WDW Lover Back from 1st Disneyland Trip - My Thoughts

[IvyWinter]

I just thought I'd share some thoughts since I'm a few days back from my first Disneyland trip. These are just my opinions, to spur thought and conversation, but not bashing. Thanks!

• Disneyland is small, but I don't say that in a bad way. The castle is adorable. Elements of it are "cute" compared to WDW. But, it's also easier to navigate and sort of take in. The enormity of the Magic Kingdom, and even the 4 parks as a whole, can be overwhelming. Disneyland was a nice change of pace.
• There's much more of a culture there, since there are so many locals and repeated visitors. We saw some of the social clubs, we saw people just dressing up for the parks, adults wearing disney stuff, *gasp*, non-ironically! It had a nice community vibe I think WDW is too big to have.
• A lot of the rides are awesome, the queues leave something to be desired. I'm aware a lot of this is WDW coming after and therefore having the time and the space for elaborate themed queues. But just calling it like i see it.
• We did both parks in 2 very long days (8am to midnight) and did everything we could possibly want to do, but without time to stop for details. we skipped rides that were identical to WDW so that saved us a lot of time. I feel very, very satisfied with my trip but would love a few years down the line to go back with at least 3 days so we can slow down a bit.
• Paint the Night is hands down the most wonderful parade Disney has ever done. Mind = blown. Makes me want to see updates in WDW. Even for Wishes vs Disneyland Forever, Disneyland Forever wins.
• Aladdin stage show was FANTASTIC.
• Cars Land is some of the best theming i'v ever seen. I admit, I still haven't watched Cars, and I LOVED this area. I felt like I was really in the movie.
• It's a Small World here beats out WDW; Splash Mountain and Snow White, not so much. Space Mountain is fantastic and I want a soundtrack added to WDW now!
• The food was just OK. I know some people think that of both resorts, but I like the food in WDW better.
• We stayed 1 night at the Disneyland Hotel (other nights with a friend). What an awesome hotel, loved the castle mural with the music, Trader Sam's, the pool, and the architectural aesthetic.

It definitely has a different vibe and for that I cannot understand how people say one resort is better than the other. I think it's comparing apples and oranges. You get different experiences and both are lovely and magical. I made some really fantastic memories and I'd definitely go back! Of course being from NYC, Florida is the shorter trip, so planning Disneyland takes a bit more. But next time I'll be spending all nights on property!

 

[4Siamese]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and glad you had a great time.

 

[Butterfly123]

Sounds like s fun, whirlwind trip! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[bwang123]

We are almost in the same situation. I have been to WDW many times but last time I went to DL was 20 year ago (14 at the time and wife has not been). We haven't done much planning for our DL October trip so it should be interesting. It almost seems like I am conditioned to plan more for WDW and after many visits still start planning there 180 days out.

 

[Sherry E]

IvyWinter --

It sounds like you had a productive trip, and you made some good, very fair observations.

There is not a lot of bashing on this side of the board -- or, at least, not as much as maybe on other sites. We try to not let it go there. If someone posts a scathing critique of DLR, making all kinds of outlandish and unfair assessments, and it seems clear that they did not do a lot of research, I think that people are more likely to speak up in defense of DLR. You didn't do that, however, so I don't see how anyone could really be upset by your comments.

I have to agree about Cars Land. Now I'm not saying that it was my first choice for a new land at California Adventure -- it was not -- and I am not even a big fan of the movie Cars... but the land itself is fantastic.

Out of curiosity, where did you eat? I've never been to WDW at all so I don't have that to compare to DLR, but I have read a lot comments that indicate that the counter service food is better at DLR than at WDW, but that the table service restaurants (and options) are substantially better at WDW.

 

[kappyfamily]

Good review! I will say I like WDW better though. I'm an Oregon girl so DL is much closer but still my heart is in Florida! BUT both are fantastic. Glad you had a great trip!

 

[egritz]

I think this is a great review and comparison without being "mean" about DL at all.

I'm in the camp that I wasn't impressed with the food in WDW. We did the dining plan too so we had a nice sit-down meal every day (and we were kid-less at the time so we weren't distracted by dealing with kiddos), but I really wasn't wow'd (but neither am I wow'd by the food in DL!) I also wasn't impressed by DTD at WDW. Being familiar with DL I thought WDW's version would be even bigger/greater but it really wasn't.

As much as I love the Aladdin show at DCA, I think DL as a whole is lacking when it comes to shows. WDW had awesome shows in every park. Nemo? OMG, amazing! Lion King? to die for!

Overall WDW has the advantage of learning from DL and tons of space! But the weather stinks. And there is SO much more to see at WDW. We were in the parks for 8 full days and did just about every show & attraction (even the not-recommended ones), but we were exhausted from packing in so much. DL I feel requires 3 days minimum to do everything, but we always go for 4 or 5 days so we can repeat favorites too, and go at a slower pace.

My heart remains at DL, but we do hope to make a trip to WDW again when the youngest (now 1) is tall enough to ride all the rides. Already trying to start saving but it is hard when we've basically just decided that we'll be going to DL once a year, lol.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Personally, I think Cars Land is poorly designed (although I love RSR). That big patch of asphalt running down the middle with no shade becomes an oven in the hot sun.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I always enjoy reading about vets of one resort making a first trip to the other.

 

[LizzyS]

I'm glad you had a great time at DLR!

