bugs me is that it’s just so tacky. They call the different areas “neighborhoods,” as if they are places where the Pixar characters live. Oh, really? You’re telling me that it’s normal for a neighborhood to have the faces of its residents garishly plastered all over benches, trash cans, food stands, etc??? It’s like the land is beating you over the head, screaming “HEY LOOK ITS PIXAR YOU GET IT THERES BUZZ AND HE HAD A CHURRO IN HIS MOUTH AND ITS FUNNY BECAUSE SPANISH BUZZ GET IT NOSTALGIA” I HATE static figures of characters who are so brilliantly brought to life in their respective attractions.

[@DarthLiam-gd1wc]

They should never touch grizzly peak or condor flats, its the last vestige we have of the original park (with attractions)

[@sarahturner3697]

This whole video is so well said. I completely agree

[@gabrieldally6044]

I think every Disney park deserves a unique identity and DCA had that in 2012-2016 when it was undoubtedly a California themed Park with charm and cohesion, but it still had Disney characters, In a classy and compelling way. I don't think a name change would fix this park. I don't think you need I P to tell a compelling story in a Disney park. You need a strong story, That's what makes Disney Disney. Look at Tokyo Disneysea, there is IP in the park but all of them have a cohesive theme that connects back to the seven seas. Not to mention the park has original non I P lands, Like mysterious Island, New York harbor, & Arabian coast.DCA has Buena Vista Street & Grizzly peak but we lost Tower of Terror which tied Hollywood land to Buena Vista Street via the red car trolley & we lost Paradise Pier which tied the land To the California theme while using IP in a classy manor. Even cars land fits in the park because The entire movie as a celebration of California car culture

[@david_walker_esq]

Pixar Pier isn't a themed land. It's an amusement park (within a theme park) with a Pixar motif. Paradise Pier, Paradise Gardens and the Paradise Pier Hotel made up a cohesive themed land that transported guests to a turn of the century seaside amusement park like the Santa Monica Pier or the Rondo Beach Pier. If Disney had the money, they could have constructed a Victorian beach resort (like The Grand Floridian) modelled after Hotel del Coronado on the site of the Paradise Pier Hotel. But, instead, they opted for a more modern approach in the retheming of the old Pan Pacific Hotel. The Paradise Pier Hotel had a colour palette evocative of the seaside with its sandy yellow beige facade with aqua and blue trim. The wave motif on the hotel's cornice also reinforced the "kitsch" seaside aesthetic. Every ride in Paradise Pier and Paradise Gardens was themed and was literally an amusement park ride. California Screamin was a modern day tubular steel rollercoaster themed to a Victorian era wooden rollercoaster. When Disney builds a rollercoaster, it is almost never a rollercoaster. Disney rollercoasters are usually themed to something like a runaway mine car, an old west mine train, a rocket in outer space, a lightcycle in a videogame. But, in the case of Paradise Pier, Disney cleverly themed their new roller coaster to a period roller coaster. In Paradise Pier, I can accept the presence of Toy Story (Midway) Mania. The inclusion of that particular Pixar IP made sense within the context of the attraction. It was also designed with the IP in mind. I can accept the refresh of Silly Symphony Swings, using "the Band Concert" as inspiration as a motif. It's a classic Disney cartoon short and could be expected in the concept of a turn of the century seaside amusement ride. But, King Triton's Carousel (while it made sense in relation to The Little Mermaid attraction across the Bay as well as being literally related to the sea), that particular Disney IP isn't of the era of Paradise Pier. I would have preferred a generic "under the sea" carousel if I were to nitpick. Jessie's Critter Carousel, though, is far worse. While, I can appreciate the inclusion of "critters" from Woody's Roundup, it's a very good Six Flags level of theming. It's the level of theming to incorporate an IP in an attraction without considering the environment in which its placed. At least with Toy Story Mania, it's a midway game and Mr. Potato Head out front is playing the part of a carnival barker. But, Jessie is just Jessie. And it's a carousel. It's not even a carousel created by toys made with other toys and found objects. It's just a literal carousel. It's Six Flags level of theming. And the Incredicoaster. It's literally a rollercoaster. But, there is no roller coaster in any of the Incredibles movies. There isn't even a Pixar short where the Incredibles visit an amusement park and JackJack gets loose and causes mayhem. Inserting the Incredibles into a roller coaster makes as much sense as Pocahontas' Voyage to the Moon (imagine a reimaging of Space Moutain). CarsLand is a Disney themed land based upon a Pixar franchise. Pixar Pier seems to be a Disney themed land based on a Six Flags approach to Pixar IP.

