I just got back from Disneyland after a 15 year break... it's my first trip back since I started going to WDW. My kids could not get used to the fact that Disneyland, California Adventure and Downtown Disney were different places, since they all run in together. There isn't the build up you get at WDW via monorail, boat or bus which is both an asset and liability. Personally, I don't find busses magical.
Attractions we liked that you couldn't find in WDW are storybook train, Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toads Wild Ride, and the Mattehorn. Dumbo was a huge disappointment because it only goes about half as high as in WDW, so we missed the wonderful panoramic view of Fantasyland you get at the Magic Kingdom. We liked the teacups under the lanterns, but they close it when it rains, unlike at MK where it is covered. The carousel is pretty much the same, excpet that all the horses are white at DL. The castle is puny but pretty. I love the pink and gold makeover!
It's a Small World is worth seeing, too. It seems longer and is definitely different. I liked the DL version while my husband preferred the MK version. You will notice immediately that the boats are smaller at DL and you move down a channel, where at MK you have more of a floating feel, as if you are drifting on a lake. Also, at the beginning and end of this ride you boat will travel outside, which on Sunday I thought was charming but on Tuesday, in the rain, I did not. The water collected in the boats and we were ankle deep in rainwater.
Toontown is so much more.. more charming and more involved, although I do prefer Minnies' house in WDW. It's bigger and more charming, as is the garden in the rear, but the DL version is also cute. The kids loved the little tree house and the Go Cart Spin was a cute ride, with Fastpass, and an attraction not found at WDW so try and see it when the line is short. The roller coaster seemed about the same as in MK.
Tomorrowland is much lamer at DL. The rocket ride is low to the ground instead of perched above the people mover, which DL no longer has.. a pity, since I love the people mover. On the plus side, though, you didn't have to board the elevator to the rocket ride. I have a son who is phobic about elevators. Star Tours and Honey I Shrunk the Audience are the same as you'll find at the Disney Studios at WDW, so if you've seen those and are short on time, you can skip it. I havent' been on the WDW version of Space Mountain, but at Disnelyand it blew me away. From all accounts, it is better at DL and worth seeing. Buzz lightyear seemed about the same to me except for the gun. I never made it to Innoventions, which appears to have taken the place of Carousel of Progress, which is not in DL. COP is one of my favorite, nostaligic attractions so I missed it.
The monorail stop is located in Tomorrowland; it was a big disappointment. For starters it's considered more of an attraction than transportaion, so it takes you to downtown disney and back. The cars are smaller and the tracks, espeically in downtown Disney are really low to the ground. My husband could leap up and touch it! On the monorail ride, you really lose "the magic." Nothing like seeing a string of hotels and fast food restaurants to give you that magical feeling!!!
New Orleans Square was really cute and charming. The Haunted Mansiion seemed identical, except for the exterior. I liked the graveyard at WDW, though, and didn't notice one at DL. Pirates was closed for renovation, as was Blue Bayou restaurant, so no comment there excpet to say that the DL version is largely considred better at DL.
In Frontierland, the roller coaster seemed shorter and more twisty than at WDW, but was just as nicely themed. Toms Sawyer Island, however, is really pathetic in DL. The fort is puny and closed, there is no playground, no restaurant, and fewer caves and trails. The barrel bridge was closed when were were there, too. The raft ride across the river is very short, you can practically spit across it. This river area is much nicer at WDW, as is the landscaping in general throughout the park. We stumbled onto Fantasmic just as it started and saw it from stage left. It is really a great show and worth seeing. Unlike at WDW, where there is a designated area with arena seating, you must stand throughout the show and hope that you can see over the tops of the heads in front of you. The pirate ship sequence is impressive, but the part with the princesses... they used the Toms Sawyers rafts I think, instead of the showboat style boats at MGM. There are plusses and minuses to each version of the show, so it's probbly a wash. Still, I prefer having a seat and a show that doesn't tie up huge portions of the theme park.
We missed the fireworks.. an excellent time to do the rides, so no comment. I'm told it's on par with Wishes or even a bit better. The parade was great, but seemed shorter than Spectromagic. Apart from the acrobat sequence in the Parade of Dreams, I prefered Spectro.
Adventureland is really cute and tropical at DL where at WDW there seems to be a move towards the Arabian theming. Theres is no Alladin ride at Disneyland. I enjoyed seeing the original version of the Tiki Birds, which is a different show than at WDW. The preshow area is completely different and worth seeing and comparing... I can't say one is better than the other, just different. Indiana Jones ride was fabulous, a real treat if you can handle the bumps. I can't wait till it comes to the Disney Studios!! Very clever, although I swear Indy has the longest exit EVER. I liked the Jungle Cruise as well, even though it's a bit shorter at DL. It's just as delighfully cheesy!! I liked the Tarzan Treehouse. The Swiss Family one at WDW seemed to have more details to look at, but Tarzan's had some interactive stuff at the end and I liked the part where Jane is sketching Tarzan. Very sweet.
Think of California Advetnture as another "land"... it's that close. Just across the entranceway from Disneyland. My kids could not grasp the concept that these were two parks! We loved Grizzly River Rapids (like Kali at Animal Kingdom with a differnt theme), the Monstors Inc, Crush (which is at Epcot) and Soarin Over California (also at Epcot). The Block Party Bash was an energetic, fabulous show, so worth seeing. We also saw Alladin from the balcony, with an excellent view of this amazing carpet ride sequence.. it was only showing on Sunday and not on Monday or Tuesday when we were there, so plan carefully. The Redwood trails was a great playgroudn for the kids.. not as good as the Honey I Shrunk the Kids at MGM, but a bit better than the Dinasour one at the Animal Kingdom. We never got to the Six Flags section of the park, or California Dreams.
Downtown Disney, while smaller at DL was accessible. and not the huge pain in the rear to get to as it is at WDW.. again, think of it as an extension of Disney, it all just flows together seamlessly. They did a nice job with the fountains and landscaping. We had a great meal at ESPN, which was right next door to the Disneyland Hotel.
One thing that I'd forgotten about Disnelyalnd is that the exits and entrances to the rides are just a few feet apart. You get off one ride and take a few steps to enter the next. It was very managable even for my 5 year old, so not so exhausting to tour. ON the otherhand, it isn't nearly as beautiful and in my opinion as magical.
Another shock was the cost of food. Plan on spending 30-40% more for food and have it taste half as good at Disneyland. and that isn't considering the
Disney Dining Plan! If you use that plan, I'm guessing the food is two to three times the price.
We were there for three days and saw hardly any characters, where on our last trip to WDW we were stumbling over them wherever we turned. My daughter was disappointed that she saw no princesses, so conisder booking a character breakfast if this is important to your children. We liked Goofy's kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. Great character interaction and good food.. on par with Chef Mickey. We saw Goofy, Max, the Mad Hatter, and Chip and Dale.
Hope this helps!
