Would you skip rides at WDW?

jani3 · Aug 28, 2015

Our first visit to WDW is in Nov and I'm trying to plan which FP+ to book when our window opens. As a DL annual pass holder and visit often, would you recommend skipping rides at WDW if they are at DL/CA too? For example, the TSMM, Soarin', Jungle cruise, SM, etc. I'd rather try to get FP+ for rides we've never been on and concentrate on experiencing new rides. Any suggestions?

Is there a thread comparing the rides at DL/CA and WDW?

figment_jii · Aug 28, 2015

jani3 said:
Is there a thread comparing the rides at DL/CA and WDW?

I recommend checking out HydroGuy's A DLR Guide for WDW. There are some ride descriptions/comparison information in that thread.

There are actually very few attractions that are identical at both DLR and WDW. Some rides themselves are the same, but the queues are very different (e.g., Little Mermaid, Star Tours, Soarin', etc.). Other attractions have the same name, but are actually different inside (e.g., Splash, Space, Jungle Cruise, PotC, HM, IaSW, etc.).

jani3 · Aug 28, 2015

figment_jii said:
I recommend checking out HydroGuy's A DLR Guide for WDW. There are some ride descriptions/comparison information in that thread.

Thanks, I'll go check that out.

Luv Bunnies · Aug 28, 2015

I would concentrate on booking FP+ for whichever rides you really want to experience. Personally, I like to go on almost everything at WDW and DL whether they are repeats or not. I can't imagine going to either place and not going on Soarin or Midway Mania, but that's just me. Also, as another poster pointed out, the queues are very different and an experience in themselves.

agamble · Aug 28, 2015

At WDW Splash Mountain has two riders per row and Space Mountain has one rider per row, the opposite of Disneyland. The track layouts are different in those rides than at DL too. Pirates is better at DL, but many think Haunted Mansion is better at WDW. How many days do you have? There's a lot to see at WDW, but just about the same number of rides. So if you're going for the week, you probably have time to ride most of the rides.

Jrsy Boy · Aug 28, 2015

I wouldn't skip them altogether but maybe skip using a FP+ for them, except maybe TSMM because the queue for the one at WDW is so much more than at DCA. Jungle Cruise, HM, iasw and PoTC probably wouldn't require a FP+ anyway. We skipped Soarin' since we've been on it so many times at DCA and, because of the FP+ tiering, we preferred to use them on Test Track.

figment_jii · Aug 28, 2015

For HM specifically, I would go at least once without using FP+. The FP+ queue bypasses the Graveyard area, which is worth visiting at least once (preferably when it's not that busy so you can try out the different sound effects, solve the riddles, etc.).

StormyCA · Aug 28, 2015

I made lists of the rides in all 4 parks and broke our priorities down as;

1-Rides NOT at DLR
2-Rides at both parks which are different at WDW
3-Favorite DLR rides also at WDW. Of course, everyone's list of these would be different
4-Whatever's leftover (or expendable, as it were)

Many rides were in both categories 2 and 3. Some rides ended up on our 'expendables' list simply because it's something we can easily skip at DL.

We had 5 days, one each at AK, Epcot, and DHS, and 2 at MK and I scheduled our FP+ based on our prioritized lists. We managed to get in everything we wanted to do, and most of our favorites twice.

It's all a matter of prioritizing what you 'can't miss' and working from there.

We did 'standby' for HM, Peter, 7DMT (after using FP+ for those 3), as well as Pooh, and Little Mermaid just to see the interactive features. It was worth the wait (well, not so much Pooh) I really wish we had queues like that at DLR!

PlutoFan76 · Aug 28, 2015

When I went last year I did some research and skipped the rides that were exactly the same, such as Soarin. There aren't that many. I also skipped things that were known to have long lines at WDW like Toy Story Mania that are not must do rides for me at DL. My must do DL rides were still must do at WDW such as Pirates, Thunder Mtn, and Splash. The rides that were a little different were still fun even if some of them are better at DL. It was tons of fun to notice the differences. The only exception was Fantasmic. This is a must do at DL and something I have no interest in seeing at WDW (I've seen the YouTube videos - No thank you).

HydroGuy · Aug 28, 2015

There five rides that are exactly the same:

- Soarin
- TSMM
- ITTBAB
- ST
- LM

I do think you could safely skip these although the queue areas for LM, ST and TSMM are much better at WDW and make the rides feel better overall. The DLR queue for Soarin is better. ITTBAB is fairly equal and maybe slightly better at WDW.

Rides that are at both resorts you should still do at WDW because they are better or at least different in interesting ways are:

ToT
Splash Mtn
Space Mtn
HM
Winnie the Pooh

Rides that are at both resorts you can skip at WDW because they are just not as good are:

POTC
Tiki Room
BLAB

Shows should try and see are:

Illuminations (Epcot)
Festival of the Lion King (AK)
Flights of Wonder (AK)
Lights, Motor Action (DHS)
Indiana Jones Stunt show (DHS)

Shows you can skip are:

Fantasmic (it is just not nearly as good as DL's)
Wishes (Ok not that great)

:wizard:

ImDMous · Aug 28, 2015

I agree with PP. Fantasmic! is Blech at WDW. Skip it and spend that night riding BTM in the dark, over and over and over.

figment_jii · Aug 28, 2015

HydroGuy said:
Rides that are at both resorts you can skip at WDW because they are just not as good are:
POTC

Overall, I agree that PotC is better at DLR, but the MK's version does have the cool/creepy mermaid skeleton and mermaid effects at the beginning. So I think it's worth doing it at least once at the MK.