[@DengsFish-nl1gu]

Honestly I was fine with the change, but i definitely liked paradise pier a bit better.

[@Ashin8or]

God I miss California Screamin’ so bad. I know it’s the same coaster but the hype music, the car designs, and vibe of CS was the best!! :((

[@shonkyhonker9347]

Honestly if they were gonna do an inside out area they should rethemed goofys sky school to the emotional rollercoaster. I will say… I do prefer the colors of Pixar pier to paradise. The red looks nice, the old blue looked faded even as a kid

[@DrStarlander]

I saw another post recently where someone suggested Goofy's Flying School be themed with a crazy Gonzo stunt theme from Muppets, and they had lots of detailed ideas. It was very creative and I would love that. But... "Emotional Rollercoaster" is genius.

[@AlexaSmith]

ugh wow i've only been to DCA post pixar pier and i do kinda love the incredicoaster but your video just makes me realize how lazy it all is. I think one of the worst parts is the name itself, its kind of boring to have a land named after a studio.

[@dayoldbread1696]

I personally hated avengers campus the most especially since Disney hyped us up for it only for it to be terrible and cheap.

[@anonymouseevee5307]

21:32 it was my first inversion back when it was screamin' and i was terrified by the tower of terror! I loved splash mountain and indiana jones spooked me, i miss the magic not just the big corp branding and insane queue times

[@eliassmeke3991]

I like 👍 Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure, I don’t care 🤷‍♀️ if others hate it

[@aladdinaz3908]

Paradise Pier Was a COMPLETE DISASTER FROM BEFORE THEY EVEN STARTED AND CONSTRUCTION!! And Disney has been attempting to fix this area little by little, when they should have just leveled paradise pier and built a land that Walt would have loved. Perhaps they should have been taking notes from their Tokyo Disney counterpart, as Tokyo Disney Sea was being built and opened at nearly the same time the DCA did. The big difference, DCA and Paradise Pier became noted for Building on the Cheap, with off the shelf rides, which made DCA look like a cheap traveling state fair. Whereas Tokyo Disney Sea quickly became noted for being one of the best theme parks in the wor;ld. When one of Walt's original imagineers saw the plans for DCA/Paradise Pier, they said, Walt would have hated that!

[@sbca1995]

We loved Paradise Pier for every reason you stated. We even saw people dressed as mid-20th century Americans thinking they were castmembers, but after talking to them, they turned out to be cosplayers who loved Pardise Pier and Holywood Blvd as much as we did. We first went to DCA in 2016, and when we returned in 2018, we were absoultely gutted. The magic was gone. We deeply missed the cohesive, time-traveling experience of walking through Paradise Pier and Hollywood Blvd with the Hollywood Tower Hotel at the end of it. IMHO, the park has only worsened since. So, for us, some of the last riders of the Tower of Terror to some of the first guests at Pixar Pier, it's not childhood nostalgia for thinking Paradise > Pixar.

[@kenziemcauliffe1021]

I don’t hate Pixar pier but it does definitely feel a little more messy than paradise pier did, the retheme I have the utmost hatred towards is taking out bugs land in favor of Avengers campus. Literally THE WORST RETHEME

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I do miss bug land and bugland 3d movie theater attention.

[@AuthorCertifiedGoof]

Not to defend Disney, but is it possible what you thought was a fourth tube on Incredicoaster is really just the back of the building housing the finale scene? I don’t think there was a building there when it was California Screamin’?

[@spookey2004]

Pixar pier sucks but I’m forever grateful for Num Num Cookie for offering one of the best gluten free desert options in the park

[@richardespinoza2839]

That loop on Incredicoaster is already turning a nice brown

[@cheary30]

I just feel like the park shouldn’t even be called California Adventures anymore. It used to be a love letter to California and all of those pieces have been removed, it doesn’t make sense anymore.

[@someonequiet1531]

Just found your videos and I swear you sound just like Jason Segel

[@themeparknerd643]

shhhhhhh

[@SoCalGuy20]

The overlay of the Pixar pier theme was a miss. They should have just left it and upgraded the paradise pier theme. The incredicoaster is fun, but they just slapped the incredibles on a couple spots and it really doesn’t do much for the ride.

[@K0dAHeY]

I also grew up around the OG DCA and I honestly feel the same way about the park's changes. Last fall I went with a large group, the Disneyland was where we spent the most time in whereas in DCA we spent maybe less than 3 hours at most. Our only highlight was Grizzly Rapids, and the rest was a slog. I still remember saying out loud how depressing the Inside Out section of was. My friend felt the same way lol. Back in the day I remember staying at DCA much longer. I was always afraid to ride most of the attractions although it was fun walking around the park. Now, as you stated, it feels like something straight out of Universal Studios Hollywood. The worst change besides the pier has to be the re-theme of Soarin' Over California but that's a story for another time.

