Im sorry Mr. Pirate, our postings must have passed in the ether. Let me respond more directly to Mr. Hills article.
Im glad he pulled quotes from the late Randy Brights great history of Disneyland. Had Mr. Hill choosen to include the rest of the chapter, it would have explained why Disneyland was a success, and California Adventure is not. So let me fill in two of the gaps
It has often been said the only bad publicity is no publicity. Despite bad press, the public showed up at the main gate in ever-increasing numbers. But guests also discovered a few causes for complaint, some of them related to the attractions themselves. Ever-sensitive to the guest response, [Walt] Disney changed anything that failed to meet the publics needs, usually replacing it with a better idea. Page 116.
His [Walt Disneys] number-one priority during the first year of operation was playing catch-up, to increase the Parks limited ride capacity. During the first twelve months, the number of attractions was more than doubled. As long as there is imagination left in the world, Walt said, Disneyland will never be completed. Page 125
In short, Disneyland had its problems but it was the first park of its kind. The majority of problems listed in Mr. Brights work are operational in nature: getting the mule trains to work or running the first steam-powered paddle wheeler in fifty years. Walt Disney worked ceaselessly on fixing the kinks and more than doubled the parks size in its first year. And Disneyland captured the publics imagination. Even with the bad press, they showed up in droves.
California Adventure was the latest from the industry leader with half a centurys experience in designing, opening and operating theme parks. You would have thought they would have known. Current management has done next to nothing with California Adventure except to whine about press coverage. And the publics been ignoring the place, even after giving away admission, more marketing than should be legal, and being next door the Disneyland!
The public responded to Disneyland because it was a creative work, produced by a group of talented artists and craftsman who were always interested in making it better. The public ignores California Adventure because it is a financial spreadsheet highlighting cost benefit ratios fleshed out with bullet points for an executive presentation at a posh ski retreat. The closet these people get to "the public" is through the darkened windows of their limos.
P.S. for reference, the book is Disneyland: Inside Story by Randy Bright (ISBN 0-8109-0811-5). Its long been out of print, but copies can be found on eBay from time to time. The author started his Disneyland career in 1959 working on the rides and finished as Vice President of Development for WDI. He was a talented designer and a brilliant man who understood Disney like few others. His skills are sorely missed.