shannon006
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2010
Background, more WDW trips than I can count, starting back in 1972, first trip to DL.
I was fortunate that DH had a conference in Anaheim and I was able to tag along. I landed at LAX at 10:15 am. First impressions of the Southwest terminal are not good. They are under rehab and it shows. I had booked transportation with the Disneyland Express to take me to the Mariott at the Anaheim convention center. I was staying at the Hilton across the way. The bus came pretty close to the scheduled pick up time of 11:45. It was pretty chaotic with all the buses and taxis, etc. I am use to WDW and the Magical Express. We had many stops around the airport before we could finally leave to head to the hotels. Next time, probably will us Uber.
Hotels:
Anyway, the Mariott was a very nice hotel. I stayed there Monday to Thursday. Only one day coming back once in the day. It would take anywhere from 15-25 minutes from the time I left my room until I arrived DTD. Mainly I think due to the traffic lights and how long it took the elevator. At first this didn't seem too bad. However by Wednesday I was finding the walk at night to seem like it lasted forever. lol It was pretty hot out and after walking around all day it seemed like the walk back was about 45 minutes, even though it wasn't.
Disneys Grand Californian. Thursday morning I walked to the Grand from the Mariott. I arrived about 7:10 am to check in, knowing my room would not be available, however wanted to check in so I could enjoy the EMH. There were about 4 people in front of me. Two CM's working check in, and it took about 18 minutes for my turn to check in. The CM was polite and professional, however not that warm or magical. Gave no info on the resort or packet. Just asked if the phone # they had was the one to text my room # when it was available. I did receive our first visit to Disneyland buttons, but again, no welcome and/or enjoy your time. I received the text at 10:30 ish that our room was ready. That was perfect timing as DH had been in line to check our bags at bell services for over a half hour. That in my opinion was pretty crazy long as compared to our waits on WDW when we will check our carry ons with bell service the day we check out for them to hold until later in the day when magical express picks us up. We went to our room and were very pleased with the room. It was the same layout at Animal Kingdom Lodge, our favorite place to stay at WDW. However I had booked a theme park view, and we were given a pool view. I knew from the Disboards that the Grand had recently changed its category to a preferred view, so that we could end up with a theme park or pool view. We didn't complain as we were just happy to have our room and get on with our day. When we came back that evening, we had turn down service, 2 bottles of water and a note and voicemail letting us know that there would be no water from 12-4 am. Again, something I was aware could happen from what I had read on the DIS. It would have been nice if at check in they would have told us, but it was ok. We did call the front desk as the only time we have turn down service at WDW is when we stay club level. So we wanted to confirm that we were not pixie dusted and given club level, but were told that all rooms are given turn down service at the Grand. Mousekeeping did an excellent job. We were very very happy with our stay overall and would definitely recommend others to stay there. I'm sure this is not our last trip to stay there. The convenience to the parks was absolutely amazing.
Observations and reviews of Disneyland.
The entire feel was different yet familiar. It seemed that the CM's there were more magical.They seemed so happy and helpful to me, and anyone I observed talking to them. The transportation around main street was very nostalgic. There are a lot more benches for sitting and people watching as well as parade watching. There are a lot fewer places to eat or get snacks. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty. I am just comparing this to WDW, which seems every time you turn around there is a snack cart or restaurant As I talk about fewer, there are definitely fewer restrooms at Disneyland Park. Once I knew the layout it was much easier to navigate.