[@misacruzader]

RIP to the Maliboomer. That was Disney's family-friendly Supreme Scream. Thank you for making me hate the Incredicoaster. T_T

[@themeparknerd643]

@@misacruzader I GOT YOU

[@ChuckE.CheesesIllinois]

The new Tiana ride is probably going to top this as the worst retheme

[@quad1532]

​@@elinolasco-vj5jmturns out he was completely right

[@SlushysSecret]

the Tomorrowland 1998 retheme is 3rd, while avengers campus is 4th

[@swiperthefox4906]

They really put salt mines as a que

[@TooningIn2008]

It’s worse when you look at the concept art for the Villian Boardwalk that was originally planned. We were robbed

[@stephen6899]

I remember going to DCA around the time it first opened when I was a kid and I didn't really care for Paradise Pier upon its initial opening, but the transformation to the "new" Paradise Pier was great! I loved the Victorian aesthetics that were added and I felt like that era in the late 2000s and early 2010s was the peak of the land. California Screamin' was still there, I liked the change to Silly Symphonies Swings and I was pretty neutral to Goofy's Sky School but overall the land was pretty solid. I really hate the new Pixar Pier, it feels so disjointed and the theme is so forced. Incredicoaster was kinda nice when it first opened I guess but I really do miss California Screamin' too. It really feels like you're walking into a big marketing tool instead of a crafted land with purpose and attention to detail like any other classic Disney park land would have. This is a good video and I think you really hit the nail on the head with these observations!

[@sombreset9792]

Although I went to Disney when I was very little (2001? I think?) I still remember having a great time and would love to go back. I still have a picture of me and my brother climbing on the giant California Adventure letters at the entrance of the park. The thing is, although I liked Disney/Pixar growing up I never was like “omg I wanna go on this ride BECAUSE it’s related to a Disney IP,” it was largely because of atmosphere and theming. If anything, it made seeing the roaming characters that much more special, versus what it seems like now where everything HAS to be tied into an IP. It seems exhausting and overwhelming, and a bit dystopian. Disney parks for me were supposed to feel like your OWN adventure, not going from corporate constantly jingling keys with an IP character sticker slapped on. When I am eventually able to go back, I REALLY hope there’s a shift in Disney’s theme park mindset and they at the very least attempt original ideas again, but I’m not sure if that’ll ever happen. Great video! It’s nice to get insight into how the park has changed, especially since I’m unsure if I’ll ever find it worth it (mentally and financially) to go again.

[@dayoldbread1696]

Exactly it’s sad how far Disney has fallen. I’m still angry at them for the awful avengers campus they hyped us up for here at California adventure

[@emmabug1375]

I’m most devastated over losing Bugs Land. I feel like. Y’all really made a whole Pixar Pier but got rid of one of your very first Pixar films. It was my favorite area and I loved that it made me feel small and like a bug. Finding out how they re-skinned flicks flyers to a inside out ride killed me too. I miss the beach theme so much. Whenever I hear The Beach Boys play I think of California adventure and getting hot dogs by Soaring over California. I miss the board walks old aesthetic. I get that having a California themed park in California is weird but I always felt like it was special. I also recognize thats it’s tough to be a bug and a bugs life isn’t popular like it once was. But that land was so amazing and I can’t imagine going back to California adventure without it.

[@valley.spotter9558]

Dude they edited the voice line on the bunny hills and it’s so obviously cut that I have to cringe…

[@DrStarlander]

