Disneyland Resort (DL, DLR, DCA) Discussion Thread

[MayTheGForceBeWithYouStar Wars is gay.]

I was at DCA the last week of October, and Carthay looked like it made some serious progress over two weeks.

[UniverseHollywoodCan I park my donkey here?]

It originally was going to be a flat wall...

And Jim Disney, who usually doesn't make wild claims, said they were in the plan from the beginning.

Actually he said they were planned for quite some time, which really doesn't answer any definite decision period. I mean anyone can say anything AFTER they had already started putting the rocks on the back wall. You can also very easily build a structure then figure out what to do with it later...up to and beyond 15 years later...which is exactly what they're doing with Lex Luther at Magic Mountain.

I'm with Coaster Freak on this one, although we'll never really know. Not really important, they're doing it with rocks and that's really all that matters. But boy, I can already imagine the uproar if that was just a wall!

[ChroniqTPR's nicest person EVAR!!!]

FWIW - (grain of salt time)-I spoke with people, who I consider friends, that are directly involved in the project.

This is the entire story behind the rock work.

During the design phase of the project it was planned that all visible areas of the Cadillac Range would be adorned in rock work . During the cost/planning/feasibility stage of the project it was decided that if the project were to be significantly delayed or go over budget that "a plan B" of traditional stucco sides would be used to reign in the costs and time. The 2009 D23 model shows flat sides on the back as that part of the project ran under a different and much later schedule than the mission critical areas of Cars Land.

After the preliminary ride testing in the Summer of 2010 which successfully tested the additional elements that were added to the "test track system" and the conclusion by January 2011 that they were on schedule by having installed 30% of the "chips" which make up the rock work, management came to the conclusion that this ride would be delivered on time and without major cost overruns.

In March of 2011, 3 years afters this ride was first conceptualized, the imagineers went back and designed the rock work for the back and side walls. The chips began fabrication 6 months after the last chip came off the line for the front side of the ride.

Hopefully this finally explains why Yes- Cadillac Range was always planned to be covered completely in rock and why the early models showed flat walls and the timing/schedule was different from the original rock construction.

[ahechtFluffy, Fluffy, Donkeys Filled With Medicine and Goo!]

^Thanks for sharing that. It sounds like a reasonable explanation -- as an engineer, those are the sorts of trade-offs we have to make all the time.

[WFChrisJar-Jar Binks smells like Donkey]

The rock work is becoming VERY visible on Harbor Blvd, much more awesome looking than a month ago. While DCA is a pain to get around these days especially with the entrance the way it is, I do appreciate seeing progress EVERY time I visit the resort.

[GnomeJar-Jar Binks smells like Donkey]

Have you read Al's stuff over the last year? He's been dead wrong on a lot of stuff, and when he isn't wrong, its cause the regular cast members already know about it. I think hes burned too many bridges in his world and no longer gets the "scoop" he used to.

I haven't noticed it. But if you care to point out anything specific, I would be interested.

Awesome update!

[RoCoBonafide Donkey Expert]

^ Totally! The night shots of Carsland made me utter an audible "wow." It's like I've died and gone to rockwork heaven.

[mcjacoBeer Man]

I haven't noticed it. But if you care to point out anything specific, I would be interested.

No need to point it out. It's pretty well known, and has been for years.

Let's get back to the real discussion, and leave Lutz out of this.

[coastercrzyjamesJust Kidding!]

Amazing photo tour! Looks like you all had an exciting visit to the park, enjoyed all the great pics! Loved the fact they let you place 3/row on BTMR! I didn't know you could do that, good to know. I want to be back at DL now.