Two things about your comments- people really don't wear Disney clothing at WDW?! Will I be mocked if I do?! Also, are you telling me there is NO music for Space Mountain at WDW?!

wat

 

[IvyWinter]

IvyWinter --

Out of curiosity, where did you eat? I've never been to WDW at all so I don't have that to compare to DLR, but I have read a lot comments that indicate that the counter service food is better at DLR than at WDW, but that the table service restaurants (and options) are substantially better at WDW.

So we stuck mainly to counter service because of exactly this. I have a friend who works for Disney who got us into the parks, and he said the very same, so we stuck to counter services. We ate at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe for breakfast one morning, then Village Haus for lunch (on par wit hthe WDW one I think) then just did the cheese stuffed pretzels while we waited for Paint the Night. Oh and of course got a dole whip

We had the pretzel cones in DCA, because a friend raved about them. Really loved the pulled pork one, just was more a fun of what iwas stuffed with than the pretzel cone itself. We grabbed breakfast at Flo's, got the french toast which i liked but was a bit too sweet, i didn't finish it. I'm currently at a loss trying to remember what we had for dinner the second night haha!

 

[IvyWinter]

I'm glad you had a great time at DLR!

Two things about your comments- people really don't wear Disney clothing at WDW?! Will I be mocked if I do?! Also, are you telling me there is NO music for Space Mountain at WDW?!

wat

No no, you won't be mocked. I guess there was a little bit of sarcasm in my thought, but in general i feel like people rock them in more awesome, fashionable ways in Disneyland (there's more disney bounding in general too) as opposed to just plopping on a park shirt. People just seem more into the fashion of it.

And nope, no music for Space Mountain! You've been spoiled at DL also, there are multiple drops at WDW and almost non at DL, which was surprising. I was holding on tight expecting them and none ever really came. WDW has plenty of surprising ones

 

[HydroGuy]

And nope, no music for Space Mountain! You've been spoiled at DL also, there are multiple drops at WDW and almost non at DL, which was surprising. I was holding on tight expecting them and none ever really came. WDW has plenty of surprising ones

When DL got its SM upgrade in 2005 I could barely tolerate the MK version. However the work they have done at MK in recent years has changed my mind. Yes, the lack of music is disappointing, and MK does not seem quite as dark. But SM MK is definitely closer in quality to DL than it used to be. I still love the DL version more but I will not skip the MK version like I used to.

 

[IvyWinter]

Oh I totally agree there! I think they are just...well...different experiences. I think I like DL's Space Mountain a bit more, but WDW is still where my nostalgia lies, so i'll always love that one too. I also prefer the single person per car vehicles. Front seat is all the more thrilling by yourself!

 

[DLgal]

Personally, I think Cars Land is poorly designed (although I love RSR). That big patch of asphalt running down the middle with no shade becomes an oven in the hot sun.

How is this any different than every other walkway at either DL or DCA? Most of them have no shade.

 

[agamble]

So we stuck mainly to counter service because of exactly this.

The other day I was looking at the CS options at WDW and I was disappointed just looking. It seemed like your choices are burgers, pizza, and sandwiches with some of the parks, like Epcot, having a few more interesting choices. Of course DL has those same options, and they're probably fairly similar in quality, but there are other choices too. Our favorite restaurant at DL is Rancho De Zocalo, which serves good Mexican food. The CS Mexican place at WDW is like a taco stand. Our favorite place at DCA is the Pacific Wharf Café. They have fresh bread bowls with delicious soup. I think the big difference is that at WDW there are not as many CS choices especially for the size of the parks.

 

[LizzyS]

Oh I totally agree there! I think they are just...well...different experiences. I think I like DL's Space Mountain a bit more, but WDW is still where my nostalgia lies, so i'll always love that one too. I also prefer the single person per car vehicles. Front seat is all the more thrilling by yourself!

I haven't gotten to ride the MK SM as of yet, but I kind of like the ride vehicles at DLR for SM. The WDW ones appear more... cheap? I don't know, that's based on photos alone, so don't roast me on that one. I look forward to riding Splash Mountain side by side. The DLR version is "single file".

 

[IvyWinter]

I haven't gotten to ride the MK SM as of yet, but I kind of like the ride vehicles at DLR for SM. The WDW ones appear more... cheap? I don't know, that's based on photos alone, so don't roast me on that one. I look forward to riding Splash Mountain side by side. The DLR version is "single file".

Yes we did Splash too. WDW's splash has a more..."Sensical" plot, i guess? As much sense as a plot can be in a log flume ride! Also, whoa to DL having a really dark moment on the ride (not literally dark, like thematically, where one of the animals is singing all sad and scary). That is NOT at WDW. I didnt like the single seaters there, i felt more like i was going to fall out!

 

[IvyWinter]

The other day I was looking at the CS options at WDW and I was disappointed just looking. It seemed like your choices are burgers, pizza, and sandwiches with some of the parks, like Epcot, having a few more interesting choices. Of course DL has those same options, and they're probably fairly similar in quality, but there are other choices too. Our favorite restaurant at DL is Rancho De Zocalo, which serves good Mexican food. The CS Mexican place at WDW is like a taco stand. Our favorite place at DCA is the Pacific Wharf Café. They have fresh bread bowls with delicious soup. I think the big difference is that at WDW there are not as many CS choices especially for the size of the parks.

Exactly, but also because of the size of the parks, i think some people opt for more sit down meals because it's a little bit longer of a rest period. Epcot has far more sit downs than CS, that's for sure, but they are so worth taking the time for them!

 

[courtneybeth]

A lot of the rides are awesome, the queues leave something to be desired.

Unfortunately land values in California are very very expensive so it makes sense that the queues are tiny to leave more space for the ride. Florida also has to deal with in-climate weather, which means that people have to be covered in the event of monsoon rains.