First of all, great video! Very thoughtful and well done. -- I don't necessarily agree with everything you say, especially when you say that seeing the Paradise/Pixar Hotel from the park was beautiful. I cannot disagree more, Walt would have flipped out. And I don't have the nostalgia for original PP as you do, having grown up with Disneyland since the '70s I thought it was incredibly cheap and un-Disney. But I agree with or at least appreciate many of your other comments. Had Paradise Pier -- a classic boardwalk amusement park -- been done "to the hilt" by Disney where they just didn't include mechanical rides but also had "Disney versions" of classic amusement park dark rides like a Tunnel of Love and Haunted House, that could have been amazing and "immersive" like a Disney land should be. A shame they didn't go all the way. Overall I think the views of the power lines and hotel are inexcusable. They are the "original sins" of this land, and frankly the entire park. Until they fix those issues, it will never be a "Disney quality" park. It's a shame they are using the ferris wheel as the symbol of the park because the longer they do that, the more entrenched it -- and the "amusement park" theme -- become in DCA. Ultimately I think they need to remove it, and the amusement park theme entirely, to build a true Disney quality area. If they continue to enshrine the ferris wheel as the park's icon -- like Disneyland's SB castle -- they will be unable to get rid of it someday. They will be forced to salvage the amusement park theme and do a complete overhaul of the Pier with a more focused and cohesive theme (as you point out, "Pixar" doesn't mean enough, and is diluted by other lands now and in the future). The most reasonable (in terms of investment and payoff) is Toy Story Park. All elements would be themed to Toy Story, with midway games based on classic games and toys, a Pizza Planet, etc. Key addition is to add a fun backdrop like in Toontown to hide power lines and hotel (maybe painted "cardboard" like a kid would do when creating a clubhouse or puppet theater with giant cotton ball clouds). I do think it needs a Tunnel of Love (small boat dark ride) and/or a Haunted House (small scary dark ride), both are possible with Toy Story theme, which not only allows for Toy Story characters but whatever classic toys they want to borrow like Magic 8-Ball or Clue game. Lastly, it will always be a problem having Mickey on the ferris wheel with either Pixar or Toy Story theme. I wonder if it could be a giant display screen like at a stadium and have different characters, content, music that changes throughout the day for a more lively feel and to allow flexibility (for example during nighttime shows).

[@zorob5]

So happy to see this video! I LOVED paradise pier, especially walking the boardwalk with beach boys playing.... Then they just cheaply slapped Pixar over it😭

[@ellisshane2951]

18:50 makes so much sense

[@reyjusuf]

It will always be California Screamin' to me

[@lolers9524]

I mean calling it corporate is the best way to put it. For instance, epcot used to be a hopeful future, now it looks like a fancy mall you’d see anywhere. You can thank the Bob bros for that.

[@BRUnruhe]

I still do not get EPCOT's appeal

[@lolers9524]

@@BRUnruhe it’s not for everyone obviously. If you like IP that’s you. But a grand majority of fans whom like Epcot, enjoy the creative and informative way of handling subjects in an enjoyable matter.

[@BRUnruhe]

@@lolers9524 thank for sharing that. I've heard some who do the Compare Magic Kingdom, to Epcot, like Disneyland to California Adventure. So maybe that comparison is where it would make sense to me.

[@anonymouseevee5307]

so far i've watched your tiana's ride video and this one and you're hitting the nail on the head with how I'm feeling I've been lucky enough to go to disneyland at least 3 times in my life and the changes made me so sad with how little effort and love some of them feel

[@JohnKulin]

they should just remove the CA Adventure name and call it IP land now :/

[@MsDisneylandlover]

The original DCA was better in certain aspects. The original letters being speards out to California. That what I missed the most. But now that i am not a pass holder bc of the pandemic situation. I can only do Disneyland. I have not been back as stated since the pandemic and now since all this Marvel stuff which I am not a fan. #DisneyDiva ❤

[@SnoopytheGirl]

I am from the East Coast and the first time I went to Disney Land in California was in 2018 (right before Pixar Pier was opened), and I honestly loved the idea of an Incredicoaster. However, I totally understand where you are coming from with Paradise Pier and now I kind of wish I experienced that. I still hope to visit Pixar Pier one day because I am a huge Pixar fan, and maybe if I do visit my opinions will be different than yours, but your opinion is still 100% valid.

[@Mr17051963]

For me, Disney begun It’s “theming mess”when they decided to buy all these brands, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, etc… Classic Disney is ONLY and simple Disney!

[@Lemonaidz7]

I really wish Disney went with the original retheme idea for Paradise Pier, with it being villains themed. In recently found concept art, the scream tubes on California Screamin would’ve been turned into the Malificent dragon and Kaa from the Jungle Book which would’ve looked much better than what we got.

[@brianwalsh3417]

I remember the confusion and disappointment I felt when this retheme was announced. Disney spent tens of millions of dollars to rectify the issues of opening day Paradise Pier, only to direct resources towards another retheme the land again less than a decade later. Looking at the land now, Pixar Pier is an obvious example of the IP infusion into Disney Parks overtaking original/reality concepts. You don't have to look far to see that mission as unchanged with the retheme of Pacific Wharf into San Fransokyo. Ultimately, I'll still go to DCA and enjoy Pixar Pier for what it is, change is everywhere at Disney. I'll remember Paradise Pier and Pacific Wharf more fondly, though.