The rides, IMHO are so much better at Disneyland than WDW. Pirates was my favorite ride, as was DH. It seemed that most, if not all the rides we went on had more detail, were better maintained and were longer in length. They also seemed to have quicker loading and unloading. We only ate 2 table service meals. Blue Bayou lunch. It reminded us so much of eating in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot. We both had the monte cristo. It was ok, but we loved the soup and salad and the lemonade. We will definitely eat there again. We had 11:30 reservation as we wanted our best chance of sitting by the water, which we did. Excellent service. The other was the Riverbelle Terrace Fantasmic dining package. We both had the steak and shrimp and apple pie for dessert. Again, great service and the food was wonderful. They told us to go at 8:30 for the 9 showing. Thankfully we have experience from WDW and went at 7:30, to which the entire area was grid locked. Finally at about 7:55 they let all the people waiting in. It was very unorganized and chaotic. Fantasmic was amazing. So much better here than at Hollywood Studios. Great moments with Mr. Lincoln, brought tears to my eyes. The Enchanted Tiki Room, which is such a favorite of mine, was so much better at DL. The birds are well maintained, the CM happy to be there. The Dole Whip Floats that we can take inside to enjoy while watching the show.
Observations at DCA.
Love love love, Radiator Springs racers. Test Track at Epcot will never be the same. lol. The detail was amazing. We loved all of cars land. I ate at Flos, the mexican place, the place next to Soarin, (did not like the food at all), and some churros. Again, the CM's seemed a lot happier and more chatty than our experience at WDW. Soarin is my all time favorite ride at WDW. and I was surprised how the lines here were not long. I rode this numerous times as I know it will be changing next year sometime. Aladdin the musical was amazing and I can't believe they are replacing it with frozen. I like Frozen don't get me wrong, but the Aladdin was a packed house both times I saw it. WOC is now my all time favorite evening show. It was amazing and literally brought tears to my eyes. I had photopass plus, and found the photographers to be absolutely amazing here. They took so much time and many offered to take a picture on my phone. This is definitely something lacking at WDW.
We have a trip planned for WDW in February, however in 2017 we will be going on a Disney cruise to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and will be back to the DLR that year as well. We absolutely fell in love with DLR. It has a charm and a intimate feeling that is lacking at WDW. Perhaps because they don't have CM's in the college program? I don't know the answer, but there really was a difference that was obvious from the time I came through the ticket gate. I still love WDW, the morning show, the 4 parks, all the different resorts to stay at, the grand size of it all. But Disneyland is where it all started. Walt's spirit definitely is there. I only wish we had gone sooner. I cannot wait to go back
I was fortunate that DH had a conference in Anaheim and I was able to tag along. I landed at LAX at 10:15 am. First impressions of the Southwest terminal are not good. They are under rehab and it shows. I had booked transportation with the Disneyland Express to take me to the Mariott at the Anaheim convention center. I was staying at the Hilton across the way. The bus came pretty close to the scheduled pick up time of 11:45. It was pretty chaotic with all the buses and taxis, etc. I am use to WDW and the Magical Express. We had many stops around the airport before we could finally leave to head to the hotels. Next time, probably will us Uber.
Hotels:
Anyway, the Mariott was a very nice hotel. I stayed there Monday to Thursday. Only one day coming back once in the day. It would take anywhere from 15-25 minutes from the time I left my room until I arrived DTD. Mainly I think due to the traffic lights and how long it took the elevator. At first this didn't seem too bad. However by Wednesday I was finding the walk at night to seem like it lasted forever. lol It was pretty hot out and after walking around all day it seemed like the walk back was about 45 minutes, even though it wasn't.
Disneys Grand Californian. Thursday morning I walked to the Grand from the Mariott. I arrived about 7:10 am to check in, knowing my room would not be available, however wanted to check in so I could enjoy the EMH. There were about 4 people in front of me. Two CM's working check in, and it took about 18 minutes for my turn to check in. The CM was polite and professional, however not that warm or magical. Gave no info on the resort or packet. Just asked if the phone # they had was the one to text my room # when it was available. I did receive our first visit to Disneyland buttons, but again, no welcome and/or enjoy your time. I received the text at 10:30 ish that our room was ready. That was perfect timing as DH had been in line to check our bags at bell services for over a half hour. That in my opinion was pretty crazy long as compared to our waits on WDW when we will check our carry ons with bell service the day we check out for them to hold until later in the day when magical express picks us up. We went to our room and were very pleased with the room. It was the same layout at Animal Kingdom Lodge, our favorite place to stay at WDW. However I had booked a theme park view, and we were given a pool view. I knew from the Disboards that the Grand had recently changed its category to a preferred view, so that we could end up with a theme park or pool view. We didn't complain as we were just happy to have our room and get on with our day. When we came back that evening, we had turn down service, 2 bottles of water and a note and voicemail letting us know that there would be no water from 12-4 am. Again, something I was aware could happen from what I had read on the DIS. It would have been nice if at check in they would have told us, but it was ok. We did call the front desk as the only time we have turn down service at WDW is when we stay club level. So we wanted to confirm that we were not pixie dusted and given club level, but were told that all rooms are given turn down service at the Grand. Mousekeeping did an excellent job. We were very very happy with our stay overall and would definitely recommend others to stay there. I'm sure this is not our last trip to stay there. The convenience to the parks was absolutely amazing.
