Eureka! It's not only the official motto of the state of California, inspired by the exclamations of Gold Rush pioneers, but also an expression of the excitement this week as the date finally approaches for the inaugural D23 Expo. Many Disney fans (including yours truly) are heading out to the Golden State in anticipation of the big event. For those of you who can't make it, you'll be able to follow my adventures on Twitter or get news of the Expo on any number of independent web sites.
In the meantime here on the DisneyShawn blog, we'll be taking a look at some of the details of Disney's California Adventure, including some which are already gone or on the way out with the ongoing redevelopment of the park.
Entering Disney's California Adventure is like stepping into a giant, three-dimensional picture postcard. The enormous golden letters, spelling out the name of the state, are framed by two beautiful tile murals. Straight back through the center is the Golden Gate Bridge, with a glistening sun peeking over the horizon. Even the pavement here is highlighted with bits of inlaid glass set in a wave-like pattern, suggesting that a wave has just washed over the entrance and receded back into the park inviting us to follow.
The murals, designed and crafted by artists Tim Delaney and Theodora Kurkchiev, cover more than 10,000 square feet and include some of the largest ceramic tile pieces ever created. The east mural (left side above) represents Southern California from Mount Whitney and Yosemite Valley down to San Diego. The west mural (right side) depicts Northern California landmarks from San Francisco north to Mount Shasta.
The art on the murals was inspired by the citrus labels used by fruit packing houses in the early 20th century. The labels featured California landscapes, animals, flowers, fruit and people, indirectly serving as advertisements for the state and its promise of good weather, beautiful sights and abundant opportunity.
Passing through the Golden Gateway brings us to Sunshine Plaza, the central hub of Disney's California Adventure. The 50-foot gold titanium Sun icon is coated with a surface of glass and tile bits to create a glistening effect. Since the Sun faces north, six heliostats in the plaza track the real sun throughout the day, bouncing its light toward the icon. At night, the sun is lit in a pattern of changing colors of red, orange and yellow.
The sun sits atop a 52-foot-wide perpetual wave fountain that creates a series of ever-changing, mesmerizing wave patterns. Directly in front of that stands the dedication plaque from the park's grand opening:
To all who believe in the power of dreams... Welcome! Disney's California Adventure opens its golden gates to you. Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past... the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. And we salute a new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow... from the silver screen to the computer screen... from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. Disney's California Adventure celebrates the richness and diversity of California... its land, its people, its spirit and above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire.
- Michael Eisner
Feb. 8, 2001
I've always thought DCA got a bum rap for little theming. I loved the subtle details that made it so different than the other parks. But what do I know, I also think Animal Kingdom is amazingly themed.
ReplyDeleteI'd say you know quite a lot! It's the truly sophisticated Disney visitor who can appreciate all the parks for what they offer and the levels of detail and attention to which the Imagineers have gone to create them.
ReplyDeleteDisney should have hired YOU to explain this Park to the masses. Beautiful post and I'm going to share it with friends.
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