DCA, Future Expansion
Topic: Why Walt Disney Plaza?

#	Author	Message
51	Dabob2 Thu 5/29/2008 12:35p	Now you see, I much prefer the "is it real or is it illusion?" vibe I find in HPB, and much prefer it to the literalism of DHS. They call it a backlot, but the first thing you see looks like a real street. Of course, it isn't a real street. It's a backlot street. Yet, unlike a "real" backlot street, which is just facades, this has real (no quotes) buildings behind the facades. It's a double paradox, and to me, a delightful one. Then, at the end of the street, is what looks at a distance like a legitimate theatre. Coming closer, it's not a theatre, it's a painting of one. And yet... behind the painting is... a legitimate theatre (!). Whether they INTENDED this to be to vibe or not, that's what I always feel in HPB. What some find confusing I find far more interesting than trying to build a "real" representation of something (a movie lot), which is the ultimate in artifice to begin with. Theme parks are also exercises in artifice, and that just adds to the paradox. It raises the questions: "Just what is 'real' in Hollywood, anyway? Meaning Hollywood the place (represented by the 'street' and TOT) and Hollywood the movie factory. And what is 'real' in a theme park? And how do they intersect?" Maybe this isn't even what they were going for. Nonetheless, it's there, if you care to find it.
52	DlandDug Thu 5/29/2008 12:51p	>>Now you see, I much prefer the "is it real or is it illusion?" vibe I find in HPB...<< To a certain extent, I do too. But I would have liked to have seen some sort of consistency in this conceit. Ultimately, I am inclined to believe that the design decisions made in this area were dictated by cold, hard cash rather than a sense of whimsy.
53	Dabob2 Thu 5/29/2008 12:54p	I think it's a little of both, as usual in these post-Walt days. Also, the rather small space they had to work with.
54	alexbook Thu 5/29/2008 1:00p	Re: 51 I proclaim Dabob2 to be King of "Looking on the Bright Side." :-)
55	Dabob2 Thu 5/29/2008 2:05p	Thanks. But I think if you're going to do a Hollywood section, it really is a better way to go than the literalism of DHS or the REALLY stark and sterile look of most of WDSP. That said, they could have done a better job with the "what is real" vibe as well. I just appreciate that at least it's there.
56	dshyates Thu 5/29/2008 2:58p	I couldn't disagree with you more, Dabob2. And I think the conceptual convolution is an abomination. I see what your talking about an it is mildly interesting. But to me its interesting in a bad way. Like a "they didn't know what they were doing kind of interesting. It succeeds at neither looking like a set nor hollywood. More like a mall tribute to hollywood filmaking. They take disjointed Hollywood icons like the ABC Building and put it on a street context. It all disjointed fascades that reminds me of walking past stores at a mall. I personally think that HPB is the bigges thematic mess at DCA. And a perfect example of why I dislike DCA so much. I will take literalism of DHS anyday.
57	Dabob2 Thu 5/29/2008 3:36p	<I will take literalism of DHS anyday.> To coin a phrase, to each his own.
58	davewasbaloo Fri 5/30/2008 12:15a	I'm with Dabob2 on this one. I prefer the fun of HPB to DHS anyday. I prefer the intimacy of Dl to the sprawling concrete vastness of the MK. And in the same way, I prefer the compact whimsy of HPB to DHS spawling too. I enjoy every attraction at HPB (in fact it is my 3rd favorite land in DLR after NOS and the Golden State). But I like the fact I can go to Golden STate, PP, Bugs Land or Dl with ease. But I liked DCA on opening day too.

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