Observations and reviews of Disneyland.
The entire feel was different yet familiar. It seemed that the CM's there were more magical.They seemed so happy and helpful to me, and anyone I observed talking to them. The transportation around main street was very nostalgic. There are a lot more benches for sitting and people watching as well as parade watching. There are a lot fewer places to eat or get snacks. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty. I am just comparing this to WDW, which seems every time you turn around there is a snack cart or restaurant As I talk about fewer, there are definitely fewer restrooms at Disneyland Park. Once I knew the layout it was much easier to navigate.
The rides, IMHO are so much better at Disneyland than WDW. Pirates was my favorite ride, as was DH. It seemed that most, if not all the rides we went on had more detail, were better maintained and were longer in length. They also seemed to have quicker loading and unloading. We only ate 2 table service meals. Blue Bayou lunch. It reminded us so much of eating in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot. We both had the monte cristo. It was ok, but we loved the soup and salad and the lemonade. We will definitely eat there again. We had 11:30 reservation as we wanted our best chance of sitting by the water, which we did. Excellent service. The other was the Riverbelle Terrace Fantasmic dining package. We both had the steak and shrimp and apple pie for dessert. Again, great service and the food was wonderful. They told us to go at 8:30 for the 9 showing. Thankfully we have experience from WDW and went at 7:30, to which the entire area was grid locked. Finally at about 7:55 they let all the people waiting in. It was very unorganized and chaotic. Fantasmic was amazing. So much better here than at Hollywood Studios. Great moments with Mr. Lincoln, brought tears to my eyes. The Enchanted Tiki Room, which is such a favorite of mine, was so much better at DL. The birds are well maintained, the CM happy to be there. The Dole Whip Floats that we can take inside to enjoy while watching the show.
Observations at DCA.
Love love love, Radiator Springs racers. Test Track at Epcot will never be the same. lol. The detail was amazing. We loved all of cars land. I ate at Flos, the mexican place, the place next to Soarin, (did not like the food at all), and some churros. Again, the CM's seemed a lot happier and more chatty than our experience at WDW. Soarin is my all time favorite ride at WDW. and I was surprised how the lines here were not long. I rode this numerous times as I know it will be changing next year sometime. Aladdin the musical was amazing and I can't believe they are replacing it with frozen. I like Frozen don't get me wrong, but the Aladdin was a packed house both times I saw it. WOC is now my all time favorite evening show. It was amazing and literally brought tears to my eyes. I had photopass plus, and found the photographers to be absolutely amazing here. They took so much time and many offered to take a picture on my phone. This is definitely something lacking at WDW.
We have a trip planned for WDW in February, however in 2017 we will be going on a Disney cruise to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and will be back to the DLR that year as well. We absolutely fell in love with DLR. It has a charm and a intimate feeling that is lacking at WDW. Perhaps because they don't have CM's in the college program? I don't know the answer, but there really was a difference that was obvious from the time I came through the ticket gate. I still love WDW, the morning show, the 4 parks, all the different resorts to stay at, the grand size of it all. But Disneyland is where it all started. Walt's spirit definitely is there. I only wish we had gone sooner. I cannot wait to go back