HydroGuy · Aug 28, 2015

figment_jii said:
Overall, I agree that PotC is better at DLR, but the MK's version does have the cool/creepy mermaid skeleton and mermaid effects at the beginning. So I think it's worth doing it at least once at the MK.

I agree it is worth it. If you have time. I like the queue experience too. But for someone looking for a place to trim like the OP then I will say POTC.

craigkerstiens · Aug 28, 2015

Posters above lay out many of the differences really well. I'll say the ones that the actual rides are different (not just the queues) are among our favorite. We live in California and have been AP holders at DL, though also make many trips to WDW and we love comparing the two. While we prefer the Pirates at DL a bit more, it's great to compare the two experiences. As for haunted mansion the difference of a floor sinking to a ceiling rising is quite fun. In short I'd heavily encourage trying to hit the ones that are at both DL and WDW but have different details in the rides.

WebmasterMaryJo · Aug 28, 2015

Hi,

Moving this to our DL Community Board...

jani3 · Aug 29, 2015

Thank you for all the ideas and input.

agamble said:
How many days do you have?

Because of work and DS's school schedule, we're going to be there for 5 days and only have 2 full days at the park (can make it 3 if needed) + a MVMCP (night only, relax during the day). So because of the limited time, I have to trim the "must do" rides.

Jrsy Boy said:
...because of the FP+ tiering, we preferred to use them on Test Track.

Same strategy for me, will skip the FP+ for Soarin' and going for TT instead.

figment_jii said:
For HM specifically, I would go at least once without using FP+. The FP+ queue bypasses the Graveyard area, which is worth visiting at least once (preferably when it's not that busy so you can try out the different sound effects, solve the riddles, etc.).

I took DS (5) on HM for the first time last week and he did not like it at all. I pretty much carried him once we were in the house then he had his face buried on my side the whole time we were on the ride. He said it was too scary. So, my DS is not ready for that one yet.

StormyCA said:
I made lists of the rides in all 4 parks and broke our priorities down as;

1-Rides NOT at DLR
2-Rides at both parks which are different at WDW
3-Favorite DLR rides also at WDW. Of course, everyone's list of these would be different
4-Whatever's leftover (or expendable, as it were)

That's a great idea. Going to do that too and prioritize.

PlutoFan76 said:
The only exception was Fantasmic. This is a must do at DL and something I have no interest in seeing at WDW (I've seen the YouTube videos - No thank you).

We saw Fantasmic at DL last week and we enjoyed it. I didn't know there was a big difference with the WDW.

HydroGuy said:
There five rides that are exactly the same:

- Soarin
- TSMM
- ITTBAB
- ST
- LM

I do think you could safely skip these although the queue areas for LM, ST and TSMM are much better at WDW and make the rides feel better overall. The DLR queue for Soarin is better. ITTBAB is fairly equal and maybe slightly better at WDW.

Rides that are at both resorts you should still do at WDW because they are better or at least different in interesting ways are:

ToT
Splash Mtn
Space Mtn
HM
Winnie the Pooh

Rides that are at both resorts you can skip at WDW because they are just not as good are:

POTC
Tiki Room
BLAB

Shows should try and see are:

Illuminations (Epcot)
Festival of the Lion King (AK)
Flights of Wonder (AK)
Lights, Motor Action (DHS)
Indiana Jones Stunt show (DHS)

Shows you can skip are:

Fantasmic (it is just not nearly as good as DL's)
Wishes (Ok not that great)

Awesome!

for that. Lots of things to add to my notes.

ImDMous said:
Fantasmic! is Blech at WDW. Skip it and spend that night riding BTM in the dark, over and over and over.

We're planning on seeing the Osborne lights while the Fantasmic show is going on. Although, we might skip HS altogether since there aren't any rides there that really interest me (Tot = too scary for DS, RnRC = DS doesn't meet the height requirement, TSMM and ST = done it lots of times at DL/DCA).

brocklesnar69 · Aug 29, 2015

Skip POTC at WDW. It absolutely sucks compared to the one at DL.

StormyCA · Aug 29, 2015

For what its worth; AK and DHS are both (IMHO) 'half day parks'. If I do go back, unless it's after the Star Wars/Toy Story build out, I'd do AK in the first part of the day and DHS in the latter part of the day. Epcot is a one to a one and a half day park, MK is a two day park.

A caveat is that I do have motion sickness so there are a few rides I won't do; Space, Everest (I did it, but OMG never again!), Star Tours, Mission Space, RocknRoller Coaster are all that come to mind right now.

Would you skip rides at WDW?

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