HISTORY: A Bug's Land debut map

If you visited DCA with small ones from its grand opening in February 2001 through October 2002 you would have probably had a very short visit. Management realized this and the quick solution is the one-acre play land called "a Bug's Land".

The new land would be built behind the Bountiful Farm. The Farm had a much different focus at the time and was based on concepts originally conceived for the Family Farm section of Disney's America in Virginia (1993 un-built). As part of an Michael Eisner initiative at the time, he believed people wanted to learn and watch people work in factories while on vacation. At DCA, the concept was implemented and today you can go to the Mission Tortilla Factory and the Boudin Bakery Tour. The Disney Institute at Walt Disney World (1992-2003) is the extreme expression of this concept.

The concept for the Bountiful Farm was to provide insight into food production with a working farm. Guests saw various fruits and vegetables growing (and the orange trees are still there). The vineyard alongside the Blue Sky Cellar is still an example of a display of the lifecycle of a crop.

Before you think Eisner was a bit crazy, remember that Walt thought the same thing. A large industrial park with public access was always part of the plans for EPCOT.

Okay back to the bugs.

It is my opinion that time has treated this land well. From the beginning it didn’t overreach. It was meant to be a cozy corner to take the little one just like you would in Fantasyland. The design challenge of creating a scale shift that takes you down to the size of an insect has really come of age as the landscape has matured. Take some time and you can see layers of details that tie into "It's Bugs Life" and other Pixar films.

The backstory, from a Disney press release says;

When the construction crew began work on the upcoming Tower of Terror attraction in the parking lot of Disney's California Adventure, they discovered that the local bugs had created a tiny amusement park of their own.

Disney was so enchanted by this turn of events that they invited the bugs to become part of the DCA theme park, creating an all-new area, Flik's Fun Fair...

A couple attractions are borrowed from the Mermaid Lagoon section of Tokyo Disney Sea. Flik's Flyers is the same as the Blowfish Balloon Race and Francis' Lady Bug Boogie is the same as The Whirlpool. A tip. If you want the ladybug to boogie faster don't spin the wheel like the teacups it doesn’t move. Just shift your butt toward the door and lean into the turn.

Another attraction that is a somewhat copy from Japan is the Jumpin' Jellyfish which is the same as the...Jumpin' Jellyfish (theirs is so much better - the detail!).

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train is just sad. So sad. And my favorite characters from the movie, Tuck and Roll, manage a beautifully themed, highly detailed, incredibly slow and lame bumper car. For fun, stand and watch. You have never seen people work so hard for such little pay off. A very good friend of mine noticed how people were trying to mentally will the cars to go faster with no success.

Dot's water play area is just perfect. The leaky faucet in the alcove is the best part of the land when it comes to reinforcing the backstory. The scale illusion is enhanced by the mature bamboo and supported by the clovers overhead. While you are walking around, try and find the one and only lucky 4-leaf clover.

The story is embellished with the area lighting (straws with light bugs), street furniture (used popsicle sticks), and sounds (different during the day and night). The food booths are used containers and the bathroom is an upturned tissue box with its own little interior sounds (no not that).

One effect I really enjoy is the view looking up at the Hollywood Tower of Terror. The bamboo has stretched to cover the fence. This has allowed the forced perspective of the building and the carefully chosen position for the structure to combine and make you truly feel the size of a bug. In the beginning, before Tower of Terror was built, you didn’t get this feeling.